Fishing

CyberAngler is an online fishing magazine that includes colorful photos with most of its articles. Some links include "Fishing Reports," "Reef Locator," and "Tournaments." Select your location in each category to find local fishing resources. For tide predictions, visit the "Weather" section. To connect with other fishermen, visit the "Forums."

TidalFish.com is designed to bring angler fishing enthusiasts together for advice and help. The Web site offers message boards to keep fisherman in touch along with weather reports and other practical information. The homepage is full of articles that detail the latest news in angler fishing-"Saltwater," "Freshwater," "Fly Fishing," and "Knots & Rigging" are just a few of the subjects covered.

American Anglers Fishing Forum is a discussion area for all things fishing related. Pick and choose from a wide range of topics like "Bass Fishing" and "Tackle Making/Rod Building." Because this is an open forum, you never know what you'll find but the comments tend to be informative and helpful.

The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide emphasizes bass fishing but has advice for all types of anglers, with new headlines posted daily. "Tournament Tips" can help you to fish like a pro while the "Online Store" shows you how and why specific equipment is worthwhile. The "For Her Only" section aims to welcome women to the thrill of angling with articles written for women, by women. For an extensive list of other fishing resources, visit the "Links" area.

FlyFish.com is a river of information. Visit the "Reports" link to find fishing accounts from all over the world. The "Newsroom" keeps you current on the latest fly fishing events and upcoming expos. The Web site also educates you on bait: go to the "Flybin" link and browse flies by target species or type of fly. You can also connect to retailers and compare prices with the "Shopping" link.

FlyFisherman.com is the online home of Fly Fisherman magazine. Visit the "Fishing Reports" link for reports on regions all across the United States and Canada. Local fishermen detail conditions in many bodies of water; click your region and scroll down to see if reports have been posted on your favorite fishing spot. You can also use the "Travel Center" link to find new favorite fishing destinations: select a location and choose fresh or saltwater options (you can select both at once). Other helpful links include "Fly-Fishing Tactics" and "Gear Reviews" (scroll down the left side of the page to find them under "Subjects").

The Fly Fishing Network is dedicated to helping fly fishermen find gear, articles, and equipment, and to plan trips. It also has plenty of advice: visit the "Knots" section for directions and illustrations of knot tying techniques and the "Casting" section for illustrated instructions on casting. Be wary of some ads by Google at the top of each page.

Fly Anglers OnLine does not look especially professional but the site is loaded with helpful information for the beginner and the experienced angler. If you're just starting out, try the "Flyfishing Basics" link for information on fly tying, knots, float tubing, rod building, and a beginner's journal. The more experienced will enjoy the "Features" section which is loaded with articles on typing tips, great rivers, tide charts, and lots of angling lore.

Expert Village offers a number of instructional videos geared toward both beginners and advanced fishermen.

Ice Leaders thoroughly details all aspects of ice fishing with links to tournaments, gear, and bait. Visit "Tactics" for articles on ice fishing topics and trends like "To Spoon or Not to Spoon?" or "Deadsticking For Crappies." Go to the "I.C.E. Events" link for fishing events all over the United States. And for a unique bit of trivia or advice, check out the "Did You Know?" box on the left side of every page.

IceShanty.com is a constantly updated user-based site that welcomes contributions, even during the summer. As a result, you'll see lots of personal photos and postings. A very active forum dominates the site but you'll find other valuable content through the tiny links located just above the large ads on the homepage.

Walleye Hunter is great for engaged ice fishing enthusiasts, though be mindful of Google ads at the top of most pages. Scroll through the list of links on the left for an overview of the site. The "Message Board" is constantly active, even during summer months. The "Ice Fishing" link is full of articles, safety information, and equipment resources. "Walleye Fishing Reports" contains user-submitted fishing reports organized by state; check and see if your area has recently been covered. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) links for every U.S. state and Canadian province are also provided.

