Secondly is seasonal consideration. In the warmer months walleyes are likely to swim deeper to get to colder water so it seems like walleye is harder to catch in the hot summer months of July and August. In the summer months it is better to look for deep cold water vs. shallow lakes and streams.

If you are trying to catch fish in very deep water in the warm months fishing at night can be a good trick because the cooler temperatures can bring the fish up a little higher towards the surface. Beware that when you fish deep water any fish you throw back is unlikely to be able to survive. Bringing it up through the temperature change in water and pressure change is difficult for it to adjust to and they will not be able to overcome the damage.

When you are attempting to catch walleye don’t move the line a lot. Walleye are a rather lazy fish and won’t bother chasing anything that is moving about constantly. Let the hook sit in the water and the walleye will come to it. Generally the favored bait for walleye is perch that can be easily found in the shallow water around tall weeds. Using a crank bait you can get the bait down deep into the water so the walleye are more likely to see and go for it than if it were sitting in the top levels of the lake. If the fish are even deeper than the 15 to 20 feet or so that a crank bait will get your bait you can use a drop-shot to get further down into the water with the bait. Your best chance of success in catching a walleye is to get the bait all the way down to where they are at. Using a bottom bouncer can help keep the bait down at the bottom of shallow areas. Once you have a walleye on the line do not retrieve the fish with a long hard pull where you might end up pulling the hook and bait right out of their mouths. Instead use a short pull to gradually bring in the fish.

If you find yourself in a shallow lake where you think walleye are present the best bet is around weedy areas: first of all because that is where their favorite food, perch, is likely to be hanging out, and secondly because there is usually a higher oxygen content around weedy areas. Knowing the habits of the bait fish can benefit walleye fishermen greatly as when the bait move to shallow or deep water so do their prey.

5) On our list of the best fishing places in the US, Montauk Point weighs in at number 5. Montauk Point is the home of New York’s oldest lighthouse. Located on Long Island, Montauk Point offers some of the best and most varied surfcasting available anywhere.

Fish caught there: Marlin, Mackerel, Sharks, Cod, Weakfish, Tuna, and Striped Bass

4) Yellowstone National Park is the second of the best fishing places in the US. This national park, located in Wyoming, is world renowned as the home of the geyser ‘Old Faithful’ and is a destination for millions of vacationing families each year. What is lesser known is that Yellowstone (and the region around it) is home to some of the greatest Trout fishing an angler could imagine. From the stocked streams within the park, to the many streams and rivers in the area containing trophy-level wild Trout, Yellowstone should be on any ‘Fishing Across America’ tour.

Fish caught there: Trout

3) Our rundown of the best fishing places in the US continues with Key West. Located in Florida, Key West is the wonderful area Ernest Hemingway (American Nobel Laureate) chose to call home in the 1930’s. Along with all the family amenities a tourist could expect, Key West boasts the kind of salt water fishing excitement that could tempt us all to pull up our roots and move there.

Fish caught there: Tarpon, Bonefish

2) The next of the best fishing places in the US is the Ozark Mountains area. Located in Missouri, the Ozark Mountains area is one of the truly relaxed vacation areas in the US. This area is one where you take things at your own pace and unwind from the day to day stresses of life. Abounding with fishable rivers, the Ozark Mountains area is somewhere an angler can hop in a canoe and discover paradise.

Fish caught there: Smallmouth Bass

1) Finally, coming in number one on our list of the best fishing places in the US is the Outer Banks. Located on the coast of North Carolina, the Outer Banks is the perfect ‘back to nature’ vacation spot for a family or a fisherman looking to pull in as many fish as he can handle. What makes the Outer Banks such a special fishing place is that it is located along migration routes for monster schools of fish. During the month of November, the Outer Banks offers what is probably the most active, exciting fishing anywhere in the world.

Fish caught there: Albacore

Every angler has a mental list of dream fishing trips. These locations, the best fishing places in the US should be on every fisherman’s list.

Now, a fisherman first has to know where the fish are if he is going to be successful. Thankfully, there is a significant amount of devices on the market that you can use in order to find them. Take Eagle’s new Fisheasy compact fish locater which operates using sonar. It features a 4 inch screen and will work both in shallow and deep water, up to about 1000 feet. It can cover 120 degrees at a time from any location. It even features a back up screen and a large amount of memory. To sweeten the deal even further, this device features a built in temperature sensor.

