Wadefishing at night with Topwaters

By Captain Jim Onderdonk

The same thing happens every year. By mid-summer people are complaining about the heat and don't want to fish. Most people are ready to stop this time of year before noon. That's why I am here, to share a secret with you about fishing in South Texas at night. At night, it is of course cooler outside, but also the water cools down and those big speckled trout start to really move and feed. There is nothing like catching one of these big fish at night, when you can't even see them explode on your lure. Here I will show you how to fish, where to go, and when to do it.

First of all, NEVER go out alone! Many things can happen while navigating waterways after dark and or while wade fishing! Here are a few safety tips:

* Your fishing partner should be aware of the aware of the area you are fishing in and your surrounds.

* Wear personal floatation devices while driving the boat.

* Be sure to leave a trip plan with someone back home.

* Plan out your trip, including your first several fishing spots.

HOW: Once you have arrived at your first location safely, make sure that your anchor light stays on. This will also give you some bearing and help getting back to the boat. Strap on a L.E.D. head lamp, they are a must. L.E.D. head lamps are readily available and allow hands-free, much-needed light.

In addition to the headlamps, get some glow sticks as well. These are the type that activate and light up when you bend/crack/shake them. What you do is tie the glow stick to some string and hang it like a necklace, draping down over your back. This will also help to prevent boaters from coming too close, and keep your fishing partner from hitting you with a lure. Worst case scenario, it can also be a good emergency backup light to get to the boat. While wading, don't get too far apart.

WHEN: I prefer to fish in the time before, during and after a full moon because of the extra light it provides. If you are using a dark topwater lure it will stand out that much better to those predator fish. The key is to use what I call the "Donk's Tangler". What you do is tie about a foot of line to the front ring on a top water lure, and then attach a dark-colored soft plastic lure on the back end with a very light fishing hook.

I know what you're thinking, but just try it and you will be surprised. Work it the same way you would the top water. The fish will hit the soft plastic every time! I like to fish with braided line (Power Pro), it allows you to feel what you can't see. You will know when you have a hook up!

Major feeding times, according to Solunar tables, are a great time to fish. I use a 5 hour time-frame around what the tables call these prime times. It's no guarantee but has worked for me in the past.

WHERE: White Bluff, Black Bluff, East Kleberg Point, Alazan bay and the Tide Gauge Bar have produced numerous, night time wall hangers. This method has been very effective for me, as I am sure it will be for you. Remember keep just what you will eat! Until next time, SEE YOU ON THE WATER!

About the Author:

Captain Jim Onderdonk is a professional fishing guide who specializes in wadefishing for big speckled trout and redfish in Texas, and uses Brown Lures' salt water fishing lures. "Donk" suggests you try out some from Brown Lures for your next fishing trip.

My new EZ-Link Card

Look at the new EZLink card.

They changed my old one with respectable efficiency.

Typical of Singapore.

Suppose to be able to store far more credit than the old one. and I will soon be able to use the card for many other purposes.

Although they said the wait would take 45 minutes, but actually took only about 20 minutes.

Can't wait to discover new ways to spend my hard earned money.

Learning How To Water Ski In Tampa Bay Is Fun

By Lane \"Dawg\" Bowers

Tampa Bay, Florida is one of the best places for activities on the water. You can do things like boating, fishing, parasailing, and even water skiing. Water skiing has become an increasingly popular water activity and Tampa Bay is no exception.

There are many things that a person should know and learn before even attempting to put the skiis on. It is important that a person goes through the proper protocol of water ski training so that they donat hurt themselves or others when it becomes time to actually go out on the water.

In Tampa Bay, there are many opportunities available for you to learn how o water ski. On the shore you can find Water ski lessons almost anywhere. But if you want to look for places where you can learn water ski, beforehand. You can do a simple online search which should show you more than enough places where you can learn to water ski.

Once you have gone through your water ski training, you will be able to have all the fun in the world out on the calm waters of the bay. Tampa Bays is extremely large so you will have more than enough space unlike if you were water skiing on a small lake. In fact, if you wanted to test your skills you could always go out in the Gulf of Mexico too.

As most people are already aware,starting up and getting up on your skis is the most difficult part of water skiing. It is essential that you find a pair of skis that are a good fit, to ensure that you can ski properly and safely. You can attempt to get up on your feet, once you have found a good pair.

The process of getting up on your feet can be a real challenge. It will be better if, you start with your knees bent, and your skis pointing out of the water in front of you. As the boat begins to pull you on the top of the water, you should stay in a seated or crouched position.

Once you have gotten on top of the water, then you can try to stand up. Planing is an official term used to describe this. You will have a better opportunity to practice this when you take your water skiing lessons, and also probably learn more details. Once you have achieved a vertical position, you are actually water skiing.

