Every fisherman knows how important the right equipment is.

You can almost always tell the experienced fisherman by their rod and reel. Even though there is a long-ru​​​​nning debate on the importance of a reel over a rod, both are important. 

You know someone fishing with a tangled line, bent pole, and a reel that makes more noise than a lawnmower isn’t likely to catch many fish.

Selecting the Right Footwear for Fishing

Selecting the right pole is important, but selecting the right footwear is also critical.

Most of us give no thought to our shoes when we go fishing. We immediately select an old pair of shoes or hiking boots we’ve had for years. Sure, they may work, but they aren’t the best choice for fishing. Shoes with features and functions designed specifically for fishing and boating can improve your haul and comfort during your next fishing trip.

A Closer Look at Fishing and Boating Shoes

There are several important characteristics for a shoe designed for fishing and boating.

The first is a slip-resistant outer sole. Anyone who has spent time on a dock or boat will know how slippery it can be. The water and oil can make footing tricky. A slip-resistant sole uses a soft rubber-like material that grips the surface. The tread whisks water away with every step, instead of trapping water so you hydroplane. A stable design, with support for movement, is also important. This provides a sure step to make movement and stability easier even on a rocking boat.

A water-resistant design does nothing other than trap water inside the shoe. You need a shoe that is breathable, lightweight, and comfortable. These additional benefits will let your shoe dry and keep your foot healthy, even during a wet fishing trip.

1. Safety First!

Fishing can be dangerous and injury can be more common than you might think.

Slip-resistant shoes can prevent many of the slips and falls that are common when fishing and they are much safer than the old gym shoes or boots that many of us wear when fishing. Make sure the sole is a soft, slightly pliable, synthetic material, and provides traction even on water or oil.

2. Comfort and Convenience in Fishing Shoes

Look for lightweight, stable shoes with the necessary support, even on a swaying boat. A breathable material that helps drain water rather than trapping it is also important. It’ll keep your feet dry even when you get water in the shoes.

3. Protect Your Boat

Finally, it seems like a small matter, but you should find a shoe that helps protect your boat as much as your feet. Look for non-marking shoes that won’t scuff the boat or ding the fiberglass.  

Make the Most of Your Time with the Right Footwear

While most of us spend time finding the perfect rod and reel, we don’t give much thought to footwear.

The right footwear, especially shoes designed for fishing and boating, is an important part to having a fun successful fishing trip. Sure, your shoes aren’t going to catch more fish, but they take care of your feet and keep you safe. Then you can focus your attention on the task at hand - catching those fish!

A camera is a device used to capture the images of your interest based on the amount of the visible light. Pictures taken without enough visible light always seem to dark and obscured. In the same way, thermal image cameras use the infrared radiation of an object to capture the scenes.

All objects emit infrared radiation in the form of heat. This heat produced is not same in all objects and these diverse heat radiations are termed as heat signatures.

These heat signatures are meticulously sensed by the sensor which itself is the thermal camera and sent to the electronic section which produces a clear picture about the eclipsed images in the dark backdrop. 

Although, thermal cameras are available in various expenses, what exactly is the difference between them? It is the focal length which is mentioned as f-number near the lens. Increase in the focal length of the lenses shall increase the clarity of the images.

 With a thermal camera of a superior focal length a clear image of the object beyond the normal perception is also possible. These thermal cameras are used in various applications which are of great support to humans. Let’s go through some practical applications of thermal imaging cameras in various fields.

1. Firefighting

Firefighting is a dangerous and valorous activity done by fire fighter’s to prevent the spread of the uncontrollable fire thereby protecting lives and property.

Thermo gears can be of great help for firefighters to examine the fire beneath various concealed areas like doors, cupboards, broken wooden materials. In some fire accidents, the fire seem to have subsided but there shall be lot of fuming embers building enough pressure to explode the entire location.

Thermo gears shall be of extreme support in such situations to detect the unseen temperatures thereby saving many lives and property. Moreover, after putting out the fire, rescuing the people trapped under various frayed and damaged items shall be easy with this thermal imaging camera.

2. Heat Leaks

Heat leaks occur in various types of industries, houses, pipelines, electrical outlets etc. Detecting this heat with eyes is not possible. At the same time, one cannot dare to touch any hotspot which can prove to be fatal.

Moreover, delayed response to heat leaks can also cause loss of lives and property. Industrial leaks shall be catastrophic if it is not discovered as fast as possible. Thermal imaging camera shall be a remedy to all these hassles by which you can find hot spots and leaks in no time. 

3. Health

The normal body temperature of human is 98.6 °F and this temperature is provided by the constant circulation of blood in its vessels. Abnormal temperature in the body can be a symptom of various sicknesses like SARS, bird flu, Ebola etc.

