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Welcome to FishExplorer!

FishExplorer aims to maintain the most comprehensive and up-to-date local fishing resource in the state under one roof. We are all about fishing for the love of fishing and sharing that, no matter your experience level.

FishExplorer is angler-owned and produced, and community-managed.

Conditions Reports

Conditions reports are the essence of what we all need to know when embarking on a fishing trip no matter what you're fishing for or with. Water temps, levels, flows, etc. They are at the core of our state fishing catalog.
Visit our Conditions Reports page to learn more
FishExplorer Winter Giveaway

Fish Feed

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FishExplorer Winter Giveaway 2024 Begins!

Yes it is that time of year! Enter now through Dec 31 to win one of many great prizes, for free!
11.19.24 - blog
forum

How Do You Stay Updated on the Latest Kayak Angling Trends?

Hey there, fellow Yak-Addicts! I've been diving deep into the world of fishing kayaks lately, and I'm curious about how you all feed your addiction. What resources do you use to stay up-to-date on the
09.04.24 - forum post
Fishing News Feature Photo

American Sportfishing Association Testifies on Fisheries Data Modernization

ASA testified before the House Natural Resources on the importance of accurate data in marine fisheries management. Current program may be overestimating recreational fishing effort for fisheries by
06.27.24 - news article
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Revealed: THE secret to successful fishing

Of all the technological marvels introduced into the Prater Household in the 20th Century, by far my most popular would be indoor plumbing. But No. 2 or 3 would be monofilament fishing line.
01.28.23 - blog
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FishExplorer Winter Giveaway Winners!

The 2022 FishExplorer Winter Giveaway has come to a close. Winners announced today in this blog.
01.06.23 - blog
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Winter Giveaway Thanks

We want to give thanks for everyone who has made the winter giveaway possible
12.16.22 - blog
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Promo Codes for FishExplorer Members from WG Partners

We have a new set of discount codes for FishExplorer members, offered by our Winter Giveaway partners!
12.06.22 - blog
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Stripers in the Sac

The boys and I hit the Sacramento River at Rio Vista and chase some stripers. We land a few keepers and dozens of small ones! They were hitting on frozen shad that day. Good luck out there and I hope
11.22.22 - forum post
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Winter Giveaway Has Started

The 2022 FishExplorer is underway, and it is time for you to go enter if you haven't started entering yet!
11.22.22 - blog
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Filleting Fish Techniques

I am new to fish filleting. Just want to know which knives are good for fish filleting. [url=https://www.sportsmanfinder.com/hunting/knives/fillet-knives]Fillet Knife[/url]
07.21.22 - forum post
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Donation of fresh water gear to any youth program

I am past my fishing days and have 8-10 fresh water fly rods and 5-6 reels as well as numerous lures. I am looking for a Ventura County or surrounding county fishing club that has a youth program to
06.01.22 - forum post
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Sportfishing Leaders Go To Washington

During the committee sessions, some of the issues discussed included legislative priorities such as the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), federal excise tax issues, import duty relief and cons
04.04.22 - news article
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CPW issues reminder about educating yourself on ice safety guidelines

Good, solid clear ice is the safest. Four inches of ice is generally considered safe for people ice fishing and ice skating. However, off-highway vehicles, or OHVs, need at least six inches of ice thi
01.19.22 - news article
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2021 Winter Giveaway Winners Chosen

We have picked the winners randomly for each prize in our Winter Giveaway of 2021, and the event is now officially wrapped up!
01.07.22 - blog
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WG Discount Codes for FishExplorer Members Now Available

Discount promo codes from some of our 2021 Winter Giveaway partners are now available to FishExplorer members. Enjoy! Go save some $
12.01.21 - blog
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Winter Giveaway is Underway!

The annual FishExplorer Winter Giveaway has officially begun. The event runs now through December 31 with dozens of prizes that you can win. Entry is free. Earn more chances by contributing to the we
11.19.21 - blog
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Gearing up for the Winter Giveaway - starts Friday!

