Hot Fishing How-Tos


How To: Identify types of fly fishing flies
There are two types of fly fishing flies, and they are distinguished as surface and sub-surface flies with the surface ones being called dry flies. This tutorial will teach you how to tell the difference, and what this means. Make sure you know what's what and make sure you catch the biggest fish in the pond.

How To: String a roller-guided fishing pole
Learn from Captain Mark the Shark, an expert in charter fishing, how to string a roller-guided fishing pole. When stringing a roller-guided fishing pole, make sure that the line goes through the middle of both rollers. Discover why spinning rods have more guides than a roller with help from this professional fishing trainer.

How To: Tie a reverse clinch knot with Alton Jones
This video demonstrates how to tie a quick, simple and ultra-strong knot that 10-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Alton Jones ties.

How To: Set up a bank line or trot line while fishing
Several fishing techniques are demonstrated in this video, including how to set up a trot line (where heavy, baited hooks are set at intervals along a tree branch) and a bank line (a line set up along the bank of the lake or river).

How To: Throw a cast net for live bait
The best way to fish is with live bait, but buying bait can be expensive and it isn't always guaranteed fresh. Once you learn how to cast your own bait you will be able to catch large amounts of bait fish on your own, and cut out the middle man. Happy fishing!

How To: Throw a lead weighted cast net
Check out this instructional fishing video with Steve Brown that demonstrates how to throw a cast net. There are several ways of throwing a cast net. This is just one way to do it. Choose the method that's most comfortable for you. Just follow the instructions in this fishing tutorial video to learn this technique for throwing a cast net. Start practicing and catch some big fish!

How To: Tie the Intruder steelhead tube fly for fly fishing
This is a step by step video on tying a variation of Ed Ward's Steelhead Intruder. The guys at Tight Lines fish this fly with great success all fall and winter. Excellent fly for migratory Steelhead and Browns on the Great Lakes Tributaries.

How To: Tie an Albright fishing knot
Know your knots! With this free video tutorial, you'll learn how to tie a an Albright fishing knot. An Albright fishing knot is a nice quick way to tie your leader onto your line. The knot is easy to tie provided, of course, you know how to go about making it. For an easy-to-follow, step-by-step overview of how to tie this useful fisherman's knot in a minute's time or less, watch this free video knot tyer's guide.

How To: Make Tight Loops When Fly Casting
When casting a flyrod, in most cases, tight loops will allow the fly to travel farther, more accurately, and with less effort. To cast these tight loops, the tip of the rod must travel in a straight line path, slack must be eliminated, and there must be a constant acceleration to a sudden stop. The most common mistake is using the wrist to move the rod which causes the tip to travel in a half circle or windshield wiper type motion.

How To: Make homemade Bluegill fish bait
In this tutorial, learn exactly how to make bluegill fish bait at home. This video will display two different recipes for making dough bait. Both of these methods are fairly easy to create and can be made with items in your kitchen. Along with the step by step instruction, you will also be taught why each of these methods works and what their downsides may be. You may feel like you're about to bake a cake with these ingredients but don't worry - that's exactly the idea! Learn how to make this...

How To: Tie a glass minnow fly
Watch this video to learn how to tie a glass minnow fly for catching Spanish Mackerel Albacore.

How To: Tie the Green Butt Fly for fly fishing
John Berry demonstrates tying the Green Butt Fly, an effective springtime fly for fly fishing on the White River System in Arkansas.

How To: Rig a YUM Craw Papi fishing bait with Alton Jones
This video demonstrates how to correctly rig a YUM Craw Papi by 10-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Alton Jones.

How To: Setup Your Fishfinder for Ice Fishing
Video: . This video shows you how to set up your Lowrance unit to optimize it for ice fishing. This will also apply to Lowrance Elite and Mark series units as well as the X-67c Ice Machine.

