How to Catch Tilapia

Tilapia is a fair sized freshwater fish that prefers the warm water of the tropical and sub tropical regions across the planet. It's the third most important fish in aquaculture because of their large size, rapid growth, and succulent taste. They also make a fine game fish for the freshwater fisherman.

Things You’ll Need:
Boat

Lake

Fishing Rod or Fly Rod

Dry Fly or Nightcrawlers

Fishing Net

How To Catch Tilapia
Step 1:
Decide where you will go fishing. Tilapia prefers warm water that is either still or flows very slowly. If you're going to be fishing stateside and have the opportunity, Lake Okeechobee in Florida as well as the Kissimmee river is rife with this fish. Tilapia is also very common in southeast Asia and is a source of great nourishment among the lower class. You're likely to find them in most any warm body of fresh water throughout the country.

Step 2:
Once you've chosen a place to fish, go out either on foot or by boat just before dawn. Look for areas near the shore with plenty of waterweeds. Tilapia will eat many types of water plant throughout the day, but they will gorge themselves on insects just as the sun touches the horizon.

Step 3:
When fly fishing use a simple dry fly, cast it out onto the water's surface and keep the line taught. Let the fly drift on the water, Tilapia will not tap or test flies at this time of day, but rather snap them up whole. If using a plain rod and reel use a worm wrapped around a number two hook with a bobber two feet further down the line is all you need. If fishing in particularly shallow water you might want to use a smaller hook with only a portion of a worm on it.

Step 4:
When the fish has taken the bait, quickly jerk the rod up and back to set the hook in the fish's mouth.

Step 5:
Keep the rod pointing upward and let the fish run a little. Tilapia are very energetic and will immediately race away once hooked, though they are not known for jumping so you needn't worry about them spitting out the hook.

Step 6:
Once the fish has gone out anywhere between fifty and a hundred yards being reeling the fish in. Try not to pull or jerk the rod suddenly as this may pull the hook loose. Just keep the rod straight and reel in the fish steadily. After the initial burst they won't up too much of a fight until they're within sight of you. Make sure to keep your net handy as they will thrash madly when you pull them from the water.

Tips & Warnings
If fishing in Lake Okeechobee for the first time it might be a good idea to hire a guide. The size of the lake is such that a person can easily get lost and not make it back to their pier for days.
Also do not get in the water unless absolutely necessary; alligators, gar fish, and water moccasins make this a risky move.

How To Attach A Thread To A Hook In Fly Tying

When a sportsman becomes really interested in fly fishing, he/she will inevitably decide to tie their own flies. As insects can differ in size, shape, and color from one region to another, its difficult and expensive to either hunt down or commission specialized fly-hooks. Tying one's own flies allows the sportsman to perfectly mimic the local insects that fish prefer to feed on. This guide will give a run through of how to start making one's own flies by attaching thread to hook. From that point on, how the flies are made are up to the imagination and ingenuity of the sportsman.

Things You’ll Need:
Fly Tying Vise
Bobbin W/thread
Hackle Pliers
Whip Finisher
Bodkin
Fly Hook

The Right Equipment
Fly Tying Vise- A fly tying vise is an absolute must when tying one's own flies. Remember that all of the components of the fly are very small and diverse. It would be incredibly frustrating to try to do this all by hand. Some of the more complex flies may take many hours of work over a period of days to complete. A vise allows you to walk away from your work and be sure you'll find it in the same condition you left it. There are many such vises on the market that range in price from ten dollars to nearly a thousand. Price does not exactly indicate quality though. What you need to remember is that the purpose of a vise is to hold the fly immobile. It should not shift or jiggle at all. If you can find a vise that does this, you're set.

Bobbin- A fly tying bobbin is simply a device to help control the spool of fly tying thread as it is wound around a fly. The only thing you need look for here is a tube at the end of the bobbin which does not damage, crimp, or fray the thread as it unspools. If such a thing happens the thread may break and you would have to start tying the fly all over again. For this reason many bobbins come with a flared tube, while others may come with ceramic tubes or inserts that cause the threads less friction.

Hackle Pliers- hackle pliers are used to firmly grasp and manipulate small pieces used to make a fly. Typically they would be bits of feather and down called "hackle" that come from game birds. Its hackle that usually makes up the body of the fly and gives it the illusion of being a real fly. They also in a non-slip type of hackle plier that has rubber grips at the end to avoid crushing the hackle and hold it more securely.

Whip Finisher- A whip finisher is a tool employed by lots of tiers to finish a fly with a smooth knot. A whip finish is applied in order to keep the materials from unwinding after the thread is cut. There are three types of whip finishers available on the market today, the Simple, the Thompson and the Matarelli. They all create a nice finish on a fly, but accomplish it in different ways.

Bodkin- A bodkin is simply a needle with a handle. Bodkins are a very general tool in fly tying. They are often used to untrap hackle fibers, add head cement to the knot ending a fly's tying, punch holes into foam popper bodies, etc.

Attaching The Thread To The Hook
Step 1:
Take the hook and clamp it securely in the vice.

Step 2:
Use the bobbin to lay down some thread parallel to the shaft of the hook, hold the thread along the shank of the hook.

Step 3:
Wind the bobbin around the thread, trapping it beneath the windings. Take as many wraps as necessary until the thread is securely attached to the hook. There, your thread is attached and the fly is ready to be decorated.