Ice Fishing Home suffers from unprofessional design but don't let this deter you-the information is worth a look. Topics are arranged in categories like "Regional," "Shelters," "Groups," and "Augers." Each category has multiple links: read up on local ice fishing conditions, how to buy a tent, or how to be involved with other fisherman, for example.

Bass Pro Shops has an extensive selection of fishing equipment arranged in three major groups: "Freshwater Fishing," "Fly Fishing," and "Saltwater Fishing." Each group is then divided by categories of gear. If you're looking for a boat, visit the "Marine and Electronics" section for help selecting boating equipment.

GoFishin.com helps users find discounted gear and tackle. Items are categorized and presented with pictures and product information. The site's "Fish Specialized Pro Shops" area features discounted products arranged by type of fishing, from bass and fly fishing to offshore and trout.

Capt. Harry's Fishing Supply carries rods, reels, lures, fishing line, and lots of other products. Scroll through the store categories on the left to find what you need, or visit the "Specials" page for great deals on featured products.

FishBase contains 30,000 species of fish with details like the scientific name of the fish and what family it comes from. Scroll down for search boxes that detail "Information by Country/Island," "Information by Ecosystem," and "Information by Topic." This is a great place to find out what you've caught or to set your sights on a specific catch.

Fintalk.com lets you search for fish species by common or scientific name. Results include a picture of the fish and lots of Google ads; scroll down to find the "Species Facts" like "Habitat," "Size," "Game Qualities," "Food Value," and "Fishing Styles." This Web site is a great resource for lots of fishing information-don't limit yourself to the species database alone.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources offers a "Species A-Z Guide." Fish are listed alphabetically with links to photos and descriptions containing information on habitat, reproduction, typical foods, and more.

The Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council lists fishing tournaments available in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada, during the current season. There's also a listing for states outside of the Great Lakes area; simply click on your state for links to a calendar of events. Tour names and addresses are listed, along with fees and contact information.

Sportsfishermen.com details both domestic and international fishing events. Tournaments are listed by state or country. Users can post to forums that review tournaments and discuss upcoming events. Locations, prices, and tournament Web sites are listed along with occasional descriptions of each event.

CyberAngler.com is an online fishing magazine with a page devoted to fishing tournaments. Find fishing tournaments by selecting from the "When" and "Where" search functions. Or add your own tournaments to the site-keep other fishermen updated if you are aware of an unlisted competition.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is dedicated to the preservation of land and marine animals across the world. Visit the "Explore WCS" section and click on whatever region interests you most. The "Marine Conservation" page presents an introduction to global conservation opportunities with links to regional programs and the marine wildlife that is threatened.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) hosts the National Marine Fisheries Service Web site, which promotes conservation efforts for aquatic life. You can find valuable information on weather here as well as conservation information. Visit the "Ethical Angling" link for a code of proper fishing conduct.

National Coalition for Marine Conservation is an organization dedicated to preserving ocean fish and protecting marine habitat. Visit the "Position Statements" link to learn the organization's views on current fishery management issues. "Conservation News" features articles from their latest newsletter and press releases. If you want to support the cause, become a member for $30. You'll receive a newsletter and conservation information, along with invitations to sponsored events.

Fishing for Information is a directory site that collects and organizes information from many different conservation resources. Organizations are arranged in categories like "Earth Sciences," "Aquaculture," "Freshwater," and "Marine." Each category is thoroughly explored with links to many different Web sites. Visit these to learn more about an area of environmental interest or to find ways to further conservation efforts.

The Billfish Foundation is the site of an organization dedicated to protecting the lives of billfish, a saltwater species, while also seeking to promote fairness towards recreational anglers. Visit the "Education" link and go to "Responsible Angling" to learn about how to fish responsibly. The site also offers marine records and information on fishing classes.

The Marine Conservation Biology Institute is an organization that promotes ocean conservation by advocating for scientists from many disciplines to cooperatively research, study, and protect marine life. Although the site isn't geared specifically toward fishermen, it is helpful for people who love the ocean and want to be involved in protecting marine ecosystems. Jobs and internships are available if you want to turn your passion for the ocean into a professional experience.