The Essence of Fishing

Surf fishing long time ago

Hanan Ben Lulu — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 09:58:53 +0000

Surf fishing is one of my favorite fishing style. Blue ocean, relaxing,

friends and beer, lots of beer. Can anyone ask for more? Sometime it seems to me that surf fishing becomes a social event more then pure fishing activity. Manyкомпютри times I get to meet old fishermen, fishing beside me, telling me stories about the fish they have used to land 30 years ago. Comes to think of it, i get to hear many fishing stories about the old times and, to be honest, although fun to hear I don’t believe all of it, to say the least.

However, I got this video from someone who insist that the old days were different. I wonder if those days were heaven for fishermen.

[youtube F-SenPl2DIQ]

Let me know what do you think.

Spinning rod rated for 100lbs line

Hanan Ben Lulu — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 06:56:15 +0000

High rated lines are designed for big fish. Really big fish. Usually for several hundreds pounds fish such as sharks, blue-fin tuna and swordfish. Most of the fishing rods used for this type of fishing are conventional rods paired with conventional/multipliers reels and are considered to be stronger and tougher then spinning rods. The main reason for that is when fighting big fish with a conventional rod, the line is pushing the guides against the rod and the stress in upon the rod itself. With spinning rods it is the other way around. The line is pulling the guides away from the rod and the stress is both upon the rod and the guides.

However, although spinning rods rated for 100lbs lines falls behind conventional rods when is come to fighting big fish, there is a demand for the first. The reason is that it is much easier and fun to handle spinning reel then a conventional reel. So, when choosing spinning rods rated for 100lbs lines your attention should be focused on few critical parameters:

Guides Shape - the guides should be massive and big round circles, in order to contain the twist of the line when is comes out of the reel.
Guides Wrapping - In spinning rods rated for 100lbs lines the guides wrapping is most important. Take a close inspection on the wrapping and verify that there is an extra enforcement over the guides legs. Try to apply some force on them with you hand and make sure they are fixed.
Rod Blank Pieces - if transportation is not an issue, always prefer on piece rod over two. One piece rod does not have, virtually, any breaking point. However, it will break if aggressively handled (I have just broke mine when tried to lift 12 pounds weight over the air).

Spinning rod rated for 100lbs line is only one side of the equation. For that kind of fighting you may need a tough spinning reel with stainless steel gear and shaft with massive drag surfaces and thick aluminum body. It goes without saying that the reel also should contain at least 300 yards of your 100lbs line.

If you catch anything big with spinning rod rated for 100lbs line I would love to hear all about it.

Surf fishing in lake Michigan

Hanan Ben Lulu — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 05:46:14 +0000

Many people are asking me through forums and here in my blog for surf fishing in lake Michigan including hot spots, casting techniques and rigs. Unfortunately, I cant help much since I have never got to fish at lake Michigan although it is one of the places I really wish to go and it is certainly on top of my list.

So, as for hot spots I cant really help. However, when it comes to casting techniques and rigs it is a diferent story altogether. As far as my experience goes, casting techniques should be the same everywhere. Straight Off the Ground or Pendulum should be used when long distance casting is required and most often it is.

There are many sites that describes how to build surf fishing rigs and all the rig types are basically many versions of how to put together weights and baits. Some of the rigs can even be bought ready made. Here are some useful links:

Enjoy fishing and as I learned from a friend, there is a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an Idiot.

Don’t go light on deep sea spinning rod

Hanan Ben Lulu — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 12:26:40 +0000

Deep sea fishing or, as many times refered as deep water fishing is one of the most popular fishing style especially in north America and Australia. What makes it so popular is the chance to really fight all kinds of big fish such as Amberjacks, Groupers, Tunas, Sailfish, Swordfish and even Sharks.

Deep sea fishing tackle is usually divided into three main categories; Trolling, Baits and Jigging. While these categories have different fishing charactericties thus different fishing tackle requirements, they have one thing in common when it comes to rod. It should be designed for long and tough big fish fighting.

Most of deep sea rods are casting rods designed for multipliers reels which, in many opinions, are stronger and tougher compare to Spinning reels. However, Multipliers are not ideal reels for every deep sea category. When it comes to jigging for example, when high gear ratio and easy handling is needed, spinning reels and of course spinning rods are better choice.

Choosing your deep sea spinning rod should be quite an easy task. Consider the following parameters when buying you next deep sea spinning rod:

Rod Length - the length should be about 5′9″ (1.8m) but no longer then 6′9″ (2.1m).
Rod Guides - the guides should be wide and massive, especially the first two which hold most of the pressure. Go for Fuji if possible.
Rod Material - fiberglass. If the rod weight is a factor then go for carbon however, they breaks more often then fiberglass.
Line Weight - line weight should be at least 20lb.
Gimble - don’t buy without.

