If you are a crappie fishermen, then you’re well aware of how much fun this can be. Crappie are a species of panfish, but they grow to much larger sizes than their cousins. Commonly referred to as “slabs,” crappie are a favorite species sought by many anglers. What is great about fishing for crappie is the fact that the limits are usually quite high at most fishing locations, as well as the size of these fish. It is not uncommon to catch a slab that approaches 1 pound in weight. The larger crappie will make fine filets for fish fry. Coupled with large limits, an afternoon on the lake might yield enough slabs for a party.

Crappie Fishing Techniques

photo credit: finchlake2000

There are few crappie fishing techniques that you’ll need to think about before going on your next fishing trip. Crappie are predatory fish. This means that they eat small fish and minnows just as soon as they can fit them in their mouth. Because they are predatory, it is important to think about what types of lures and jigs you will be using. Small spinners and plastic jigs that mimic baitfish will lure the larger slabs out of their hiding places during the day. When fishing for crappie, it is important to note that they’re more active around dawn and dusk. On sunny days, they retreat to the shadows of submerged logs, brush piles, and rocks.

Crappie Fishing Videos

If you are a beginner, it might be advantageous for you to watch a few free crappie fishing videos online. If you go to a site like YouTube, type in the search “crappie fishing.” There are many different crappie fishing videos available on YouTube. These videos will help you to see techniques that are helpful in landing big slabs. There are other sites online that will provide you with crappie fishing videos, and it might especially be useful for you to search for videos that explain which types of lures use as well as where to fish.

photo credit: freakyman

Due west of Portugal Azores Archipelago, some 17 miles away from Tenerife, lies the island of Gomera, a place of peace and serenity, utterly contrasting with her larger neighbour in that tourist development here is nonexistent. Until Gomera acquires an airport, the situation is likely to remain the same — unspoilt and beautiful, just like the island of Corvo in the Azores.

Gomera – A Hidden Treat

The island (146 square miles) is shaped a bit like a fruitcake, with mountainous interior and steep cliffs all round the coastline — no beaches worthy of mention. The highest point is Alto de Garajonay (4,850 ft), surrounded by tall peaks and deep valleys that make communications very difficult. Even today there are few good roads; those that do exist are characterized by hairpin bends, steep gradients and sheer drops down the mountainside. Until the middle of this century the easiest way to get from one place to another was to take a boat around the coast then trudge uphill to your destination. Partly to overcome this problem the islanders developed a whistling language which they used to ‘speak’ to each other across the valleys; a piercing whistle could carry much further than the ordinary human voice and the whistling evolved into a complex series of sounds that has been officially recognized as a form of language. With the invention of radio and telephones, the whistling skills have largely been lost.

The island’s population today numbers around 24,000, of whom some 6,500 live in the capital, San Sebastian. Of all of the Canaries, Gomera has the least serious water problem; several springs and streams help the cultivation of bananas, tomatoes and papas (potatoes) in the flatter areas and on terraces that rise in a multitude of steps up the mountainsides. Fishing also contributes to the economy, with fish factories canning tuna etc at Santiago and La Rajita, the only sign of 20th-century industrialism in the island.

Basics For Wilderness Adventures

photo credit: alainamcbride

There are a few things every adventure-lover needs to know about the wilderness before you head out into it. First of all, to keep wilderness areas wild and thus enjoyed year after year, they must be left exactly as when the visitor arrives. This means you are responsible for packing out anything you may have used, destroying evidence of your campsite, and taking only photographs with you. Secondly, no human conveniences are available in most wilderness areas, so one must be fully prepared before they leave it all behind.  Bring enough water to keep yourself (and possibly your group) fully hydrated. You will need to carefully plan your meals and be able to prepare them. You will also need to provide some type of shelter or other way of staying warm and dry.

Studying the information found on websites such as Climbing Outdoors will help you reach your goal of being prepared to enjoy the wilderness. Here you will find a wealth of information about most outdoor and extreme sports. Tips on the best locations and the most reliable or ideal equipment are sure to help anyone about to have an adventure. You can also find information from the same author on facebook, twitter and even g+! Trust the experienced voice found here and learn how to best enjoy a trip in the wild.

Large Garden

photo credit: dane brian

If you want to have a large container garden, you will need a variety of container sizes. Varying your type of plants will help ensure that you have depth and variety in your garden. Large pots are necessary for small shrubbery and smaller pots may be necessary for flowers. Determine what plants you want to grow first and then think about sizes because different plants will require different size pots.