Usage of thermal imaging camera at the airports can be helpful in screening the passengers visiting our nation in order to prevent epidemic and pandemic diseases. Moreover, thermal imaging camera can also be used in diagnosing disorders in neck, limbs, back and various muscular, circulatory and skeletal problems.

4. Hunting

Hunting is a bold and exciting task which serves as a stress reliever. It also bestows people with an imitation of a military man at the first line of defense.

While guarding your house or any other property, you shall not be able to see anything in the dark and so you cannot hunt any animal invading your house or garden. Using thermal imaging cameras, you can witness any animal in the dark by detecting their heat signatures which makes hunting easier.

5. Camping

Camping is nothing but staying outside your home, very close to nature. Personal safety, fire safety plays a crucial role in camping. Invasion of wild animals is more prone while camping in the vicinity of the wildlife habitats.

 Defending you from those animals with naked eyes is almost useless. But thermal imaging camera can help you to tackle such animals by providing you a clear image about your environment. 

Moreover, concealed fuming embers in the campfires can also be properly put out using thermal imaging cameras when you are about to leave your campsite. 

6. Maritime navigation

The word maritime refers to something related with seas and navigation refers to movement. When a coastal ship is ferrying, looking for any other enemy vessel by using ordinary lenses does not seem to be decisive. There also possibilities for the enemy vessels to be camouflaged to escape from your sweep.

 But, thermal cameras with a standard f-number can easily detect the presence of another hot object in the sea. There are also thermal cameras which can be operated in both hot and cold mode to do the job at the night time.

7. Electrical issues

Heat and electricity are intimate and inseparable friends. An electric wire always produces heat as it travels through a wire but, naked human eyes can’t be helpful in detecting that heat.

Sometimes, there may improper power dissipation, hot and lose electrical connections and many other associated problems in your home which can be dangerous to handle.

 In such situations, thermal imaging camera allows you to see the presence of electricity by its images. Moreover, thermal imaging camera shall be very helpful to those who repair PCB boards to check the availability of power.

8. HVAC performance

As we know all electronic components, emit heat while they work. Transformers, Air conditioners, and compressors are made up tightly wound coils. These coils when supplied with enough electricity, produces flux which in turn does its assigned job.

 Sometimes, there shall be heavy loss of heat in the coil which may be due to electrical or mechanical disturbances. These disturbances hinder the performance of the system.

 But when, repairing those items, thermal imaging camera helps you very much to identify the exact point of the heat dissipation thereby making your job easier.

9. Road safety

In areas of dense vegetation, commuting in a car shall be hindered by the wild animals. When the car is travelling fast, the driver may not be able to see animal beyond the limit of the headlight causing severe accidents to the wild animals like foxes, wolves, and deer’s, etc.

 Thermal imaging camera is a fantastic solution to this issue as it can make the driver, see the animal far beyond several yards thereby preventing accidents. 

10. Aircrafts and hydraulics

Thermal imaging cameras are very much useful to detect the complication in hydraulics also. The temperature of the oil used in hydraulics can be monitored by a thermal imaging camera thereby detecting the blocks, breaks and worn outs in the hoses and cylinders.

Moreover, they are also used in detecting cracks, de-bonding in the fuselage of aircrafts too.

Knife techniques are never learned and used for fighting but they are used against attacks for survival and to defend ourselves. A person needs balance, intelligence, and precision if he is willing to learn the techniques to defend himself.

The knife can be carried legally and safely for protection from potential attacks. For carrying a knife a person must be well-aware of the laws to carry a knife as different places have different rules. If a person wants to carry a knife for self-defense here are 5 best techniques that you should know.

1. Academic Study

You have to study the topic of knife fighting in thickness. Yes, you have to get a strong comprehension of what's happening and what it is you're doing. Just like you need to research, do it. Reading books and articles in addition to studying DVDs are critical.

Be careful, there's a fantastic quantity of garbage on the market which has been marketed to the general public. This is where you have to be wise and take a look at what it is you're currently studying or viewing in common sense and practicality's glass. 

In most areas, it is legal to take all types of knives, either in the open and hidden, but if you would like to begin carrying a knife to get self-defense it is vital that you make certain that you be aware of the law of this property to safeguard yourself, physically and legally.

In many areas, Bowie knives, foldable knives, along with other hunting-style knives are nearly universally legal to possess and to take. Switchblades, Dirks, stilettos, balisongs, bark collars as well as other "deceptive" types of the knife have been treated holistically.

 In some regions, it is legal to have these kinds of the Survival Knife but not authorized to take them.

2. Suitable Training

The vital component required to learn the art of knife fighting demands you to locate, practice and get trained assisting a trusted partner. This could possibly be accessible to you via networking or via your teacher.

