1) As soon as the fish lands avoid any contact with hard surfaces to prevent bruising.  It Never use water from close proximity marinas, municipal or industrial discharges.

2) Simply chill the fish to prevent deterioration in less than an hour.  With a little advance planning, proper icing can be accomplished with the use of some relatively cheap equipment.  Fish should be stored in coolers and should be well chilled.  It should be 3″ deep, thus, covering a pound of fish with pound of ice.  Use chlorinated water per quart of water for the final rinsing.

3) Clean the fish as soon as possible.  Their tissues are sterile but not their scales, which contains many types of bacteria.  When cleaning fish, avoid rough treatment because wounds in the flesh can allow the spread of bacteria.  Gutting the fish does not have to be necessarily long.  Make sure not to soak cleaned fish fillets in a prolonged freshwater as this could reduce the meat texture and flavor.

4) The eating quality and nutritional value of fish can be maintained up to 5 days if properly cleaned.  Washing of the hands before touching the fish is also important.  No matter what fish and the cooking technique used, one golden rule is to be followed always.  Whether 15 minutes should be allotted to fish enclosed in foil or sauce baked.  Double the time for frozen fish.

Allow extra time if fish will be baked while packed in an aluminum foil and allow extra time for the penetration of the heat.

Knowing the line type and matching the right rod and reel to the fishing technique is just basic common sense.  Match these tools appropriately and expect a more enjoyable experience for a more comfortable fishing.  There are several things that causes the reel to turn into a bird’s nest, don’t worry, even experienced fishermen encounter this every now and then.

The main objective is to match the rod, the reel, the line and the lure. The 3 main issues when shopping for a rod are:  Guides that are attached to the rod; Grip or handle holds the rod and could come in either cork or foam.  They come in different lengths so the comfort to the user must be considered; and the reel seat where the reel is connected.

Rods of any type will work.  It should be around 6′ long and medium weight.  Even a long stick will work.  This should be long, straight and flexible so it will not easily break.  The most popular rod is Graphite because it is so light yet so strong.  Wispy rods should be up to 4m long to be used for long casts in moderate winds. It is mostly made of nylon and “monofilament” that comes in spools of different lengths that are called Tests.  The larger the fishing line the thicker it is in diameter.

The basic rule is that all the gears should match. To summarize your fishing kit, it should include other stuff as well: net, stringer, line clippers, fishing knife, first aid box, a pail of bait, sunglasses, fishing hat, and talking about the basics, don’t forget your SNACKS and DRINKS!

There is Five Star Advantage that ranger dealers often speak to their customers: Quality, Safety, Innovation, Performance, and Value.  Below is a list of “must have” things when buying your first fishing boat.

Tow Vehicle – This is one of the most important piece of your equipment, ensured that has the rating to get the job done like loading up to 3500 lbs. of weight that could easily pull the boat up the hills and mountainous treks.

Bass Boats – For first timers, consider a second hand boat.  This will be a trial and error stage where fishing skills can be tested.  Consider a larger boat, which is about 19 feet with 20 to 30 miles speed for larger bodies of water.

Aluminum – In smaller lakes, a 16-18 foot aluminum boat is a good choice.  It is cheaper than fiberglass and more forgiving of bangs, running up into shallows and hitting stumps and rocks.  The only downside is that it rides rougher even with the slightest winds.

Fiberglass – The good thing with this boat is that it could handle bigger, rougher water and still give you a smooth ride.

Brand new versus Second Hand – Buying a second hand boat is not only cheaper but holds their value longer and better.  The downside is that you’ll probably inherit someone else’s troubles.  During casual inspection, outboard engines problems are not easily identified.

Handling the Boat – Listen to the pitch change when trimming down.  Never worry, because everyone passed that stage and there’s no boat owner that is not willing to help a first timer learn.