1001 GAMEFISHING TIPS

....serving anglers worldwide

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Whether you're fishing for Blue Gills, Tommy Cod or 1000+lb Marlin

KEEP YOUR HOOKS SHARP!!

Always check your hooks before, during and after fishing. Even big hooks can become blunt easily. Trolling lures hitting the deck, transom, berley bucket when they are being retrieved can dull the point. If a Billfish hits one of your lures but spits it out 30 seconds later don't just keep trolling. Retrieve the lure and check the hook/s.

PLEASE NOTE: This tip will always be at the top of this page as we feel this is one of the most overlook things but one of the most important. Please scroll down for more recent additions.

To prevent your sunglasses or prescription glasses from becoming fogged, apply a tiny amount of surfboard wax to the inside of the lens. Rub in the wax for a few minutes and then check for streaks of wax. The idea is not to rub the wax off completely but to leave a thin film.
To prevent saltwater or rain from "sticking" to the outside use the same method. It works extremely well and does not impair your view.
Thanks to : Peter Mariott - Stalker Sunglasses

Added : 5 November 1999

To get the sparkle back in your skirted trolling lures that have a hard head, simply polish the head with toothpaste. Easy!

Added : 5 November 1999

To get the sparkle back in your skirted trolling lures that use soft head technology, simply polish the head with a fine car polish foam and a cheese cloth. Don't use a abrasive polish such as the "cut and polish" variety.

Added : 5 November 1999

If you mix ice with saltwater to produce a slurry, it will keep your bait/catch fresher for longer than just using ice and/or freshwater. We store our pre-rigged switch baits in a bucket containing the slurry. The bait looks like it just been caught after spending hours in the bucket.

Added : 16 September 1999

Make a habit of regularly checking your swivels. Ensure that they turn properly. Use a spray lubricant if necessary. If to swivel still doesn't turn adequately, replace it.

Added : 14 September 1999

Use rubber bands to join trebles of your bibbed and bibless minnows when storing them in your tackle box. This will decrease the chances of the trebles become connected to undesirable items (other trebles) dramatically. Below is a good example.

Added : 14 September 1999

Line moving through guides at speed causes friction which produces heat. Heat destroys fishing line quickly. Soak a lint free cloth in a fine grade oil and then rub the cloth around the interior of the guides. This is particularly successful when angling for fast fish on light tackle. PROOF

Keep you reels covered as much as possible. This will protect the line from harmful UV rays. UV ray will half the life of even the best line (despite what manufactures say). When traveling to and from the fishing grounds cover reels with a damp rag/towel. The dampness will prevent the rag/towel from moving when the boat is traveling at speed.

Sick of losing expensive leads/sinkers...... try beer cans filled with cement. Some clever anglers use other methods such as plastic containers filled with beach sand. Take it one step further......fill your chosen container with beach sand that has tuna oil mixed in with it and punch small holes in the container. This method works extremely well when targeting sharks in deep water. Only problem with this is that sometimes the shark takes the container rather than the hook!

Keep your knot size to a practical minimum when you are chunking (cubing) for tuna. The knots can become coated in food items when the line is traveling through the berley trail. Tuna will sometimes chomp on the knot if they are stimulated enough and damage the line.

If you coat your fly line with "Armor All" you'll cast easier and the fly line will travel further. Courtesy of Peter Hayes - 7 times Australian Fly Casting Champion

Get a broom handle, two hose clamps and a cheap 5/8" open ended spanner. Clamp the spanner with the hose clamps to the end of the broom handle. Ensure that about 2" to 3" of the spanner is sticking out the end when you clamp it. Bingo!.......One "HOOK OUT". This device is use to push a hook out the month of a Billfish. It works with a two hook rig but is better suited to a one hook rig. It is safer for the angler and the fish.

If you find that your skirted trolling lures are breaking the surface and the hooks are becoming tangle in the leader do 1 of 3 things. 1. Slow down!! 2. Place the lure further from the boat. 3.....and the best option. Use a "flat line clip". Use of a flat line clip will keep the angle less acute and the lure will travel better in the water. If it doesn't try 2. If still no success try 1. If none of these methods work, throw the lure at the skipper of the closest longline boat.