As for reels, the market is over-flooded with models. Go for Shimano Stella or Daiwa Saltiga if money is not an option. Average quality Okuma, Quantum or Tica will do the job quite fine.

Surf Casting Techniques - Keep your finger on.

Hanan Ben Lulu — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:01:04 +0000

Many articles about surf casting techniques are usually focused on how to efficiently swing the rod in order to gain maximum casting distance with as less effort as possible. However, knowing and practicing the swing operation is only one part of the casting technique. The second part, and as equally important, is how to hold the line with your finer against the rod and, much more critical for your casting distance, when to release it. Many experienced surf anglers can tell you, and even show you, how many times they have their finger almost cut-off, literally.

The problem is quite simple. Lets say you are using 4.5 meter surf rod and you are trying to cast 100g weight. I am not going to describe any math calculations however, it is easy to understand that the stress power on your holding finger while casting is so enormous that you have no choice but to release the line early otherwise your finger will be cut-off. Premature line releasing will cause the weight to fly high but with short distance.

So, how to do it right? Quite simple actually. First, close the reel clutch tightly. This will prevent the line from sliding under your finger when holding it and while casting. Second, use finger glove. this is special glove for the line holding finger made of leather and you may find it on many fishing tackle stores. This will give you the sensitivity required and the protection needed.

Should you have any comments or questions please feel free to comment.

Surf fishing with Hookset Global Pendulum surf rods series

Hanan Ben Lulu — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 05:03:17 +0000

Introduction
Not long ago I have posted two parts article about surf casting techniques in which described the Pendulum surf casting technique. So, it felt like a good karma when a friend brought me one of the new Hookset Global surf rods series called Pendulum Surf for a brief testing.

The one I got to test was a telescopic rod, 4.5 meters length with 4 sub-parts with quite impressive casting weight, 100g - 250g. There are 6 high quality guides which two of them float on the last part and one, rather uniquely, on the third part. This rod, I have to admit, is beautiful, with very thin body and you can notice the quality carbon patterns all over.

Real world test
I paired the rod with my Tica Spinfocus 4500 reel. Although functions to my satisfaction, it felt a bit small and under qualify for this rod. A perfect match would be a long casting reels such as Okuma Axeon or Shimano Ultegra. These kind of reels would definitely help you reach 200 meters casting distance. The rig included 120g weight with a single size 4 hook attached under it. The bait was strips of fresh calamari which leveled up my expectation for serious fish fights.

Casting
Casting with the this rod is easy and rather enjoyable. Actually, as far as my experience go, this is the best rod to practice surf casting techniques and especially the Pendulum surf casting. Although far from being expert, I was able to reach 100 meters casting distance quite easy. The length of the rod together with its low weight help significantly doing the job both for distance casting and accurate targeting. Expert surf anglers can, without much effort, cast beyond 200 meters distance.
One thing though, should you consider to hook the rod with heavy long distance reel and along with 150g weight, expect to have your arms and shoulders to work quite a bit. So practice your Pendulum surf casting technique to reduce unnecessary stress.

Sensitivity
This rod was not designed for small fish. During the 2 hours test the wind was strong with aggressive currents so I reeled my rig back often to check whether the bait is still on. However, while doing so, I have managed to land 3 nice size Sea-Bream and it felt like I am pooling back nothing but the weight with only slight vibration on the rod tip. The fish were released back to gain some weight until the next time, hopefully to put better fight to this rod.

Summary
Many people believe top surf rods should have 2 or 3 pieces however, the Pendulum Tele-Surf proves this theory wrong. This rod offers both the advantages of telescopic rods (easy transportation, low weight and sensitivity) and ”pieces” rods (powerful and high casting weights). Hookset Global has aimed quite high with this rod and I believe this series will deliver its promise.
So, if you are a surf fishing freak and fighting big fish is what makes your adrenaline rush, this rod is for you. You can find Hookset Global tackle products at www.thebesttackle.com .

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Going bass fishing? Get the right bass rod.

Hanan Ben Lulu — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 07:07:49 +0000

Making your bass fishing trip a successful one begins with taking the right bass tackle with you. However, for beginners, choosing the right bass rod is not a simple task as it might look. The are dozens of manufacturers offering hundreds, and I dare say even thousands, bass rods models and each and every one of them looks delicious and overloaded with characteristics and buzzwords. So, what is the right bass rod? In this installment I will try to unveil the mystery.