Gearing up for another great Winter Giveaway, which will launch this Friday the 19th at 5am!
11.15.21 - blog
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Sportfishing Industry Lends Support for Aquatic Invasive Species Control Legislation

New bill would expand authorities for federal agencies to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species
10.26.21 - news article
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American Sportfishing Association Partners with Wildlife Forever to Fight Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

The “Clean Drain Dry” initiative educates anglers and boaters on how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species
10.25.21 - news article
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Begginer enthusiast question

Hello, i recently start going on fishing trips with my nefew and friends and was wondering as a begginer if i should spend on pro equipement from the start? Any idea!
10.05.21 - forum post
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Walleye Fly Fishing

A primer on how to go after toothy walleye on the fly. With a sinking line and some clousers, you'll be well on your way to hooking these predators on a noodle rod.
09.03.21 - blog
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Get kids interested and excited to fish!

Want your kids having fun fishing and not bored out of their minds? It's up to you to make it happen and here's a way to get started. Start here and see if your kids don't want to go more.
03.22.21 - blog
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Cold Front Blues

In one of my previous blogs, I talked about whether or not it was a myth that the moon affect’s bass fishing. In this blog I want to talk about another topic that anglers may deem as either a fact or
01.16.21 - blog
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Winners of the 2020 Winter Giveaway

Announcing the winners of prizes in the FishExplorer 2020 Winter Giveaway
01.08.21 - blog
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Winter Giveaway Winners

A new season is upon us as 2019 gets off to a warm and windy start. We just picked the winners of the 2018 Winter Giveaway! The winners are listed here in this blog, and emails will go out this afte
01.08.21 - blog
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Say Goodbye to 2020, Cast Your Final Winter Giveaway Entries

2020 is closing, 2021 looks to be promising, and until things get right again we can always get out and fish. Say goodbye to the year that was with a final entry or two into the 2020 FishExplorer Win
12.30.20 - blog
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Your First Five Lures

In this blog I want to focus on the first five lures you will want to add to your tackle box. These lures will catch fish of all species throughout the year when used properly!
12.26.20 - blog
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Your First Fishing Pole

In this second blog of my series on how to get started in fishing, I am going to focus on selecting your first fishing pole.The fishing set up I recommend for beginners is the Pflueger President spinn
12.16.20 - blog
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How to Get Started Fishing

A new series of blogs on the subject of how to get started fishing. In this blog we will cover the topics of rules and regs and finding a place to fish.
12.12.20 - blog
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Do Bass Feel Pain?

A topic that arises from time to time in my fishing conversations is that of the ethicality of catch-and-release fishing. I enjoy catching fish of all species, and I will occasionally harvest some fis
12.09.20 - blog
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Hug your Fishing Shop

It's that time of year to spread a little love! Give some of that goodness to your favorite shops and guides via Google Reviews - it's free and quick and I GUARANTEE will make your favorite biz owner
12.09.20 - blog
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Thank you, Mr. Watson, for taking me fishing

Nearly 60 years ago, I got my fondest wish for my 14th birthday, a fiberglass fly rod. I hadn’t a clue how to fish with it, though neither did Mom or Dad. Fortunately I lived across the street from Mr
11.25.20 - blog
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Sportfishing Industry Celebrates House Passage of America’s Conservation Enhancement Act

The U.S. House of Representatives passed without objection America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act, a historic package of bills to benefit fish and wildlife conservation throughout the nation. Wi
10.01.20 - news article
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As a beginner How can I catch bass fish

As a beginner How can I catch bass fish. Please someone tips me about catching bass fish
09.28.20 - forum post
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U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes America’s Conservation Enhancement Act

“The ACE Act would be a massive win for outdoor enthusiasts throughout the country,” said Mike Leonard, vice president of Government Affairs at the American Sportfishing Association (ASA)
09.17.20 - news article
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Landmark Win for our Great Outdoors

On August 4th, the President signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), which previously passed both the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support. The most significant national con
08.04.20 - news article
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Tips on Getting your First Fly Fishing Gear

This is an intro to beginners wanting to get into fly fishing and have no gear. Here is a list of the basic essentials, and some tips on what to look for.
06.22.20 - blog
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Intro to Beginner Fishing Series

Introducing a series of blogs designed for beginner anglers since a lot of people are now getting out for the very first time or picking up the sport again.
06.22.20 - blog
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any updates appreciated

Wondering if there is any current information out there on Shasta?
06.02.20 - forum post
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CALIFORNIA Pond Fishing 2 fish 14lb's Gun Shots / Shooting & I Lost a DD Double Digit! Trophy BASS !