Indoor Garden

If you’re going to have an indoor garden such as adding lots of garden pots to your sun room or along your bay window, don’t choose pots or plants that are too large unless you already have a good spot for them. Boxes work well because they can be set up against the window for maximum sun exposure to all plants.

Affordable Garden

Are you gardening on a budget? Get plastic pots instead of ceramic pots or clay pots. They are much less expensive and some plastic pots are just as pretty and attractive. They also won’t break as easily and won’t be as heavy. You can incorporate plastic pots along with more expensive ceramic ones, too. This will allow you to get a few of the beautiful pots you have without spending too much money overall.

An Attractive Garden

photo credit: slideshow bob

Everyone wants an attractive garden no matter how big or small. Some pots are designed to be so busy and colorful that they take away from the beauty of the plant because they distract the eye. If you have vibrant, colorful pots, use them with plants that don’t have flowers, or stick with basic pots.

photo credit: romana klee

If you want to lead a peaceful life and to have a safer driving experience here are some clues about the best snow tyres available in the market.

Various Brands of Winter Tyres

1. Bridgestone Blizzac L.M 60: Bridgestone is one of the largest companies in the world manufacturing quality tyres and their products namely Blizzac winter tyres are undoubtedly the best tyres. They offer proven grip and durability, but the important point is that they are designed only for mild winters. If you live in a part of the world, where winter is very active, this tyre will not suit your vehicle. But drivers feel that LM-60 tyres are smooth in running.
2. Bridgestone-Blizzac D.M-V1 are the tyres like L. M- 60. They offer valuable grip and reliability. These types of tyres are best for larger vehicles such as light trucks. As D.M-V1 tyres are heavy-duty tyres, they can withstand any harsh winter. Bridgestone promises that these tyres have improved grip and perform better.
3. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5: These tyres are considered best by drivers who are facing the worst winter conditions. These studded winter tyres perform exceptionally well in icy and snowy roads. They are also perfect for passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks. These tyres are more expensive and you can refer to the website on Cheap Car Tires and select the tires that suit your vehicle at cheaper rates.

You must also note that there are some restrictions in some areas to use studded tyres as there is every possibility that these tyres tend to damage the roads. You have to check for this limitation before you proceed with the purchase of these studded tyres.

photo credit: Orin Zebest

Nearly everyone is interested in saving money. If you are making a significant investment such as buying a boat or a travel trailer, you will probably be even more cautious with your money. And this is a good thing, because if you are cautious, it is likely that you won’t fall into a trap of buying a really bad unit and getting stuck with it. But if you are new to buying boats or travel trailers, I hope that this article will provide you some benefit on how to spend less in finding cheap boats and travel trailers.

The first secret is that not everyone who is trying to sell cheap used travel trailers or boats is advertised in the classified section of the newspaper. As a matter fact less than 10% of people who actually wanted to sell boats have an ad in the classified section of newspaper. These are just the easiest people to find and so this is where a lot of people start their search. But there are also other places, like the Internet and Craigslist for instance. Craigslist is a free source where people can advertise for free to sell something, and so as a result, they often have more listings there than they do in the newspaper.

Another part of the secret is that a lot of people are very motivated to sell. Most people do not expect to get their full asking price for a boat or travel trailer. Most people would seriously consider an offer that was 10 or 20% less than what they were asking originally.  Some people would take 30 to 40% less, especially if they have the RV listed for a long time without any calls, or if they have other reasons to sell it which they think are more important than getting the price that they want. Having been in that position before  as desperate seller, I totally sympathize with these types of people.  And I am also anxious to help them get out of there problem of owning a boat or a travel trailer, and getting the price that I want to pay for it at the same time. This is what you call a win-win situation for both the buyer and seller.

photo credit: Funkdooby

Beach tents are a versatile, temporary structure that people carry to the beach. People who spend a good deal of time at the beach invest in beach tents for their family’s comfort and health. Beach tents are coated to provide protection from the sun and weather. The fabric is treated with SPF protection. A tent should have an SPF of 50 or greater. This number determines the amount of the sun’s rays the material will block. It does not indicate the amount of time you can spend in the sun. An SPF of 50 or greater means that the fabric will block 98% of the sun’s UVA or UVB rays. This is important if you need to protect a person whose skin is sun sensitive, or, if a small child will spend time in the tent.

Because a beach tent is used in hot weather, it is constructed to allow for ventilation. This will prevent people inside from over heating and dehydrating. Open design tents such as the tripod provide excellent air flow. While other tents have flaps that can raise, or, ventilation slits built in. Beach tents are made in several styles to meet the needs of their users. Pop up tents assemble by sliding the poles through guiding loops or seams of the tent. They are usually small and suitable for one or two adults. They are also a good place for children to play or rest while they are at the beach.

