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Fresh Water Fishing: The Basics

You Need To Know

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Have you had the opportunity to fish in freshwater? While some find it to be a distant relation to other types of fishing, it is still one of the best ways to spend your time. There are hundreds of lakes out there that you can be enjoying virtually any time that you would like to. To learn more about it, take a look at your options here.

Fresh water fishing is done in lakes, rivers and streams that have minute quantities of dissolved salts. Freshwater sources are precipitation or melting ice and snow. There are many fresh water fish species, but some of the most important ones are bass, catfish, pickerel, pike sunfish, trout, salmon, muskellunge, sturgeon and walleye.

Equipment for Freshwater Fishing

What you'll need for basic freshwater fishing equipment includes a fishing rod and reel, fishing line between 4 and 10 pound-test, a variety of sinkers, a variety of hooks (sizes 6 to 10), floats, bait and in most locations, a fishing permit or license. There are a variety of both live and artificial baits that work well for fresh water fishing.

Bait You'll Need

Live bait works well for fresh water fishing. Freshwater fish feed on a variety of prey, including earthworms, insects, insect larvae, frogs, minnows, chub, shad, crayfish and small fish species such as smelt. Freshwater fishing bait such as earthworms, crayfish, frogs, minnows, chubs and shads can be caught in its natural habitat. Look around piers and in shallow water. Freshwater bait can also be purchased from your local bait and tackle shop.

Artificial bait is manmade bait that attracts fish to bite or strike. It includes plastic worms, insects, flies, small jigs, lures, spoons, streamers, flies, spinners and more. Artificial bait can be purchased at fishing tackle and bait shops or online. Some anglers prefer to buy the supplies for these types of baits and make their own.

There are a wide variety of prepared baits that you can use for freshwater fishing. These include kernel corn, bread balls, cheese balls, egg bags, liver, cereal balls, chicken entrails. Here is just a short list of some freshwater fish and the bait that attracts them.

Catfish
earthworms, liver, chicken entrails, hotdogs, frogs, tadpoles, crayfish and most lures. At times you can even catch them on shiny hooks that have no bait.

Pike
earthworms, frogs, minnows, shad, all types of small fish species, crayfish, chub, spinners, spoons and egg sacs.

Bass
earthworms, insects, insect larvae, frogs, minnows, crayfish, spoons, Mepps, spinners, artificial worms, jigs, streamers and spinners.

Salmon
flies, spinners, spoons, egg sacs, shrimp and large plugs.

Sunfish
earthworms, bread balls, kernel corn, insects and insect larvae, as well as small, shiny lures.

Pickerel
earthworms, insects, insect larvae, frogs, minnows, crayfish, spoons and Mepps, spinners, artificial worms, jigs, spinners and streamers.

Walleye
shad, frogs, real or artificial minnows, worms, maggots, spinners, spoons, jigs, plugs and small fish species.

Trout
earthworms, flies, insects, insect larvae, kernel corn, egg sacs, crayfish and minnows.

Muskellunge
small fish species, frogs, Mepps, spinners, jigs, minnows, plastic trailers and rapalas.

Sturgeon
frogs, freshwater clams, lamprey, eels, smelt, salmon eggs, shad, shrimp, egg sacs, yarn flies, brilliantly colored and silver lures.

Go ahead and give it a try. If you would like to learn more about this type of fishing, you need to talk to someone that is a professional that can show you just what you need to do, where to go and what to use to be successful at freshwater fishing.

Saltwater fishing is nothing like freshwater fishing. To begin with, saltwater fishing takes significantly stronger and heavier tackle and equipment than that used by freshwater fishermen.

For starters, there is the light-medium category, which would include fishing for certain species such as Snook, Redfish and Spotted Sea Trout. These fish and others in this category are typically caught in bays and other similar estuaries. Also included in this category would be inshore fish such as the Pompano. If you are fishing for these species to eat them, be aware that during summer months redfish and trout will most probably contain worms.

A spinning reel in the class of a Penn 710 or 712, or 4500ss spooled with a fine quality 10-pound test monofilament line works better along with light to medium action rod. Penn makes good quality reels that will hold up to the harsh saltwater fishing environment.

For terminal tackle you will begin by tying a shock leader of approximately 18 inches using 20 pound test line or fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon is slightly more expensive but is significantly less visible to the fish. Attach the leader tying line to line or use a saltwater rated barrel swivel. For the hook you'd better use a 6/0, preferably an Eagle Claw.

The second category afferent to saltwater fishing is the medium to heavy category for species such as Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, and smaller Jacks. These species of fish are most usually found near shore regions of the Gulf of Mexico and on the Lower East Coast. In this class you could also include the smaller “schoolie” King Mackerel under the legal size limit of 24”.

Do not forget to first consult a saltwater species book for knowing the difference between the large Spanish and juvenile Kingfish. They are extremely similar. The easiest way to tell the difference is that the Spanish Mackerel will have a "black flag", on the anterior portion of its dorsal fin where the King Mackerel, with the exception of very young fish, does not have this special detail. The second more reliable way to tell is by looking at the lateral line that runs down the body. In a Spanish Mackerel this line drops gradually behind the pectoral fin whereas in the King Mackerel the line drops off sharply.

To be on the safe side, equip yourself with a Penn 704 or similar size equipment spooled with 12-15 lb test coupled with a thin wire leader of 20lb test or so. Check your local fishing regulations for the most appropriate hook, in Florida a small treble like a 2/0 is used.

From the moment the inshore net bans were placed these species have come back more abundantly than ever and you are most certain to find some. Keep in mind that Redfish, King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel are migratory species so you will have to verify the seasonal availability for these species of fish.

 

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