Another benefit of water ski training is that the boat operator knows how to help you. If you were to learn on your home with friends, the boat operator may not be as vigilant on your part. They may be more focused on having fun on the boat than with providing you with a fun experience. You will be waterskiing in Tampa Bay before you know it.

About the Author:

Learning how to water ski is safe when you have the insider information. Go here if you want to learn to water ski without falling. Your entire family can learn safely and without falling in one hour.

Equip Yourself With These Sailing And Yachting Tips

By Ferdinand Mekinsy

Many cruisers who prefer sailing holidays have already had the experience of dinghies for instance, and they are eager to adapt to bigger boats such as yachts or charters. The advantage of such a change is the fact that you'll no longer have to worry about everything on board such as maintenance, sailing and anchoring. The background is different, and since you're on holiday, make the best of it from one end to the other. And last but not least there is also the possibility to book a whole-boat and enjoy the privacy of the cruise without having to share it with other people. The crew members are very discreet and you can relax and have fun in peace.

Sailing yachts is comfortable for anyone as there is usually a crew for each such boat, and you can be totally unaware of the maintenance issues of the vessel or you could get actively involved. This all depends on personal preferences and on the kind of activities you expect to enjoy aboard. Internet sites and travel agencies are the right places to search for sailing yachts vacations, with the mention that a third option here would be the hiring of a broker. Brokers are usually familiar with all sorts of yacht charters, they also have good information and knowledge of the companies that operate them, and are very competent at suggesting one holiday choice or another.

The life jacket must never be overlooked; check its condition together with the other safety gears before leaving the shore. The location of the life jacket must be somewhere very close within reach, and on bad weather conditions it should be worn permanently when on deck. The sailing gloves are one other sailing clothing item that deserves all the attention; the design is very special so as to protect the hands when handling the ropes and hoisting the sails. Their resistance to harsh weather conditions, tearing and over-wear is also of paramount importance. They will surely cost more than any other regular pair of gloves, but the money is worth paying.

Part of the booking procedure for the sailing vacations involves receiving a special confirmation package that you need to have with you in order to present it at the check in points of the sailing charter. Even when you book a boat for a more complex itinerary that includes several different destinations, make sure to pass the documents around together with the crew list in order for things to go smoothly. Most other travel tips you'd find online cover the main aspects of sailing vacations: clothes, sunscreen lotions, day packs to keep money and documents as well as the personal first-aid kit. Include these items on the to-do-list when preparing the details of sailing vacations.

There are lots of schools offering sailing lessons, how can one know which to choose? The crucial element for the appreciation of the sailing lessons quality is the time extent you spend on water. Teaching should be a constant natural process aboard a ship, meaning that every maneuver during sailing makes an opportunity for a trainee to learn something new. Sailing lessons must focus on drills preparing the would-be sailors for more unusual circumstances when the lack of experience has to be compensated for by the superiority of skills. Be prepared for anything! This should be the motto of schools teaching sailing lessons.

Land sailing is the sport practiced in a wheeled vehicle that is powered not by an engine but by the wind, by means of a sail. Both recreational and practical in functionality, land sailing has been practiced as a sport since the 50s; it is also known under the name of sand or land yachting, while the vehicle is called sail wagon or land yacht. This vehicle is normally three-wheeled, following the same concept of the sailboat, and the sailor/pilot sits or lies, changing position with the help of pedals and hand levers. What are the best locations to practice land sailing?

About the Author:

If you want to look more about sailing, find out more Sailing And Yachting Also look here Sailing Article Directory Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

Snow Tubing in NY's Catskill Mountains

By LJ James

Right now for most Americans money is getting a bit tight. We all still want to have those great family trips that we take every year, but we have to watch how much we spend. Well I just had a great time with my family in New York's Catskill Mountains that didn't put us all in the poor house.

I was in the Catskill area with Family for the Christmas Holidays. My younger Sister has three kids. Which makes me an Uncle and I always enjoy spending time with my two Nieces and Nephew, The Youngest is 6 years old and the oldest is 13 years old. Now when the age gap is that far apart it can make finding something they all want to do very difficult. Well We where also looking for something to do that not only the kids but us adults could enjoy as well.

It took some time but my younger Brother came up with the idea of Snow Tubing. It sounded good to me. The Kids loved the idea and so did my Sister, Her Husband and even my Mother. OK so then came the part where the money comes in. I called up Windham Mountain to get their Snow tubing times and rates (http://www.windhammountain.com/mountain/tubing) . When they told me their snow tubing rates I was surprised as they where not too bad $20 a person for two hours $25 for four hours and they had a Friday night special of only $15 dollars from 4pm to 9pm ! Only $15 for Five hours, I was sold as it just happened to be Friday.

So the group of Nine of us piled into two vehicles and we where off to do some tubing on Windham's 650 foot snow covered snow tubing slope. We where Lucky as the weather was warm for December in the Catskill Mountains. The Slope was perfect, there where about ten lanes to slide down and the Snow Tubing staff kept the line moving.

