Locating Fish on the River

Mini pontoon boats are the way to go when you are looking for fish on the river. You can easily get into all those nooks and crannies that you just cannot get to in any other water craft. You may be wondering which swims will give you the best chance to catch the most fish. Here we will discuss what types of habitats river fish love the most and why. You can also learn how to identify these areas from above the water. With a keen eye and the right bait, you could really bring in a haul.
The first thing to do when you get to the river is look for signs of fish. Those little circles on top of the water are a dead giveaway as to where fish are hanging around. This will tell you if they are looming in the center or near the edges of the water. If the water is clear enough, you may be able to tell if the fish are hanging near the surface or deep on the bottom. This will help you to choose your lure.
If you do not visually spot a fish, or if the water is murky, then they may be at the bottom. The easiest way to tell is to look very closely at the water. Tiny bubbles, or fizz, will rise to the surface when fish are bottom feeding. This is because the fish need to release tiny bits of air to keep from floating up. Fizz will not only tell you that the fish are present, but also that they are looking for food and that you should use a lure that sinks.
Another way to tell that fish are on the bottom is to look for unusually muddy areas. If the water is clear and you see a muddy spot, then that is a sure sign that fish are stirring up the mud. If the water is already murky or muddy, the stirring up of mud on the bottom can still be spotted. Usually the mud that they are stirring is a slightly different color than the muddy particles floating in the river. You may even see rising clouds of mud if you look closely.
Fish generally look for cover, not only for protection, but also so they can camouflage themselves when they are looking to ambush their prey. For this reason, you can usually find fish along banks in still water. Look for grass or river reeds growing up through the water. Sometimes you will even see the grass move when a fish swims through it. Look for other things in the water that fish may want to use as their habitats. Stumps, downed trees and limbs make for likely spots. Fishermen have found that mini pontoon boats can safely get them into these areas without risking damage to their boats. Happy hunting!

About the Author: Brad Metzler is the owner of Pond King Inc., an industry leader in the production and sale of Pontoon Boats, Mini Pontoon Boats, Floating Docks, Honey Hole Trees, and Turtle Traps. Pond King Inc. also consists of Lake and Pond Management Professionals that are dedicated to finding the most economical solutions and strategies for your fish stocking needs.

Do I Need Boater’s Insurance for a Mini Pontoon Boat?

So you have purchased a mini pontoon boat. Congratulations! Let the fishing and fun begin. But wait, you have invested in your boat and you should protect it. By purchasing boater’s insurance you are protecting your investment. 
Many people finance their boats and are required by the lender to carry boater’s insurance. If your boat is stolen or if something catastrophic happens, the lender stands to lose money and so do you. Insurance creates a safety net for you and the lender. Boater’s insurance is a low-cost way to ensure that you and the lender are protected. Many states require that your boat be insured as well. 
You will need, at the bare minimum, liability coverage. Liability covers damage done to other people’s property by your boat. You will be glad that you have it if your boat comes untied and slams into a million dollar yacht! Liability can be purchased to cover different amounts and the cost difference between slight coverage and a lot of coverage is usually very minimal. Consider getting as much coverage as possible in this area. 
Many people choose to buy insurance that covers medical costs incurred by themselves or other passengers on their boat. You may think that the chance of injury on a mini pontoon boat is minimal, but if someone takes a hook to the eye and ends up with a $30,000 medical bill, then you could be liable for that money. Medical coverage is a good idea if you will ever have passengers on your boat or if you yourself are not covered by medical insurance. 
If you finance your mini pontoon boat, the lender may require comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive covers things that could damage your boat that is out of your control, such as hurricanes, tornados, hail, lightening and theft. This does not cover theft of things left on your boat, but the actual boat itself. Comprehensive coverage can keep you from having to continue to make years of payments on a boat that you do not even have anymore.
Another coverage to consider is uninsured boater insurance. There is usually a very small monthly charge to carry uninsured boater insurance. This covers you if damage occurs to your boat by an uninsured or inadequately insured boater. This can keep you from having to pay for loss or damage to your boat in the event of an accident that was not your fault. This also usually covers hit and run accidents. 
Always be sure to check with your insurance company about specific coverage. Ask questions and educate yourself about each coverage you select. Insuring your mini pontoon boat is just about never a bad idea!

About the Author: Brad Metzler is the owner of Pond King Inc., an industry leader in the production and sale of Pontoon Boats, Mini Pontoon Boats, Floating Docks, Honey Hole Trees, and Turtle Traps. Pond King Inc. also consists of Lake and Pond Managment Professionals that are dedicated to finding the most economical solutions and strategies for your fish stocking needs. For more information, please visit www.pondking.com.

Finding Bass on Your Mini Pontoon Boat

One of the greatest challenges of bass fishing is determining the best spot to fish. It takes a little understanding of the bass to figure it out. Once you have it, you can more consistently identify bass areas and reel in more fish. Determining the best area to fish for bass depends on what type of bass you are hunting. Large mouth bass, small mouth bass, spotted bass and black bass all behave differently. Furthermore, they all are very sensitive to conditions. They may exhibit different characteristics at different times, depending on the weather, temperature, lighting and food supply.

