Freshwater fishing is one of the most common hobbies among people today. To get the best out of this hobby, it is essential to learn the basics of freshwater fishing.
In this post, everything you need to know about fishing in freshwater will be explained.
What Does Freshwater Fishing Mean?
When we speak of “freshwater,” we mean water with low salt content. The salt content in freshwater is so low that the US Geological Survey says it has only about 1% of salt, compared to the 3.8% found in ocean water.
Due to its low salt concentration, freshwater is a suitable habitat for all kinds of sea animals, which explains why so many fish are present. Common examples of freshwater include ponds, rivers, streams, lakes, and creeks.
Since there are much fish in it, many anglers make it their preference, making freshwater fishing grow in prominence. Besides this, freshwater fishing allows inexperienced anglers to quickly learn how to fish because it requires a simple setup and can be done from shore. You will need good fishing kayak for a good fishing experience. You can get good deals when you check hobie lynx for sale.
Common Freshwater Fish and Where They Live
Within the water body, fish have where they prefer to live. And this preference is primarily influenced by some physical parameters of the freshwater such as temperature and oxygen. Understanding how these factors affect fish movement in water will give you an idea of the exact locations to target while fishing in freshwater.
The following paragraphs explain the common freshwater fish and where they live:
Warm Water Fish: Warm Water fish are fish that can thrive in various freshwater conditions and temperatures even as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the water.
Since they can live in virtually all conditions, warm water fish are easy to find throughout the year’s season. So, if you want to go fishing in freshwater, you should have your hopes high for some warm water fish.
Examples of warm water fish are:
- Catfish
- Bluegill
- Sunfish
- Crappies
- Largemouth Bass
Cold-water Fish: Cold-water fish are fish that can only survive in “cold water.” By “cold-water,” it means water temperature of between 50- and 60-degrees Fahrenheit.
Because of their love for cold temperatures, these fish are mainly found in the parts of the water with chilly winds or higher elevations. For example, in the United States, these fish can be found in the northern part of the country.
The following are some of the most frequent cold-water fish
- Brown Trout
- Brook Trout
- Rainbow Trout
Cool Water Fish: Cool water Fish are fish that require a temperature somewhere between that of warm water fish and that of cold-water fish. This temperature is usually between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
To find these kinds of fish, you may have to travel to the Northern or Midwestern part of the United States. However, they are the most prevalent and include:
- Walleye
- Muskellunge
- Yellow Perch
- Northern Pike
The Best Baits for Freshwater Fishing
One thing about fish is that they try as much as possible to escape or hide when they notice disturbances in the water.
However, it is still possible to catch as many fish as possible if you use the right baits and gears. Here are some of the baits to use for your freshwater fish:
Cut Fishing Bait: You can use fish as bait by cutting it out. It draws the attention of freshwater fish such as carp and catfish, attracted to odors. Cut fishing bait can be made from any fish. Just make sure you don’t remove the skin when scaling the fish.
In using it, ensure you hook the fish firmly from the middle, so it doesn’t slip out of the hook in the water.
Dough Balls: You can buy canned dough balls and use them as bait. Dough balls are designed for certain freshwater fish such as carp, catfish, trout, and panfish.
To use it, wrap the dough over your fishing hook and a portion of the line before putting the hook in the water.
Leeches: Leeches may be used as bait to attract northern pike and walleye in freshwater easily. Simply, hook the sucker in their tail and slowly lower the hook into the water.
The good thing is that leeches have an excellent survival threshold, so even after hooking their sucker, they will still be able to wiggle in water. This is to your advantage because, by wiggling, they will attract fish for your catch.
Minnows: Minnows are good freshwater fishing bait, and live ones can be purchased and used. However, in using them, the minnows must be softly hooked above their dorsal fin. This ensures they are still kept alive when you lower your hook to the water.
Minnows are suitable baits for all kinds of fish.
