In Today's Blog
Blackberry Picking Season Will Soon Be Here

A Quick Spring Boat Inspection
Author: Frank Ross

Before you launch your boat this year, give everything a good inspection.

Before you launch your boat this spring, check out everything.

It won't be long until boats will find their way out of winter storage, and anglers will be backing them into the water, hoping for a great day of fishing. But if you don't take a little time before you leave the house, you may be back at the dock sooner than you intended. Nothing is more frustrating than a ruined trip, unless it's a trip that got ruined right when the bite turned on. Do yourself a favor and give your boat a thorough going over before it's time to fish. A pre-launch inspection is a very productive way to spend a waning winter day and you'll have time to take care of any problems without having to rush around at the last minute.

This is also a good time to think back to last year's season and remember those things that you were going to add or change before this year - like repositioning rod holders or adding more.

You may need to adapt this list to your own needs, since it covers a wide variety of equipment that you may or may not have. Most of the items on this checklist are things that need a visual inspection, but a few may need more attention.

Read the entire article A Quick Spring Boat Inspection.

VHF Marine Radio Buyer's Guide
Author: Frank Ross

Marine band VHF (Very High Frequency) radios are one of those items that aren't really appreciated unless there is a crisis. Most guys don't even want to be contacted when they are on the water fishing or otherwise just enjoying the day. In fact, it's one of those marine items that many people have a hard time convincing themselves that they really need to spend money on.

When things get rough having a VHF radio will give you peace of mind.

All of that goes out the window once water starts rising over your ankles. There's something about taking on water, or having a battery go dead as a storm begins to build into a whitecap encrusted crescendo that makes one realize that the ability to key a mike and get help is a good thing, a very good thing.

For most anglers and pleasure boaters contemplating the purchase of a marine radio, the question is what model, features and power do I really need? Unfortunately, that answer can only determined after a crisis has presented itself.

The nature of the beast VHF radios are very effective under certain conditions, and challenged under others, but the most predominate limiter is something that is insurmountable - the curvature of the earth. VHF is basically a line-of-sight signal situation. Lower frequency signals have an inherent ability to bend with the curvature of the earth, but not VHF. Once you get over the horizon, your ability to transmit and receive becomes diminished. The further you travel away from the receiving radio, the more your signal is deprecated until you reach a point where all you can hear is static. Regardless of the amount of power you have in a box, once you exceed the point where your antenna will not top the curve your only option is to reach another craft and ask for a relay.

Read the entire article VHF Marine Radio Buyer's Guide.

Spinning Rod Buyer's Guide
Author: Frank Ross

Spinning reels are a preferred method of fishing for many anglers, with ease of casting, lack of backlashes and easily replaceable spools being some of their preferred advantages. While spinning reels have many positive benefits, matching the right rod to your reel of choice could have a dramatic affect on its performance.

Matching the right rod to your reel of choice could have a dramatic affect on its performance.

Spinning rigs are very effective for fishing live bait, casting small lures and the ability to leave the bail open, so line can pay out undetected by finicky biters. For walleye anglers and panfishermen, it is by far the most used method of fishing, especially when light line is involved.

Both reel and rod selection is driven by the species of fish you are going to target. In some areas, where large predators may be lurking, you might want to factor in that possibility as well. It is not uncommon for an unsuspecting angler to be spooled by a large northern pike that didn't know smallmouth were the limited target. Overkill isn't the answer, but having a little margin of error is a good thing.

Read the entire article Spinning Rod Buyer's Guide .