Costa Rica SCUBA diving can be world class with plenty of thrills for the diving enthusiast and beginner. It can be a great place to get your scuba diving certification. There are plenty of dive operators that offer the Padi course at very reasonable rates .

Costa Rica is a small country in Central America with a huge range of wildlife to see. On land there are colorful birds and rare mammals inside the beautiful rainforest. The country is divided by a serious of the volcanic mountains that run the length of the country these give the Caribbean and Pacific sides markedly different climates.

The Pacific coastline is more interesting for scuba divers and surfers. It has a much more varied terrain than the Caribbean side with gulfs and peninsulas to explore. Some of the best places to scuba dive in Costa Rica are…

playa ocotal

player hermosa

playas del coco

Cano island

Scuba diving in these places you can expect to see many species of fish in large numbers, sharks, turtles, stingrays and whales are all very common. One thing you have to take into account is the often poor visibility this is due to the abundance of plankton. It is this plankton that brings in the huge numbers of fish and other marine animals. The visibility can sometimes change from 20 to 80 ft on the same day especially during the rainy season.

There are many dive shops in these areas which will provide gear and guides for you. One of the best ways to enjoy scuba diving in Costa Rica for the first time is to take a organized tour. These can be day trips or overnight to some of the islands .The Cocos Islands are reached by a 10 day liveaboard trip.

Scuba diving is all the rage in Costa Rica at the moment, with many tour groups and travel agencies now offering underwater trips and excursions.There are many dive shops in these areas which will provide gear and guides for you.

The water temperature ranges from 21 to 29 C so a 2-3 mm (1/8″) wetsuit should be okay. The dry season is from November to May it can be windy during this time but the water visibility is a lot better. June to November is the rainy season where some marine animals like the hammerhead shark become more frequent during this time.

Costa Rica is a wonderful place for a SCUBA diving vacation that you will remember for a long time .Here, you can still find uncrowded and unspoiled beaches that stretch on for miles.

Lake Erie has two excellent fishing areas you need to familiarize with when you read any any lake Erie fishing reports. The majority of the many fishing reports you can find for the Ohio Lake Erie Area will concentrate on the Western Basin and Central basin. The Western Basin and Central Basin hold some of the most pristine fishing areas in the Midwest. If you are planning a fishing trip to one of these areas do your homework. These area are excellent fishing areas but Lake Erie can be dangerous if you don’t do some pre-planing to understand her weather patterns.

A good up to date fishing report is a must to pinpoint where you want to fish and for what type of fish species you are going to target. For example if you plan on targeting Lake Erie’s Small mouth bass you will need a fishing report that tells you where the small mouth bass are located and what baits they are hitting on. Once you have decided to fish the western or central basin, you can get local fishing and weather reports for these areas. Refer to the current fishing Western Basin and Central Basin hot spots I copied from the Ohio Department of Natural resources below. If i was planing a summer walleye fishing trip i would identify only the information that is specific to Walleye.

For example, if I was interested in fishing for small mouth in the western basin during the summer, I would find a local fishing report that gave you details on Small mouth fishing. When I read my chart below, I would concentrate my pre-planning in the following areas: Bass Islands, Kelleys Island, Catawba, Marblehead, Sandusky Bay, Reef Complex, Maumee River, Portage River, and the Sandusky River.

Once you have identified the area you want to fish and for what species you are going to target you need to locate a good local fishing report.Now you need to locate a good source for accurate detailed information for these areas. Make sure your report includes up to date information and includes weather conditions. You can find your information on the Internet by using a simple search on “google”.

Western Basin Fishing Hotspots Walleye Winter- Breakwalls; Lakeside, Marblehead, Catawba. Ice Fishing; Reef Complex, Bass Island Area, Catawba, Marblehead.

Spring-Maumee River, Sandusky River, Sandusky Bay, Reef Complex, Bass Islands, Kelleys Island, Marblehead

Summer-West Sister Island, Northwest of North Bass Island, East of Kelleys Island, Toledo Shipping Channel.

