Archive for January, 2009

Being able to See your target is a tremendous advantage when steelhead fishing. A good Fishfinder is the one tool you need on your next steelhead fishing expedition. With a Fishfinder, you will know exactly where you are most likely to make the perfect catch. Knowing exactly where the steelhead is laying will give you more time catching and less time searching for steelhead.

You want a Fishfinder designed to give you fast and clear information when you need it. The Fishfinder needs to have excellent shallow water performance. You will want one that is very capable of locating steelhead in deep water as well. A dual-beam transducer is a good option. These normally have user-selectable views going from narrow to wide. This will help you see more fish in shallow water this is also very important when searching for steelhead.

There are a number of Fishfinder manufactures out there today. Some of the better-known brands are Lowrance, Humminbird, and Garmin fishfinder to mention a few. There are many other as well these were some that I have used over the years and I am familiar with is all.

Once you find the right fishfinder for you become as familiar as possible with how it works and what it is telling you. I have seen a number of steelhead anglers using fish locators that were not sure how they worked. They could have done just a well locating steelhead staying home and reading a comic book.

For those of use that do not have a boat we can jump into when ever we go fishing Humminbird has come out with a fishfinder just for us.

Humminbird SmartCast RF-35 Wrist Mount Fishfinder designed to be worn on your wrist. It is just like a watch for the ultimate in portability. The Humminbird SmartCast RF-5 Wrist Mount Fishfinder features the Advanced Remote Sonar Sensor (RSS). It has the wireless technology to provide precise information about bottom contour. It will even give you depth and water surface temperature. You wear it like a watch and get precise readouts easily. They are viewable on the 1.25”, 48V x 32H LCD screen. While the screen size does seem a little small once you get use to the size, it does provide you with some amazing information.

Using a Fishfinder will have you spending more time fishing productive water and less time search for that mystical steelhead. You will have an informed advantage among the other steelhead anglers. The pay off will be better steelhead fish stories than ever before.

On January 4, 2009, I lost my best hunting and fishing partner as well as my mentor my Dad, David B. Smith. This loss has made the rivers seem a little deeper, the water a little faster and the drifts a little shorter. While I will never forget, what this great man taught me throughout my life and the times we shared, I cannot help to feel just a little bit more alone.

While he lived to be 80 years old, it seems like only yesterday that he was showing me how to tie a hook to my line so it would not break off. At times, he would work three jobs to keep us feed and clothed, yet he still made time to take us hunting and fishing and teach me the beauty of the great out doors. We will all miss him being there for us but we will carry him in our hearts as we continue our journey through life.

For those of you he did not know Dave Smith we are Sorry. For those of you who knew Dave you know what type of a special man he was.

Dave was our father a great husband, a friend a mentor he was our HERO!!

Dave believed in family first and lived his life for his family; he never knew a stranger, and was the first to help anyone out if he could. While we were growing up we never had much money, however we believe that we were blessed far more then many others by having Dave as a father and husband. Being surround and comforted buy his love for us all we never felt poor, it was not until later in life that we realized just how little money we had when growing up. Yet we had more wealth then many other families because our dad always made sure that our needs were met and always had a kind and caring ear for us all.

While God has called him home now, and this caught us all by surprise, we know that he has a purpose for it. We all are going to miss our dad, and mom her husband yet we are all comforted by the fact that he knew just how much we all loved him as well.

We will take him with us wherever we may go and we will never forget just how well he lived his life. Thank you for being such a great dad, friend, person I will keep you close and remember all the good times we have had. Dad I will meet you on the River and I will bring the bait, save me a rock we have many more fish too catch.