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Have you had the opportunity to fish in freshwater? While some find it to be a distant relation to other types of fishing, it is still one of the best ways to spend your time. There are hundreds of lakes out there that you can be enjoying virtually any time that you would like to. To learn more about it, take a look at your options here.

Fresh water fishing is done in lakes, rivers and streams that have minute quantities of dissolved salts. Freshwater sources are precipitation or melting ice and snow. There are many fresh water fish species, but some of the most important ones are bass, catfish, pickerel, pike sunfish, trout, salmon, muskellunge, sturgeon and walleye.

Equipment for Freshwater Fishing

What you’ll need for basic freshwater fishing equipment includes a fishing rod and reel, fishing line between 4 and 10 pound-test, a variety of sinkers, a variety of hooks (sizes 6 to 10), floats, bait and in most locations, a fishing permit or license. There are a variety of both live and artificial baits that work well for fresh water fishing.

Bait You’ll Need

Live bait works well for fresh water fishing. Freshwater fish feed on a variety of prey, including earthworms, insects, insect larvae, frogs, minnows, chub, shad, crayfish and small fish species such as smelt. Freshwater fishing bait such as earthworms, crayfish, frogs, minnows, chubs and shads can be caught in its natural habitat. Look around piers and in shallow water. Freshwater bait can also be purchased from your local bait and tackle shop.

Artificial bait is manmade bait that attracts fish to bite or strike. It includes plastic worms, insects, flies, small jigs, lures, spoons, streamers, flies, spinners and more. Artificial bait can be purchased at fishing tackle and bait shops or online. Some anglers prefer to buy the supplies for these types of baits and make their own.

There are a wide variety of prepared baits that you can use for freshwater fishing. These include kernel corn, bread balls, cheese balls, egg bags, liver, cereal balls, chicken entrails. Here is just a short list of some freshwater fish and the bait that attracts them.

Catfish
earthworms, liver, chicken entrails, hotdogs, frogs, tadpoles, crayfish and most lures. At times you can even catch them on shiny hooks that have no bait.

Pike
earthworms, frogs, minnows, shad, all types of small fish species, crayfish, chub, spinners, spoons and egg sacs.

Bass
earthworms, insects, insect larvae, frogs, minnows, crayfish, spoons, Mepps, spinners, artificial worms, jigs, streamers and spinners.

Salmon
flies, spinners, spoons, egg sacs, shrimp and large plugs.

Sunfish
earthworms, bread balls, kernel corn, insects and insect larvae, as well as small, shiny lures.

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

Walleye
shad, frogs, real or artificial minnows, worms, maggots, spinners, spoons, jigs, plugs and small fish species.

Trout
earthworms, flies, insects, insect larvae, kernel corn, egg sacs, crayfish and minnows.

Muskellunge
small fish species, frogs, Mepps, spinners, jigs, minnows, plastic trailers and rapalas.

Sturgeon
frogs, freshwater clams, lamprey, eels, smelt, salmon eggs, shad, shrimp, egg sacs, yarn flies, brilliantly colored and silver lures.

Go ahead and give it a try. If you would like to learn more about this type of fishing, you need to talk to someone that is a professional that can show you just what you need to do, where to go and what to use to be successful at freshwater fishing.

Niall is a keen fisherman who is always looking at new tools to help him catch more fish. Visit Fish Finder Review for more information and great deals to help a Fish Finder and other GPS and Sonar marine navigation systems. http://www.fish-finder-review.com

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Fish-Finder-Review.com

Every true angler knows that no matter the species being fished the prime time starts when the ice melts. This is when male fish will start moving into shallow spawning grounds and more importantly 1-3 pound walleyes.

To seek out the best spawning points you’ll want to look for shallow sloping sand bars or points with small rocks and gravel. This is when the male walleye will start actively feeding. This feeding frenzy will last around a month before and after spawning. The bigger female walleyes are difficult to catch while the spawn is in full swing, but can be caught during the pre-spawn.

Your best method for catching active male walleye is in early spring fishing very slow. Fast moving bait isn’t going to attract them as they are cold-blooded and the water temperature is what regulates their metabolism. Wait until the late spring for your more aggressive fishing methods.