Every expert bass angler will tell you that in bass fishing each type of lure requires different type of rod. Bass rods have few main parameters:

Sensitivity - helps you to sense and, with time, to know what is going on with bait.
Tip Action - The tip softness help you controlling the casting accuracy. However, too soft will makes it difficult working with some lures.
Power - heavy, medium or light. Depends on the size of the fish you are after. Big fish requires heavy rods with the right lures and the right technique to go with it.
Length- between 6′ and 8′ and usually derived from the fishing technique which, in turn, depends on the type of lure you are using.

Bass lures are fascinating world and sometimes I cant even believe how much technology and innovation companies put into it. Most of the lures falls into very few categories and I will elaborate on what type of bass rod required of each.

Worms
With worms you will need a rod with excellent sensitivity, soft tip for casting accuracy and medium-heavy power for hook-setting. The rod should have trigger handle with length between 6′8″ and 7′. The reel that come with it is a casting type reel. If you choose to go with the 7′ rod you may also use it for Flipping and Pitching techniques.

Spinnerbaits and Topwaters
Working with spinnerbaits requires continuously casting. So first, look for lightweight rod from IM6 or IM7 materials. The length should range between 6′ and 6′6″ with medium-soft tip and medium power. Remember, with the range, shorter rods will give you better casting accuracy whereas with longer rods you will have better casting distance. Pair this rod with at least 6 gear ration casting reel.

Crankbaits
Again, with these kind of lures continuously casting is needed. So lightweight rod is an important element. Sensitivity is important as well. Sensitive rod will help you feel what is going on with your lure while it swims. The length of the rod depends on the type of the crankbait. Consider a 6′6″ rod for deep-diving crankbait along with low gear ration reel. For lipless cracks use 7′ rod with high speed reel. Both rods should have light-medium power and medium tip.

What to buy
As a fan of Hookset Global tackle I would recommend you to look for their staff in online stores. They have quality bass tackle, especially bass rods, for most of the bass fishing type. Consider their MightyBass series which has the best value for money I know.
I will cover Hookset Global bass rods more closely with the next weeks. Until then, may you basket smell from fish.

Proficient your surf casting techniques - Part 2.

Hanan Ben Lulu — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:39:00 +0000

Introduction

In my previous installment, Proficient your surf casting techniques - part 1, I have described the Straight Off The Ground technique which is good casting way to reach more then 100 meters both for beginners and intermediate anglers. In this installment I will describe the next step in surf casting technique, the Pendulum Cast.

The Pendulum Cast

When a surf fisherman becomes more comfortable and experienced with the Straight Off The Ground casting and desires more better casting distance, the Pendulum is should be considered as the next step in surf casting techniques. To an outside viewer the the two casts might looks very much the same. However, with practice, the Pendulum can take you beyond 200 meters.

The main difference is that the sinker held at eye lever rather then on the ground. From this point, the cast begins by swinging the sinker away from the body resembling a pendulum. Now, and this is the tricky part, you should feel the swinging motion of the sinker. When you “feel” the sinker is about to reach its maximum out swing distance, the head and shoulders begin turning to the target, pulling the body along with them. From this point, the Pendulum cast uses the same motion as the Straight Off the Ground cast with one twist. The actual casting should be coordinated with the sinker in order to use its outside swing energy. this energy is what makes this surf casting technique so efficient. With practice, reaching 200 meters casting distance is not exaggeration.

Experienced fishermen might use special fishing tackle for better results. Usually the fishing rod is 3 pieces and about 4.5 meters long with up to 300g casting weight. The fishing reel should have long casting spool with easy line out features.

Proficient your surf casting techniques - Part 1.

Hanan Ben Lulu — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:01:23 +0000

Introduction

A critical key element in surf fishing is the ability to cast effectively and distance is the only consideration. Sometimes, especially where fish are not far from the shore, accurate casting is more important than distance. However, most successful surf fishermen master both accuracy and distance. Experience in reading wind, current and wave action will dramatically improve an angler’s probability to catch fish in the surf, but with a little instruction and practice, even beginning fishermen can have enough skill to enjoy surf fishing.
There are two basic techniques of casting used by surf fishermen: the straight off the ground cast and the pendulum cast. Many experienced surf fishermen recommend that beginners start with the straight off the ground cast, moving to the pendulum cast as they become more experienced and comfortable.In this installment I will describe the straight off the ground casting.

Beginners Luck

Another expert’s recommendation is that beginners limit their surf fishing trips to calm days on a beach with known populations of fish. They also encourage newcomers to practice casting technique, even on ground, before making attempts to catch fish. This step helps a beginner become more comfortable with the act of casting without the pressure of trying to land a fish. Beginners should keep in mind that it is not necessary to start with long casts as fish can often be found relatively close to shore.

