Outdoor Recreation UnitObj. 8, 9, 10

Fishing Equipment and Styles

▶ Buy good quality line▶ Select a proper test for expected fishing type▶ Proper line for reel▶ Line types◦ Bait casting: braided nylon, silk or Dacron◦ Spinning: monofilament◦ Fly fishing: braided nylon, silk, or Dacron

▶ Fly line types◦ Floating – used in shallow water◦ Sinking – used in deep water

Fishing line

▶ Major designs of fly line◦ Level◦ Double tapered◦ Weight forward

Fishing line

▶ Common types: ◦ Snelled◦ Common◦ Weedless◦ Double

▶ Common patterns include: ◦ Apex◦ Bent◦ Wide gape◦ Claw break◦ Round bend

Hooks

▶ Types include:◦ 1. Clinch knot◦ 2. Improved clinch knot◦ 3. Fisherman’s bend◦ 4. Perfection loop◦ 5. Turtle knot ◦ 6. Two-fold open-eye knot◦ 7. Blood knot

Fishing knots

▶ Primary purpose is to keep bait and lures at a desired depth in the water.

Sinkers

▶ Floating device used to tell when a fish is biting

Bobbers

▶ 1. Bait casting◦ Allows casting of large lures for long distances◦ Rod has an offset type handle◦ Reel types⚫1) Level wind – evenly puts the line on the reel⚫2) Star drag

◦ Involves controlling the rod with the wrist and forearm and the line with the thumb

◦ Involves bringing the rod up the line held, bringing the rod forward to complete the forward cast.

◦ The reel needs to be facing up to allow for thumb control

Fishing Techniques

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s1Rwwcmkzc – 3min

▶ 2. Spin casting◦ Typical outfit has a seven foot rod with spinning reel (can be

all sizes though)◦ Reel types:⚫1) Open bail⚫2) Closed bail

◦ Rod⚫1) No offset⚫2) Longer grip

◦ Involves using the arm to “snap” the pole and the forefinger to control the line to cast the bait or lure.

Fishing Techniques

▶ 3. Fly casting◦ Very old method◦ Casts very light limitations of insects or other small lures◦ Reel types⚫1) Automatic⚫2) Standard crank

◦ Rod⚫1) Generally 8-9ft long⚫2) Generally in sections

◦ Fly casting involves using the arm to rapidly move the rod back and forth while the line that has been previously “stripped” from the reel is gradually fed out with each casing motion.

Fishing Techniques

Fishing Techniques from a boat

http://www.takemefishing.org/fishing/freshwater-fishing/fishing-techniques/

Drift fishing ▶ Involves trailing fishing lines behind a boat

while it drifts with the current or wind

Chumming▶ Involves throwing bait (chum) into the water in

order to attract fish.

Trolling▶ Is done by pulling baited trailing lines behind a

moving boat.

Jigging▶ Involves casting the line with the lure or bait to

the bottom, then raising it about one foot in a quick motion. Motion is continually repeated.

Gigging

▶ Act of using a spear to catch fish

Bow-Fishing

http://www.gofishn.com/gofishn/texas-bowfisherman-epically-battles-potential-record-gar-fillets-it/\ article

Basic Beginning Principles of Fishing

Beginning Principles▶When to fish◦ Early season fishing - first warming in spring⚫1) Time of day is critical⚫2) Best time is around 1-5pm because sun's rays

are at maximum penetration, making air and water warmer⚫Best place for early season fishing are small

lakes/ponds because areas with darker bottoms absorb heat

Mid-season fishing (summer)▶ 1)Generally early morning and late evening are the

best because heat is the least.▶ 2) Summer can be hard to fish because:◦ A. food chain is at its peak◦ B. fish are harder to find due to abundant cover

Beginning Principles

Late season fishing▶ Afternoon to

evening is best

Beginning Principles

▶ 2. Seasons affect how lures or bait is displayed to a fish.◦ Ways to vary presentation:⚫Depth, size, color of lure⚫Speed of cranking⚫Action of rod

Beginning Principles

▶ 3. Seasonal lake turnovers◦ A body of water goes through an

annual cycle of temperature changes that parallel the seasons.