You’ve heard of ‘Location, Location, Location’ for keying in on business opportunities, however it also applies to late winter and early spring walleye fishing. Add ‘Presentation, Presentation, Presentation’ to that, and you will learn that image is key to this species of fish. Look for cover and obstacles in some sort of pattern. Cast out and entice them to come out and snag your bait, presenting a natural image. Typical walleye will dart out and grab the bait, and return back to its cover to finish the meal and await the next.

One keen difference between the walleye and other fish species is their tendency to remain in the shallow waters throughout the year. You’ll locate more aggressive walleyes in these shallow regions sticking to their cover than you will in the deeper waters.

Understanding the physical properties of the water is an advantage you should focus on. The water’s current will determine whether the fish are holding out in groups or scattering. In strong currents walleye tend to group up in tight patterns along structure.

Concentrate on the shallower waters and locate schools of bait fish as this is the walleye’s main forage. The fish that are going to get you the strikes are the ones that are keeping up with these schools in as little as 2ft. of water.

I always say the best techniques and tactic will come from the local anglers. Ask questions and seek advice and tips. Wet a hook and good luck on your next walleye fishing trip.

Blake Stoffregen writes for various websites including http://www.4fishin.com, a online fishing equipment store. He’s an experienced web developer and enjoys fishing as well.

These are busy times we live in.

Running a full time business, having a five and a half year old daughter, and becoming the world’s most prominent “fish bloggering idiot”–has certainly cut into my fishing time. It seems that the time I spend fishing has slowly been withering away as, more and more responsibility has been shrinking my free time.

I have been wrestling with how to juggle these tasks and like most folks–realize there just isn’t enough time in a day.

So, I have decided that there is really only one solution to this dilemna, and have decided in the interest of catching more fish I am going to make a drastic change.

Outsourcing.

Yes, it was a tough decision, and a lot of you will say this isn’t good for the country, and may ultimately put an end to my fishing days, but I have contacted Mr. Vijay Back-casta in New Delhi India, and from here forward he will be doing my fishing for me.

I have signed a two year contract in which, anytime a friend calls wanting to go fishing he will be routed to Mr. Back-castas phone in New Delhi. “Elloo dis is Ajay, do you wish to go feeshing today?”

Now I know this will seem a little awkward at first and you may have to use your imagination–BUT while you are casting for steelhead on the Rogue river–Mr. Back-casta will be simultaneously fishing for the famed Himalayan Mahseer on the Ramganga river in India!

BRILLIANT!

Now I will be able to get to my daughters soccer practice, pay some bills. AND catch fish all at the same time.

If I get the urge to dangle a worm or fling a fly in the middle of the afternoon, I simply will pick up the phone and “outsource my fishing” for that day. What could be more efficient and “fish profitable” than that?

Who knows, by the end of the year I may catch more fish than I have ever caught before. If it works out well, I may even contract out several other outsources in… Oh… maybe the Phillipines or China…. I wonder if they have any outsourcing opportunities in New Zealand??

As the year goes on you will hear of my adventures on the Yangtze, sight-fishing on the South island in New Zealand, and maybe even a fishless day or two in Kamchatka.Sometimes I may be seemingly in two places in one time!!

I bet I will be having a GREAT time!!

I expect the transition to be seamless for most of you and you probably won’t actually know that when you call me up to see how the Spring Chinook run is faring– it will really be Vijay giving you the semi- up to the minute report from the Rogue…

“Yas, elloo Kuurt dar ah meny, meny Sahmon coming up dee riveah–it is bootifuul.”
“Pleese not to veesit dough– I am berry, berry, beezy!!”

So, there you have it– a way to have my cake and Salmon too! And all for under $2.00 dollars an hour–I just can’t hardly afford to NOT outsource my fishing– heck it costs me WAY more than $2.00 an hour to fish. Do the math.

You also may want to consider this option, and if time is at a premium for you as it is for me–well, I can get you hooked up with Mr. Back-casta, and soon you can be at the movies eating popcorn and catching bonefish in Thailand at the same time. Just think what your fishing journal will look like at the end of the year. Nothing but fish, fish fish.

Well, I have got to get busy now, seems the business needs me and my daughter wants to play Barbie this afternoon.