CALIFORNIA Pond Fishing 2 fish 14lb's Gun Shots / Shooting & I Lost a DD Double Digit! Trophy BASS ! All i can say is wow, i am lucky to have got on this bite. It's been a blast and man the fish they
05.16.20 - forum post
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Northern Colorado Artist Donates to Fishing Guides

Northern Colorado fisherman and artist Cody Richardson is helping fishing guides in times of need through direct donations from sales of his artwork.
04.21.20 - blog
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Fishing Rules of Life

I do a lot of things with a lot of variables when I go fishing. Experimentation is a key factor in figuring out how to catch fish on any given day, and at any given hour. Fish change their feeding b
04.20.20 - forum post
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Take Your Time

Recently I was critiqued on my catching methods, as a stranger decided to tell me that I take way to long to bring in small fish after he watched a video of mine. I thought about this long and hard...
04.12.20 - blog
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Can I go out fishing with a stay-at-home order?

So you say the words "stay-at-home" and many hear "house arrest". This isn't the case in most places. Most orders dictate that you can be outside doing things like fishing, as long as you keep dista
03.25.20 - blog
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Ode to the Bug

I sat down to write a little bit about fishing in light of the current situation we're all facing, and it turned into a poem. So enjoy!
03.23.20 - blog
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FishExplorer Winter Giveaway Winners

The winners of the FishExplorer Winter Giveaway have been picked, emails are being sent to winners, and I will list the winners here in this blog in case you miss the email.
01.10.20 - blog
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Happy New year FxR Folks!

One decade ending while a new begins, one Winter Giveaway ending while ice fishing is in its prime. Good times, good fishing, happy new year everyone!
12.31.19 - blog
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Recreational Fishing Wins Bipartisan Support from U.S. Senate Committee

The National Fish Habitat Through Partnership Act was included in this conservation legislation
12.17.19 - news article
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Discount Codes for FishExplorer Members

Some of our Winter Giveaway sponsors are offering discount codes to FishExplorer members. I hope it helps you find that unique something you're looking for!
12.11.19 - blog
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U.S. House Passes Bipartisan Fish Habitat Legislation

Bill will establish more consistent federal funding for habitat conservation programs
12.11.19 - news article
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CarpQuest Season 7 - Episode 7 Released - Carp Fishing at the Fairgrounds

Fantastic carp fishing session at Adams County Fairgrounds in Colorado, USA. My brother Peter was over from the UK to do some wildlife photography,
12.08.19 - blog
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No talking politics

We Fish Explorer folks seem to maintain very cordial conversations on Forums, making for friendly communications. Here's a reminder from the Loveland Fishing Club on how they keep from strangling one
12.07.19 - blog
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The Winter Giveaway of 2019 Begins

Today we are launching the largest Winter Giveaway we've had to date. Any member can enter to win something - no gimmicks. Log in, choose prizes, and come back and do it again later.
11.19.19 - blog
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FishAmerica Foundation Awards Four Habitat Improvement Grants

The grassroots projects will improve water quality and aquatic habitat
11.12.19 - news article
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Are State Lands Really Public?

School trust lands were intended to make money for the state, but exactly how they should do that is up for debate
10.03.19 - news article
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Hellp with High School fishing club

Help! As a new member I am requesting assistance for my grandson's high school fishing club. He attends Oak View High School and they currently have 40 members who are interested in fishing. What is n
09.18.19 - forum post
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Good float-tube lakes for trout

Hi Folks, I'm new here, my very first post. Bay area trout angler but retired now and want to take some MAJOR fishing trips to very small trout lakes (Convict and smaller) in the Sierra, from the Oreg
09.05.19 - forum post
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Highlight of recent trip to Montana was hooking five species of fish in one river

Montana. Big Sky Country. Fabled trout waters.
09.01.19 - news article
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Organization, cleaning and sharp hooks

A few years ago my buddy and I were pre-fishing for a walleye tournament. The bite was soft and light. He caught about 5 to my one before I decided to check the hook on my jig.
08.07.19 - blog
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Rick Bramwell column: Persistence pays off with fishing expedition

Persistence pays off with fishing expedition
07.19.19 - news article
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The Fishing is Good!

