Salmon, trout or crappie, it doesn’t matter the type, because many people absolutely love to eat fish! Rarely, do they consider how it gets from the water to the table, though. Fishing is an entertaining sport which can be easy if you have the right know-how, so read on for some simple tips to help you perfect your hobby.
Try casting close to shore if your fishing trip takes you to a river or lake. The type of fish that eat surface water insects tend to linger closer to the shore, so try casting your line near the edge for the most likely chance of landing a fish. Just watch out for those weeds!
Stream fisherman would be wise to start their fishing trips downstream, and make their way upstream as the day progresses. This is simply because fish tend to face against the direction of the current. By moving upstream you are lowering your chances of being seen or heard by your prey.
If you find that you are losing too many fish from a favorite lure, be sure you check your hooks. Many fisherman don’t know that hooks can become blunted or twisted with time. This affects the ability of the hook to catch securely. Alternating your hooks is a good way to make certain your lures are properly and rapidly set.
Saltwater fish tend to be a lot sharper when it comes to the scent of your bait. For that reason, it is usually advisable to fish with fresh live or fresh dead bait, when fishing in salt water. This is more likely to attract fish from a distance than artificial lures with more subtle or less natural scents.
When you leave for a fishing trip, make sure you have all of your essential gear with you. Before setting out on your trip, determine which lures and bait are preferred by the type of fish you are aiming for. Finding out which lure works with which fish is something that you learn through experience.
While you are fishing, pay attention to the wind and what it is doing. When the wind is strong, the fish will be likely to go with the current and be concentrated along one shore of the lake. It’s important to cast directly into the wind. However, if the wind is too strong, fish will probably stay at the bottom of the lake where you cannot reach them.
If you do not plan to keep the fish you caught, do not fight the fish when reeling him in. In many cases, the fish will be injured or too exhausted to stay alive. If the fish is proving difficult to reel in, just let it go.
After you catch your fish, be sure to use them. Don’t waste them. It’s exciting to catch a ton of fish, but it’s very wasteful to bring a huge bucket home with you, especially if you know most are going to be thrown away. If you catch too many fish, release the smaller ones or give them to friends and family.
To test the sharpness of your hooks, use your fingernails! Just lightly drag the hook across your nails and see if it makes a scratch. If it does, your hook is sharp enough to do its job, but if it doesn’t, you’ll need to either replace the hook or sharpen it again.
Ensure that you check the weather before you go on your fishing trip. Sometimes, the weather can ruin the fishing conditions. You’re more likely to catch fish if the sky is cloudy and overcast. Beginners and experts alike will likely have their best results on overcast days.
It is important for a fisherman to select a tackle box that contains only the day’s essentials. Lugging your huge tackle box with every piece of equipment you have ever bought is unnecessary and cumbersome. You will able to move better while on land with less equipment packed.
Make sure you fish at the correct time and temperature. When it comes to bass, bigger fish tend to come out during dusk and at dawn when their bait fish tend to be more active. A water temperature of 50 F and above is best.
If you happen to just enjoy the sport of fishing and do not intend to eat the catch, it is always good sport to practice catch and release. This is where you unhook the fish that you catch and release it back in the water. Returning the live fish to the water allows them to continue populating and remain part of the food supply.
As long as you use what you’ve read in this article, you should be able to increase your catch rate and have a really great time doing it. Enjoying the sport comes along with being successful at it, so make sure you start using these tips as soon as possible and you’ll be eating fish for dinner!