Freshwater Fishing

One of the greatest hobbies for relaxing and stress relief is fishing. Since most of us live in landlocked states that only leaves freshwater fishing is the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to enjoy fishing. Freshwater fishing includes just about any sizable body of water like lakes or ponds and of course rivers, streams and creeks.

What kind of tackle do you need for freshwater fishing? The simplest answer is a rod, some fishing line, a hook and bait. Of course you might want to consider a reel of some sort to extend what they call the “coverage area”. There are other option such as nets, trot lines, traps, and limb lines depending on the species you want to catch. Most freshwater fishing targets bass, crappie, sunfish, catfish, pike, and perch. There are other speciality species and rough fish such as carp but for most of us the game species are the primary targets.

So for the majority of freshwater fishing a good rod and reel combination is the best choice. I recommend a 5.5' or 6' medium action rod with a spinning or a spin casting reel which are easier to master than a bait casting reel. If your like a lot of us and a bit short of cash, then scour the pawn shops and yard sales for some possible bargains. This Rhino is an inexpensive spincast combo rod and reel that is an outstanding choice for many kinds of freshwater fishing.

Another great thing about freshwater fishing is you don't necessarily need a boat to catch fish. Fishing from the bank with live bait is an age old way to relax and whether you catch fish or not.

The freshwater you have access to will determine the techniques and type of fish you catch. We can focus on shallow water (under 50') since deep lake fishing usually requires special gear. Freshwater fishing usually concentrates on cover or hiding places as most species are ambush feeders. So the most common techniques involve using bait either cut or live. Worms, crickets, and other native food sources are the best bet. Some speciality baits include things like hellgrammite or Dobsonfly or grampus as we call it here in the south. The point is that you should research the natural food species for your local waters. Live baits are fished slowly and limit your casting or coverage area but are extremely effective since freshwater fish are naturally attracted to natural foods.

Of course artificial baits are another choice that can be effective producers for freshwater fishing. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, topwater lures, buzzbaits are all available in multiple sizes, shapes and colors. Artificial baits cover more area but require the most advanced techniques. The slow roll, the fast crank, bottom bumping, jerk, flip, and topwater crawl are all advanced techniques that can produce results based on season, weather and other factors.

The big question is whether you want to catch big fish or lots of fish. The techniques are vastly different but the basics are that big fish like big bait, little ones like smaller bait. There are many more small species like crappie, sunfish (bream & bluegill), and perch are easier to catch with worms, crickets or small minnows.

Part of the enjoyment of freshwater fishing is figuring all this out and the satisfaction of successfully landing that big one or a stringer full of smaller ones. Being in the great outdoors, enjoying nature's splendor only makes freshwater fishing more enjoyable.