One of the best resources available to avid fisherman is the wide range of fishing and outdoor magazines available. However, not all magazines are alike. Here are a few of the most popular magazines available.

Field & Stream

Description- Field and Stream is a monthly magazine that was originally launched in 1873 by Charles Hallock. It was first published in New York City. The magazine was known by several named, but picked up the name “Field and Stream” in 1930. Depending on the current season, Field and Stream will change it’s focus from different types of fishing, and then different types of hunting. It is said that Field and Stream is one of the number one reasons that canoeing, canoe camping tours, and environmentalism before popular.

Hunting articles cover all types of game including big game, deer, and birds. Their fishing sections cover all aspects of fishing including freshwater, saltwater, and fly fishing.

The annual “Best of the Best” guide, first published in 1998, lists numerous products related to sport of hunting and fishing. Items include ammunition, binoculars, rifles, boots, jackets, all-terrain vehicles, and boats.

A few of the magazines featured sections include the Hunting Question and Answer and The Fishing Question and Answer. This section allows magazines readers to ask questions, which are answered by avid fisherman and professionals. The “Sportsman’s Notebook” is one of the most popular sections, as it provides much needed information and tutorials for the average hunter or fisherman.

Read Reviews – “I have loved the outdoors since I was a small child. I fell in love with hunting and fishing, and I am constantly trying to gain more knowledge. Field and Stream provides stories and articles that not only pertain to what I am interested in, but also help me learn new things through its tutorials and how to articles.” -Cliffton Wayne (High Point, North Carolina) on October 19, 2006.

“I first read Field and Stream when I was very young. My father relied on the magazine back then for information and tips, and I still rely on it today!” – Michael Hindge (Yorktown, Virginia) on December 11, 2005.

Outdoor Life

Description – Outdoor life was first published by Time4Media (a division of Time Inc) in 1898. Outdoor life focuses on al types of outdoor activities including fishing, hunting, boating, and wildlife conservation. Outdoor life is sometimes called the number one guide for anything related to outdoors.

Outdoor Life allows it readers to submit photos, stories, articles, reports, and tips for publishing. You will enjoy reading others stories about their experiences while being able to obtain further knowledge from their expert writers and columnists.

Crappie love live bait. They are not a scavenger fish like catfish or some other types of scum suckers. Live food generally means more protein and more energy and with crappie if it they can fit it in their mouth they will generally eat it. When it comes to live baits there lots of types like insects and their larvae, reptiles, invertebrates, amphibians and of course the obvious one: other fish.

Of course I am one of those guys that if I can get it on a hook I’ll give it a shot, just think about how it might look in the water. Not that I’m suggesting anything but even the cotton from a cigarette butt works from time to time. Also I’m not a biologist so I will group some types of live bait into a category that I think work but not necessarily a category they belong in.

Insects are those creepy crawly bugs that are big enough that you wander if you step on it, it might push back, this includes spiders although they don’t like to go onto a hook and don’t always work out so well. If you choose a spider pick one that doesn’t bite.

For the most part I use large winged insects on small hooks. This can be tricky as well because most of these insects have a couple of problems. First you got to catch them, get them on the hook and lastly they come off the hook easy so be ready. Mealworms and maggots work great to tip a jig with or ice fishing.

Small lizards and snakes are not common in many bait stores but can work magic in the right location. These squirmy creatures can provide lots of action and when hooked properly seem to live a long time, not to be super cruel but these guys do need air from time to time.

Invertebrates like worms and leeches work really well in dark to clear waters but beware leeches are not allowed in many bodies of water. This is for good reason. If the waters to not already have a balanced system that can support leeches introducing them can decimate the entire eco system.

This goes for all live baits be sure and check that you can use them where you are fishing or the next thing you know you will be fishing for goldfish instead of crappie. Worms provide lots of protein for fish and will act lively for long periods. Hook a leech through the mouth but hook a worm in a way it won’t get stolen without a bite on the hook.

Frogs and toads also work really well because they are often a source of food for crappie already. Tadpoles as well as young critters work well. I find that once they are bigger than a quarter or a 50 cent piece they start to attract other fish.

The key to fishing this lake is learning what season the crappie are living. The best time to fish is during spawning season. Kentucky Lake crappie typically spawn in early March but depending on weather conditions can start several weeks earlier or later.

During spawning season you typically find crappies near the shoreline in about four to seven foot water depths. This is where the fish will lay their eggs and spawn. You can often see the fish visually. You may notice changes in the top of the water or actually see the fish near the surface.

When fishing for Kentucky Lake crappie always remember one easy principle.

Crappie will be found near some form of wood structure. You will not find crappie in shallow water in the middle of summer, nor will you find them in thirty feet deep water during spawning season. You will however almost always find them near some kind of wood structure. Kentucky Lake is loaded with wooden cover. Some of it is natural in the form of standing trees or fallen timber. You will also notice many man made fish beds placed in the lake for the crappie to use as fish beds. These are the areas you want to fish.