You need to your battle instructor should have armed you with a vast array of world knife exercises which will develop and polish your abilities that were fighting.

Many knife fighting drills are lively and will ask that you purchase a rubber training knife so that you may work on both defensive and offensive methods.

Pick a suitable knife to get yourself. Ordinarily, knife fighting and knife shield are done using fixed blade knives, usually with blades 5-7 inches (12.7-17.78 cm) long, however, it is important to dimension your defense knife into your hands and your fighting style.

The techniques will apply if it is a fixed blade knife, a hunting knife that is cushioned, or other types of knife. You desire the grasp of a fantastic defense knife to accommodate that size traction as tightly as you can.

3. Pick a suitable knife to protect you and make it nicely preserved

Ordinarily, knife fighting and knife shield are done using fixed blade knives, usually with blades 5-7 inches (12.7-17.78 cm) long, however, it is important to dimension your defense knife into your hands and your fighting style.

The techniques will apply if it is a fixed blade knife, a hunting knife that is cushioned, or other types of knife. You desire the grasp of a fantastic defense knife to accommodate that size traction as tightly as you can.

 You should also maintain your knife clean and nicely preserved. A dull knife is an a bit more dangerous knife, and it is important to keep all of your knives strategic, searching, or kitchen sharp, clean, and well-maintained.

You must how to hone and sharpen your knives, to maintain them in good working order. Ergonomic knives will need to be oiled regularly to maintain the action as easy as possible.

4. Exercise with markers, paint brush or pointer

For practice, you must be having a small brother, a sparring partner, or your kid whoever is weaker than you and provide them a marker/brush using the cap away. Take your shirt off and let them attempt to indicate you as you attempt to prevent them.

 Count the mark lines in the end up even when you're experienced in self-indulgent, or perhaps MMA, or karate, you are likely to rapidly come up from a tough fact: it is fairly simple for somebody to acquire a blade for you in close quarters, along with a knife makes for a mortal attacker, even if you do not understand what you are doing.

]This really is a great method of practicing your knife fighting abilities in excellent safety. Never try to exercise knife. Use clinic knives or markers.

5. Judge your attacker

If you are likely to take a knife, then you need to be sure that you don't introduce it in the fight. Knives should be attracted as your competitor has drawn a knife, gun, or another weapon if you fear for the own life in a physical altercation.

Use your knife to try to prevent the altercation if needed, to defend yourself. Do not draw knives, unarmed attackers. Learn how to defend yourself without using a weapon, and also prevent physical fights at any cost.

If a person comes up for you in a threatening fashion, take a look at their palms and in their pockets. Draw your own knife if you find a weapon. Use your knife for a diversion. 

Most attackers will not be interested in really attacking you personally, particularly if you just pulled a knife which you look just like you understand how to utilize.

No one wishes to get into a knife fight. You have pulled a knife return and if a person has pulled a knife, which should be its end. 

Ideally, pulling on your knife and deflecting your competition should be the fight's conclusion. Each evening, it sharpens. Trust me, you do not wish to come.

Keith Richards a famed knife enthusiast, liked to say that the sole goal of pulling a knife was supposed to find someone to check out the knife for a diversion until you finished the fighting kicking them involving the legs. Perhaps not the worst thing.

Here’s the thing that most people tend to forget - you may have bought one of the best bushcraft knives out there in the market right now, but that alone does not guarantee the fact that it will be useful in the wild because the definition of best is subjective.

The bottom line is that you need to learn how to use it in a smart and efficient manner to ensure that when the time is right, you don’t shiver like a baby; rather fight like a man. That is the only way in which you can make sure that the knife is useful when it really counts, else it is just a useless piece of sharp metal. 

Learning how to use a bushcraft knife effectively includes learning as well as practising some basic bushcraft knife skills. Contrary to popular belief, there is no need to go into a forest literally to improve your bushcraft knife skills. You can even practice with a bushcraft knife in your backward. Not only will the element of practice become fun to do after a while, but you will even become more and more proficient as time goes by because when you are an amateur, you get bored or disheartened easily, but when you are able to use it like a pro, the possibility of getting bored completely disappears. You can definitely be sure of this fact.

Hence, whenever you are in the wilderness or in any survival situation, you can be sure that your skills are efficient enough to fight it because you are prepared for anything that comes your way. On that note, let’s take a look at some of the essential bushcraft knife skills:-

• Batoning: Now this process can mainly be done by splitting wood. To make sure that you get it right, select a bushcraft knife that happens to be a few inches longer than the wood you are attempting to split.Make sure that you keep batoning the knife till you split the wood. Then, you can focus on making deeper notches in the wood. It is a good exercise for your upper body; enhancing your strength significantly.