Let me see if I can explain how everything went. When we got up to the Slope we grabbed a large canvased covered Snow Tube then picked a lane. We could go down the lane in groups or by ourselves. I have to say my first trip down caught me by Surprise. It has been a few years since I have been sleigh riding but I know I never went that fast down the old hill. Now hearing me say how fast the slope is, may make you think you or your kids might be scared. Don't worry about that, I saw kids as young as three years old tubing down the Slope and they were loving it!

At the bottom of the hill there are mats placed at the end of every lane to slow you down safely, Along with attendants ready to help you if you needed it( I didn't see anyone who needed any help). Now anyone who has gone Sleigh riding as a kid remembers the trip down the hill was always the fun part, It's the walk back up that is work. Well not at Windham's snow tube park. The canvases that cover the snow tubes have long straps that hook up to a conveyor so all you have to do is sit in your tube and then slowly slide back up the Slope! The Straps also make it perfect so the attendants can spin you (only if you ask nicely) as you are sliding down the slope.

After about three hours of snow tubing everyone but my brother and his girlfriend was getting tired. So we went into the large Ski lodge, which is only about ten feet from the snow tubing lanes. While inside the lodge we all enjoyed some nice hot Chocolate while sitting by the Fire place.

I am not a big fan of winter activities, But I have to say we all had a great time even if we didn't make it the full five hours. Life can often get a little crazy and too fast paced, Every once in a while we all need some affordable old fashion family fun, (With a few modern convinces of course)

I am LJ James AmericanBikerX.com Radio Show BikerLowdown.com

About the Author:

LJ James writes alot stories alot of them are about the Motorcycle Club Life. He often works ata Collection Agency This and other unique content 'New york' articles are available with free reprint rights.

Colonial-era hotel a reminder of romantic past in neglected Myanmar

In the colonial heyday of this elegant Victorian hotel, gentlemen in white dinner jackets and ladies in flowing gowns sipped cocktails on the shaded verandah as the sun went down, enjoying a welcome respite from the tropical heat of Myanmar.
The legendary Strand Hotel was one of the great watering holes of the British Empire. Just like Raffles Hotel in Singapore or the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, the 107-year old Strand remains a national landmark.

The Strand was built in 1901 by the Sarkies brothers, Armenian refugees from Turkey who founded a chain of luxury hotels in the region, including Raffles, the Oriental, the Majapahit in the Indonesian port of Surabaya, and the Eastern & Oriental in Penang, Malaysia.
In the 1920s and '30s, it became a favorite hangout of famous writers, British officers, celebrities and even royalty. Luminaries such as Rudyard Kipling, W. Somerset Maugham, Graham Greene, Noel Coward, George Orwell and Lord Mountbatten were all regular customers. More recently, it has accommodated the likes of Mick Jagger and Oliver Stone.
Completely renovated in 1990, its teak floors are polished and gleaming, the antique chandeliers sparkle in the spacious and luxurious reception rooms and the quintessential colonial icon — the ceiling fans — gently rotate above tables surrounded by rattan chairs in the cozy cafe.
Before World War II, the Strand was reserved for "whites only," but during the Japanese occupation of Burma — as Myanmar was formerly known — it became an army barracks. It received its first Burmese guests only after the war.
But since the early 1990s, the property was acquired by Adrian Zecha, the founder of Singapore's exclusive Aman Resorts chain, and renovation began.
The Strand reopened in 1995 as an all-suite, top-of-the range boutique hotel. Its teak and marble floors, mahogany furniture and canopied beds complement original pieces, like period bathroom fixtures.
But unlike the other grand old hotels in the region, the Strand's restoration remained true to its architectural past, and it has no new wing, and no swimming pool or tennis courts.
"We came to the Strand because of its old-world romantic charm," said Tomas Llobet, from Brussels, Belgium, who was celebrating a wedding anniversary with his wife, Victoria. "We wanted to be in a place with a lot of historic character, properly renovated without huge concessions to modernity."
The ghosts of the British colonels would approve of their choice.

I have consensed this article that made a profound impact on me. You can follow the link to read the full article at the link.

IF YOU GO
STRAND HOTEL, YANGON, MYANMAR
DETAILS: The hotel is at 92 Strand Road in Yangon, Myanmar. Room rates listed on the hotel's Web site begin at $550. http://www.ghmhotels.com/

http://www.app.com/article/20090104/LIFE02/901040308/1006/LIFE

A place in my memory- The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is the one of the places that stand out in all the places that I ever visited.

Before the visit, I had never heard of it.

And after the visit, its a place that I could never forget.

I still remember, the time of day that we arrived, I remember touching the walls, the reflecting pools.

We often talk about that trip in my family, even though it is more than 25 years ago that the trip was taken. And perhaps someday I will have the chance to take my own family there, as my father did for his.

Please visit the Wilipedia site for more details - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal