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I'm not loving with the title because a better one doesn't exist. Now that the weather is nice, it is time for the 2012 Fishing thread, now with informative first post. This thread is intended to be a resource for goons who fish to discuss fishing and ask questions, fishing newbies looking to catch their first fish, and fishing trip reports of all types. We welcome discussion on fishing for shellfish and other crustascae as well. There are also several goons who are quite knowledgeable about fishing from kayaks, so ask away about all aspects of our sport. This thread is not for giving advice on any illegal activity, including poaching (i.e. How often do you see game wardens on X river?) and trespassing (i.e. Its posted, but nobody seems to care). However, if you have questions about trespass law or fishing regulations, please ask away. Buy a fishing license, the money supports your local fish and wildlife fund. How do I catch my first fish? This is a complicated question that depends on where you live. I'm going to break it down into common species, equipment, and tactics. FYI, I'm only familiar with freshwater fishing in the US and Canada. If you live elsewhere, chime up and ask. If someone has a getting started guide for saltwater, I'll edit it in here. Common Species If you write up your favorite species, I’ll add it to this part.  Sunfish The first fish most anglers catch is this ubiquitous fish. These guys are almost everywhere and bite almost anything. Farm ponds and public lakes are loaded with these guys across the US. A good species to target if you’re just starting out. Look for shallow water with some sort of structure and access to food. Weeds, fallen timber, or places where runoff enters the lake are good places to start.  Catfish Channel cats live in pretty much every river in the country, and most lakes. They’re aggressive predators and will eat just about anything. Worms and chicken livers are the best baits for these guys. Blue catfish are almost as common and will hit mostly the same baits. Look for moving water that provides access to food near structure such as brush piles, deep holes, or undercut river banks. The outside parts of bends in the river usually have the right combination of current, deep water, and structure. Bait a hook with a nightcrawler and weight it down with a 1-oz weight and throw the rig immediately upstream from such a bend. The best time of day is at dusk and early evening. Flathead catfish run much bigger but require more advanced tactics.  Largemouth Bass The most sought after gamefish in North America. This guy is a voracious eater and will aggressively defend his territory. A common tactic is to throw something loud and flashy and trigger a reflex bite rather than a feeding response. Tactics for largemouth are hotly debated and change throughout the year. Since largemouth bass can be territorial and hold on specific structure, they’re a tough species to target from shore, unless you find a good farm pond. Your best bet is from a boat or kayak where you can cover a significant amount of water.  Trout There are 3 major species of trout in North America, Brown, Brook, and Rainbow. They largely overlap, depending on stocking and conditions. There’s most likely a good trout stream closer to you than you think. Trout like fast-moving cold water. Every trout on the planet will eat an earthworm, no exceptions. You can also use small spinners or flyfishing techniques. Trout can be very selective and require constant adaptation of your technique to consistently catch them. A friend of mine constantly advocates that “Trout don’t live in ugly places.” They’re a joy to catch and even more fun to hike around after. Equipment It’s possible to get started fishing for as low as $30 total. Find an all-in-one kit from Walmart or any sporting goods store. The line on it will suck because it’s probably been pre-spooled for months, so buy some fresh line. Sure the gear won’t be the best, but it’ll be enough to catch fish. And it’ll give you enough of a taste of fishing to decide what you want. In general, better gear doesn’t catch more fish. It improves your quality of life. Don’t be afraid to ask for help at your local sporting goods store. Pick an appropriate budget ($30 isn’t too low) and ask for advice. There should be someone there happy to help you.  Reel If you’re going to spend extra money, spend it on a good reel. Try a couple and find one that fits your hand. I recommend the Cabela’s Pro Guide as a solid reel that will last for years. Match the reel to the line weight you plan to use.  Rod My personal opinion is that rod largely doesn’t matter. Pick something that feels right to you. 5’6” is a good size for getting started. Shorter rods are easier for fishing from boats and give better feel. Longer rods allow you to cast farther at the sacrifice of sensitivity. In general, you want to fish with the lightest equipment that allows you to catch your targeted species. I recommend this Rod  Line Getting started, your best bet is a simple monofilament. There are thousands of types of fishing line. In general, you want to use the lightest pound test you can get away with. Thinner lines are tougher for the fish to see, and give better sensitivity. If you’re fishing in the river and get snagged a lot, you may want to go to a higher pound test line. A common misconception is that the test of the line is the maximum size of fish you can catch. This is completely not true, and people can land 20# fish on 4# test if