Positioning: First casts should be made with the straight off the ground technique. To cast straight off the ground, the beginner should draw an imaginary line in the sand pointing straight to the water. Then the beginner should draw a second line, between himself and the original line, in the sand running back and away from the first line at about a 45-degree angle. The feet are positioned about parallel to this second line, so the body is turned about a quarter of a turn from the original line and with the back toward the water.

Casting: from this position, the sinker is laid on the ground on the same line on which the rod tip is held. The beginner looks toward the line to which you want the sinker to travel. With both hands on the rod, the rod is then pulled forward as if it were a spear. The left arm is pulled down while at the same time the right hand is pulled forward in a motion similar to a punching motion. This motion continues past the body. It is not required to overpower the cast. With proper execution of this technique and a little practice, a beginner should be able to cast up to 80 meters without much effort. Some practice may be required to become comfortable with applying light pressure to a revolving reel and backlash experiences may be expected early on. Intermediate Casting

Most intermediate skill level surf fishermen will utilize the straight off the ground casting technique. However, there are some skills that can be added to increase the distance and accuracy of the cast. While beginning casters use very little body motion when casting, intermediate level casters may add body rotation and, in general, they are more fluid in their motion and are more conscious of their follow through.
Intermediate casters follow the same initial steps for setting up that beginners do however, they are able to add shoulder rotation and weight transfer to both increasing the length of the casting motion and increasing the amount of power transferred. This motion begins at the initial setup and continues as the shoulders rotate toward the target throughout the motion. Weight shifts first to the back foot and then to the forward foot. The casting motion becomes more fluid and consistent. The follow through is held with the tip aimed more directly toward the sea, rather than toward the sky or the sand for many beginners, which allows better line flight. With these simple improvements, casting distance can easily be increased to around 120 meters.

In my next surf casting techniques installment, I will elaborate on the Pendulum Cast which, when done with dexterity, can easily reach the distance of 200 meters and beyond. As rule of caution always make sure there is no one in the area where the sinker might go in case the line breaks.

A brief look at Hookset-Global ProSpin GLX rod

Hanan Ben Lulu — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:12:04 +0000

Introduction: I’ve long wanted to sample the Hookset-Global ProSpin series of rods and when they introduced a GLX model to this lineup that was all needed to pull the trigger. Question was could this new ProSpin GLX rod really deliver that rare combination of a sensitive, light action tip, with that strong, unrelenting backbone needed to overpower hard fighting fish? Sit back as I take you on a journey with the ProSpin GLX from Hookset-Global. Leveraging the success of their popular AllSpin series rods, this ProSpin GLX stick features the lightweight Hookset-Global guides. These guides are coveted not for their appearance, but for their apparent lighter weight. The remainder of the rod features Hookset’s conventional if not conservative look including a full cork fore and rear grip and Hookset-Global reel seat.

Real World Test: I paired this rod with both my Okuma Epixor 30 and my Shimano Stradic 4000. Each of these two reels have a very different feel characteristics primarily to their respective weights, yet each compliment the rod very well. This speaks to the rod’s overall good balance before even mounting a reel in its reel seat.

Casting: While I did not make any big “heave it as far as I can” casts, I was able to pick, choose, and hit my targets. This was especially true using this rod in and around the docks of Sea Of Galilee, Israel. The guides handled both copolymer (PowerPro Spectra) and fluorocarbon (Sufix XL) lines well although there was a noticeable noise factor associated with casting the stiffer fluorocarbon lines.
Sensitivity: One area where Hookset-Global often excels is in the sensitivity department. That “light and crisp” feel you get with this rod when you pull it out of the rod rack translates very well on the water to a responsive and sensitive product. The minimalist appearance of the guides is carried throughout the length of the rod with its matte finished blank and modest rod wraps. This all helps with the rod’s weight and ability to transmit even the subtlest of hits into your hands.
Power: Where this rod truly shines is the second you whip your wrist back to set hook on those fish. The communication from the end of your line through the rod and into your hands of that fish shaking its head underwater is undeniable, and the nice, smooth bend of this rod, while a little forgiving, is at the same time, powerful and confidence inspiring. Anyone who has ever caught or targeted spotted bass know one thing - these fish are mean and absolutely crazy and any size fish three is an absolute thrill to catch.

Conclusion: When battling crazy fighting fish like spotted bass and pikes, it pays to have a rod with the unique characteristics of a light, sensitive, forgiving tip, yet a solid, unrelenting backbone. Hookset-Global delivers this combination and more with their ProSpin GLX. On pure performance this rod is a lot of fun to fish and on that characteristic alone, this rod is worthy of my Editor’s Choice!