Eat, Sleep & Fish

Eat. Sleep. FISH.

Spring is a great season for bass fishing; or really any fishing. Nothing beats spending time on the water with the peacefulness that the sport brings. It’s a way to get away from the hustle and bustle of our world and get outdoors.

When it comes to quality gear and accessories for all your fishing needs, Bass Pro Shops should come to mind. Founded in 1972, Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. They provide unrivaled products, dynamic locations, and excellent customer service. They know their stuff and they have just what you need.

You’ll find Fishing Rods, Fishing Reels, and Fishing Accessories of top brands. It also doesn’t matter your specialty; Fly Fishing, Ice Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, or any other type you prefer. At Bass Pro Shops, they’ve got the gear to help you pursue your trophies.

With some of the best Fishing Lures and Terminal Tackle out there, you’ll also be able to add to your vast collection of other top accessories. Just be sure to browse their Rod Storage and Tackle Storage solutions to make sure all your new fishing gear stays in the best condition.

For a few top fishing products, check these out!

Hold everything you need with the Bass Pro Shops Extreme Qualifier 370 Tackle Bag or System. This heavy-duty bag is designed with water-repellent polyester construction and has a reinforced bottom to last for many fishing trips. It also can hold up to five 370 utility boxes and comes with a number of zippered and mesh pockets. Choose the entire system or just the bag.

Just in, the NEW Bass Pro Shops Tourney Special Spinning Rod and Reel Combo is a great option. You don’t need to be a tournament angler to enjoy this top-quality rod-and-reel setup. Remarkably powerful and incredibly responsive, this combo features a graphite frame and rotor, double-anodized aluminum spool, split-grip EVA handles, and more!

For those that are just looking to update their rod, the Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite 2.0 Casting Rod could be the one to get. With over a 4-star rating, this rod was built with Carbon Coil Technology™ that creates a double-helix configuration of materials for structural reinforcement for a competitive edge.

Experience the thrill of catching bigger fish with quality fishing gear from Bass Pro Shops. As long as you have Bass Pro Shops on your side, you can expect a successful day on the water.

Shop Fishing Gear at Bass Pro Shops

Catch And Release Fishing

A Guide to The Proper Method of Catch and Release Fishing

catch and release fishing

Catch And Release

Fishing is a sport, but it has become less about survival and more about fun in recent decades. There is an issue of fish becoming depleted and many anglers are now employing the practice of catch and release fishing.

Catch and release fishing is a great theory, but many people are doing it incorrectly and as a result many fish are dying. A few steps should be followed when trying to catch and release a fish. Once you get the hang of how to do it correctly, you will be able to enjoy your hobby and keep the population of fish full in your favorite stream or lake.

The best place to start is with the hooks. A fish that has a hole through its mouth is going to be more likely to survive than a fish with a hole in its lung or gill. If you happen to hook a fish in the gut, the best thing to do is to cut off the hook as much as you can then release the fish.

Many times the hook will dissolve and the fish will spit it out, but they can also live with a rusted hook hanging from them. Whatever you do, do not tug on your line to pull a hook out or you will severely hurt the fish. If you are able to easily remove the hook, use a pair of needle nose pliers. The process of pulling the hook out is easier if you remove the barbs from the hooks, but try not to wiggle while you pull the hook out.

Fish are obviously unable to survive outside of the water. Therefore, the longer that it takes you to release them, the more it becomes as if you are suffocating them. The way that a fish is gripped when out of the water will make a big difference.

For instance, avoid touch a fish’s body with your bare hands. The fish have a slimy protective coat that will be stripped if you touch them with your hands. If you have to touch a fish, make sure that your hands are wet. You may want to wear gloves to protect your hands from cuts or permeating fish smells.

Part of the fun in fishing is to “play out” the fish. The struggle can be what some anglers wait all day to do. Fish are like humans; when they “work out,” they build up lactic acid. When you are fighting a fish, they are fighting too. Just like when someone works his or her body out and it feels sore, a fish experiences the same thing. The build up of lactic acid can be toxic to a fish even days later. Therefore, if you are going to practice catch and release, try to keep the struggle to a minimum.

Try not to let a fish flop around when you catch them. A fish that flops around can bruise or damage its internal organs, causing them to die later from the injuries that are incurred. You can also revive a fish if you need to do so. A fish is likely to run out of oxygen and pass out, so to speak.

In order to revive a fish, you place the fish in the water with their belly down and gently grasp their tail. Start to slowly move their tail back and forth until they give you the signal that they are ready to take off into the water. Sometimes you will need to repeat the process more than once, but don’t let a fish go until they are ready. A fish that is not ready to swim could get carried away and swept into rocks or embankment and cause serious injury.

More than anything, when you are practicing catch and release, have everything ready to go. Make sure that your camera, pliers, and gloves are in reaching distance. Try to take the precautions necessary to preserve fish and one of America’s favorite pastimes.