One of the great things about fishing is that
there are plenty of freshwater fishing tips and tricks out there. Just
about every angler has some hard-earned wisdom to share. Some can be
taken with a grain of salt. And some can be taken more seriously.
Here, we present some of the latter, gathered from people who really
know fishing.
Freshwater Fishing Tips
Fishing
is a fun sport that requires some skill and timing. Depending on where
you fish, your tactics will be different. Brackish or colder water may
call for a certain style of fishing, while calm fresh water might need a
different style. Regardless of the type of fish or water, there are
some freshwater fishing tips that everyone should follow.
- For
lake and river fishing, go where the water turns from shallow to deep.
Fish like to congregate and look for food in this area.
- Shiny fishing lures can attract certain fish, but the reflection of the sun can blind them and cause confusion.
- Use a matted metal fishing lure instead if possible, to avoid too much reflection.
- Cast close to the shoreline for more bites.
- Look for mossy areas, as fish prefer to swim in these areas to forage for food.
- A lot of people use worms as bait, but locusts are also a great choice. Larger fish like bass really enjoy these insects.
- Check the local fishing reports that day for updates on areas where they're biting.
- Sunrise is an excellent time to fish, try to go out early in the morning.
- Pay
close attention to the movement of your line. Learn how to understand
the difference between a curious fish and one that is biting so you can
hook and reel it in.
- Research the region you will be fishing in to find out what kinds of fish live there and the things they like.
- Be
patient. Patience really is the key to good fishing. Bring a book or
radio if you plan to out for a long time and remember that all good
things come to those who wait.
Original article adapted for this use. Courtesy of
www.FineFishing.com
Bass Fishing Tips
Bass
fishing is a fun sport that can result in some large and exciting
catches. There are many different opinions on what to do to catch the
best bass, and how to go about it. The longer you participate in bass
fishing, the more you will learn about which areas to go, what times
to fish, and how to go about getting the best of the lot. Follow these
simple bass fishing tips to help get you where you want to be.
- Be
sure to choose the right lure for the right situation. Not every time
of day or area of water will require the same type of lure. Each lure
has its own purpose, and is meant for different bass or different
locations. It may take trial and error, but this is a very
valuable lesson.
- Get familiar with the waters you're fishing
in. If you go to one specific location more than another, learn about
which areas the bass tend to swim in, and find out which time of day
they are most prevalent. Timing is everything when it comes to bass
fishing.
- Ask some experts or seasoned fishermen for
advice. People who have been bass fishing for a long time will most
likely have plenty of good advice to share.
- Casting styles
are important. It may take a bit of research, but find out which casting
styles will work best for your particular fishing area. For example,
fan casting works well for large ponds or lakes where there is not much
interference, but this method may not work well in other
situations.
- Bait is very important. Plastic worms tend to do
well, and most bass enjoy worms. Decide whether live bait or plastic
works best, depending on your own personal preferences.
- Learn
about different species of bass. By learning about what kinds of bass
live in the areas you fish in, as well as what they like and where they
tend to hang out, you can get an insider's view of how to catch them.
Original article adapted for this use. Courtesy of
www.FineFishing.com
Winter Bass Fishing Tips
Cold
water lowers the metabolism for fish. Experienced anglers agree that
bass will not chase a lure in water much colder than 50 degrees. Even
though cold water slows fish down, they will still bite and you can use
these winter bass fishing tips for a successful catch:
- In
winter as the water temperatures continue to drop, bass feed
aggressively. Their metabolism slows down and bass prepare by feeding
heavily on the big baits. This can be a great opportunity to throw a soft plastic swim-bait such as a soft plastic worm.
- If
you are planning to go fishing this winter, it is important to learn
about weather patterns. Timing your fishing trips when there is a break
in cold temperatures can make the trip more enjoyable and productive. To
learn more about the effect weather has on fishing and the best times
to fish, download our helpful When to Fish pdf.
- A
grub can be one of the most effective bass lures for cold water. A
4-inch curly tail grub on a ¼ ounce jig head can be all that is needed.
- Cast
to the shallow edge of the steep bank and then allow the grub to sink,
raising the rod tip as the bait reaches the bottom to lift the grub.
- Do your research. There are a lot of articles published with bass fishing tips about jigs and spinnerbaits and how to use them for winter bass fishing.
- You
can be moving while casting along a shoreline, to slow your lure
retrieval. You can change the angle of your cast to be more in front of
you rather than out to the side. This way, part of your reeling is just
to make up for your moving towards the lure.
Although winter
bass fishing is somewhat limited there are many techniques suited for
bass fishing in the cold water. Keep safety in mind when cold water
fishing, dress in layers and always wear a Personal Flotation Device
PFD.
Fishing and Lake Maps
Good
anglers understand that knowing how to read fishing and lake maps is
indispensable both for catching the right fish and for finding large
quantities of them. Fortunately, it’s easy to gain a basic knowledge of
these maps – knowledge that will help even novice fishermen improve
their skills and find the best places to fish.
A contour map is
perhaps the most useful. It helps determine the depth of the water,
which is invaluable information because fish are found at certain depths
depending on the species and time of year. Basically, the lines on the
contour map all represent a certain depth, which anglers can use to
their advantage if they know what depth the fish tend to gather in each
season.
After reading a contour map or any of the other fishing
and lake maps, anglers should visit the areas they believe hold fish to
do some in-person "fact finding." The map will likely indicate many
areas with the right depth for fish. Only a site visit can tell you
which of those places to fish areas is actually home to a good number of
fish.
Local bait and tackle shops can be great places to find maps that pertain to the lake or other waterway closest to the shop.
Original article adapted for this use. Courtesy of
www.FineFishing.com
Freshwater Fish Temperature Chart
There
are regional differences and acclimatization differences in the
temperature ranges for fish species. This is a general guideline for
most areas and most times of the year.
| Species | Lower Avoidance | Optimum | Upper Avoidance |
| American Shad | 60 | 66 | 85 |
| Atlantic Salmon | 45 | 62 | na |
| Atlantic Sturgeon | 56 | 66 | 70 |
| Black Crappie | 60 | 70 | 75 |
| Bluegills | 58 | 70 | 75 |
| Brook Trout | 44 | 58 | 70 |
| Brown Bullhead | 65 | 74 | 85 |
| Brown Trout | 44 | 56-66 | 75 |
| Burbot | | 52 | |
| Carp | 75 | 84 | 88 |
| Pickerel | 60 | 66 | 74 |
| Channel Catfish | 55 | 82-89 | 90+ |
| Chinook Salmon | 44 | 54 | 60 |
| Chum Salmon | | 57 | |
| Coho Salmon | 44 | 54 | 60 |
| Flathead Catfish | 81 | 85 | 90 |
| Freshwater Drum | | 74 | |
| Grass Pickerel | | 78 | |
| Grayling | | | 65 |
| Green Sunfish | 73 | 87 | 91 |
| Kamloops Trout | 46 | 47-55 | 60 |
| Kokanee | | 52-55 | |
| Lake Trout | 42 | 50-57 | 60 |
| Landlocked Atlantic Salmon | 42 | 50-58 | 65 |
| Largemouth Bass | 50 | 65-75 | 85 |
| Longnose Gar | | 92 | |
| Muskellunge | 55 | 63 | 72 |
| Northern Pike | 56 | 63 | 74 |
| Pink Salmon | | 50 | |
| Pumkinseed | | 81 | |
| Rainbow Trout | 44 | 61 | 75 |
| Rock Bass | | 70 | |
| Shortnose Gar | 81 | 87 | 94 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 60 | 65-68 | 73 |
| Sockeye Salmon | | 55 | |
| Spotted Bass | 71 | 75 | 80 |
| Steelhead Trout | 38 | 48-52 | 60 |
| Sunfish | 50 | 58 | 68 |
| Tench | | | 80 |
| Walleye | 50 | 67 | 76 |
| White Bass | 62 | 70 | 78 |
| White Crappie | | 61 | |
| White Perch | | 89 | |
| Yellow Bass | | 81 | |
| Yellow Perch | 58 | 68 | 75 |
Original article by Louis Bignami. Courtesy of
www.FineFishing.com
Figure-Eight Retrieve for Muskies
The
musky carries a fearsome reputation for fickleness. But Jim Saric,
editor of Musky Hunter magazine (muskyhunter.com) and host of The Musky
Hunter on TV, gives some excellent freshwater fishing tips and says the
way to overcome this tendency is to finish every retrieve with the
figure eight.