Freshwater Worms: In freshwater, earthworms and nightcrawlers are excellent baits for bass and walleyes. When hooking the worms, ensure the hook is far up enough into the worm so there is no dangling part. This prevents fish from nibbling on the dangling section without reaching the hook.
Insects: Grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars can be used as bait for trout, sunfish, and panfish in freshwater. Cast the insects into the water after gently hooking them from the bottom to the head so they don’t fall off.
Now that you have learned about the fishing baits you will need, let’s take a look at the fishing gears, as these two go hand in hand.
Rod: When choosing a rod, make sure your rod is between 4 and 6 feet long. This will work well, particularly if you are considering catching smaller fish. However, if you wish to catch larger fish, a rod between 5 and 9 feet in length would suffice.
Also, if you want more flexibility, use those made of graphite or fiberglass.
Fishing Reel: What should determine the fishing reel to choose is how distant you want to cast it. If you’re going to throw your fishing reel over a long distance, use a bait-casting reel that can cast larger lures. At the same time, larger lures will be ideal if you wish to capture large fish.
You can also choose an open or closed bail spinning reel when fishing with lightweight lures.
You will particularly enjoy the ease of this fishing reel’s mechanical pickup because it aids line retrieval. Some open or closed bail spinning reels also include anti-reverse levers that prevent the crank handle from rotating while a fish is being pulled.
Hook: Hooks usually range from 1 to 32 in number (the smaller the number, the larger the hook). The size you select will be determined by the type of fish you desire. Hence, select hook sizes ranging from 1 to 15 for larger fish and hook sizes of 32 to 20 for smaller fish.
Some Available Techniques to Adopt While Fishing in Freshwater
When fishing in freshwater, there are different methods to adopt. Notwithstanding, the best method in any situation depends on the experience of the angler and what fish they want to catch.
Dock Fishing: Dock fishing is a method that requires fishing from an area near the water. This area is sometimes made with wood and barricaded to prevent falling. Anglers can sit or stand here and cast their fishing rod into the water for a catch.
Dock fishing is an excellent place to start if you’re new to freshwater fishing. This method of fishing does not require the use of any sophisticated equipment, and it is safe for children and inexperienced anglers to try out.
However, dock fishing may not provide you with the opportunity for a large catch because there is only a limited area to explore.
Noodling or Spearing: Noodling entails wiggling your fingers in the water like a typical freshwater bait to entice the fish. Once the fish moves close enough, you simply catch it with your hands. On the other hand, spearing entails impaling the fish that comes into view with a straight-pointed instrument.
If you like catfish, noodling or spearing is a great way to catch them. However, you must first ensure that the fish are accustomed to moving around the water’s surface before using noodling or spearing.
Noodling and spearing are, however, for experienced anglers. If you are new to freshwater fishing, you can stick to dock fishing or try out boat fishing.
Boat Fishing: Boat fishing implies fishing from a boat with a net or a fishing rod. Boat fishing makes fishing easier because it allows you to scout a wide portion of the water body. The type of boat you use will determine where you wish to go fishing. A large or small boat, a canoe, or a kayak are all options.
If you are a new angler, you can go boat fishing; however, ensure you don’t go too far. And, if possible, have an experienced angler with you in the boat too.
Freshwater Fly Fishing: Fly fishing involves imitating a natural bait with a tied fly pattern above the water surface so that the fish can see it and fly to obtain it.
If you’re fishing in freshwater, where wading is permitted, you can adopt fly fishing. However, this method is for experienced anglers because it requires some strategies, abilities, and technical understanding.
Ice fishing involves drilling a hole through the ice to access the fish beneath it. This method is primarily adopted in places with freezing temperatures. The hole can be drilled with an auger. If you enjoy northern pike, bass, or crappies, ice fishing can be a good option. Use an auger to drill a hole through the ice, allowing access to the water beneath.
Conclusion
So far, you’ve seen everything you need to know about fishing and how freshwater fishing can be a fun activity. If you enjoyed what you read, please share it with your circle. Also, don’t forget to leave your thoughts, questions, and experiences with freshwater fishing in the comments section below.