they take their time and don’t pull too hard. I recommend a 6# test monofilament if you’re just getting started, like this one. Bump it up to 12# or 20# if you’re targeting catfish. Tactics In general, every fish needs food and some sort of protection from predators and adverse conditions. These requirements vary greatly between species and bodies of water. If you can figure out what your target fish is eating, and where it feels safe, you can come up with a good game plan for how to catch it. It’s very difficult to find good fishing information on the internet. Populations change greatly from year to year, and are highly dependent on water level, weather, and other conditions. Your best bet is to ask at your local sporting goods store. Don’t be shy! Fisherman won’t post information on the internet, but they’ll be happy to help you catch fish. Don’t expect to learn about their secret honey holes, though. Feel free to ask here as well. We'll try to help you as best we can! Fly Fishing A quick word on fly fishing, my favorite type of fishing. Fly fishing uses a heavy floating line to deliver a tiny lure shaped like a little fly to fool trout or other species into biting. I fly fish because it makes me feel more connected to the stream I’m fishing. It a lot easier than it looks. If you want to learn, either ask a friend who fly fishes to show you the basics, or attend a free workshop at your local Bass Pro Shops or other fishing store. It’s easy to learn, but very difficult to teach yourself. If you have any questions, ask away! BeastOfExmoor posted:It's pretty difficult to cover a topic as diverse as fishing that varies so much from region to region, so it might be worth adding some regional/species links for sites or forums that people visit and have found helpful. Rythe gives a good overview of how to pick out a kayak for fishing in this post Dik Hz fucked around with this message at 22:44 on May 18, 2012 |
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Apr 24, 2012 01:35
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causticBeet posted:Tried out wacky rigging instead of texas style for the first time, and holy poo poo, why didn't I try this earlier? Wacky rigging only works with senko (or Yamamoto) worms with the right density. It's a relatively new invention, and it is like cheat mode for bass. Nice fish! causticBeet posted:However, this leads me to a question, what can I do in terms of leaders for freshwater fishing?
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Apr 24, 2012 12:05
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IM FROM THE FUTURE posted:Does Spearfishing count? Ive done all kinds of fishing in my life and it is by far the most enjoyable kind. But When I cant go spearfishing I like to go deep sea fishing. When I cant go deep sea fishing I like to go kayak fishing. And when I cant go kayak fishing I will settle for some bass fishing.
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Apr 24, 2012 22:33
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Rythe posted:Crappies Pre-spawn, I like to use a small minnow a foot under a bobber on a small jig head. If there's a feeding crappie, it'll take a minnow. They bite soft, so pay attention and use light tackle. My best crappie tactic is to wait until it rains. Then go fish the spots where drainage ditches feed into the lake. The flow from the drainage ditches and culverts will attract baitfish. That congregation of baitfish will attract crappies when they're in their pre-spawn pattern.
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Apr 26, 2012 12:32
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Cluricaun posted:Sorry Dk Hz, I'm running all over your thread again bud. I'll shut up for a minute.
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Apr 27, 2012 03:18
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I got up into the mountains of North Carolina and did some prospecting in the Pisgah National Forest for trout. I did catch one super-plump 8" rainbow trout on a wild stream, but I spent most of my time hiking around and observed the water rather than fishing. To me, that's almost as much fun. The stream was infested with this weird species of creek chub that would hit my flies, but were much to small to get hooked. Kinda made fishing a pain. If I went back to that stream, I'd just skip from honey-hole to honey-hole. But that's not really my style. I'd love to hear about other types of fishing I can do around North Carolina. Especially if someone has some pointers for surf fishing around Wilmington and the Outer Banks.
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May 1, 2012 02:18
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Cluricaun posted:Surf fishing is easy, it's just weight and bait, think like a heavy duty river rig with seven strand as a leader. Get enough lead to throw it the distance you want and tip with squid or cut bait. You can haul in little sharks all day long that way, but they don't fight for poo poo, it's entirely like cat fishing. At least that was my experience in Beaufort SC and I suspect NC would be similar. Never had my shot at OBX yet though, but hooks, bait and sinkers work everywhere right? I was also curious how to catch stripers and poo poo when they're chasing the baitfish around in the evening. Sometimes I'll see balls of baitfish on the surface flashing and jumping, so I know there's a big predator down there. I'll see guys chase 'em around with spinning tackle, but I haven't seen them catch anything. Got any advice on that?
