Walleye fishing is a fascinating sport, and there is nothing like catching these fish to make a fishing trip enjoyable. The walleye is a species of fish that is native to Canada and the northern United States. The name walleye comes from the fact that the eyes of this fish reflect light, the way the eyes of a cat do. It is olive or gold in color, with the maximum size ever recorded of a walleye being 42 inches long and 25 pounds in weight. Walleye is considered by many people to be the best tasting freshwater fish, and sport fishermen seek it out as well as commercial fishing companies.

Best spring fishing action for walleye is in May and June, just after the spawn. Spawning occurs in water from 42 to 56 degrees. Look for walleyes to gather and spawn in gravelly or sandy bays, off shoreline bars, or in open water gravel flats. Moderate wave action is needed to assist eggs in hatching. Walleyes spawn over a three week period, primarily after dark, in water depths of 3 to 12 feet. On cloudy, breezy days, it is not uncommon to catch walleye in less than 10 feet of water. Walleye prefer overcast days over sunny days. Walleye can be very finicky and downright uncooperative at times depending on weather conditions and what they are feeding on.

Early in the spring walleye prefer live bait over artificial bait. You can do well fishing shallow water with leadhead jigs tipped with chubs or shinners. Make sure you troll or drift along the submerged weed beds. Fishing shallow rock piles and shoreline points can also provide good walleye action. It is a good idea to keep track of the wind direction each day. If the wind is in the same direction for 2 or 3 days you will do well fishing the windy side of the lake. The baitfish will move to these areas and the walleye will follow the baitfish to feed on them.

As the lake water starts to warm up the walleye will go into deeper water. You may do better changing from minnows to leeches. Leadhead jigs can still be used or you can use lindy-rigs. Lindy-rigs are a 2 to 3 foot long leader with a plain hook attached to one end with the other attached to a swivel with a slip sinker above it. You may find fish on tops of sand bars and sunken islands as the water continues to warm up. The tops of these bars and islands may only be good during overcast days. On sunny days you may have to fish the dropoffs and edges of these bars and sunken islands. It is important that you add more weight to your line to stay in contact with the bottom. During the warmer days of summer you may want to change to nightcrawlers for bait. This time of year can be called dog days of summer. It can be tough to catch walleye during the summer months.

In the fall of the year as the water cools down again the walleye will return to those same shallow areas of the lake. During this time you will be able to catch them again with the jig and minnow combination. Trolling with crankbaits, such as shadraps can also be good. If you have a lot of sunny days in the fall, you may want to try fishing late in the day or evening. Fall fishing can be more challenging, but at the same time it can be rewarding.

Giving saltwater fish suitable food and proportionate amount of meals can make them health and strong. Carnivore marine fish can have a mixture of dried, fresh and live food. Herbivores like Tangs feed on algae flakes like spirulina and seaweed while omnivores can enjoy pellets and bloodworms.

Unlike freshwater fish that inhabit the lakes, rivers, and streams, saltwater fishes are pulled together from the seas and oceans. Generally, saltwater fishes don’t settle in to drastic changes in water temperature or property, at once. Thus, it is always best to educate yourself about the diet, habitat, and individuality of your chosen species of saltwater fish for you to make available for them with the appropriate food, setting, as well as other care and maintenance they need.

Your tank or aquarium should be situated in a place where it can benefit from available sunshine or daylight. But be sure that it gets no direct sunlight because high level of temperatures can take the life of your saltwater fish and the plants. Never place your aquarium close to radiators or heating units as they warm the water. Avoid placing it in rooms where sudden rise and fall of temperatures frequently occurs like the kitchen and garage.

Follow the ratio, one inch of fish for every gallon of water. Avoid overcrowding your aquarium and bear in mind that you also have other stuff inside other than water that are occupying space. The fish will be more satisfied with a bigger room.

A well fed fish is a healthy fish, able to tolerate minor diseases and stresses that may come its way. It is very important that you give the right food at right amounts.

Remember that over-feeding can be more harmful than under-feeding. A saltwater fish have to be provided with food barely what it can eat within a five-minute interval. Any foodstuff left after feeding time has to be taken out before it starts to putrefy. If the fish is eating the food in less than five minutes and look as if it still wants to eat more, you can increase the proportion you are giving it. In contrast, if your saltwater fish is in the pink and is only consuming almost half of what you are giving it, perhaps you can begin to feed it less. It is also recommended that you give your fish quite a few small meals each day. The minimum is two medium amounts of food a day, in the morning and at night.

The type of foodstuff to give is dependent on the species of fish you have. Overall, fish feed on flake stuff. Tangs and angelfish along with other herbivores are fed algae-based flakes such as spirulina and dried seaweed. While romaine lettuce and spinach aren’t apt diet for fish that eat algae alone, many of herbivores are fed with these kinds of food that are either fresh or freeze dried.

