— by The Great Sailfishing Company

There are many places in the world that call themselves the "Sailfish Capital of the World" among them Martin County and Islamorada in Florida, USA; Mazatlan and Manzanillo in Mexico; Broome in Australia, Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala and Quepos in Costa Rica. To aspire to such a lofty title means there are probably more sailfish in that particular area than anywhere else in the world, during the year. All of these tourist destinations certainly do have sailfish but lets see if we can convince you that the Pacific Coast of Guatemala is really THE place to catch and release Pacific Sailfish.

— by Ken Warren

For those of you that compete in fishing tournaments this title may seem to counterintuitive. I bet you are asking how does giving away spots, revealing a proven technique, or showing a hot bait help you to win money? In fact, I would wager that many of you are responding Over my dead body. I worked too hard to find those spots. Regardless of your response I am sure this article will generate a good deal of controversy. Before you decide I am a fool and quit reading please give me the benefit of the doubt and read on.

First, I am sure you would agree that if there is more money available for payout and/or more places paid out your chance of cashing a bigger check will increase. One way to do this is to turn pro I guess but a much easier way for the weekend angler to do this is to bring in new people. I am not talking about recruiting from other trails but instead I refer to bringing in new blood. The sport is growing but, I feel it would grow even faster if we would help out the new guy instead of attempting to sabotage his day.

— by Captain Jay Wester, Speckled Trout Clinic

Speckled trout anglers today have more technology, information and advanced fishing gear to pursue what drives them everytime they wet their line, a record setting speckled trout.

There are many different rods, reels, lures and techniques available now that will aid in this pursuit. No matter which combination of these you use in your quest, it will always be up to the speckled trout itself that will be the deciding factor.

After years of observation and logged statistics, the following theory was developed. Speckled trout are similar to humans in behavior and very similar to canines in regard to aging.

— by Albert McBee

Giant Blue Catfish are alive and well in Oklahoma. The only things that keep a fisherman from catching one are: (1) tackle; (2) technique; (3) bait; and (4) knowledge.

Let's start with tackle...
TACKLE

Giant Blue Catfish were not born large. They started out as 1/4" long fry and slowly developed into trophy sized fish over a period of years some may approach 50 years of age. Over those years, these fish learned how to survive, and how to keep eating without finding a sharp hook in the food.

For the smaller, better-eating specimens, a simple, inexpensive spincast reel on a medium-light action rod are sufficient for landing a mess of fish. But we're talking about TROPHY sized Blue

— by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

Christmas is a special time of year for all of us. We typically spend the day running around from one family member's house to another. Our bellies are so full they feel like they could burst. We pass out gifts and open those we receive and watch the kids run around like little excitement filled Tasmanian Devils. They leave nothing but a trail of wrapping paper in their paths. It is just a wonderful time of year for us normal, everyday anglers. But what is it like if you are one of the top rated Professional Bass Anglers in the World? Chances are, it is very similar no matter who you are.

— by Jason Akl

For any angler who is planning a fly fishing get-away somewhere in the Pacific Northwest during the fall months, there are a few flies that are a must-have for all anglers. These are the October caddis imitations. This hatch of giant caddis can be some of the best fly fishing opportunities an angler can have for targeting quality fish. The October/ fall caddis, belongs to the family Dimcosmoecus, and is characterized by its large size and uniquely colored orange body.

To target these caddis hatches it is best to choose a fast moving freestone stream anywhere from September through October. The peak of the hatch activity on most streams occurs near the last week of September and the first week of October. As far as the hatch is concerned, don't be expecting huge clouds of caddis hovering over the water all at once. The October caddis generally hatches in smaller numbers so anglers really need to keep a keen eye on the shoreline to spot the beginning and end of the hatch. Don't be fooled, even though there are only a few flies on and around the water the fish take notice, and waste no time eating water-bound flies.

by Nick Toman

If you're reading this article, chances are you're just beginning to fish tournaments, have your first tournament in the near future, or are curious about joining a club or association. What's worse is that you are probably a bit unsure about what to do, what to bring, what to wear, et cetera. No one wants to be the worried outsider prior to ooze-off, so here's a guide to help you get started and feel confident and comfortable on the water.
Finding a Tournament Appropriate to Your Interests

Most of us have already found a group of anglers we are comfortable fishing with, but for those who have not, here's a quick rundown. This step is far more important than most may think. If your first few tournament experiences are with a group of "hardcore" anglers and you are looking to just learn a bit and get on water once a month, chances are, you'll be turned off before you give tournaments a chance. Conversely, there are many leagues where it's more about meeting at Sammy's for a sandwich after the tournament, and people are very laid back - for those of us who are more competitive and really want to learn a lot, these anglers do not compose the group you'll want to join.

by Kenneth Fore

I don't remember my exact age back then, but I was probably near fifteen when I got into fly fishing. I paid about eight dollars for a fiberglass rod that I bought from the only hardware store in town. The money I used was saved from cutting grass and selling the "Grit Paper" on a good paper route.

The fly rod I bought wasn't the best money could buy but I couldn't afford a fifteen dollar rod and have enough money left over for a reel, ten pound monofilament line, six or seven popping bugs that cost a quarter or thirty cents each, and then go to the Saturday afternoon movie.

by Kevin Dahlke

The Carolina Rig is a technique that has been around for quite some time. It is used to cover an area quickly to find out what kind of structure you are fishing. Personally, I have put this technique on the back burner for the last number of years, but as of the last season, I put it back into action and it really paid off. In fact, I used it enough that it had earned me (4) top 4 finishes, and (3) big fish awards. This article is going to help you, step by step, explain the setup of this technique, types of baits to use with this, and places where to fish using this technique.

by Todd Casey
Some of my best memories of fishing took place when I was just a kid. I was learning about the secrets of the bay, playing in the bait well, and always hoping for one more cast at the end of the day. My dad and I would drive towards the boat ramp in the dark early morning pulling a boat that today would be considered "For Sale". We would always stop at the convenient store on the way to the marina, and I would get some powdered donuts and a plastic cup of orange juice with the foil top. My body was running on a pre-fishing day sleepless night, and I couldn't wait to experience what we were going to get into that day.