• Carving: This is one of the main uses for your knife. Not only will this enable you to construct useful tools such as bowls and spoons, but the process itself is great fun, and will ensure that you maintain a better control over your knife. It also helps you to make use of whatever lies around in your surroundings, if you get stuck in the wild.You can also try your hand at some of the smaller tasks as well. In this regard, a thick, long blade is not the ideal option for carving in general. It basically makes you familiar with the length and width of the knife; allowing you to use it more effectively when the need arises.

• Fire Starting: As far as general bushcraft and survival situations are concerned, knowing how to make a fire is absolutely essential in every sense of the word. In order to determine whether or not your knife can handle such a task, you can even practice at home in your own backyard. You never know when you might need such a skill, so if you are an adventure lover, then this is a must for you.Practicing with dry as well as wet materials is a must. Even the option of a ferro rod to start a fire is extremely efficient. It is also extremely cool to start a small fire with your knife; a skill which you can boast around among your family and friends.

• Feather Sticks: This is an important bushcraft skill to learn. Using this skill, you will be able to start a fire even when it is damp and all other methods have failed. Practicing it with carving and fire starting skills would be the ideal way to go. It is not rocket science but is not easy as well, so don’t be disheartened if you are not able to even get sparks, let alone a small fire. Practice makes a man perfect! Period.

• Chopping: Once again, this is a skill best honed at home itself. You will also need to make sure that you have a firm grip on the knife at all times as well as considering the use of an axe or saw, else your hand might get strained or someone else might get severely injured, if it slips from your hand. So to protect your loved ones and the expensive household items, grip stronger to last longer.

Finally, do make sure that you practice all of these skills at home itself. That way, you will truly find out what your bushcraft knife is capable of doing, as well as improve on your very own bushcraft skill set. Basically, it is much better for a mediocre bushcraft knife to be in the hands of an expert, as opposed to a great bushcraft knife in the hands of an unskilled person.

One of the essential concerns that you should take care of is the fact that handling a knife can be dangerous for yourself too. Practicing any of the above skills can be as lethal as using it against someone else. What you need to make sure is that you guard yourself with thick clothes or a light-weight armour, and the pointy-end should never face towards your body. Practice slowly if you are afraid of hurting yourself because it is better to be safe than sorry.

That is the main fact that you need to remember as well as the fact that once you acquire all of the necessary skills, you will be in a much calmer and less stressed-out state of mind when you find yourself in a survival situation.

Is there a difference between casting and spinning rods? Fishing rods come in many sizes and configurations.

For a beginner, it’s a dizzying array of so many rods to choose from for small, medium or large fish in different freshwater or saltwater environments.

Since fishing rods have many purposes, each with their own unique advantages and disadvantages, I will guide you on the two different types of rods and their uses, so you can utilize them to your best fishing advantage and know the exact uses between casting rods and spinning rods.

Do bass bite at night? Many anglers ask this question, considering bass are prone to changes in weather conditions and becoming inactive depending on water temperature. So what do you do to make bass bite at night?

I will be teaching you the basics and a step by step how-to guide to become proficient at night bass fishing. I will also be giving you the best tips in order to answer your question if bass do bite at night.

What's the best hook size for trout fishing?

That question has lingered on in every angler's mind that weighs in on what hook size for trout fishing is the right one.

It can be quite confusing with no real guidelines for standardizing the kind of hooks out there.

In this guide, we help you choose the best hook size for trout fishing and maximizing your catch without the trouble of confusion on what's the perfect hook size to bag that prized trout catch you've been after.

Have you ever wondered what size of hook you should use for fishing? If yes, this is just the right place for you. Fishing hooks are variable regarding shapes, designs, and materials.

However, choosing what size of hook for bass fishing to use is even more confusing. It is not as simple as coming to a store, and pick one size randomly; it is about finding the most suitable one for your fishing purpose and your bait.

In this post, you will understand more about hook size, hook type, and know how to choose what best suit your purpose.

Being a native of a coastal region, you must have had the opportunity of tasting a variety of fishes. You might have even tried your hands in catching one with your peer anglers. But have you ever stumbled upon a ladyfish?

Occurring throughout the subtropical and tropical regions, a ladyfish is a coastal-dwelling creature occasionally found venturing into the temperate waters.

Why wear waders when a pair of jeans will do?

When I first started fishing, the only thing that entered my mind was to have a good catch. I never gave much thought about the clothes I should wear, or even that I need to dress up in a particular way.

I mean, oh come on, what difference will it make if I go fishing in my favorite pair of jeans. Why spend money on a pair of waders? And what’s so wrong with getting a little messy and wet.

After all, you are going fishing, aren't you?