ianfortey
Articles by ianfortey
What Do Catfish Eat?
There is a reason that so many catfish anglers argue about the best bait to use. There are numerous kinds of bait that work very well to catch catfish. Some anglers swear by stink baits and dip baits. Some believe live catfish bait like fish and night crawlers are the best. Others would prefer cut…
How to Hold a Catfish
Handling catfish is a unique issue among anglers. Many people are convinced handling catfish can be dangerous. There is a long-standing myth that catfish have catfish stingers. The whiskers on a catfish’s face are thought to be poisonous. The fact is, this is not true. Catfish do not have the ability to sting. But…
How to Fish for Catfish
Fishing for catfish is not like fishing for other fish. You can use many of the same techniques, but they’re not always the best. If you are serious about catching catfish, you need to put in the time and effort. That means understanding the best techniques and using the best gear. That doesn’t mean you…
Best Catfish Reels
Serious catfish anglers need to match the best rod to the best catfishing reel. You have a lot of reel choices when assembling your rig. Your choice in catfish reels will change depending on your needs. It also depends on your skill level and budget. With the proper reel, catching catfish could be so much…
The 10 Best Homemade Catfish Bait Recipes
When it comes to catfish fishing, many anglers have some very intense opinions about bait. More than any other kind of fishing, catfish fishing will bring out arguments from everyone. Arguments about what’s best for catching the most or the biggest catfish. While many kinds of baits are effective, some anglers swear by homemade bait….
Best Catfish Rigs
You have a lot of choices when it comes to selecting a catfish rig to catch catfish. The thing you need to know foremost is that, as important as any rigs may be, bait is essential for catching the best catfish. The catfish baits you use is always more important than the rig, but the…
Best Catfish Rods 2023
You could use any rod to go fishing for catfish. But there are benefits to rods specifically for catfishing. You may have noticed that the handles of catfish specific rods are longer than normal rods. This is to allow for greater leverage. Many big catfish require you to wrestle them up from the bottom. You…
Types of Catfish
North America is home to well over 30 catfish species. Many of the catfish species in North America are in isolated areas or small populations. Anglers call the most popular catfish species The Big Three. The Big Three include blue catfish, flathead catfish, and channel catfish. The Big Three are the catfish species most anglers…
Best Hooks for Catfish
Fishing for catfish requires special gear. You could try to use any old hook to catch catfish but it may not work. Catfish have thicker, tougher mouths than most fish. This, combined with their size and strength, means you couldn’t need specialized hooks. There are several options to choose from. The best choice will…
Best Tackle Box of 2023
A reliable tackle box is an essential piece of gear for any fishing trip. You need a spacious and efficient tackle box to carry and organize all your hardware, tools, and lures. Being organized will ensure an enjoyable fishing trip. When you’re out on the water you have to expect the unexpected. From snags to…
Best Bait for Catching Catfish
Choosing the best catfish baits requires knowing what catfish you’re fishing for and what that species enjoys most. When you’re looking for one of the big three; blue catfish, channel catfish, or flathead catfish, you must tailor your catfish baits appropriately. For some anglers there are no wrong catfish baits. For others, something as weird…
The Best Time to Fish for Catfish
Asking when is the best time to catch catfish can be a difficult question to answer. To start with, what kind of catfish do you mean? There are over 3,000 species of them in the world, in 40 different families. That’s a lot of fish so you need to narrow down exactly what you mean….
Best Rain Gear for Fishing 2023 (Review and Buying Guide)
Fishing is not a hobby for people who want to stay dry. That being said, there’s no reason to get soaked if you don’t have to. There’s plenty of raingear for fishing on the market that won’t hinder your movement but will keep you dry in either a little drizzle or even the most torrential…
Best Camping Cookware of 2023 (Review And Buying Guide)
Serious campers are going to build a serious hunger. When you’re roughing it you need to make sure you’re taking in adequate calories to keep going and while you could eat pre-packaged the whole time, a hot meal really hits the spot. Plus, there’s something about a meal you cooked while camping that just tastes…
Ranking the Best Fishing Pliers on the Market
Anyone who’s gone fishing and forgotten their pliers at home knows firsthand just how invaluable these seemingly simple tools can be. As with any key item in your tackle box, quality is absolutely integral to a good experience. You could go with a cheap pair of pliers you found at the local dollar store, but…
Ranking the Best Boat Cookware on the Market
When you are doing duty as a galley chef you know that space is at a premium. The quality of your cookware really comes into play in ways that you might not even think of when you’re boiling a pot of water or frying up an egg on solid ground. Galley cookware needs to be…
What You Need to Know About Boat Capacity Plates
A large number of deaths and injuries on the water are caused by overloading boats. There were 57 deaths in 2019 alone as a result of this. Many boaters are not aware of the capacity of their boat. They are unfamiliar with capacity plates. Some boaters do not know what their boat capacity plate states….