No matter what fancy accessories you my purchase, you can’t catch fish without a rod and reel. Simple rods may work fine, but if you have the money and you are serious about your sport, then why not take a look at the top of the line rods that have hit the market in 2008. Maybe the best rod on the market today is the Berkley Tactix. This rod is constructed with graphite and chromium parts which make for a very strong and lightweight rod. Another rod that is worse picking up is the Cabela XML Ti. Like the Berkley Tactix, this rod is also strong and lightweight. Of course this rod features a special shape memory that allows it to return to its original shape, even if you run it over!

One reel that is sure to catch your eye is the Abu Garcia Cardinal 800. This high quality spinning reel is claimed to be the strongest rod on the market today that features an open face. It is made of the best aluminum alloy parts so it is defiantly built to last a long time. One thing you don’t want is to purchase a reel that only lasts a few months, after all. This reel is specially designed so that it features a smooth drag and a strong retrieve. There is also the Johnny Morris Elite reel, produced by Bass Pro Shop. This is another great reel; it is a bait caster that features a titanium finish and is made of lightweight materials. Even though it is lightweight, this baby can handle a 20 pound fish without any problems.

This is just a sample of all the great new gear available for 2008; so be sure to check out your local sporting goods store to make sure you’re ready for fishing season.

It’s difficult to say, but the rod is probably the most important piece of fishing gear that you can own. It’s because of this that you really can’t afford to settle for a cheap, budget rod. One rod that you may really find useful is the Daiwa Steez. This is a tough rod made of pure graphite. Even though its strength is most likely unsurpassed, it still manages to remain lightweight. One of its better features is the special Airfoam grip for especially easy handling.

It’s very important that you have a top of the line reel as well. Reels have more chances to break as they feature many complicated parts. You need a reel that features a strong body that is still lightweight that features a smooth drag and a strong retrieve. You need a reel that is easy to turn so that you don’t have to have to strain yourself when the moment of opportunity arises. The following are all excellent choices: the Abu Garcia Cardinal 800 spinning reel, Bass Pro Shop’s Johnny Morris Elite, and the Mitchell 300x series. These are all excellent models and you will find that they are very strong and easy to use.

What fishing trip would be complete without lures? Throw out those old lures that you’ve been using forever. These brand new lures are made to give you the ultimate fishing experience and the most chance of landing a fish. Recommended lures include: Cotton Cordell Wally Diver, Snag Proof Bleedin’ Frog, and the Yum Dancin’ Eel. These lures are made with the latest technology and will add a new element of fun to your hobby.

Many people enjoy simply going out on a boat and following their instincts when it comes to fishing. That’s great, but if you are really interested in saving time and still making sure you catch a lot of fish, then you should definitely look into purchasing a sonar fish finding device. One great model that you should take a look at is the Hummingbird 700 series. It delivers a state of the art picture that delivers sonar pictures in high definition. This model also features a built in digital camera so you can take pictures while you are out at sea.

These are just of few examples of the great fishing gear that is out there. There are numerous sporting goods stores that feature top of the line equipment like what is featured here, or you can check out the web to see if you can get any special deals on the equipment you are looking for.

If you don’t know of any good websites that deal in fishing gear, all you need to do is type in ‘fishing gear’ into any search engine. This will give you plenty of stores to choose from. Most of these stores exist as brick and mortar stores as well, but they have simply expanded their business onto the web in order to increase their customer base. Therefore, most stores that sell fishing gear online can be trusted. If you have any doubts though, you can easily check for any bad reviews written about the store online. That’s a good way to make sure that you don’t get burned.

One of the negatives about purchasing fishing gear online is the fact that you have to pay shipping and handling costs. You can help to put off some of these costs by finding special deals and sales. Most of the time, websites will be able to sell their products at discounted prices. This is because selling products online means that they pay less overhead and can pass the savings onto you. This is one way that you can justify the shipping costs. Some websites will offer to send you your purchases at no cost. This is usually part of a promotion and you will have had to spend a certain amount of money in order to qualify.

Purchasing online is safe and easy. Many people are afraid to make purchases online for no good reason. There are horror stories circulating around about how you can have your identity stolen. While this is true, most sites take every measure to ensure that your identity is safe. These sites are almost always encrypted in order to protect your identity. They are even protected against hackers on a daily basis. Therefore, your chances of having your identity stolen are about as high as your chances of winning the lottery.

To make sure that you always get the best deal, there are websites that you can use in order to compare all of the online stores that feature the product that you are looking for. For example, if you are looking for certain type or brand of fishing rod, all you can to do is type the product name into the site’s search box and it will find the best prices online for that product and allow you to compare them and choose the best deal. These sites may have discount coupons that you can use as well.