One thing that all bass keep in common is their love of cover. Whether it is a downed tree, underwater grasses, a sunken canoe, or a pier, they will most likely be near it or under it. This holds especially true for large mouth bass. They are avid hunters and want to stay concealed.A lot of bass, especially spotted and small mouth bass, like to hang out alongside cliffs. This is where your equipment can come in handy. Many lakes also have topographic maps that can clue you in to where cliffs may be.

If you frequent a specific lake or waterway, keep track of where you find bass. You will need to record everything about the conditions, the time of year, time of day, and temperature of the water, whatever you can. You may not find bass in the same spot again for a while. They tend to migrate around depending on conditions. They like to move to warmer, usually shallower waters to spawn in the spring. But, they may not feed much during this time and they can be difficult to catch. They will mainly be concentrating on egg protection. For this reason, bass fishing is usually best in deeper water, starting in the summer.

As the water warms up in the summer, the bass will want to escape the heat and get into cooler deeper water. They will hang around in large schools around cliffs and deep structures. Large rocks, submerged trees and docks over deep water are good places to find bass during this time. If the water gets too warm, they will want to escape to even cooler deeper water, but the lack of oxygen in really deep water will force them to stay in the shallower warm water. These types of conditions can make the bass act ill, they do not eat a lot, and they can be very hard to catch.
Submerged rocks offer a cool cover in warm water and a lot of bass will stick close to ledges and large rocks to stay cool. During winter, they will return to the shallows and can be a lot easier to catch.The best time to determine good bass fishing areas is in the early morning or late afternoon. During these times you will likely see the bass surfacing for food, and you will know where to go. Choose your lures, keep a bass fishing diary, and get out there for a good year of fishing on your mini pontoon boat.

About the Author: Brad Metzler is the owner of Pond King Inc., an industry leader in the production and sale of Pontoon Boats, Mini Pontoon Boats, Floating Docks, Honey Hole Trees, and Turtle Traps. Pond King Inc. also consists of Lake and Pond Managment Professionals that are dedicated to finding the most economical solutions and strategies for your fish stocking needs. For more information, please visit http://www.pondking.com/.

Tips for Taking your Kid Fishing

Taking your child fishing is a time honored tradition unparalleled by other childhood memories. Most fathers dream of fishing with their kids, relaxing and teaching them the patience and skill that it takes to reel in the big one. If you are considering taking your kid fishing for the first time, here are a few tips to ensure that you have a memorable trip.

The first rule of fishing with your child is to make it a fun experience. Do not make promises that you cannot keep. Make sure that they are aware that it is possible to have a lot of fun, even if you do not catch anything. You can have a lot of fun out on the water, whether it is on a pier, in the grass or on a mini pontoon boat. Canoes and pontoon boats can be fun for a kid whether they actually fish or not.

Allow your child to explore the water. Aquarium nets are great for catching tadpoles and minnows. Do not force your child to fish if they are too young to be interested for very long. Let them try to skip rocks and see what floats and what sinks.

Be prepared when you go. Kids’ fishing poles are relatively inexpensive and often come with a small tackle box. Bring some different kinds of bait and let your child pick which ones they like. Using live bait is always a treat and usually an effective lure for just about any type of fish. Bring enough snacks and drinks to keep your kid going. Packing a picnic is a good idea. Kids also get a kick out of using leftover bread or lunchmeat as tackle. Use imaginative language and say things like, “I wonder if the fish will like to eat the same things we do.” Self-casting rods are fun for kids and they don’t tangle very easily. You can teach your child to cast in the yard before you go fishing if you would like.

Remember to keep the mood light and don’t put any undue pressure on the child. Don’t forget to bring a camera with you on the trip! Be encouraging and give lots of praise. This is your chance to spend some uninterrupted quality time together. You can instill a lifelong love of fishing and the outdoors in your child during trips like this. Point out the importance of keeping the water clean for the fish. Talk about how beautiful and precious nature is and encourage them to care about their environment.

If the goal is to really catch some fish, then you might consider a stock pond for your trip. Stock ponds are generally easy to fish and even an inexperienced child can actually catch a lot of fish. If you have the land, you might consider getting your own stock pond in your yard. Also, getting a mini pontoon boat or fishing pontoon boat can make any fishing trip a real adventure no matter what your age!

About the Author: Brad Metzler is the owner of Pond King Inc., an industry leader in the production and sale of Pontoon Boats, Mini Pontoon Boats, Floating Docks, Honey Hole Trees, and Turtle Traps. Pond King Inc. also consists of Lake and Pond Managment Professionals that are dedicated to finding the most economical solutions and strategies for your fish stocking needs. For more information, please visit www.pondking.com.