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May 1, 2012 12:20
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Spike McAwesome posted:Yessssssssssssssss. Your plan of buying an all-in-one kit and asking at a local bait shop is excellent. Just be sure to buy some fresh line for the kit if it comes with pre-spooled line. Spend some money (bait + line) at the local bait shop out of courtesy. If you just read your post here line-for-line, you'd get excellent advice. Largemouth bass are highly seasonal and local, so you'd need local advice. Also, make sure the driver of your pontoon stays sober. It's still a DUI if you're driving a boat, and it's just common sense. Be careful and follow the local laws.
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May 2, 2012 01:24
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BeastOfExmoor posted:Pretty interesting to hear about a Perch charter. They're one of my favorite fish to catch, but around here they don't get much larger than 8-9" and aren't very popular. I imagine the Great Lakes ones run a bit bigger? EnsignVix posted:I also learned a lot just by talking to the older guy next to me.
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May 10, 2012 01:19
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BeastOfExmoor posted:Good point on girth, I hadn't thought of that. I caught a bunch of 8" perch last year, but they were almost all skinny and it was hard to get much meat off of them. Stripers are incredibly delicious and you should definitely keep one if you catch one and the fishery can support harvest. Follow your uncle-in-law's lead and let us know how you fare.
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May 10, 2012 04:18
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icehewk posted:There's a fly fishing blog I follow that fishes fairly close to me here in Wisconsin. Here's a story he posted this morning. The site is down at the moment so not sure what's going on there. Len Harris would object to it being called a fly fishing blog, I wager. He's a big fan of using whatever tackle is appropriate, not just fly rods.  He's a legend in the Driftless region. Here's my favorite post by him Link it's been reposted a thousand times.
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May 11, 2012 23:04
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Jasper Tin Neck posted:I occasionally go pole fishing off a pier at my university campus. My tackle is very low-tech since you're only allowed to fish with poles without any permits here in Finland. I'm mainly interested in perch but the season hasn't really started yet, so I'm mostly catching cyprinids like silver bream, carp bream, roach, bleak and ide. Some of my odder catches so far include a single herring and a ruffe.
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May 16, 2012 00:51
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Cluricaun posted:I am captain catch and release, I don't object to fish being kept in accordance with regulations and provided that the fishery can handle it, yadda yadda, but that motherfucker would be on my wall as fast as I could pay a taxidermist to get the job done. I've tossed back "trophy" fish countless times but that thing has to be a line class record if not a state record and were I to ever pull one of those off, welp, tough times Mr. Feesh here comes the fortune and glory. Plus I could be all smug and talk about how I know where a catchable 30" brown is. The records for brown trout in Wisconsin are dominated by the coasters. (Coaster = Great Lake Run trout)
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May 16, 2012 02:30
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Cluricaun posted:I'd probably have a better shot at being able to put something up if I just put the picture of me and the fish, especially after my wife found out how much mounts go per inch, but I don't care. That trout is something magical and it's the very concept of a fish like that which can rouse me from a hangover at 4:00am to spend another day splashing around in the water like a goof accomplishing squat.
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May 16, 2012 22:31
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Drunkboxer posted:I have a dream of mounting a 4 foot gar and putting a bottle opener in it's mouth. From what you guys are saying this would cost approximately infinity dollars?
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May 16, 2012 22:45
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WayneCampbell posted:Anyone have any recommendations for websites for learning different types of rigs? So far my repertoire consists of bobber/sinker/hook and that's it. That being said, ask locally or post your location/species here. You've got to give us more to go on.
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May 18, 2012 03:33
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Chemtrail Clem posted:That is badass, i am going to do that and catch some bass this weekend,.
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May 18, 2012 22:27
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tesilential posted:Thanks for the tip, I guess I'll stick with mono. Has knot technology changed lately? I'm still tying a clinch knot with a square knot on top just in case. Improved clinch is where it's at. Google it for better directions than I could give.
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May 20, 2012 22:35
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After trying to find a good stream with wild trout in it within 2 hours of my house in my state (North Carolina), I listened to a friend of mine and checked out a "stocked" stream north of me 1h15 into Virginia. I had ignored it because it's listed as a stocked/special regulations stream and I prefer wild trout. Turns out that it's 20+ miles of wild brown trout in a tailwater with a small portion of stocked in rainbows. I went up and caught 3 browns my first time out last weekend. Guess I've got a new home stream. I love it and couldn't be happier. If anyone in the NC/VA area wants to go fly fishing, let me know and I'd be happy to take you fishing. Be prepared for some really loving cold water, though.