Fall-Kelleys Island, Bass Islands, Breakwalls; Lakeside, Marblehead, Catawba

Yellow Perch Winter-Ice Fishing; Catawba, Bass Islands, Marblehead, Sandusky Bay

Spring-Catawba, Marblehead, Bass Islands, Kelleys Island

Summer-Catawba, Marblehead, Bass Islands, Kelleys Island, Toledo water intake, Metzger’s Marsh Pier

Fall-West Sister Island, Toledo Shipping Channel, Marblehead, Kelleys Island, Catawba, Bass Islands, Toledowater intake

Smallmouth Bass Winter-Bass Islands, Kelleys Island, Catawba, Marblehead

Spring-Bass Islands, Kelleys Island, Catawba, Marblehead, Sandusky Bay, Reef Complex

Summer-Bass Islands, Kelleys Island, Catawba, Marblehead, Sandusky Bay, Reef Complex, Maumee River, Portage River, Sandusky River

White Bass Winter-Bass Islands, Sandusky Bay, Marblehead

Spring-Maumee River, Portage River, Sandusky River

Summer-Bass Islands, Sandusky Bay, Marblehead.

Fall-Bass Islands, Sandusky Bay, Marblehead

Additional Opportunities Winter-Bluegill (ice fishing, harbors and marinas); Catawba, Marblehead, Sandusky Bay

Spring-Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike; East Harbor, West Harbor, Sandusky Bay

Summer-Largemouth Bass, Bluegill; East Harbor, West Harbor, Channel Catfish; Sandusky Bay

Fall- Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Northern Pike; East Harbor, West Harbor, Sandusky Bay

Central Basin Fishing Hotspots Walleye Winter- Breakwalls; Huron, Huntington Beach, Lakefront State Park, Fairport Harbor.

Spring-same as winter, plus Grand River and nearshore areas from Vermilion - Conneaut.

Summer-Ruggles Reef, Lorain, Cleveland, Euclid, Eastlake, Fairport, Geneva, Ashtabula, Conneaut; inshore early, offshore late.

Fall-Huron, Ruggles Reef, Vermilion, Lorain, Cleveland, Euclid, Eastlake, Fairport, Geneva, Ashtabula, Conneaut; eastern locations early

Yellow Perch Winter-Breakwalls; Huron, Huntington Beach, Lakefront State Park, Fairport Harbor.

Spring-Breakwalls and nearshore locations: Huron, Lorain, Lakefront State Park, Mentor Headlands, Fairport Harbor, Ashtabula.

Summer-Nearshore to offshore: Huron, Vermilion, Lorain, Cleveland, Euclid, Eastlake, Fairport, Geneva, Ashtabula, Conneaut

Fall-Offshore to nearshore: Huron, Vermilion, Lorain, Cleveland, Euclid, Eastlake, Fairport, Geneva, Ashtabula, Conneaut

Smallmouth Bass Winter-Nearshore, harbors and marinas; Fairport, Perry, Ashtabula, Conneaut; Cleveland artificial reefs

Spring-Nearshore; Ruggles Reef, Vermilion, Fairport, Perry, Ashtabula, Conneaut; Lorain, Cleveland artificial reefs

Summer-Nearshore to offshore; Ruggles Reef, Vermilion, Fairport, Perry, Ashtabula, Conneaut; Lorain, Lakewood, Cleveland artificial reefs

Fall-Nearshore; Ruggles Reef, Vermilion, Fairport, Perry, Ashtabula, Conneaut; Lorain, Cleveland artificial reefs

Steelhead Trout Winter-Vermilion, Rocky, Chagrin, Grand rivers and Conneaut Creek; smaller tribs from Cleveland east.

Spring-Vermilion, Rocky, Chagrin, Grand rivers and Conneaut Creek; smaller tribs from Cleveland east.

Summer-Offshore depth-controlled trolling from Lorain Sandbar - Avon, Cleveland - Fairport, Geneva - Ashtabula.