Herbivores normally consume little quantities incessantly while carnivores consume bigger quantities periodically. It’s best to alter the food types of your pet and to offer live meals every once in a while. Carnivores or meat-feeding marine fish can have an assortment of live, fresh, and dried provisions. Seafood stuff such as some fish types, mussels, and shrimps are ideal for carnivores.

Omnivorous marine fish are large in numbers. Fish food available in many pet shops including bloodworms, pellets, and flakes are suitable for these types of fish. But try providing it with a diverse diet so you can have a livelier and healthier fish.

Maintaining quality fish tanks doesn’t take much work. It is extremely important to keep your fish tank clean and up to date if you want your fish to be happy, healthy, and free of disease. It is also valuable because your plants will last longer and look fresher. It is a pretty simple process to maintain a freshwater fish tank. These are the necessary steps you should take when you are taking care of your tank.

Everyday check out your tank and make sure all your little fish and creatures are still alive. A decomposing fish body is not good for the water or health of other living beings within the tank, remove a dead fish right away. Regularly observe your fish. It seems silly but if you are familiar with each fish’s behavior it will be easier to identify when one has fallen sick. Vary the diet of your fish and feed them about every other day. Avoid over feeding because it will only result in a smelly, unclean environment. Replace the evaporated water at the top of your tank with dechlorinated water. Tap water works just fine as long as it’s at room temperature. About once a week, replace 25% of the tank’s water to keep it fresh. This will help to dilute any chemicals that may be present and keep the tank’s chemistry somewhat close to that of your tap water. This ensures fewer problems when it comes time for an emergency water swap. About once a week you will want to scrape the algae from the tank’s walls. You should also check the filter pads once every two weeks and replace them as needed. Likewise, you should test the water every two weeks. Wait a day after you replace the water so the temperature is more accurate. Every two weeks you should be checking the pH levels as well as the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate concentration. It is recommended to siphon the debris from the gravel about once a month.

And there you have it; taking care of freshwater fish tanks is easy and affordable. If you really love your fish observe them regularly and constantly check that their water is clean, quality, and at the right temperature. At this rate your fish will last forever.

Maine is known for its 17 million acres of forest, 711 mountains, 3500 miles of coastline, and 6000 lakes and ponds. This nature abundance makes Maine a destination for outdoor recreational activities all year round. Activities that can be enjoyed in the summer are hunting, fishing, biking, canoeing and kayaking, hiking as well as whitewater rafting, windjammer cruising and golf. Skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling are winter adventures.

Fishing in Maine

Fishing opportunities are abundant because of its many coastlines, rivers, lakes and ponds. A wide variety of species inhabit Maine’s waters. Freshwater fishes are categorized into living in cold and warm waters. Cold freshwater fishes identified are the landlocked salmon, splake, arctic charr and the trouts- brown, brook, lake and rainbow.

Warm freshwater fishes are those that prefer shallower waters. Examples are the northern pike, chain pickerel, bass- largemouth and the smallmouth along with the perch- white and yellow. The latter types of fish are easier to catch and therefore preferred by fishing beginners.

Freshwater Fishing versus Saltwater Fishing

Freshwater fishing requires a license from residents and non-Maine residents. Saltwater fishing, on the other hand, requires no license. Both types of fishing activities have set limits in the number of fishes that can be caught. Saltwater fishing is also strict with the fish size. Most common fishes in Maine’s coastal waters are the mackerel, striped bass, pollock, bluefin tuna and the pollock.

Open water fishing season usually starts in April and ends in September. However, there are some exceptions. A handbook containing details of fishing regulations and licensing fees are sold at information centers near fishing areas.

Among the most famous fishing locations in Maine are the Sebago Lake and Rangeley. Sebago Lake is the second largest in the city. Both are excellent fishing destinations in North America. Another recommended fishing location here is Belgrade in Kennebec with six island-dotted lakes. The Belgrade lakes are prominent for its notable species of bass, trout and northern pike.

Hunting in Maine

Maine’s richly forested land along with its embellished waters makes the state a main place for hunting. It is one of the most populous areas in small and big game species. The demographics of deer, bear, moose, waterfowls and birds are ranked higher than most of the other states. Hunting requires specific permits for each species, whether it is for a small or big game.

The state is strict in implementing the hunting season and the bag limit to avoid abuse of the resources. They are also particular with the type of hunting method to be used as well as the type of bait or if the hunter is accompanied with a dog. Beginners are usually required to undergo a hunting course.

Big game hunts seek bigger species like bears, deer and moose which can be found throughout the state. Bears are found near their food source such as trees and grass. The deer is located in wet areas like swamps. The moose can be hunted out of the woods. The waterfowl, birds and other small game are abundant in the Kennebec Valley and Mooseriver area.

The hunting season is mostly implemented from October to December. Sunday is considered a non-hunting day. License fees vary according to the type of residence, type of wildlife to be hunted, type of weapon to be used and the age of the hunter. They also offer a combination of hunting and fishing licenses. This type of license costs $38 for residents, $137 for non-residents and $178 for aliens.