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Jun 3, 2012 05:09
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Brozekiel posted:Hey a fishing thread! I'm looking to buy a flyfishing rod/reel/line combo. Any go-to recommended set ups? I'm just getting into fly fishing so something under $200 is my budget - either 4, 5, or 6 weight. I'll mostly be fishing for trout but would like to fish salmon, too. Are you looking to do big water or small creek stuff? Where are you located? Do you have experience fly fishing? Do you prefer fiberglass, bamboo, or graphite? Personally, I love fiberglass and small creeks, so my next purchase is going to be: This kit in 4wt size. This kit includes everything you need in a graphite rod setup. Nothing fancy, but you'll get a great setup for $70-$80. You don't need to spend more unless you want better line. By the time better gear will have any impact on your fishing ability, you'll know exactly what you want. Get the 8' 5wt or 6wt if you're just starting out. Shorter graphite rods with heavier line are the most forgiving and easiest to learn on. Get the 9' rod if you're going to be fishing open water or big rivers. 6wt is plenty for a 5-7# salmon. Any bigger and you'll want to go up to a 8wt. But that'd be impracticable for trout other than steelhead. Dik Hz fucked around with this message at 00:27 on Jun 7, 2012 |
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Jun 7, 2012 00:23
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Brozekiel posted:I also really like small creeks - it's almost more about the experience than the actual catching for me and smaller rivers/creeks seem to have more of that. Although catching fish is important, too! 5wt is fine for small creeks and will help with the wind. But you'll hate life trying to cast an 8'6" rod on a small creeks. As for small creeks, small rods are better. I have a 7'3" glass rod that casts 5/6 weight line, and it's an amazing rod. You really have to slow down your cast with glass, though. You're not going to find a rod that can cover both small creeks and salmon. Spend your money on the small creek rod; you can get a good salmon rod from a $50 kit.
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Jun 7, 2012 01:57
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Brozekiel posted:Thanks for the great info Dik Hz and Achmed Jones.
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Jun 9, 2012 14:47
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snugglebunny posted:Had my first cat fishing trip today, got out there around 11am and left at 5pm. Pretty good haul I think.
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Jun 11, 2012 03:01
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Brozekiel posted:Thanks for all of the help. I was up in Seattle this past weekend with my girlfriend and on the way back to Portland, I noticed a giant store off the side of the highway called "Cabella's." She reluctantly took the next exit after a bit of pleading and with the promise of some kettle corn. I'd never been to a Cabella's before - drat that place is huuuge. I could have spent hours there but I didn't feel like pushing my luck. Nice pickup. You should be able to launch that 9'er a country mile. Line up to a 6wt and you'll be fine for the bulk of salmon fishing. The large arbor reel will let you play salmon on the reel. You won't find too many trout that require it, though. Good luck and keep us posted on how you fare on the water.
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Jun 12, 2012 01:39
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Obsoletely Fabulous posted:My girlfriend absolutely loves fishing, but said she needs a new tackle box. Any suggestions on a decent one or what to put in it it? I don't want to give her an empty box as a present. She generally just fishes for bass and pike by her dad's house. We are in Michigan if that matters at all. I've never really fished, but I got dragged out yesterday. Now I plan on picking up a combo deal at Gander Mountain or Bass Pro when I get a chance. It was a lot of fun, though her dad did tie my hook on and all that and she baited my hooks for me.
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Jun 18, 2012 23:23
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Obsoletely Fabulous posted:That's a good idea, maybe I'll take her down to Cabela's and let her pick out what she wants since I'd screw it up somehow. Picking out tackle with your significant other is a great relationship builder!
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Jun 19, 2012 03:09
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causticBeet posted:Please tell this to my girlfriend next time I drag her along with me to Bass Pro. Just let her pick out a hilariously gaudy lure for you to use on your next trip. From Claurican in the previous thread: Claurican posted:Speaking to both points: My wife only started fishing after she met me, and to conventional wisdom she's completely ridiculous in her choices at the store when it comes to lures. Anything pink or girly or really gimmicky and she's all over it. I ended up with a box in my bag full of her stuff just so I could tie on whatever stupid bait she'd found at the tackle shop so that she'd be happy. Of course I'm the true fool in this story, she ties on this 3/4oz sized monstrosity of a glittery bubblegum pink with laser flash spinnerbait that I would have told you was both the wrong size, presentation and color for the water and species we were fishing being that we weren't fishing for unicorn in a toxic waste runoff on Jupiter.
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Jun 19, 2012 03:38
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Obsoletely Fabulous posted:I went fishing by myself after work, after buying a $40 spinner combo at Gander Mountain. Ran into some cool old guys who gave me some advice and helped me fix my reel after I turned it into a bird's nest. You caught a smallmouth bass on your first time out, and you learned the cardinal rule of fishing: Shut up and listen to the old guys.