Understanding Different Kinds of Boat Propulsion
Anyone can look at an aluminum fishing boat and a yacht and know that they are not the same. Not only is the purpose different, and the look, but how it moves. Boat propulsion depends on a number of factors. Some boats obviously need more powerful motors than others. Some are faster and more efficient…
How To Measure A Boat
At first glance you might think that measuring boat length is a simple process. Like everything else, you just measure from the tip to the other end, right? But there is more to it than all of that. In fact, there are different ways to measure a boat that will give you different measurements. These…
Learn How to Sail: The Basics
Understanding the basics of sailing is what is going to ensure your success as a sailor. Humans have been sailing for literally thousands of years. The process involves more than harnessing the wind. For people who have no knowledge of sailing, there is a lot more to understand than they realize. But that doesn’t mean…
How to Navigate in Restricted Visibility
Operating a boat during times of restricted visibility can be dangerous. Whether at night or during mist and fog. If you can’t see you need to be cautious. For this reason, safety signals have been devised. You need to rely on light signals and sound signals. Knowing the meaning of these light signals and sound…
Boat Navigation Rules
The rules of boat navigation are critical for ensuring safe boating. Part of being a responsible boat owner is knowing the rules of the road. That term, rules of the road refers to the Collision Avoidance Regulations or COLREGS. The rules of the road are just what they sound like. They word just as the…
How to Register Your Boat
Boat registration is required for all motorized vessels. It is a required part of boat ownership. In some states you may require the title as well. If you need to register your boat, it may not be as hard as you think. In fact, you can probably register your boat online. The process to sign…
TVMDC Explained
TVMDC is a kind of acronym known as a mnemonic initialism. It’s an easy to remember abbreviation word. That means each letter in the acronym stands for the first word in a longer term. It stands for true heading, variation, magnetic heading, deviation, compass heading. Sometimes it will be called true variation magnetic deviation…
The History of the United States Coast Guard
The long history of the US Coast Guard dates back further than many people realize. While the Army and Marines were unofficially created the year before America became a country back in 1775, the Coast Guard followed soon after as the first form of defense at sea. As one of the oldest organizations in America,…
What You Need to Know About the U.S.C.G. License Exam
All captains are mariners, but not all mariners are captains. If you want to become a USCG licensed captain, there is a testing process you can go through. You need to gain experience on a boat. When you feel you are ready, then it’s time to take an official U.S. Coast Guard license exam. When…
CHART SCALES
A nautical chart is far more in depth than a standard map. Nautical charts contain a lot of useful information. A typical map may just show you the distance from one place to another. Nautical maps and charts use NOAA data to show much more than distance. Whether they’re paper charts or electronic, they offer…
How Do Hydrodynamics Affect Boating?
There is a lot of science at play in the world of boating. In particular, the effect of hydrodynamics is something most boaters don’t know about. The forces at work as it relates to water flow, wave resistance and friction are all at play. The hull shape of your boat, the weight, and the amount…
How to Back Up a Boat Trailer
When you first get a new boat it can be very exciting. Getting out on the open water, having fun, enjoying the sun and the sea. But there is one part of boat ownership that many boaters find intimidating. Backing up your boat trailer. It’s just something many boat owners struggle with at first. When…
What You Need to Know About Small Boats
Small boats are the best option out there for beginners. Or for seasoned boaters who just don’t want to need a big boat. But understanding what a small boat even is may be harder than you think. Likewise, learning what you need on your small boat can be a challenge. Under some definitions, a small…
