If you’ve been fishing since you were young, you might believe you know it all when it comes to fishing. On the other hand, if you’ve never held a rod in your life, you may not think you know enough to even try. Believe it or not, both novices and professionals can learn new things about fishing. Check out these ideas.
If you are using shad and bottom fishing, cut the tail off the shad before baiting your hook. This will keep your line from tangling by keeping bait from twisting around the fishing line on its way to the bottom. When you do this, you also get the bonus of sending off the scent of the tail to the fish in the area which can attract them to you.
Be cautious when wading in the water. While fishing in a river, be careful as you walk through it, moving slowly as you go. Making too much noise can scare the fish. Sound travels far under the water. Move slowly, and try to interfere with the environment as minimally as possible.
A nice tip for fisherman is to conceal themselves with camouflage clothing. Fish don’t have excellent eye sight but they are not colorblind, so they can easily be spooked if you wear bright colors or anything else that is particularly noticeable. Stay with earth tones.
Try to plan your first few fishing trips to include an experienced fisherman. They can provide valuable tips and information, as well as how to avoid finding yourself into any dangerous situations.
Fly Fishing
Try your hand at fly fishing. Fly fishing is terrific for lots of reasons, though it is important to understand that it differs significantly from other fishing styles. If you want to give fly fishing a shot, you should understand that it requires a whole different type of equipment.
Check into where you can catch fish, and cast upstream of that location. This allows your bait to drift right by the targeted fish. The bait will look more natural as the current does the work for you. If the fish are hiding under a ledge or other obstruction, this method will work very well.
Make sure your hands are very wet before you make a final attempt to reel in a fish. Doing this helps to avoid drying the fish out. This is most true when you will have the need to release your catch back to the water.
If you want bigger fish, think about using bigger bait. Larger bait is more expensive when you buy it, but it also might guarantee an equally sized catch. The larger the bait you bring, the larger the fish you’re sure to attract, as smaller fish won’t go after things they can’t wrap their mouth around.
Many bass fishermen prefer to use grubs which are light colored. Great success can be had with yellow, white, chartreuse and smoke-colored grubs. The more translucent the grub, the more their metallic coloration shows and will glint in the light. This reflecting light helps attract fish. Using a grub which matches the color of the water can help you catch fish.
Use a sinker during colder months. Sinkers weigh the line down allowing the bait to go deep in the warmer waters where fish go during the winter months. The size of the sinkers on the line will dictate how low your line sinks.
Hook Properly
Anyone that fishes should be sure and learn how to set the hook properly. You will want a hook set that is fast, especially if you are lure fishing. You wouldn’t want to be fishing all day and finally experience a bite, and then lose the fish due to the fact that you failed to set the hook properly.
Make sure that your hands are free of odor. Whether through the use of lotions, perfumes or scented soaps, odors on your hands can easily transfer to your bait. This can cause an adverse reaction in the fish.
If you want to know where the fish are when you’re out on the water, make sure you keep a keen eye on the birds. If the birds are diving into a certain part of the lake, you are likely to find a treasure trove of fish there. Birds enjoy fish more than any other creature of the water, and they dive in to grab what fish they see. Closely observe their behavior, as it may assist you in having a great day of fishing.
Make sure that you know what kind of fish you want to catch and and choose the right bait. As an example, catfish are drawn to raw poultry liver, while bream fish like to eat crickets and other inspects. If you’re fishing with bait or a lure which the fish has no interest in, you’ll walk away frustrated and empty-handed.
When netting a fish, try to get them into the net with their head going in first. There will be less likelihood of escape from your net, because the fish won’t be able to move around as much. It’s usually best to avoid netting unless it is the last resort.
It makes no difference if you are a new fisherman, or have been fishing since you were small. Fishing is fun for everyone. It is important to remember you can always improve by being committed and focusing on your goal.
When fishing from the bank, be careful that you don’t set something on fire. There are a lot of people who smoke when they’re fishing. If you are one of those people, make sure that your embers or tossed cigar or cigarette don’t start a fire. Although the immediate shoreline is probably wet, most of your other surroundings are not, making them susceptible to catching on fire.