My fishing style and place is quite limited, by my own choice. But when you can fish a slice of heaven and catch the kind of fish on the kind of equipment I have the privilege to use, there's little
07.07.19 - blog
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Designer helps spread gospel of tenkara fishing

Designer helps spread gospel of tenkara fishing
05.29.19 - news article
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New fishing lines and old anglers

Consider this a tutorial on new fishing lines for old Colorado dogs, and anyone else who needs to learn new tricks. (Warning: Anyone with a heavy investment in heavy equipment may disagree with what f
05.26.19 - blog
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Unconfirmed Rumors?

Tomorrow we would hike down off the mountain and continue further into the wilderness to try our luck for Rainbows at a secret beaver pond complex. Our mission was to see what was there – to check it
05.26.19 - blog
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SAFE BOATING IS NO ACCIDENT

SAFE BOATING IS NO ACCIDENT
05.18.19 - news article
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Fishing for Mental Health

Go fishing. It is the best thing you can do for yourself.
05.14.19 - blog
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Casting for a Good Time? Check Out this Trout and Ale Trail Across the U.S.

Casting for a Good Time? Check Out this Trout and Ale Trail Across the U.S.
04.30.19 - news article
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The On Switch

It takes three things to catch fish.
03.30.19 - blog
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Happy Spring Y'all

Boat registration? Check. Trailer registration? Check. 2019 fishing license? Check. The spring equinox is here, and the weather on the Front Range is showing it. Time to make sure the ducks are all i
03.20.19 - blog
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Ready For Carp

Fly fishing for Carp is a blast! Whether you're targeting Common Carp, Grass Carp, or Mirror Carp - these fish are sure to test your fly fishing skills.
03.18.19 - blog
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The "Better Gear" Conversation

Someone will begin a conversation about better gear and the conversation always goes to the same place where every single one of the initiators of the conversation gets it all wrong!
01.22.19 - blog
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Now I MIGHT be starting an argument here...

I wouldn’t normally rub Tom or Dave or Dan’s nose in it, but there is a fatal flaw or two behind any anglers’ determination to measure (or worse, to eat) whatever they catch:
01.11.19 - blog
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Body Glove Mariner ISUP Winner

From November 21 - December 31 all conditions reports submitted for lakes and rivers on FishExplorer were entered in a drawing for the Body Glove Mariner ISUP. And today we announce the lucky winner!
01.09.19 - blog
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2019 California Sport Fishing Season has Started

From CDFW We at CDFW think it is a great time to purchase your 2019 sport fishing license. Purchasing your license now will allow you to take advantage of a full year of the unmatched fishing oppor
01.08.19 - forum post
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PRESIDENT SIGNS MODERN FISH ACT INTO LAW

The recreational fishing and boating community is celebrating the enactment of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018 (Modern Fish Act), which was signed into law by President T
01.07.19 - news article
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What's safe for me may not be safe for you.

With each ice season comes new ice anglers. So often I see people walking out on new ice with no safety gear, no spud bar, no ice picks, no PFD, no throw rope, and most importantly no partner.
01.04.19 - blog
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Here's to a Great 2019!

The Winter Giveaway and the Body Glove/FishExplorer Winter Reports Campaign are through, but 2019 just got started and there's a lot of fishing to do!
01.03.19 - blog
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Starting the New Year out right

When I lived in Grand Junction, Colorado during the 80's, a group of us fished New Year's day. Once I moved to Fort Collins, and since I let this tradition lapse. With luck, as a party of one I've s
01.02.19 - blog
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Win A $100,000 Bass Fishing

OK, maybe it's not a simple as Newell Brands suggest. To collect the $100,000 you have to catch a new world record largemouth bass using Stanley Jig bait or Hale Lure bait. A record that's held since
12.30.18 - blog
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TEXAS COMPANY SETS $100,000 BOUNTY FOR WORLD RECORD BASS

Hale Lures/Stanley Jigs, a leading manufacturer of trophy bass tackle, is putting their money behind their reputation.
12.30.18 - news article
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Fishing Styles I Have Known