◦ There are spring and fall turnovers

◦ There is a summer stagnation period

Beginning Principles

▶ Where to fish:◦ One basic rule: ALWAYS FISH STRUCTURE

Beginning Principles

▶ Structure is defined as anything unusual on the bottom of a body of water, such as drop offs, bars, deep edges of weed beds, trees, rocks submerged tree stumps, points, lily pads, etc.

Beginning Principles

▶ Learn to read structure through observation of lake areas or by using a contour map of the lake

Beginning Principles

▶ Stream or river mouths are considered excellent because the income water often brings in food that attracts the fish

Beginning Principles

▶ Consider the current and the structures the current affects to select location.

Beginning Principles

Outdoor RecreationCamping

▶ What do you do when you decide to go camping?▶ Plan ahead◦ Five W’s◦ Where◦ When – leaving, returning, short or long trip◦ Who ◦ Why◦ What – to take with you

Planning A Trip

▶ Selecting the campsite:◦ 1. Environmental impact – “Leave no Trace”◦ 2. Safety⚫Don’t set up under dead trees/limbs⚫Avoid: gullies, lighting targets and game trails

When you get there…

◦ 3. Size⚫Enough space for all⚫A place at least 200ft away to hang food

◦ 4. Water – near a good supply◦ 5. Terrain⚫Gentle slope is best⚫Open to east and south to allow sunlight to dry out

early in the day.⚫Remember natural cover for mud prevention

When you get there…

▶ 6. Stoves and campfires◦ Why use a fire ring?◦ Consider availability of wood supply◦ Why use camp stove instead of campfire?

When you get there…

▶ Tarp ◦ Multiple purposes – name some…◦ If you don’t have any stakes to secure it to the

ground then what can you use?◦ What do you think a dining fly is?

Tarps and Tents

▶ Tent◦ 2 main shapes – A frame and dome◦ Remember to dry – why?

Tarps and Tents

▶ Keep all soap and wash water at least 200ft from water sources◦ Human waste needs to be disposed of with care◦ Use existing facilities if possible

▶ A cat hole◦ Dug at least 200ft away from water, campsites and trails.

Should be dug at least 6-9” deep, cover, and mark spot.

Keeping clean

▶ Latrine◦ For larger groups◦ Dig 1’ wide to 3-4’ long, cover when done

Keeping clean

▶ Plan ahead and prepare▶ Dispose of waste (garbage) properly – “pack it in, pack

it out” is the main principle▶ Leave what you find▶ Minimize campfire impacts▶ Be considerate of other visitors

Principles of “Leave No Trace”

▶ Make a safe site▶ Gather tinder to start fire rapidly – use kindling to get

larger fuelwood burning▶ Laying it out:◦ Many different ways but common one is a teepee

▶ Put fire out thoroughly by wetting and stirring the ashes.

▶ Fire site should be cleaned up when done

Building a Campfire

▶ Drink fluids when camping▶ General rule: drink at least 2 quarts a day and up to 8

quarts if exerting yourself in hot and dry situations▶ Public sources or “open water”◦ Open water is water from a non-tested source and it must be

purified

▶ Three ways to purify:◦ 1. Boiling at a rolling boil for at least 3 min◦ 2. Purification tablets◦ 3. Filters

Water

▶ Plan ahead◦ # of people, activities planned, how are you reaching camp,

weather, good nutrition▶ Food storage◦ Protect it from spoiling◦ Hoist it 12ft off the ground and 8ft away from tree trunk

Food

▶ Leftovers can be carried or burned◦ They should not be left where animals can find them and eat

them.◦ This can lead to animals being attracted to campsites which

can cause problems or cause animals to lose their fear of humans

▶ Dishwater should be strained and poured into a sump hole.

Cleaning up after Cooking

Above all have fun and be safe!!