Essential Backpacking Gear

Backpacking is a fun and exciting way to spend the time in the outdoors. There are a couple essential items that are necessary in order to have a successful trip. You want to make sure you have:
- Backpack
- Sleeping Bag
- Tent/Hammock w/ Rain Fly (When using a hammock it's a good idea to have a bug net)
- Water
- Water Filtration System
- Some Form of Light (Headlamp, Flashlight, etc.)
- Extra Batteries
- Food (MRE's, Granola Bars, Other Non-Perishable Food Items)
- Backpacking Stove w/ Fuel
- Knife
- Poncho/Raingear
- Extra Trash Bags Just In Case
- Lighter/Waterproof Matches
- Survival Kit
- Mess Kit

These are generally what you would want to have on a backpacking trip, though it varies depending on the length of the trip. If there's a body of water along the trail, you might want to plan on bringing a fishing pole. Thanks for reading and I hope this helps you on your next trip.

KVD 1.0

The new KVD 1.0 non rattling crankbait has proved to be a killer bass bait. Its deadly sharp treble hooks make sure that no fish will get off the line. This lure is especially effective for bass and crappie, and can be both cast and retrieved at a varied rate or slowly trolled. It's not as expensive as you would think, either. in most outdoors stores the price will range from about five to seven dollars. the yellow and black chartreause seems to work best. Good luck and good fishing!

How To Catch Pre-Spawn Bass

In the bass world, tubes are extremely effective, especially when used in the pre-spawn season. What I like to fish is a green 3.5 inch Gitzit tube with a 1/4 ounce jig head on a 6:3:1 baitcaster with braided line. The way I like to rig this is by sliding the jig head up through the bottom of the tube, then pushing the eyelet through the plastic, then tying a Palomar knot.
After you cast, let the tube sink to the bottom, then jerkin the rod tip up about every two seconds. Vary the speed at which you retrieve at, because bass won't always attack your lure at the same speed. This is a very effective method of fishing for pre-spawn bass, and I'd be happy to see what bass this technique will produce for you!

Black Diamond Rocklock Twistlock Review

Black Diamond's new Rocklock Twistlock carabiner is one of their latest innovations in carabiners. This auto-locking carabiner has an extremely smooth action to it, without breaking the bank. It has a fairly large gate clearance and is very strong and versatile. The Rocklock's best uses are belaying, rappelling, and building anchors. I highly reccomend this carabiner to anyone who is looking for a great quality, bargained price carabiner.

Spinning Reel or Baitcaster

In the fishing world, there's a variety of types of rods and reels, and they have their own advantages and disadvantages. The two most common types of reels are spinning reels and baitcasting reels. If you're having trouble deciding which kind to buy, this may help seal your decision.
Spinning
Advantages: Easy to cast & make long casts
                     Rarely get birds nests
                     Can throw extremely light lures
Disadvantages: Drag isn't as convenient to access when fighting a fish as it is with a baitcaster

Baitcasting
Advantages: Can cast heavy baits very far
                     Large line capacity
                     Easy to rip baits through dense cover
                     Easier to perform such as pitching, flipping, and skipping than on a spinning reel
                     Drag is easy to change while fighting a fish
Disadvantages: It's easy to birds nest
                         Expensive
                         Hard to cast for a beginner

Top 5 Bass Lures And How To Fish Them

Bass are the most sought after freshwater game fish in a large part of the United States, and countless ways to catch them, though some ways are more effective than others. I've used a multitude of products out on the market, and have compiled a list of the five that have produced for me my most and biggest bass, and how to fish them.

1. Zoom Trick Worms

These worms have an unmatchable action that provokes even the most skeptic of bass.

Best Colors: Pumpkinseed or Bubblegum

How To Fish Them: My preferred way of fishing these fantastic lures is by throwing them weightless and weedless. Use a twitching motion, varying how often you do so. Use a spinning reel with light monofilament or braid on a medium light action rod. If there is a steep drop-off in the water, texas-rig the worm and apply the same action as you would weightless to produce lunker bass.

2. Powerbait 7 inch Power Worms

Another great bass lure, which has great action, and will convince bass to bite hard.

Best Colors: Pumpkinseed

How to Fish Them: Either weightless or texas-rigged, as both work very well. Use an erratic twitching motion with a varied rate of retrieve to get the most out of this lure. I've found that a spinning reel with light monofilament or braid on a medium light action rod works best.

3. Zoom Brush Hogs

This soft plastic bait works surprisingly well when cast into lily pads or thick cover.

Best Colors: Watermelon/Gold

How To Fish Them: Throw these miraculous baits weightless and weedless into thick cover, then either just reel them in, varying speeds, or twitch them while reeling. Both will produce big bass. Use a spinning reel on a medium action rod with braided line or a baitcaster on a medium heavy action rod with braided line for best results.

4. Gitzit Tubes

As my favorite and go-to lure for pre-spawn bass, these tubes in 3.5 inches are a big help when there hasn't been much action on the lake.

Best Colors: Any dark green variation

How To Fish Them: Slide a 1/4 ounce jig head up through the middle of the tube, then push the eyelet through the plastic. Cast into light brush or submerged logs then let it sink to the bottom. Twitch it once about every 2 seconds, and use a baitcaster with 60 to 80 pound braid on a medium heavy action rod to produce big bass.

5. Rapala Shad-raps and Rapala Floating Minnows

Best Colors: Silver

How To Fish Them: Cast them virtually into any fish-containing water, and work different rates of retrieve, sometimes adding action to it and other times not. Use a spinning reel on a medium light action rod with light monofilament or braid to catch lots of bass.

These bass lures are super effective, and It'd be great to see your results - if you have a better techniques or suggestions, please tell me about them, because I'm always looking to expand my knowledge in the fishing world.