When everything works just right I will have a monster bass on the end of a 5 weight fly rod and it is worth repeating as often as I can.
12.29.18 - blog
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Bipartisan Conservation Champions Rally to Save LWCF by Year’s End

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) champions in the House and Senate rallied on the steps of the U.S. Capitol with conservation leaders and outdoor recreation advocates today calling on Congress
12.01.18 - news article
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Rod Maintenance

Each winter when the lakes ice over, I like to get all my equipment cleaned up and ready to go for next year. Here’s my method of cleaning my fishing rods to make them look and feel like new again.
11.20.18 - blog
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2018 Winter Giveaway Starts Now

The 13th annual Winter Giveaway is officially underway. It is hard to believe that we've been doing this since 2006. Over 790 prizes have been awarded in that time.
11.19.18 - blog
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Cast a Line from One of California's Public Fishing Piers

From CDFW Fishing on one of the many public piers along the coast is the next best thing to being on a boat in the open water. Fall is a great time to catch a variety of fish species, so grab your
11.07.18 - forum post
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PURE FISHING SOLD TO BELK, HOT TOPIC OWNERS FOR $1.3 BILLION

Newell Brands (NYSE:NWL) made substantial progress on its Accelerated Transformation Plan, designed to create a simpler, faster, stronger consumer-focused portfolio of leading brands and today announc
11.07.18 - news article
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Ice Fishing Research - Mapping

My new toy, the Deeper Smart Sonar Pro+, is helping me this fall to do some mapping research from shore before ice fishing in my area gets going.
11.06.18 - blog
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Luring More Women To Fishing In The Upper Great Lakes

The number of Americans who fish is in decline and that decline has had an impact on conservation projects, because hunting and fishing licenses help fund everything from habitat restoration to clean
11.06.18 - news article
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Fall is Prime Time for Fly Fishing

This is from the CDFG newsletter (email). It's so true that fall is a great time to be on the water. As far as fly fishing in California goes, October has it all. The hardest decision you have to
11.04.18 - forum post
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Catalina Island

Hi I'm planning on bringing my bout out after Christmas & plan on heading out to Catalina for a few days of site seeing & fishing with the wife. What species could i expect to catch around that time o
11.04.18 - forum post
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GILA TROUT: A NATIVE TROUT CONSERVATION STORY

GILA TROUT: A NATIVE TROUT CONSERVATION STORY
11.03.18 - news article
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River Levels

If you fish rivers, or kayak, or canoe them, you may know about the USGS river gauges. They are scattered up and down the navigable rivers, and you can see their information on the internet in real t
10.31.18 - blog
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Fall is Prime Time for Fly Fishing

From CDFW As far as fly fishing in California goes, October has it all. The hardest decision you have to make is where to fish, because the fishing may be good anywhere. Should you head to the high
10.28.18 - forum post
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The Secret Lure

Today I’m letting the cat out of the bag and revealing to you all the secret lure of fishing. This lure has been used by elite anglers for generations separating the pros from the amateurs year after
10.19.18 - blog
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Big Pattern Change

This is going to make big changes to the fishing patterns. I'm curious how you plan to adapt, what you think will have to be done differently
10.18.18 - blog
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Fishing Fitness

I fully intend to live here all my life, and I deeply want to be able to climb that bank until my last few days. Not sure how well that's going to work out, but I have a plan.
10.14.18 - blog
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Carp on the Fly Resources - Part 4

Here's the fourth and last of a few blogs highlighting some great resources to get you into carp on the fly.
10.14.18 - blog
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The Boston Sea Rovers Internship

Applications now being accepted Don't miss out on the experience of a lifetime!
10.10.18 - news article
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Water Resources Bill Goes to Trump with Big Win for Everglades Restoration

Water infrastructure package with benefits for fish, wildlife, and the outdoor recreation economy heads to president’s desk with bipartisan support
10.10.18 - news article
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Rod and Reel Arsenal - 2018

Was thinking that just for fun I would post the majority of my rod and reel arsenal for y'all. Maybe it can help anyone looking for a technique specific set up in the near future.
10.09.18 - blog

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