- Cast and retrieve as usual, until there’s 18 inches of line between the lure and the rod tip.
- Dip the rod tip six inches into the water.
- Draw a complete figure eight. The directional change can incite a reluctant muskie to strike.
- Keep in mind a monster muskie can come from behind you. You won’t see the fish until it strikes.
"Muskies,
like pike, will follow a lure, but they’re not nearly as aggressive,"
Saric says. Essentially, the figure eight is a final enticement
performed by the angler just before lifting the lure out of the water
for another cast. To help visualize the concept, think of a roller
coaster. As you move the lure from side to side, it also moves up and
down. That 3-D action can really turn on a fish.
"You don’t want a
lot of line out because you’ll lose control of the lure," Saric says.
"Also, be sure to maintain lure speed throughout the maneuver. If you
slow down as you make a turn, the blade will stop turning and a fish
will lose interest." Saric emphasizes that you should perform the
figure eight on each cast. It needs to become routine so you do it
properly every time.
"I’ve seen fish wiggle their tails and flare
their gills near the boat, and you can’t help but think Here it comes!"
he says. "And what happens is an angler may stop to look at the fish."
Big mistake, as the loss of lure action causes the muskie to turn
away.
Try to set the hook across the face of the fish so that it
rests securely in the jaw. "The basic idea is to initiate the fight
close to the boat to maintain more control over the fish." But, Saric
notes, "Big muskies will do what they do." Which is why we’re there
in the first place.
Original article by Slaton L. White (adapted for this use). Courtesy of
www.FieldandStream.com
Fish Hard to Reach Spots with Side Casts
Indiana-based
Total Outdoorsman Challenger Dennis Billingsley who likes to hit the
local bass ponds in early spring, has shared some of his best bass
fishing tips. His preferred rod is a fairly typical bass setup: a
heavyweight rod matched to a baitcasting reel. But he uses an
unorthodox cast. A right-hander, he casts across his body,
sidearm-style. "It gives me more control," he says. "A regular cast is
too powerful for the soft presentations I want with my Carolina-rigged
plastic worm."
Learning the sidearm cast adds a useful skill to
your casting toolbox. Moving the rod parallel to the water’s surface
helps the line and lure clear obstacles like overhanging tree limbs and
bankside brush. This is key when the fish hang tight to the bank. If
you can’t cast this way, you’ll pass up truly productive water. It’s
also useful when the wind kicks up.
Sidearm: It’s not hard to
master. Consider it the overhand cast shifted 45 degrees to the side.
The tough part is getting the timing down, but some practice in the
backyard can take care of that. "You may find your line-release timing
is a bit off at first, but stick with it," Billingsley says.
Cross-body:
"The cross-body presentation is essentially a lob. You’ll lose speed as
well as some accuracy. This is not for when you need to throw a lot of
line, but with a slower delivery you’ll get a much softer presentation.
And the bass, at least the ones where I fish, really seem to prefer
that."
Original article by Slaton L. White (adapted for this use). Courtesy of
www.FieldandStream.com
Eight Additional Items You Need in Your Fishing Tackle Box
You
can never have enough lures. But that's not all you'll need on the
water. Pack these eight items in your fishing tackle box to make your
trip more productive.
- Flashlight: It's handy whenever you're out after dark, essential if you're stranded and have to signal for help.
- Adjustable Wrench: This has a wide variety of uses, from opening reel covers to tightening trolling-motor bolts.
- Split-Ring Pliers: They open split rings and allow you to replace hooks quickly and easily.
- Lure Dye: With lure dye, you can change a lure's hue in seconds.
- First-Aid
Supplies: Don't let a minor injury ruin your day. If you hook your
hand, for example, some simple supplies will let you take care of the
problem on the water—and keep fishing.
- Spare Treble Hooks: Hooks often become dull or damaged when worked over rocks and gravel.
- Spare Rod Tips: If you've never snapped off a rod tip, you will.
- Glue
Stick and Lighter: Use these to affix a new rod tip. Heat the glue
stick with the lighter, apply the glue, then slide on the new tip.
Courtesy of www.FieldandStream.com
Tippet
Fly line