Without a rod, you can’t fish. So this is without question the most important piece of fishing gear that you can purchase. If your old rod has been letting you down and you’ve owned it since the Reagan administration, why not go ahead and check out what these new rods have to offer. Perhaps the best rod on the market is the Cabela XML Ti. This is the rod for you if you are looking for something that is not only lightweight, but strong as well. It is a very sensitive rod that features unique guides whose shape memory can return the rod to its original shape even under extraordinary circumstances. The best part is there are models available for all kinds of fishing.

The next important item that you need is a reel. Reels are complex devices made of many different parts. It is easy for them to be worn down and need replaced. If you’ve had yours for some time, don’t risk having it break on you during a fishing trip. One reel that you should definitely take a look at is the Mitchell 300x series. The Mitchell 300 has been a popular reel for years and is very trusted. The new 300x series is an improved model that was just introduced. It features strong, lightweight polymeric body and an automatic reverse. If the Mitchell 300x isn’t the right rod for you.

Lures seem to be often overlooked when purchasing new fishing gear. People seem to be under the impression that those simple lures of yesteryear are all that they need. One lure that you may be interested in is the Matzuo Kamikaze Buzz’r. This buzzbait features a realistic head and a skirt that covers the hook so that there is less chance of it getting snagged on the weeds. Finally, if you want to fish you have to know where the fish are. So make sure you pick up a sonar device. This will make sure you always come home with a full cooler.

Going deep sea fishing on a party boat can be fun as well and a whole lot cheaper. The party boats are much larger than the charters and therefore carry more fishermen. You can usually plan to spend less than a hundred dollars for a full day of deep sea fishing. Keep in mind that the more people, the more chances of getting your fishing lines tangled up. This can be very frustrating when your buddy is reeling up a big keeper and you’re line isn’t even in the water.

One last thing that will make your fishing trips even more exciting and successful is a sonar device. Some people prefer not to use the help of these devices, but if you’ve never tried it out then you don’t know what you’re missing. These devices, such as the Hummingbird 700 and the Garmin’s Quest 2, take all the guesswork out of fishing and show you directly where the fish are biting. Sometimes you just don’t have all day to look for fish. That’s when devices like this come most in handy.

There are many different types of lures you can try and some are better for different situations and types of fish than others. Here are some of the typical types of lures you might find in an avid fishermans tackle box.

Spoons

These simple metal lures look like the head of a spoon - thus the name. They make a wobbling motion which attracts fish and are great for beginners as they are inexpensive and easy to use.

Spinners

Spinners have a blade that rotates on a red when the lure is retrieved. The revolving blade gives off a reflection which imitates a fishes scales and movement under water. When retrieving this lure, one can alter the speed of retrieval to imitate an injured fish. For pike a large spinner works good but use smaller ones for fish like trout and mullet.

Surface Lures

Surface lures are retrieved along the surface of the water and are a lot of fun as the fish literally explodes out of the water in order to grab the lure. They are great to use in weedy waters since they remain on the surface and, therefore less likely to get tangled.

Floating Drivers

These cover a large area of diving depths from right below the surface to 15 feet or more. The depth is established by the angle of the fin to body - the lesser the angle the deeper it will dive.

Soft Baits

Soft rubber baits come in many shapes and sizes as well as colors and always remind me of gummy worms. Typically you will use these on a weighted jig head.

Jerk Baits

These lures don’t have any movement themselves but rather depend on the angler to bring them to life. When you jerk or shake the rod, the lure jerks or shakes in turn. These are used to mimic a wounded fish that other fish might find irresistible.

Light Standard Casting Lures

Standard casting lures attract a large range of fish from crappies to bluefish and can work good for certain species of bass fish as well when you retrieve them at a slow to medium speed. The range from 1/16 oz to 3 oz and are perfect for many lightweight freshwater fish species.

Heavy Standard Casting Lures

As the name implies, the heavy fishing lure is good for heavier fish such as bass and walleye. As all other types of lures, they come in many shpapes and colors.

Long Casting/Jigging Lures

Long casting or jugging lures are very popular and used regularly to catch trout and pike as well as bluefish and stripers. You can also use them the catch walleye and even tuna!

Deadly Diamond Lures

These lures are small ranging from 1/8 oz to 1 oz and can attract attention on smaller fish. This lure is cut like a diamond on the top which causes light to be reflected from it thus attracting the fish. These lures are great for catching crappie, stripers and walleye although they work good on other small species as well.

There are 4 basic kinds of line that are used for fishing, braided, fused, fluorocarbon and monofilament.

