Freshwater Fishing:

What You Have To Know

The lakes and streams. The rivers and ponds. That is where freshwater fishing happens. The water comes from melting snow and ice. There are hundreds of different fish out there that you can catch. Pickerel, pike, sunfish, muskellunge, walleye, bass, catfish, trout, salmon and sturgeon are by far the most popular choices. But, what you get is up to you.

What You Need

You’ll need a fishing rod and reel, fishing line that can hold 4 to 10 pound tests, sinkers, hooks from sizes 6 to 10 as well as floats, baits and often a license to fish. Both live and artificial baits can work depending on the species you are setting out for. 

In the live version, baits work well for fresh water fishing most of the time. The target fish like earthworms, insect larvae and insects, frogs, shad, crayfish, minnows, and other small fish. You can often catch most of these in the natural habitat of the fish where you are fishing. Look in the peers and in the shallow waters. You can, of course, purchase it from your local fishing shop as well.

On the other side is artificial bait. It can be plastic worms, insects, flies, lures, spoons, streamers, flies, spinners, and small jigs. You can purchase this product from your local fishing shop as well. Or, you may want to make your own.

Prepared baits can also be used in freshwater fishing. You can use cheese balls, egg bags, kernel corn, cereal balls, liver, bread balls, and even entrails as bait. To help you to know what bait will attract your fish, here is a short list.

Preferred Bait

Catfish: to catch them you can use minnows, insects and insect larvae, spinners, crayfish and frogs. Try artificial worms, spinners, streamers and jigs as well.

Pickerel: use earthworms, insects and insect larvae, crayfish, spoons, Mepps, spinners, minnows, frogs and artificial products like jigs, spinners, worms and streamers.

Bass: you’ll need insects and larvae, spoons, Mepps, spinners, frogs, minnows and earthworms. On the artificial side you can sue jigs, spinners, worms, and streamers.

Trout: go for earthworms, insect larvae, insects and flies. You can use kernel corn, minnows, egg sacs as well.

Pike: you need shad, small fish, earthworms, frogs, minnows, chub, crayfish, and spinners, spoons and egg sacs.

Catfish: insects and larvae, minnows, spinners, earthworms, Mepps, spoons and artificial products such as spinners, streamers, jigs, and worms.

Sunfish: here you need products like bread balls, kernel corn, and shiny lures. You can also use earthworms and insects as well as insect larvae too.

Salmon: you should try spinners, spoons, flies, shrimp, egg sacs and large plugs.

Walleye: minnows, shad, frogs, maggots, spinners, spoons. Try worms, artificial minnows and small fish as well.

Muskellunge: these guys like small fish, jigs, minnows, Mepps, frogs, and plastic trailers.

Sturgeon: clams, lamprey, frogs, salmon eggs, shad, shrimp, yarn flies and brightly colored lures of various types.

Freshwater fishing is a wonderful pastime that can be easily learned. Learn more about the products, the fish, and the process by talking with an experienced angler, internet research, and from your local fishing shop.