Fishing Tips
A lot of people are big on panfish fishing because it is definitely easy to do. All you really need is local a pond, lake, or river to get started. The fish don’t require expensive gear and they can be very easy to catch. Those who want to learn how to catch panfish will not have a lot of complex learning to do. These are active fish and they have such a varied diet that they are easy to work with.
How to Catch Crappie
The best time for catching crappie is in the spring. They move shallow to spawn and readily bite small minnow imitations. The most popular crappie rig is a small grub or tube jig below a slip bobber. This allows the bait to be vertically jigged while away from the boat or shore. Keep in mind that a crappie’s eyes look up, so you better off setting the jig to be a little higher than the fish instead of being right on the bottom. For crappie fishing during the summertime, it is best to fish in shaded areas around deeper water. In winter, ice fishing for crappie is a cinch once you locate them. Try using small plastic grubs, jigging spoons, or live minnows.
How to Catch Perch
With nearly 165 species in its family tree, freshwater perch just might be the most abundant fish in North America A popular sport fish, yellow perch, also known as lake perch, can be found in the lakes, rivers, and streams of almost all fifty states and most of the Canadian provinces. That abundance — not to mention their tasty, firm meat — might explain why many anglers are hooked on catching the fish that has become a popular main course at Friday night fish fries. Perch feed year-round, so they can be caught year-round, which adds to their popularity. Lake perch aren’t big. The yellow-gold fish with dark-striped sides grow to be 5 to 12 inches in length and can weigh up to 4 pounds. When a school of perch goes into a feeding frenzy, the fish can provide anglers with plenty of action, rewarding them with a nice stringer for supper. The trick to catching perch — or any fish for that matter — is knowing where to find them and what kind of equipment to use. The good news is you don’t need a lot of expensive gear to get started. You’ll find perch wherever there is freshwater. Look for areas with natural structures: weeds, dams, submerged objects, islands, inlets, rocks, reeds, and bridges — any place where plants can grow. Plants attract baitfish and baitfish attract sport fish, so those are the areas you want to look for perch. Perch school by size, so big perch swim together in deeper water and small perch hang together in shallower water. Catching one perch means there are more in the area. If you fish from shore, you’ll generally land smaller fish. Cast your line toward weeds, lily pads, piles of rocks, pier pilings, and brush. Give the first spot you select several minutes; if you don’t get a hit, try casting to another spot. Patience and a willingness to try different things will help you find fish. If you’re fishing in open water from a boat, you’ll be fishing deep. Perch tend to congregate in deep water most of the year. Even in open water, perch will congregate around submerged objects, so the trick is finding those areas. Try this: Head into deep water, turn the boat off, and drift with the wind. Drop your line in the water to just above the bottom (let the hook hit bottom and then reel it up a bit) and let it dangle as the boat drifts. Once you’ve located fish, drop anchor and cast. You also can try this technique while using a trolling motor.
How to Catch Bluegill & Sun Fish
Some of us have childhood memories involving Grandpa, a cane pole, and a jaunty, red-and-white bobber. Whether or not you share that recollection, you still might like to learn a few tips about catching bluegill. In this article, you’ll learn where to find the best catch, the best baits, and lures, how to fly fish for bluegill, and even how to clean them. One reason many of us started fishing for bluegill as kids is that they’ll bite on nearly anything and are found in abundance in many regions. That plentitude means there aren’t limits on size or daily catch in some states. Bluegills — also known as sunfish, bream, perch, or plumb granny — are related to largemouth bass. So if you know a good spot for bass, it’s likely you’ll find bluegills there as well. Usually, bluegill has dark olive green backs with lighter sides. Each side has between five and nine dark vertical bars. Sometimes, the cheeks gill covers for vivid blue, hence the name bluegill. Factors affecting bluegill color include the fish’s age, sex, and the color of the water it’s in. Bluegills don’t get much bigger than 8 inchesBluegill prefer clear, quiet water where the sun is shining. Clear water means that vegetation under the water’s surface can thrive, offering a home for the bluegills’ food sources. Because bluegill prefer to remain close to shore, it’s easy to fish for them from banks or bridges. But lakes, reservoirs, slow-moving streams, and ponds are all possible habitats as well. A desirable bluegill neighborhood includes fallen timber or pilings and weed beds that provide cover. Where you’ll find these fish depends on the time of day. They feed mostly by sight, so they’re most active at dawn and dusk. At midday, they’re resting in the shade or staying in deep water where it’s cooler. Seasons also affect where bluegill can be found. Shallow water is a good bet in the spring and early summer months. Because male fish are protecting the nests during the spawn, they go after small lures, assuming they’re predators. As summer heat increases, the bluegill move to waters more than 10 feet (3 meters) deep. This is also true in early fall. As the season brings cooler weather, bluegill more frequently come into shallow water. It’s more likely that midday fishing will be successful in the fall. By winter, bluegill have moved to water between 12 and 20 feet deep. They school together near the bottom of underwater structures and don’t feed as actively.