Pop ups are also considered the easiest of the beach tents to use. Dome shapes are also easy to assemble. They are larger and have higher head space for adults. A dome shape tent has extra flaps at the side and a built in floor. It can fit 4 adults comfortably. Sun shelters and gazebo styles are good for large groups of people and are used for entertaining. It is possible to place a table in these styles of tents. Sun shelters and gazebo tents are the most difficult to assemble because of their size.

photo credit: Waponi

Bottle Beach is one of those legends in traveler’s circles just like the beach from Alex Garland’s book. It is a beach that is hard to get to and so beautiful and idyllic that it is hard to leave. Bottle Beach has inspired a song on YouTube and continues to be a firm favorite with old Thailand hands.

When I first visited Bottle Beach (or Haad Khuat as it is also known) with my girlfriend I instantly fell in love with the place. That was back in 1997. There was only generator electricity, one place to stay and behind the white sand beach was jungle stretching as far as the eye could see. We arrived by Longtail boat from Chaloklum and we soon found out that a boat or a 30 minute walk through the jungle to a road where we had to hitch was the only way to leave the beach.

When a storm blew in and the boat taxi was cancelled we felt stuck on Bottle Beach. It was not a bad thing because were in no hurry and quite happy to spend a couple more days lazing in the turquoise blue waters and looking at the little fish. We also took an extra day to take a trial through the jungle to a view point high on a hill overlooking the whole bay area.

Nowadays, Bottle Beach is far less remote or inaccessible. There’s a hazardous road that links Bottle Beach to the road going to Thong Nai Pan. There is also now electricity and better made bungalows. From just one bungalow resort there are now three accommodation options to choose from.

Bottle Beach accommodation is still far from expensive and the actual beach is just as beautiful as ever. It might not have the same romantic mystique as it previously did, but Bottle Beach is still a place to escape the madding crowd and to imagine you are cast away in paradise.

photo credit: Creative Tools

Whenever you are out for camping trips, having a good camping flashlight with you is a must. For this reason, whenever you are planning to purchase one, there are some things that you need to keep in mind first. Doing so can make sure that the flashlight that you are about to buy is indeed the most ideal one for your trip. So what are the things that you must keep in mind before buying this piece of camping gear? First and foremost, you must look around in stores and try to see if you can find a flashlight that is not only waterproof but is also scratch and corrosion-resistant.

You must look for a camping flashlight that allows you to adjust its beam. It would also be a good idea to choose a device which you can change into a freestanding candle or one that can be changed into a lantern. It is also highly suggested that you pick a flashlight that is small in size and one that is light. The reason for this is so that you can easily place it in your pocket and bring it with you anywhere you go. So in case, you are in dark surroundings you can have easy access to light.

There are some flashlights that have biteable handles. It would be best if you pick one of these. This way, if you need to do some tasks and need to have your hands free, you can place the handle of the flashlight in your mouth. Usually, flashlights of this type costs less than one dollar. Having a headband which lets you insert a flashlight on your head is something that you need if you have freedom of hand movement while doing some things. Keep all of these in mind when purchasing a flashlight and you will surely be able to find the one that can suit your needs.

photo credit: Ken Curtis

If you are tired of fishing for over pressured and picky fish at your local fishing spot (that has too many casual fishermen crowding up the shores), it is time you planned a fly fishing trip to Alaska.  Alaska is known as the ‘last frontier state’, and for good reason.  Everything about Alaska – from the snow covered mountain peaks and wide open wilderness, to the wildlife and especially the fish – is larger than life.  Because of the high cost of living and remoteness of the state, very few people call Alaska home.  There are literally hundreds of rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams in remote, pristine locations full of native species of fish.

When planning an Alaska fly fishing getaway, it is important to remember a few items.  First of all, it is important to shop around when looking for the right accommodations.  There are many different types of Alaska fly fishing lodges to choose from.  In more civilized areas, you have more options, and in more remote fishing locations, you will have less options to choose from.  These range from luxurious hotel style lodges, to more basic detached cabins, all the way down to cabin style tents.  Keep these things in mind when choosing your lodging for your trip.

It might be a good idea to bundle different amenities together to save money and headaches of coordination.  Items to include in a package deal might be additional travel arrangements (via float plane or bush plane into the backcountry), lodging, meals, and guide services.

Before choosing your lodging company, make sure you read some online reviews of narrowed down options.  This will let you know what previous customers thought of the accommodations and amenities, as well as the services provided.  All that is left is to pack and get ready for the best fly fishing experience of your life.