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Jun 20, 2012 00:43
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EnsignVix posted:Any advice on tying a slip bobber rig differently if I have consistent problems with it getting tangled up on the cast? Usually the tangle occurs with the leader or swivel (or both) getting caught up on my sinker. You might try a 3-way swivel, if I'm reading your rig right. It'll let each part rotate individually and greatly reduce tangles. Would this work:  ?
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Jun 21, 2012 22:33
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imac1984 posted:I have finally decided to break down and ask for help on SA. I'm a newbie fisher even though technically this is my 2nd season. I live north of washington dc, there are a ton of lakes (some pre-stocked) and a great deal of opportunity to (what I thought would be very easy) catch some fish! I went from about May til September last year fishing probably once a week average at the various lakes around me and did not catch a single fish... in fact, I did not get a single bite! I've read all there is to read and watched the youtube videos on how to catch bass (since they seem to be the "easiest"), I have several rods and a wide array of lures. I've tried plastic worms (texas and wacky rigged), spinner baits, crank baits, you name it. I've gone morning, afternoon, evening. Mostly fishign from shore, although I rented a paddle boat once last year and rode around to various spots that seemed exactly what I should be looking for and still got nothing. There is obviously something very fundamentally wrong with what I'm doing and I can't figure out what it is. I've tried soliciting help from real people in the area, but none of my friends/family have any interest in fishing so I'm kinda on my own. I feel like I've covered most of the basics about my situation, but please feel free to ask about whatever else would be important.
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Jun 28, 2012 23:00
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Unperson_47 posted:To the fly fisherman out there: Just gotta use tippet and suck it up. If you're cheap, like me, 4# fluorocarbon works just fine. You give a bit of flexibility, but it's not a dealbreaker. Besides, having to retie your whole rig gives the pool a chance to rest.
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Jun 29, 2012 21:36
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Jasper Tin Neck posted:I went fishing with my dad a week ago. We came back with 7 small perch and these breams, which are now in the freezer, waiting to be smoked: 
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Jul 24, 2012 01:24
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Nightcrawlers on the bottom work pretty well too. Just bait it up and throw it out Huck Finn style. Then read a book or something because carp will take their sweet time.
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Aug 14, 2012 05:35
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JacquelineDempsey posted:I lost my job this summer, and while I'm hunting, I have a lot of free time. I live within walking distance of a fishing pier, and thought I might try my hand at it. It's a tributary to the James River in VA, which is in turn a tributary to the Cheasapeake Bay. Fish caught there seem to be croaker, cats, the occasional eel. Crabbing's not permitted but the last time I was there this 7 year old kid was pulling them in on a line like nobody's business. JacquelineDempsey posted:Yeah, I figured I'd give 'em a call anyways; thanks for the reply. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL7CwM7Zo1I Pretty sure that was Virginia or North Carolina. Dik Hz fucked around with this message at 23:55 on Sep 13, 2012 |
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Sep 13, 2012 23:51
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beefnoodle posted:I did back-to-back trips recently. First was a week on the Bighorn in Montana, flyfishing for browns and rainbows. My father-in-law and I have done a trip each year there for about the past 6 years. Then I spent a long weekend in Niagara Falls, NY, catching smallmouth bass in the river. This was the first time I'd done this.
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Sep 13, 2012 23:58
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Fourth quater bonus: 7'6 4wt glass rod Going to hit up the Shenandoah park this weekend to catch some brookies.
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Feb 12, 2013 01:29
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Anyone know anything about catching crappies in NC?
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Mar 31, 2013 18:08
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PREYING MANTITS posted:I don't know about NC specifically (check out the NC board on crappie.com for local reports I tried this Friday, but the water temp wasn't high enough for them to be shallow. And the rental boat had no electronics of course. Also, any place that can be fished from shore is going to be loving mobbed this time of year. crappie.com seems to be more oriented to tightliners with boats.
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Mar 31, 2013 20:09
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PREYING MANTITS posted:Oh that bites. The Alabama board is kind of a mix between boating and shore spots though usually every spot that gets mentioned there gets swamped for a few days afterwards. I've heard of punches being thrown at some of the more "premium" spots. It's ridiculous and I'm glad I can motor away from that.
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Mar 31, 2013 20:52
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Bangkero posted:hey need some goony feedback on this. I'm venturing into fly fishing this season and am trying to make some beginner purchases. Does that help ya out?
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Apr 6, 2013 03:49
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