Fresh water fishing is fishing in lakes, rivers and streams that
have minute quantities of dissolved salts. Freshwater sources
are precipitation or melting ice and snow. There are hundreds of
fresh water fish species, but the most popular are bass,
catfish, pickerel, pike sunfish, trout, salmon, muskellunge,
sturgeon and walleye.
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 wide
variety of both live and artificial baits that work well for
fresh water fishing.
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.
Bass
Small Mouth Bass
earthworms, insects, insect larvae, frogs,
minnows, crayfish, spoons, Mepps, spinners, artificial worms,
jigs, streamers and spinners.
Catfish
Channel 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.
Pickerel
Pickerel
earthworms, insects, insect larvae, frogs,
minnows, crayfish, spoons and Mepps, spinners, artificial worms,
jigs, spinners and streamers.
Pike
Northern Pike
earthworms, frogs, minnows, shad, all types of
small fish species, crayfish, chub, spinners, spoons and egg
sacs.
Sunfish
Sunfish
earthworms, bread balls, kernel corn, insects
and insect larvae, as well as small, shiny lures.
Trout
Rainbow Trout
earthworms, flies, insects, insect larvae,
kernel corn, egg sacs, crayfish and minnows.
Salmon
Chinook Salmon
flies, spinners, spoons, egg sacs, shrimp and
large plugs.
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
small fish species, frogs, Mepps, spinners,
jigs, minnows, plastic trailers and rapalas.
Sturgeon
Sturgeon
frogs, freshwater clams, lamprey, eels, smelt,
salmon eggs, shad, shrimp, egg sacs, yarn flies, brilliantly
colored and silver lures.
Walleye
Walleye
shad, frogs, real or artificial minnows, worms,
maggots, spinners, spoons, jigs, plugs and small fish species.
If you wish to learn more about freshwater fishing, ask an
experienced angler to give you some tips. This can be a family
member, a friend, a fishing guide or instructor or a staff
member of your local bait and tackle shop.
Fishing
Facts |