Fall-Piers, beaches and breakwalls from Cleveland east; Vermilion, Rocky, Chagrin, Grand rivers and Conneaut Creek; smaller tribs during high water in mainstems.

White Bass Winter-Breakwalls and Warm Water Discharges; Lorain , Lakefront State Park, Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Ashtabula.

Spring-Breakwalls and Warm Water Discharges; Lorain, Lakefront State Park, Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Ashtabula.

Summer-Nearshore areas near harbors; Breakwalls; Lorain, Lakefront State Park, Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Ashtabula.

Fall-Nearshore areas near harbors; Breakwalls and Warm Water Discharges; Lorain, Lakefront State Park, Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Ashtabula.

Mark Is a dedicated fisherman with 30+ years of experience and has published numerous articles on fishing. He offers free fishing information and “how to articles at his websites. Visit his site at lake erie fishing report and download a free copy of his “78 fishing discoveries unleashed” You can also contact him his e-mail address:
admin@oldfishinghole.com

Having the paintball marker, tanks, guns, vests and other equipment complete the excitement when you plan to play paintball.  But little do others know that it is the small and simple things that count even before the game begins.  Sometimes the little accessories that are locked in a toolbox are all that are needed to complete a BPS paintball game.  A toolbox is the first aid kit of the game; if anything goes wrong that is unexpected or unavoidable, there is no reason to fret.

The gun’s manual: there are instances in the game when the gun has to undergo  “intensive surgery”.  Guns differ from each other regardless of the physical similarities of some.  If that time comes when it needs to be disassembled, the manual can make it easier to put it all back together.  Try to find manuals with problem solving ideas, they really help.

Reserve batteries:  some guns require batteries to function.Make sure to keep new batteries available as they could fail while in the middle of a game. 

Allen wrench to the rescue:  some players have either inherited their guns from their friends or bought second-hand guns.Buy a set of Allen wrenches when purchasing a gun and keep them handy.

Oil ole’!  Make sure that there is a small can of oil for the electronic paintball gun inside the box as well.  Sometimes weather dictates if the gun needs oiling; be sure to get the specific oil type recommended by the manual for the gun.

Mask lens as a spare: the mask lens will eventually become scratched or blurry.  Don’t hesitate to replace them if your vision is impaired as this really affects how the game is played.

Squeegee anyone?Why not bring along a replacement just in case something goes wrong?  It saves time for playing rather than looking for a squeegee.

Cupseals and reserved O-rings:  some players do not know that O-rings and cup seals can be damaged easily and this will hurt the paintball gun big time so it is a must to replace the cupseal before this happens.

And for the player, always have a neck guard around to save the neck from those disturbing shots that hit your neck.  There may be a team available to do first aid when something goes wrong but it would make sense to carry a personal first aid kit.To have a worry free paintball game, carry spare safety equipment like gloves, mask, and pads.

When a new product is launched on the market most people will not really know how well that product will perform. In the case of golf balls too people that have not used a newly launched golf ball brand will not know whether or not it is worth buying such balls. Since people generally read reviews before purchasing products in the case of golf balls too it would make perfect sense to first of all read a distance golf ball review to find out the pros and cons of the ball.

Many Golf Ball Designers

The numbers of golf ball manufacturers today are many which mean that the competition among these manufacturers is very stiff. What’s more, there are many varieties of golf balls being sold and you will need to know about features such as the changing number of dimples in different golf balls. Construction methods too vary and there are different kinds of golf balls that will travel different distances depending on how they were constructed.

A distance golf ball review will help enlighten you about different brands and different features. In the case of a newly launched golf ball this information can be really useful because only by understanding how various models for different brands perform can you succeed in finding the right golf ball for your particular capabilities. Whether you wish to buy a golf ball made by Taylor Made or some other big brand manufacturer, you will do well to first read a distance golf ball review about the brand and only then venture into putting your money down to own such a ball.

A distance golf ball review will provide you with the entire lowdown regarding a golf ball’s features and capabilities. However, the most important aspect to a golf ball is its construction and here again, a distance golf ball review will inform you about whether the golf ball is three-piece or four-piece; information that can help you decides which type is most suitable for your game.

