Sunday, April 9, 2017

Picking The Right Boat

"Picking The Right Boat"

There are two questions that should be considered when choosing the right boat: "What will be the fishing for?" and "where will the fishing activities be?"  Always look for the signs of quality check the carpet and the compartments - they could be plastic, metal or fiberglass.  Look at the little but very important things like the 1000 GPH bilge pump, the six gauge wiring instead of ten or eight that is because heavier wires gives more power from the battery up to the trolling motor.

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 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 - This two-stroke engine is much more expensive which could cost from $20,000 to as much as $50,000.  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.  The best thing to do is bring someone you trust with you to inspect a prospective boat or buy from someone you know instead.

Handling the Boat - Listen to the pitch change when trimming down.  Although it will be very difficult for beginners like trying to launch and retrieve the boat backing it down the ramp.  Never worry, because everyone passed that stage and there's no boat owner that is not willing to help a first timer learn.  Sometimes all it takes is just 4 hours to learn the basics.

Buying a dreamboat is very exciting.  It is not the boat that really matters but the experiences that come with fishing.

“Fishing Kit Basics”

Before going deeper into the technicalities, make sure that a fishing license is secured.  To be an amateur fisherman there are basic pieces of fishing equipment needed to complete your exciting journey in the fishing world.  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.  These will only cost a newbie around $25 to $40 and they could last for years.  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.

Dealers make a lot of fishing rods that could either be single or consist of two or more pieces when assembled.  The connection is very simple; just connect the male and female ends together to make sure the guides are lined up.  This would only last for a minutes.  Sometimes, lubricants are needed.  When shopping for a rod, slightly bend it to get the feel of it.  Again comfort should be considered when using the equipment.

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.

There are a lot of fishing lines to choose from and it can be very confusing to find the best.  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.  Find a piece of a 4lb. or 4 lb. Test that is almost 10' long for the basic rig.  

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! 

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