It might come to you as a surprise, but about 40 million people around the world indulge in fishing as a hobby each year. It forms a great source of fun to spend time outdoors with friends and family. 

You might have been an expert in fishing at some point in time, or you might want to try it out for the first time. No matter what your situation is, there are always ways to enhance the fun quotient of your fishing experience and make it wholesome and enjoyable. However, you must also be keen on polishing your skills and understanding the basics of fishing to avoid any accidents. 

And that is why it is essential to do your research and understand the various facets of fishing. Having said that, this article shall serve as your 101 guide to fishing and enlighten you on everything- from fishing baits to fishing lures. Therefore, without any further ado, let us now understand all that is there to this wonderful hobby.

Things Required for Fishing in Freshwater:

Fishing in freshwater is different from fishing in saltwater. The gears, baits and lures that you shall require are different for freshwater fish and that of saltwater fish. Therefore, it is essential to understand this distinction before purchasing the necessary equipment. 

Skate The Fly Fishing Gear Reviews is a great source to understand the different types of fishing gears and lures. Once the basics are clarified, you can go ahead and make the necessary purchase. That said, let us have a look at the checklist for fishing in freshwater.

  • A state fishing license is imperative before you consider fishing in freshwater.
  • This is a no brainer, but you shall need a supreme quality fishing rod and reel for your fishing endeavors.
  • You shall also require a monofilament fishing line that weighs about 4 to 12 pounds.
  • A package of the right fishing weights is also essential for fishing.
  • You also require fish hooks within the size range of 6 to 10.
  • Finally, you shall need some good quality fishing lure to make sure you are able to get your hands on the best fish.

The Kind of Accessories Required:

You shall require different kinds of fishing accessories in order to go about the process without a hassle. For instance, you shall require a tackle box that shall be able to store a variety of lures, hooks, fishing weights and snap swivels. You shall also require a container to store your live bait, and an ice chest that shall safely store the fish you catch and other accessories such as a landing net. 

Besides these fishing accessories, you will also need a first-aid kit for minor emergencies.

Precautions to Take while Fishing:

Fishing is fun, but if proper precautions are not taken, it might end up causing harm to you and your family. Therefore, it is imperative that you learn about the safety protocols and follow them while you have fun with fishing.

  • Never go fishing all by yourself. Always fish along with a companion who knows how to help in case of an emergency.
  • Fish hooks might seem benign, but they are quite sharp and must be handled carefully.
  • Remember to cast only after you have looked around. Never cast when there are too many people around you.
  • Remember to wear a Coast Guard-approved flotation device while wading or while fishing from a boat. These flotation devices shall help you in case you find yourself in an accident.

One must always keep these aforementioned points at the back of their mind while fishing. It is important to remember that accidents do not come with a warning. Therefore, it is important to stay prepared and be ready enough to deal with any unforeseen circumstances.

Remember to Practice Conservation:

Fishing is fun, but your fun might have dangerous repercussions to the lives around you. Therefore, it is essential to practice conservation so that you help the environment maintain its balance. 

An angler who is worth his salt shall always respect and conserve the natural resources. Remember to take your plastic containers with you once you are done fishing, and never leave them behind. These containers are dangerous to birds and other marine lives. Therefore, always pick them up and recycle once you are done fishing. 

Following Good Fishing Etiquette:

It is imperative that you catch up with good fishing etiquette right from the beginning of your fishing endeavors. Good fishing etiquette shall not only make your fishing experience more wholesome but also help other anglers have their share of fun.

Never crowd a spot that you think other anglers might use for fishing. Leave a minimum of 50 to 60 yards of distance if there are not too many anglers around you. This way, you shall not eat up more space and also see to it that you do not overfish. This habit shall not only help other anglers have fun with fishing but also help strike a balance in the ecosystem.

Check a local regulation book or navigate to your state’s forestry department’s website to stay updated on facts and figures about the area you are opting for fishing. Not all areas you go fishing are catch and release. There might also be several other rules and regulations that you might want to know about early on. Therefore, do your research and learn as much as you can about fishing and the area you are going fishing.

Understanding the Different Types of Knots:

Now that you have learnt a bit about the right fishing etiquette, safety precautions and the necessary accessories needed for fishing, we shall proceed to understand the different types of knots that shall come handy while you go fishing.

The Clinch Knot

One of the most important and a basic type of knot is the clinch knot. This type of knot is also the easiest one, and once you have aced this, you shall be good to go.