Of course, you should not take the word of the author of a distance golf ball review as being the whole truth; you may need to read several distance golf ball reviews before concluding as to the veracity of opinions expressed. By being well informed before buying your golf ball you will at the very least stand a better chance of buying the right golf ball. This is the main benefit to reading and relying on distance golf ball reviews.

Once you have the required implements required to play golf it is then necessary that you find a suitable golf course and also know the rules in force at that course. Some of these rules are applicable at all courses while others may apply locally to particular courses. To ensure that you get the best pleasure from playing at different courses makes sure to know and follow all of the applicable rules.

For more information about golf please visit my Eagle Valley Golf Site

There are many different methods for hunting tarpon, the method changing depending on the type of water that you are fishing. Tarpon can be found on sand or mangrove flats and also in shallow river inlets. For these venues the favoured method is either fishing a lure or a fly (with a strong fly rod. At some venues for example Islamorada the preferred style is livebaiting with small fish such as pilchards or herring. The favoured fishing style in Key West is chumming with shrimp boat trash. Let’s explain what we mean by shrimp boat trash. Many shrimp fishing boats fish the waters in the Gulf of Mexico and besides catching shrimp they also net a lot of small fish called menhaden. These are sacked up and sold as bait to the tarpon fishing boats in Key West.

The method involves the Captain cutting the manhaden into chunks and continually dropping them behind the anchored boat to attract the tarpon. The fishermen use a whole menhaden on the hook, and it is drifted back in the tide towards the feeding tarpon.

The tackle recommended when fishing for tarpon in Key West is very simple. Our favourite tarpon fishing rod is the ABU Conolon Boat, 7’9” 12-20lb test curve. It retails here in the UK for £74.99. ABU also offer a 3 piece version (the Conolon Boat Traveller) which probably better suits the visiting angler. That one retails at £79.99 in the UK. By the way, I use that Conolon Boat rod to fish for sturgeon in British Columbia and last year caught my best ever fish with a length of 9ft 1inch and weighing…who knows, with only two of us fishing there’s no way we could lift such a beast but we estimated it at around 400 lbs. Anyhow, returning to tarpon fishing. The most popular reels for tarpon fishing are the TLD15 and TLD20 lever drag multipliers from Shimano. The TLD 15 sells for around £80 in the UK, whereas the TLD 20 is about £15 more expensive. Whatever reel you decide on, it has to be super free running, since you’re trying to make your bait drift down in the current at the same speed as the bait being introduced by the Captain. My own preference is for the bigger TLD 20 because the larger spool spins slower when you are drifting your bait down in the tide and it needs less turns to reel in when the bait has drifted as far you want. You’ll want the reel fully loaded with line, I prefer the grey Ande nylon in either 15lb or 20lb breaking strain. At the end of that is tied a 10 foot leader of 50 lb fluorocarbon and a large circle hook. Of course all of the light tackle boats have excellent tackle available free of charge if you don’t have your own.

Let’s now take a look at the actual fishing method used in Key West. Your skipper will have motored out to one of the favourite spots, maybe the yacht basin, Bokacheeka, the entrance to Key West Harbour or maybe the North West Channel. The boat is anchored at the bow and if there are other boats fishing they’ll very likely be only a few feet to one side or the other. The idea is that if every boat is chumming then there will be a steady stream of bait drifting down to the fish, keeping them in one substantial shoal rather than splitting it up. The captain will start throwing in the pieces of menhaden whilst you hook a whole fish onto your hook. There’s a particular way to put these baits on the hook but don’t worry, the skipper will demonstrate how it’s done. You now let your bait drift down the tide, paying particular attention to where your line runs from the reel spool. A bite can be quite subtle and will normally be detected by the spool of the reel suddenly running faster. As soon as a bite is detected you need to reel like hell….don’t strike !!. The magic of a circle hook is that it seemingly hooks the fish itself once you tighten the line by reeling in as fast as possible.