Fluorocarbon lines are virtually transparent to fish and used to be reserved for fly fishing but have recently been adapted for use by other types of fishermen. Although they have the advantage of being invisible to fish, they can be a bit brittle and are stiffer often keeping the shape of the spool which can be problematic for spinning reels.

Monofilament line is probably the most popular and has been around for quite some time. It works good for all types of fishing conditions. The only drawback is that if it is stored for a long time in one shape it will tent to keep that shape. So if you are storing it on a reel for extended periods it can cause a problem. Your best bet is to put new line on your reel at the beginning of the fishing season anyway.

Braided fishing line doesn’t stretch and is the strongest of all the lines. It is woven and floats easily. It can, however be a bit rough on the hands as well as the guides on the rod and reel. You will need to be sure you use the right fishing tackle for this type of line.

Fused fishing line is similar to braided but the fused lines have a coating applied over them that fuses them together like a glue. The nature of it makes it hard to cut without a very sharp knife and slide around on your reel. Also, it is thick and visible to fish.

A good fishing reel is critical for fishing; however, there are a couple of types of reels available in the market and choosing one can be a problem. First off, you need to know what type of fishing you will be doing. If you are fly fishing you must buy a reel specifically suited for that style of fishing, if you will be casting a line then a spinning reel is what you want to go for.

Fly Casting Reels

Fly casting reels cost more than other types of fishing reels. Fly fishing itself involves a specialized set of skills and therefore, a specialized reel. These reels must be light weight in order for you to cast smoothly. Fly reels typically do not have any gears, so turning the handle once means the spool also turns once. Fly fishing reels are narrow and disc shaped and also require a special touch.

Spinning Reels

Spinning reels come in many varieties and are used by children, hobbyist and avid sportsmen alike. They are easy to operate and ideal for beginners. You can buy closed faced reels which have a button that releases the line and come in an enclosed case. These are particularly easy for beginners but can be harder to clean as any debris returned with the line can get into the case and cause problems with the drag.

The open faced fishing reels are harder to use as they have a bail that you must slide over and hold down then release at just the right moment during your cast. They come in a variety of sizes and are what most experienced anglers prefer.

Mounting your fishing reel depends also on the type of fishing. A fly fishing reel is mounted below the handle because it acts as a counter weight and helps the angler to balance the fishing rod. The spinning reel is mounted on the top of the rod and has a drag system that helps to prevent breakage of the line due to the tension of having a fish on.

There are many fishing reel models to choose from and once you decide on the particular type, you’ll need to narrow yourself down to a price range. You probably don’t want to buy the cheapest reel, but you also might want to wait until you are experienced before you buy an expensive one as by that time you’ll probably know exactly the model you are looking for.

Usually a fishing rod measures 6 to 16 feet and varies in it’s capacity to bear weight and tolerate strain. The length has quite a bit to do with it’s ability to withstand the strain put on it by the fish and determines the performance of the rod used for angling.

Here are some typical fishing rods and their uses:

Cane Poles

Cane poles are of the oldest and most simple types of fishing poles. Typically they are made of bamboo or any other flexible type of wooden material. Cane rods are much loved by fishing collectors and some of the older ones will fetch a pretty penny plus some fisherman swear they work better than the newer ones!

Cane poles are traditionally used for fly fishing.

Fly Fishing Rods

Todays fly fishing rods are usually made out of graphite or fiberglass and come in different lengths and actions. Usually a beginner will start out with a fiberglass rod and graduate to a graphite once they become practiced. These rods come in 3 different “actions” - slow, medium and fast. Slow action rods are good for small lighter fish. Medium action are the preferred rods for beginners as they are easy to handle but don’t have as much flexibility as the light action. Fast action are only flexible at the end and are good for distance casting and large fish.

Spinning Rods

When someone today says they have a new fishing rod, it is probably a spinning rod. These come in many styles and varieties and can be used for heavy or lightweight fish. Most commonly, spinning rods are used in rivers and ponds or lakes for bass, trout and walleye. They usually come in sizes of 5 and 7 feet long. Spinning rods are flexible and rather tolerable to stress.

Jigging Rods

Jigging rods are good for deep water fishing and work well with heavy bait or lures. They are most common in ocean fishing where the line depth can reach to 200 feet. These are solid rods which are quite heavy and made specifically for the jigging of the currents. These rods carry heavy lines that can withstand the currents and action of the ocean. Usually these rods are used for catching haddock, cod and halibut.

Choosing a fishing rod that is perfect for the type of fishing you want to do is important, but you may find that you want to start off with a more inexpensive rod and work your way up. This is what most fisherman do and it’s not uncommon to peer into the garage or toolshed of an avid fisherman and find 10 or 20 rods stacked up!