IS READ FISHING MAGAZINES!!! I know that title sounded WAYYYYbetter…but get yer minds outta the gutter…LOL!!!!
I love fishing magazines, and every month, when my in-fisherman and other various subscriptions come in the mail, its most likely the greatest day of my month!!! There are several types of magazines geared towards fishermen and women. I want to discuss three of my favorite types!!
REGION SPECIFIC MAGAZINES ~ I love these types of magazines, and they are usually my favorites because they offer so much incredible information about all the great places in the world that are available for us to visit!! A few of my favorites are:
1. Travel Manitoba – As you all know, I love fishing in Manitoba. I love the natural beauty of the land and all the wonderful lakes that this area has to offer. PLUS, it does not hurt that I have had my best fishing experiences to date in Manitoba. In addition to all that, the region publishes a fishing and hunting guide that is the most amazing source of information I have ever seen. The lists of lodges and lakes is so thorough that you could plan your trip directly from this magazine. Its like your own personal Manitoba travel agent.
Another great thing about this magazine (at least this years edition) is that my name is in it!! It lists every Master Angler that has been recorded in the last year. I think this acknowledgment of such amazing achievement and angling is really a great reward and one of the reasons I continue to go back to Manitoba every year.
2. BC Outdoor Sport Fishing Magazine - I have never fished in British Columbia, but it is high on my list of places to go ASAP. This is not a free publication, but it is well worth the money. I like this magazine for two reasons…it gives really great information about the region and it’s lakes and it has amazing articles that are really handy regardless of where you are fishing.
The 2009 Spring Edition includes a lake guide that gives locations, directions, facilities, and other information regarding each lake featured. These types of articles are what I look for in a good magazine because I use these guides so frequently for research purposes when trying to find that perfect trip. We all know research is key and these types of publications put all that information at your fingertips.
These are only two of my favorites, but every region usually has their own regional guide. I suggest trying to locate the travel and tourism board of the place you would like to visit to have them send you a travel guide. Most of them have websites and emails and are happy to send out as much information as you would like!! It’s also helpful to subscribe to the magazines that cater to the region you are interested in visiting. You can usually pick up just one or two issues if the publication has a website.
SPECIES SPECIFIC MAGAZINES ~ These types of magazines can be very helpful when you are hunting down that monster fish of your favorite species. We all know that different fish eat different things and react differently to certain motions, etc. Therefore, it is imperative to be educated about the type of fish you are hoping to hook and become as much of an expert as possible. There are many resources that one can use to become better acquainted with the chosen species, but magazines are an excellent place to start. My favorites are:
1. The Next Bite ESOX Angler – This magazine is focused on Northern Pike and Muskies. You all know how much I love to fish for Pike, and this magazine helps me to understand the species a little better. When I was just beginning to fish for these monsters, I had no idea that Pike sunned themselves in the shallows to warm up after winter. Magazines like this one (along with my expert of a hubby) taught me where on the lake to look for the big ones. It was also great for understanding eating habits, aggressive behaviors, and lure choices.
2. Walleye Insider (published by In-Fisherman) – I love this magazine because I love walleye. Canadian walleye are my favorite because they flare up and flare out their gills at you like little fishy lions. I try not to tell them that I think it’s cute because to them it is survival…no one likes their survival skills to be called cute.
There are many other great magazines that deal with specific species of fish. More of my favorites include Bassmasters, Salmon Trout and Steelhead, Pike and Muskie Guide, and Trout. I know there are many other fine publications out there as well. These are just a select few of my favs.
GENERAL FISHING MAGAZINES ~ These are magazines that give you great articles month after month on every possible type of fish and location. They are a great resource but not always specific enough to work for research purposes. However, they are highly entertaining and those who write for these magazines are very educated and knowledgeable fishermen. My favorites include:
1. In-Fisherman Magazine – This is such a great magazine for a multitude of reasons. First of all, it almost always has information about pike. But it also always has information about bass, crappie, and walleye. It really is amazing the amount of information they put into each issue. On top of that, the editor of this fine magazine is none other than Doug Stange. Doug is an amazing fisherman and really knows his stuff. With a pro like him at the helm, you can be sure the information you get in the magazine is accurate and dependable.
I also love the adventures section of the magazine which gives the reader great ideas about locations for great fish all over the United States. I always make notes on the cool areas I read about. I really hope to mark some off my list this year and next. I love the stories that they share and the tips for great tackle that are always a part of each issue. As far as great reads go, this is one of the best.
2. Outdoor Canada – For those of you that really love Canadian Fishing, this is the magazine for you. Not only does it have great ideas on hot spots for fishing, it also gives great ideas for gear and tackle to use in the Canadian wilderness. I love how the magazine covers all the types of species that can be fished for in Canadian waters and is therefore a great resource for all types of anglers. Whether your goal is a monster pike or a monster lake trout, this publication is a fantastic weapon to have in your arsenal.
3. Sport Fishing – This is a magazine for saltwater fishing. I have not been fortunate enough to do a ton of salt water fishing yet, but I hope that that changes soon. This magazine has really peaked my interest in this type of fishing. It has given me lots of exciting and interesting information on the differences between salt water and fresh water fishing. PLUS…those fish get HUGE!!!
Fishing magazines can provide a wealth of information for the reader. They are really invaluable resources to those of us that search long and hard to find just the perfect spot to go. I love learning new things and there is always room for more tackle in my box!! Please remember that these are only a few of my favorites!! Feel free to comment and add yours to the list. I am interested to know about any magazine that I may not have mentioned here or may not know about yet.
There are a couple of really interesting websites associated with some of these publications. They are:
http://www.travelmanitoba.com/
http://www.bcosportfishing.com/
http://www.in-fisherman.com/
http://www.outdoorcanada.ca/
Happy Readings ~
LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe
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Check out my site at: www.fisherbabe.com
