A Great Way To Start The Bass Fishing Season

It has been a very long and difficult winter for us here in Iowa. I have been anxiously awaiting the opportunity for the weather to warm up enough for the bass to begin moving around. Well I guess that time is here because I went out yesterday and caught two lunkers, each weighing just over 5 pounds. One had a belly full of eggs; however I released both so they can continue to reproduce and create more fun in the future. I caught one with my favorite lure, the Steelshad, and the other with a Rattletrap. We were fishing in a small lake in Southwest Iowa. We caught several smaller bass which one of my fishing buddies promptly prepared for our shore lunch.

It was a great day and I'm glad spring is finally here.

Major Halibut Fishing In Alaska

As primarily a freshwater fisherman, I have a hard time relating to catching something like a Halibut. But, it certainly looks like fun. I know what it feels like to have a 5 lb. bass on the line, but a 200 Halibut? This is certainly on my list of things to do before I kick the bucket.

Since I write about fishing, I come across just about everything related to the sport. Well, did you know that Homer, Alaska is the "Halibut Capital of the World"? Since your geography is probably about as good as mine, I have provided a map below of Homer relative to the lower 48 states. If you are in the market for some major Halibut fishing, you need to know about Alaska Coastal Marine. They have a fleet of five fishing vessels to serve all kinds of fishermen. Travel expenses from most parts of the U.S. will be your biggest expense, because their prices are very reasonable. Check out Homer Alaska Halibut Fishing Trips from Alaska Coastal Marine's website. It looks like a good time.

Planning Your Next Fishing Vacation

Planning your next fishing vacation to a new or unfamiliar destination can be a disaster if not planned properly. There is a lot that can go wrong if you don't do your homework including lousy fishing, accommodations not being what you expected, or the cost being greater than anticipated. As you plan your fishing trip, here are some decisions you should make upfront:

• Where would you like to go, what part of the country, drive or fly, etc.
• Who is going with you, family, fishing buddies, etc.
• Will you use a travel agent or make the arrangements on your own

There are several retailers that are now providing travel services that you may want to consider. They include Orvis, Cabela's, and Gander Mountain. A good resource for fly fishing is Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures. Before you begin you should at least check these out to get some ideas. Trips like this certainly make it easy for you. The only downside is that they generally cost a little more (though not always) and they may not offer the flexibility you would like.

Another excellent tool is a vacation planning web site called "I'm In". "I'm In" is a helpful site if you are planning a trip with friends. I have included a link at the bottom of this post.

The best piece of advice I can give you is - if you are going to a new fishing location, solicit unsolicited references. Do some internet research and find a couple of nearby bait and tackle shops. Give them a call and ask about the fishing, the accommodations you are considering, and ask about guides if you will use a fishing guide.

A little bit of homework can make a big difference in the quality and cost of your next fishing vacation.


Orvis Fishing Vacations

Plan Your Winter Fishing Vacation Now

Now is the time to plan your winter fishing vacation. If you live in the northern part of the U.S. like I do (I live in Des Moines, Iowa), winters get very long. I enjoy having four seasons, but I also enjoy at least one nice trip to warmer weather during the winter months to do what I enjoy most - FISHING. There are many great places to choose from; however let me suggest Key West if you've never been there. It is not really a family friendly place in my opinion, but it is extremely beautiful and is a great destination for a fishing vacation with your buddies. I like it so much that I spent my honeymoon at Key West.

One of the most popular charter services is Key West Fishing Charters aboard Odyssea with Captain Rush Maltz. you can fish for sailfish, wahoo, blackfin tuna, king mackerel (kingfish), mutton snapper, permit, grouper, yellowtail, and swordfish. Visit their web site at www.keywestoffshorefishing.com. Key West has some of the most awesome water in the world; it is worth the trip.

For more information on fabulous fishing vacations, visit Crazy Fisherman's fishing vacations page.

Plan A Trip With Some Friends

Don't plan a trip without it. I have found a really cool web site for planning a trip with some friends. It's called "I'm In". The site contains a variety of ideas (including fishing of course) for trips to meet almost everyone's interests. There are built in electronic communication tools for inviting others to join in on the trip and to keep up with who's in and who's not. The site has a discussion board and photo gallery exclusive for each trip or group. I'm In is todays way of planning a trip with friends. Check it out and I think you'll agree. Click image below.