The Palomar Knot

Another option that you have when it comes to connecting your hook to your line is of the Palomar knot. The Palomar knot is also quite an easy one and can be tied without much of a hassle. It is known for its strength and comes handy while fishing.

The Double Surgeon’s Knot

Another type of knot that we need to talk about is the double surgeon’s knot. This type of knot is used to connect two pieces of line. The double surgeon’s knot comes handy when you need to fashion something stronger and trickier after you get snagged or when your bait gets caught up on a rock.

Understanding the Nature of Water:

One of the most important aspects of fishing is understanding the water where you are fishing. It is important to remember that you cannot always target fish in every area of water. You must know where fish might be hiding. 

This is also known as “reading the water”. Fish usually hang out around weeds and closer to the shores, in lakes. Therefore, you must target these areas if you are fishing in the lakes. It shall always pan out well for you if you have access to a kayak or a canoe while fishing in lakes. You can target these areas better using a canoe or a kayak where the fish congregate. You can also fish in rivers using similar tactics. 

Always remember that a fish’s main objective is to hide from predators besides finding food. Therefore, use your common sense and target areas that serve as good hiding spots for fish.

Understanding Fishing Lures:

More often than not, amateur anglers get confused between fishing lures and baits. Fishing baits are natural and live lures like worms and minnows. However, a fishing lure is an artificial item that serves as bait, and that can be reused. Lures come in a wide range of styles, and it is essential for an angler to learn how to pick the right one. 

Fishing lures have several uses, but the two most common purposes of them are as follows:

  • They simulate other smaller fish and insects that fish eat and thrive on.
  • They entice fish with their variety of colors, movement and other reflective elements.

It is also essential to remember that a single lure cannot be used to target every type of fish. There are specific lures that are used to target specific groups and species of fish. For instance, a fishing lure used to target trout will not work for pelagic fish. Now that we have discussed a bit about fishing lures and their purpose, we shall move over to looking at the more specific types of lures and gain a better understanding of the topic at hand.

Spinnerbait

Spinnerbait is a type of fishing lure that consists of oval-shaped spinner blades. These spinner blades can be one or more than just one and are usually made up of thin metal. This type of fishing lure is used to attract fish with movement. The lure is pulled through the water as the blades spin like a propeller. These blades also have some kind of a reflective coating that doubly attracts the fish.

Crankbait

The second type of fishing lure that is up for discussion is the crankbait. The crankbait is available in a variety of shapes, styles and colors. Most of these baits have two treble hooks that are pre-attached. These also have a protrusion that is bill-shaped. Trends have shown that the species of Bass finds the crankbait extremely enticing.

Spoons

The third type of fishing lure that we have up for discussion is the simple spoon lure. It is one of the oldest known fishing lures and is still very much in use owing to its reliability. A spoon lure is made up of an oblong piece of metal that has a treble hook at one end and a loop at the other end. Spoon lures come in a variety of colors and that are reflective and therefore, attracts a hoard of fish to them.

Jigs

You must use jigs if you want to target large freshwater fish like Bass. These large species of fish respond well to the motion of a weighted jig. Jigs come in several varieties. Swimming jigs, football jigs and flipping jigs are a few of those. However, you must remember that each of these jigs must be handled in a different way. The efficaciousness of jigs lies in the way you handle them and the technique you use while catching the fish.

Trolling Lures

Trolling lures, as can be understood by the name, are used to troll fish. The idea of using fishing lures is to troll fish; however, the trolling lure is specifically designed to suit this type of angling. This kind of lure is primarily used to target pelagic fish or the ones found in the ocean. Smaller varieties of fish cannot be targeted effectively using the trolling lure.

We have discussed the different types of fishing lures at length in this section of the article. It is now time to wrap up the discussion with one last important element about fishing lures. You must choose your baits and lures depending upon how you rig up the tackle. There are different ways to rig up your tackle, and you must understand the different ways of doing the same before choosing your lure.

Wrapping Up:

Fishing is one of the most loved hobbies of all time. However, it is also more than just a hobby for several people across the planet. The livelihood of many people depends on fishing. Fishing, therefore, also serves as a major source of income in several households. Fishing might seem like a fun and an easy affair to go about. 

However, you shall be inane to think that you can take up this activity without brushing up on the basics and skimping on research. Learn all that you can about fishing and only then proceed with the activity. This shall help you make the most of the activity and have a wholesome experience.