Once a fish is hooked things will suddenly become hectic, the tarpon will likely jump clear of the water and it will certainly start running towards Cuba !!. Don’t forget that when playing a tarpon that if he jumps he’ll get rid of the hook unless you swiftly lower the rod to lessen the tension on the line. This dropping of the rod is known as “bowing to the King”, and you’ll get plenty of comments from anybody else on the boat if you lose a tarpon because he jumped and you didn’t bow. If the hooked tarpon is of reasonable size the Captain will let the anchor go and set off in pursuit of the fish. It’s not unusual to unhook a tarpon a mile away from where it was hooked. It can be a tiring and long fight but with any luck you will finally have the fish alongside the boat ready for a swift photograph before it is safely unhooked to fight again some other day. I recall a ‘first-timer’ fishing with us one year. He hooked his first tarpon and as it jumped he excitedly asked “how big is that” to which one wag replied “about forty minutes” !!.

Fighting gos way back to when man began on the evolutionary ladder and will likely to continue. Boxing has fully integrated itself into the world of sports and even has its own celebrities that titillate our urge to gossip and watch their lives like a hawk. Hopefully the information in this article will address some of the basics of boxing and will help you make up your mind about the sport.

More than one boxing style? In the beginning, boxing was a bare-knuckle sport in which opponents battled until one person was unconscious or killed. Thankfully the spectator sport has turned less brutal though there are still grave injuries that can and do occur. Boxing can be broken down in styles but; rather it is the style in which a particular fighter uses. There are quite a few styles such as a Brawler, an In-Fighter or the classic Out-Fighter.

What rules do they have in boxing? The rules of boxing can be pretty complex and differ according to which organization the boxer is a member of. The sport has rules like no hitting below the belt, biting is out, kicking is out and certianly no using metal or weights in gloves.

How many rounds are there in a boxing match? Professional rounds can go no longer than twelve rounds. A fight can be ended either through a knock-out (KO) where the opponent is knocked down and unable to get up by a count of ten from the referee, or it can also be ended if the referee believes that one of the boxers is injured to the point of not being able to defend himself in which case it is called a technical knock-out (TKO). There are also a variety of other reasons a fight can end. If the fight lasts until the twelfth round then the outcome goes to the judges who decide which fighter has the most points. The boxing match can also be ended by either the coach or trainer “throwing in the towel”.

Can anyone learn how to box? Anyone can learn to box provided they have some mobility. Boxing is a very rigorous sport and there is a lot of stress put onto the joints and bones in the arms and legs. Many people have turned to boxing as a way to exercise since it works all parts of the body. Before beginning boxing it is important to consult your physician to make sure there is nothing that would hinder your decision to learn how to box. The next step is find a good gym or trainer and beginning your program, amateur boxing  might also be for you, if you are under 18, in the UK there are over 1,000 amateur boxing clubs. Boxing is it a self defence sport? Yes, in some ways it could be considered self-defense but would not be advisable since it is a hand-to-hand combat that is of no use to someone who is armed. It has been used many times in school yard brawls and bar fights but would not typically be used as a primary self-defense.

Who are some of the people in the Boxing Hall of Fame? One of the most famous boxers in the history of boxing was Muhammed Ali. His “Rumble in the Jungle” against George Foreman made history as two colossal fighters went head to head. Other greats include: Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, and Jack Dempsey. A few fighters have become infamouse include Mike Tyson who server in jail.

Visit Amateur Boxing Forum for the latest news, events on amateur boxing in the UK.

WARNING: Bass Fisherman Only!

Florida’s lake Tohopekaliga large mouth fishing is rated and reported as one of the top areas in the USA. Florida is one of the best states in the US for bass fishing and there are more than 7,500 freshwater lakes and rivers that hold good populations of large mouth bass. Infact it is hard to pick just one location in florida. It is a rough decision because there are so many lakes that hold good populations of bass and are easy to access and fish. We hope you will use this article as a guide in making your decision to fish Florida’s for large mouth bass. We will be publishing a series of articles that focus on the the top Largemouth bass lakes rated by the Florida Fish and wildlife conservation commission. We hope you catch that lunker you have always dreamed of. This article will concentrate on lake Tohopekaliga fishing reports, or as the locals call it Lake Toho. We will list 10 Area’s on or around the lake that have been known to hold fish. You can also visit the Florida Fish and wildlife conservation commission webpage and click on Interactive maps to get more detail information.