How To: Rig a YUM craw bug fishing bait with Alton Jones
This video demonstrates how to correctly rig a YUM Craw Bug by 10-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Alton Jones. This is a great, realistic looking crawfish bait that's best for catching bass.

How To: Tie a spinner bait on a fishing line
Spinner bait are good for attracting and catching bass when fishing. In order to have the lure and the bait working correctly when using this type of bait, you will have to attach the bait directly to the lure. This can be done using the improved fisherman knot. After threading the line through the bait, you should leave about 6-8 inches of line to tie the knot. Begin by making about 5 twists around the line and then thread the line through the hole created below the twists. After threading t...

How To: Use an egg yarn dispenser to tie flys
Using an egg yarn dispenser provides more consistent results, is quicker, and results in less material waste than tying egg patterns without a dispenser. You can use a drinking straw, the empty shaft of a ball-point pen.

How To: Bait a Hook with Catfish Punch Bait
There are many different types of prepared catfish baits for catching channel and blue catfish. These baits are often referred to as "stink baits", but while they might smell quite foul to some anglers, the smell really attracts catfish.

How To: Make a braid to fluorocarbon knot connection
There's a popular new trick in the fishing community and that's tying a braided line to a fluorocarbon leader line. To do this, you'll need to know the proper knot, and this video will show you how to do it. With this method you will reduce some of the problems of twisting and tangling with using braid right up to your lure. Check it out. The braid helps absorb some of the pull on the line, so see if you can feel it when you go to land the big one!

How To: Make homemade catfish dough bait
To prepare homemade catfish bait out of dough, you will need the following ingredients: gloves, a bowl, 2 slices of dried bread, 1/2 cup to 1 cup of peanut butter, honey, garlic, onion powder, liquid smoke, and flour.

How To: Tie a sliding Snell fisherman's knot
Know your knots! Learn to tie a sliding Snell fisherman's knot with this free video guide. When tying the sliding snell fishing knot, it's like tying the common snell, but you'll be adding an extra line. The knot is easy to tie provided, of course, you know how to go about making it. For an easy-to-follow, step-by-step overview of how to tie this useful fisherman's knot in a minute's time or less, watch this free video knot tyer's guide.

How To: Create realistic wings for fly tying
The Art of Fly Tying shows you how you can create realistic wings for your fly fishing flies from scotch tape.

How To: Tie the Dropper Loop knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Dropper Loop Knot for fishing. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Dropper Loop Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next fishing trip. Tie the Dropper Loop knot with a knot tying animation.

How To: Rig a crankbait
In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to rig a crankbait. It is so named because it floats on the water and does nothing until the crank is turned. The turning of the crank provides the action to the bait and attracts fish to it. To rig it, there is an attachment point on the diving lip of the crankbait; it can be a small hole for the line to be passed through or a split ring to attach the line. Tie the line to the lip with a clinch knot and you are in business. In case...

How To: Set the drag on your fishing line properly
Adjusting the drag on your fishing line is one of several important setting that you can set on a modern rod. This video features a bass fisherman going through how to properly set the drag on your rod for different fishing situations. Basically, if you're catching a big, ornery fish, you need less drag so that he can run without breaking your line. Smaller fish, more drag, easier reeling in.

How To: Tie an Albright Special knot to join dissimilar lines
Next time you're out on the dock, try out this fishing knot. The Albright knot is known for it's adaptability to inequality. This is definitely a fishing line knot you should know! Watch this tying animation to learn how to tie it.

How To: Make homemade freshwater fish bait
Gone fishin'? If you love to fish, but don't love the high price of bait from your local tackle shop, check out this tutorial.

How To: Replace fishing line on a reel for deep sea fishing
Mark the Shark demonstrates how to replace fishing line on a reel for deep sea fishing. First make sure to thread the fishing line into the guide ends and that you don't miss any. Put the rod in the rod holder so that you have two free hands to work with the line. Thread the line twice in the spool and make a knot to hold the line in place. Pull the line tight so it's snug against the reel and snip off the loose ends. Turn the crank and make sure that the line feeds into the spool very evenly...