There are many ways to fish for crappie on the fish beds. The most productive is the simple live minnow suspended about two feet underneath a bobber. It is really important that you use light line. The benefits far outweigh any potential problems. In my opinion there is no reason to use line of more than four pound test for crappie. These fish do not have teeth and while a large two pound crappie will stress your line it is nothing a sound drag and quality rod cannot handle. Because the crappie is a skittish fish in clear water I advise using fluorocarbon line for its clarity. You will be amazed at the increase in your catch rate with line that is less visible.

You will want to be very careful in how you approach crappies on the beds. The light line you will be using aids you in this endeavor. You can and should strive to make long casts when fishing for shallow water crappie. Precision casting is not required; if you present your offering in the general vicinity of the bed you should receive action. When you approach an area to fish do so quietly. Turn off the outboard motor and use an electric trolling motor.

If the wind is blowing the right direction you can even drift the boat into position. You will also need to cut down on the noise level while fishing. Talking or playing music is not suggested but also is not the worst thing you can do. Banging the bottom of the boat is by far the biggest mistake I see fisherman do when fishing the beds. Dropping your tackle box and bottom of the boat is a recipe for disaster when fishing the beds.

Crappie fishing at Lake of the Ozarks is outstanding. In case you have never heard of this lake before, it is the second oldest lake found in Missouri. This lake is well-known for having the best fishing found anywhere in the state of Missouri, even though it was originally build in the 30’s to provide electricity for the states central region residents. One thing that makes fishing here so popular is the fact that you can fish here all year long and many anglers do, which is why it’s so hard to find a spot that is not already taken.

This is especially true during the spring when the fish are spawning. Still, the fishing is so good here it is worth any aggravation that you have to deal with once in a while. Even if it means taking some time to find a spot to do your fishing. When you go fishing at the Lakes of the Ozarks the best places to go are the coves or just off of the docks. Here you need to search for brush piles where you can find the crappie lurking underneath. It is a lot of fish in these areas just waiting for some action.

If you are new to this area, then you should consider enlisting the help of guides to help you find the best fishing areas faster and easier. This can make your trip a lot more pleasant and productive. They can be very helpful in making sure you get the most from your fishing adventure. Most guides will offer fishing trips on the Lake of the Ozarks that last all day and some for half a day depending on what type of adventure you are searching for. There are available for family outings and for the angler that wants to do some serious fishing.

Here are a few of the items you should bring along with you to make sure you have everything you need to make your trip while at Lake of the Ozarks one to remember. You need to bring along some small fathead minnows and 1/32 ounce jigs for the best fishing experience. When the water is warming up topwater lures will get you some amazing results. You will find that crankbait and jig-n-frog lures will work very well in cool water. You can look for the crappie to start spawning somewhere around the middle or end of April about the time the dogwood trees begin to bloom.

You need to make sure that you are using rods that can hold the weight of some of the larger crappie to prevent them from getting away from you but at the same time it needs to be sensitive enough for you to feel the bite. Crappie has a very soft bite and it can be hard sometimes to know for sure they are going after the bait. This also takes practice and you will learn how to know the difference after a few fishing trips.

There are several techniques that can be used for catching crappie at Lake of the Ozarks. Trolling is very popular but it is recommended that you check the rules and regulations before using this technique to ensure you are within the guidelines. Drifting is another popular technique because it offers a great way to sit back and relax while fishing for crappie. The traditional methods of casting and still-fishing are also very popular techniques that many anglers choose to use when fishing this lake.

While schools of crappie tend to congregate in shallow lake areas, river crappie fishing can also produce a great catch if you know what you’re doing. By following several tips, river crappie fishing, especially in the spring during spawning season, can offer a world of success, both in size and quantity of crappie caught. What should you do if you prefer to river crappie fishing to lakes? Here are some tips to finding the most and biggest slabs available.

First of all, when river crappie fishing, remember that this breed of fish don’t typically challenge the main flow of the river like larger, heavier fish. Instead, they will use eddies, slack water, and heavy cover to help them break the current and work their way upstream. These will be the best areas of the river in which to fish. Also, spawning occurs outside the current in areas that warm to between 66 and 70 degrees more quickly. Especially search through vertical cover that grows up from the river bottom above the surface, as this is a great place for crappie to stop and be held.

If you are in a slower moving river, crappie fishing is best in areas of brush and stumps, as these are the best holding areas for fish passing through. The actual nomadic movement of the pre-spawning season begins as the waters warm to about 62 degrees and becomes a bit muddy because silty water provides a quicker swim than clear waters.

One excellent way that you can take advantage of river crappie fishing is to search the tailwaters below the river dams. After moving up river, crappie will congregate in such areas and remain still for a while, offering an excellent opportunity for a huge turnout. The best rigs to take advantage of such waters are usually arranged from a combination of a jig and a minnow, using a leadhead that is heavy enough to get down into the current. Look in areas of heavy cover and structures that break the current, such as lock walls or sandbar edges.

Realize that, when river crappie fishing, you are not likely to have a hard bite. Soft strikes are common, especially among pre-spawn crappie, and you frequently will notice only that your line goes slack or that something doesn’t feel right. Often, you may wonder if you’ve only snagged on a leaf or stick, but be prepared to reel in anyway, as this is quite probably a catch. Make note of how deep that sinker was as you bring in the line, since it is also quite likely there is an entire small school of crappie here.