Lake Tohopekaliga (pronounced t??ho?p?k??la???) Lake Toho, West Lake, or simply Toho for short), native name meaning “sleeping tiger” for its sudden storms that appear in the summer time, is a lake in Osceola County,Florida, United States. It is the primary inflow of Shingle Creek, which rises in Orlando. It covers 18,810 acres (76.12 km²), and spans 42 miles (68 km) in diameter. It is linked to East Lake Tohopekaliga by Canal 31 (St. Cloud Canal). The canal is 3 miles (5 km) long and runs through western St. Cloud. South Port canal is located at the southern tip of the lake and links it to Cypress Lake. It is 4 miles (6 km) long. Three places surround the lake, Kissimmee on the northwestern shore, Kissimmee Park on the eastern shore, and South Port at the southen shore. Lake Tohopekaliga is the largest lake in Osceola County and is known for its bass fishing.

Here’s a visual of the fish attractors that are located on Lake Toho . This info should help you when you plan your trip to Lake Tohopekaliga Florida.

Lake Tohopekaliga is easy to find, it is located Lake Toho is located next to the City of Kissimmee in central Florida. It is the second largest lake in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and represents the second largest water body on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. It is noted to be one of the premier largemouth bass fishing destinations in the USA. Many professional and amateur fishing tournaments are held here every year.

The following Lake Tohopekaliga fishing report identifies areas around the lake that have been known to hold largemouth bass the information comes from the Florida Fish and wildlife website.

Area #1 Lily pads, Land bulrushes along the north shore of Fells Cove hold numbers of bass in the cooler months. Fish plastic worms along vegetation in 4-to 6-foot depths.

Area #2 The mouth of Lake Ajay canal produces when water is flowing after spring or summer rains. Schools of bass and bullhead catfish are drawn to the flowing water and respond to live baits or artificials. Fishing with cut bait or 4-to 6-inch shiners is a proven technique for giant catfish.

Area #3 Bass anglers fishing with live bait are often successful along the southeast side of Fells Cove. To catch a large bass in spring or summer, anchor near the cattails or slow-troll the weedline with an electric motor. Troll from the Fells Cove cut to Lake Ajay canal, keeping the shiners 20 feet behind the boat and near the surface weedline.

Area #4 Bass and bluegill are taken from the first 30 yards of weeds extending along the cut from the Fells Cove mouth. If it’s windy, fish the entire canal all the way to the main lake. Cast topwater plugs and minnow-type lures around the grass for bass.

Area #5 The Fells Cove canal entrance holds bass year-around. Bass anglers throw lipless crankbaits into the open water or plastic worms to the weedline. Fish the area when there is a current coming into the lake and continue on into the canal for 25 to 50 yards when the bass are actively feeding. Some large catfish have been taken from this canal mouth accidentally on artificials, but cut bait is preferred by catfishermen. Fish when runoff from a rain generates a current.

Area #6 The deep hole off the Boy Scout camp is known for holding bass. Troll live shiners 30 yards behind the boat or spray cast a crankbait around the drop-off. Silver/black is a popular color for schooling bass in summer. The fish hold on the dropoff which slopes from 6 feet on the edge of the hole to 16 feet at the bottom. Fish live shiners close to the bottom. Use weedless plastics to fish the bulrush.

Area #7 This area of scattered bulrushes and grass patches holds bass year around. It is a prime wading area; some anglers hop in and tow their boat behind them with a line around their waist. Cast white and gold-bladed spinnerbaits. Plastic worms and lizards are effective in the 3-to 4-foot depths. Slowly crawl Texas-rigged plastics with 3/16-to 1/4-ounce slip sinkers through the weedline in the cooler months.