How To: Make your own zonker strip cutter
As every long-time fisherman learns, zonker strips can be expensive. In this video from the folks at Alaskaflyfishing.net, Flashback Max will teach you how to cut your own honker strips. All you need is some pelts, razor blades and long bolts with nuts.

How To: Fly tie a baby doll
Check out this instructional fishing video that demonstrates how to fly tie for beginners. In this fly tying tutorial, Dave demonstrates the "Baby Doll". This is the pattern that goes back to the early 1970s that caused a minor revolution in its time. This is a very simple and popular fly to tie. Learn how to fly tie a Baby Doll with this fishing video!

How To: Rig a 9-inch slug-go lure for fishing greatness
Steve walks us through rigging a 9" Slug-go. You can't deny that he knows what he's talking about. You just can't. See it in this two-part video.

How To: Tie a Modified Albright knot or Alberto knot for fishing
If you've ever gone bass fishing then you know how important it is for your line to be sturdy and strong. Make sure your line is in tip top shape next time by forming this Modified Albright or Alberto knot.

How To: Tie a Palomar knot to secure a fishing line
In this video, we learn how to tie a Palomar knot to secure a fishing line. This knot is pretty easy to tie, it won't take long. First, you will take the fishing line and make it into a loop. After this, insert it through the eye on the hook. Next, bring it back over and then tie an overhand knot, leaving it a little loose when you tie it. You should be able to see the working end hanging down. Now, take the loop and put it over the hook. Now when you tighten it up, you will have the complete...

How To: Catch more crawfish
In this tutorial, we learn how to catch more crawfish. First, you will need to have a crawfish trap that is long and has a large door on it. Some different kinds of bait that you can use include: blue gill, shell crackers, red ears, perch, and any other fresh water fish. Take the bait and place them into a hook on the outside of the trap. You will want to hook them through the eye and place as many as you can on the hook. Now, you can place the trap into the water and close the trap up. Now, ...

How To: Tie an Albright knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Albright Knot for fishing. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Albright Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next fishing trip. Tie an Albright knot with a knot tying animation.

How To: Rig a slip sinker rig for walleye fishing
The slip sinker is used with the slip sinker rig to troll bait slowly across the bottom, primarily for walleye fishing, but also it will catch catfish and other bottom-dwelling species. If you want to find out how to rig the slip sinker rig, watch and learn from Wade Bourne of MyOutdoorTV.

How To: Fish with a mechanical yo-yo self-fishing reel
No, this yo-yo rig does not mean attaching your toy yo-yo to your fishing line. It's a specifically deigned mechanical reel that is designed to fish while you're home in bed. It's quite the reel, and worth a try. Wade Bourne of MyOutdoorTV shows you how to rig a mechanical yo-yo rig.

How To: Tie a twisted dropper loop fisherman's knot
Know your knots! Learn how to tie a twisted dropper loop knot with this free video tutorial. The twisted dropper loop is great for fishing line and requires about 10 twists to get the right feel. For an easy-to-follow, step-by-step overview of how to tie this useful fisherman's knot in a minute's time or less, watch this free video knot tyer's guide.

How To: Tie a constrictor knot
Know your knots! Learn to tie a constrictor knot with this free video guide. A constrictor knot is perfect for binding two pieces of rope or two objects together. The knot is easy to tie provided, of course, you know how to go about making it. For an easy-to-follow, step-by-step overview of how to tie this useful binding knot in a minute's time or less, watch this free video knot tyer's guide.

How To: Tie an angler's loop knot
Know your knots! With this free video tutorial, you'll learn how to tie an angler's loop knot. The angler's loop knot is a really old traditional knot that dates back to the 17th century. The knot is easy to tie provided, of course, you know how to go about making it. For an easy-to-follow, step-by-step overview of how to tie this useful fisherman's knot in a minute's time or less, watch this free video knot tyer's guide.