While most people know that fish is a nutritious addition to one’s diet, few people have the skill and knowledge needed to catch fresh fish. If fishing is a struggle for you, read on for some good tips and techniques you won’t want to miss out on.
If you are using shad and bottom fishing, cut the tail off the shad before baiting your hook. When you do this, the shad won’t spin as you lower it to the bottom. This will keep your line from getting tangled. In addition to this, fish will also be attracted to the bait due to the scent it emits from its cut tail.
If you plan on fishing a lot, then you will need a very sharp hook. A hook is considered suitable when it drags across a fingernail and leaves a scratch. If not, then it’s possible that your hook needs sharpening.
Try fattening up live bait the night before your fishing trip. Take some worms and place them into a container lined with newspaper overnight in the refrigerator. They will plump up due to the cooler conditions and humidity of the refrigerator.
When you fish, pay attention to the wind. If the wind picks up, the fish will most likely follow the water current and wind up congregating at one end of the lake. It’s important to cast directly into the wind. However, if winds are too strong, fish will stay at lake bottom where they are not visible.
Remember to bring along plenty of water and food when fishing, especially during the hot summer months. The sun could make you tired, and it is important to have enough energy and stay hydrated, if you want to catch those fish. Carry several meals and snacks based on the duration of your trip.
Get your fishing boat primed and ready to start up at spring’s first signs, beginning with proper battery care. To protect your boat’s battery, remove it from your boat and sit it in a dry location, such as your garage or basement. If you store it in a basement or garage, keep it off of the cold floor.
You may find smallmouth bass and walleye to be picky about the bait being used. It never hurts to pack a dozen or so leeches to shake things up. You can keep leeches alive overnight by placing them in a ventilated Styrofoam or plastic container with a couple inches of water at the bottom.
Don’t fight with the fish on the line if you plan to put it back in the water. Many sudden movements that the fish makes while fighting can cause it to become injured. If you can’t reel a fish in, let go of it or you’ll risk killing it.
If you are looking for a different fishing experience at your favorite fishing spot, try fishing after dark. Buy a head lamp or flashlight to get more visibility to what you’re doing. You may encounter completely different types of fish than you have caught on your day-time expeditions.
Practice Catch
Practice catch and release if you are not going to eat what you catch. When you practice catch and release, you simply unhook the fish with care and let it go into the water once more. This allows the population of fish to grow larger, maintaining opportunities for catches at a later time.
Using the advice from the article above, you will enjoy fishing. There is nothing wrong with wanting success, so learn as much as you can before you go and reap the rewards when dinnertime comes!