Area #8 Grass patches along the east side hold bass all year. Also work the boat cuts through and behind the densest cover in spring and fall. Weedless spoons, plastic worms and jerkbaits are effective in the open pockets. Panfishermen can catch bluegill in the summer and crappie in January and February.

Area #9 Bass can be caught throughout the entire length of the Lake Runnymede Canal. Fishing is best in late spring and early fall. Work jerkbaits, topwater plugs and vibrating lures around the masses of hydrilla along the banks. Texas-rigged plastic worms are effective when fished in and over the hydrilla.

Area #10 Buzzbaits and spinnerbaits take bass from the open water around the hydrilla on the southwest side of Runnymede Lake. Fish all the pockets and cuts through the vegetation in the spring and fall. At night, crawl dark plastic worms in the same pockets. Black and purple are proven colors.

Well I hope the 10 areas identified in this Florida lake Tohopekaliga fishing report will help on you plan your next freshwater fishing trip to Florida.

Mark Is a dedicated fisherman with 30+ years of experience and has published numerous articles on fishing. He offers free fishing information and “how to articles at his websites. Visit his site at lake Tohopekaliga large mouth bass and download a free copy of his “78 fishing discoveries unleashed”

When drawing a bow, especially if you owned a recurve or a longbow you would have been struck by how heavy it was to draw the bowstring back and then hold it while aiming for any length of time. Traditional bows have the most draw weight at the end of the draw which means you have to draw and shoot in quick succession to avoid tiring yourself significantly.

The design of the compound bow has been done to decrease the draw weight towards the end of the drawstroke giving the shooter more time to aim and release the arrow. To take the explanation further, as the bowstring is drawn back the weight increases steadily until you reach a certain point at which time the cam system steps in and it eases significantly so that by the end of the draw the shooter is only holding a fraction of the weight they were at the start of the draw..

The let-off rate of early compound bows was around 35-50% but nowadays the norm is more in the region of 75-80%, with some bows featuring an adjustable let-off. So a bow with a 70 lb draw weight and 80% let-off will leave the shooter only having to hold back 14 lbs.

There is such a thing as too much let-off at full draw because there is an increased likelihood to experience arrow movement whil in the shooting position. You need some resistance to maintain a good natural alignment.

The let-off is listed by bow manufacturers as a percentage in their literature, sometimes you might see two numbers advertised next to the Let-off statistic. They will be “Effective” and “Actual” let-off. Let’s take a look at the difference between effective let-off and actual let-off.

Two figures are often listed under the Let-Off heading on a bow manufacturer’s compound bow specifications page. You might see the following, Let-Off: 70% Effective, 65% Actual. What this is referring to is the disparity in draw weight change during the process of drawing the bow as well as the change in weight when letting the bowstring back down.

To work out let-off you need to be able to measure two things: the maximum draw weight and the minimum weight during draw. You would expect the numbers to be the same whether you’re pulling the bowstring back or letting it down, but they’re not. As complicated as the second figure sounds, it’s the actual let-off or the let-off experienced when drawing the bow that you will be most concerned with. The figure you’re most likely going to see, though is the effective let-off.

Where it pays to remember the impact of effective let-off is after drawing the bow while letting it back down without an arrow fitted. Accidental dry-firing can occur as a result of the high effective let-off and the surprise with which it catches people unprepared. The sudden change in weight can rip the string out of unprepared fingers and you may be left with a ruined compound bow.

A final word on let-off is for the trophy hunters out there who want their trophy listed in the Pope and Young Club’s record books. Only trophys taken with a bow that had a let-off lower than 65% were included until recently. A change was made in 2004 and now, an asterisk will be placed next to the name of the hunter using a let-off setting higher than 65%.

So now, when you go out to purchase a compound bow and you see the let-off figure you will understand the significance of the numbers. In a nutshell the higher the number, the easier the draw. You’ll only know whether it will help or hinder your shooting accuracy through trialling the bow.