Now lets see…. where should I fish this afternoon…

A.J. Klott
Author writer of fishing humor,and “fly tack” peddler.A.J. writes about the people, characters, and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005. Visit his website at:
http://www.twoguyswithflys.com

As I was fishing several months ago under a partly cloudy sky with patchy fog starting to set in, the reality hit that fall weather was upon us. The temperature when I arrived at one of my favorite fishing holes was a beautiful and sunny 70 degrees and now I was starting to get a bit chilled. The weather had taken on a new identity in the past hour or so. The fishing had started to slow down as well. The hits were plentiful and constant when the sun was beaming down upon the dam and the bass were stacked around the rocks adjacent to the weed beds just begging to be caught. I had already landed around 15 nice keepers when the sun disappeared behind a cloud and failed to show its face again. I began to rummage through my tackle bag trying desperately to find the perfect bass wrangling lure that would take my catch rate back to an acceptable level. I threw a spinnerbait for a while and then switched to a Rat-L-Trap. I then threw a few in-line spinners followed by some crawfish imitation plastics and followed up with the Junebug colored stick worm I had caught all of the previous fish on. Still, I could not find a bite.

As I sat on the bank of the pond I started to think very hard about my present situation. I looked around and noticed that the trees were just beginning to shed their dark green colors and change to shades of red, orange and yellow. I reached into my bag and pulled out my box of jigs and selected a 1/4oz model with a brown and orange skirt. I then put a chartreuse plastic craw as a trailer, which made the jig match my surroundings perfectly and flipped the jig towards the rock ledge. The jig was allowed to sit for about 60 seconds and then the slow retrieval process began. A very slow upward motion of the rod tip with a few slight jerks thrown in intermediately was exactly what the bass wanted. After a few retrieves were made and I was waiting for the jig to travel back downward so I could begin the process again, that’s when she hit! Once I landed the fish she was weighted and released. It was the largest bass of the day weighting in at 5lbs 4oz.

Fishing with a jig or the jig-and-pig is an extremely effective method for catching those stubborn fall bass. I rely on this method during the spring as well as certain times throughout the year, but sometimes forget how effective the bait really is until I throw it a few times usually out of desperation. Lets first talk about the equipment needed for effective jig fishing. A baitcast reel with a flipping switch built in the reel is my number one choice. Pair this reel with a medium-heavy 7 ½ foot pitching or flipping stick and as far as the equipment goes, your ready to go. I prefer to use a heavier line such as 50lb Power Pro with about 48” of Berkley Vanish or Transition fluorocarbon line tied on to the braid as a leader. This will assure that you have the strength needed to horse those big bass out of heavy cover when necessary. I realize that some of you might not be baitcast users so rest assured that a spinning reel works also as long as you have a long spinning rod about 7 to 71/2 feet. You want to be able to flip the jig into place without causing a big wake and disrupting what you hope lies below. Accuracy is a big key when flippin’ jigs.

I know many anglers who are of the opinion that jig fishing is rather complicated and they don’t really understand how to do it. Lets take a little time and discuss the important facts surrounding jig fishing. First and foremost, I want to stress to you that confidence is the most important key regardless of what you are throwing. I have been in the situation when I am fishing with a partner and he ties something rather odd on his line and I think, “What is this guy doing”? I watch as he fishes the lure with total confidence and concentration and before you know, the fish are coming in the boat. I might not have tried that particular lure, but through commitment and confidence it’s surprising what can happen, if you will maintain an open mind. Whether you fish the jig as is, or with some type of plastic chunk, craw or worm as a trailer, the choice is yours. I fish the jig both with and without and they will produce both ways. I usually put on a large flat plastic chunk if I want to slow the fall of the lure a bit.

Color is very important, and to some people overly technical, but I tend to simplify if a bit. How many of you have a favorite lure, that you have all 26 colors available in your tackle box? Do you use each and every color? Most anglers have all of the colors and out of all of those colors, they might have 4 or 5 colors they are stuck on that really produce. I simply take the 4 or 5 colors that work on the other lures and add a few other colors and end up with 7 or 8 jig colors. Don’t forget to look around you and “match the hatch” so to speak. I fish black & blue, black & chartreuse, blue & chartreuse, brown (or copper) & orange and watermelon w/black flake jigs most of the time. Some models have rattles and some do not. I love to fish lipless cranks because of the noisy rattle; therefore I choose models with rattles. Once again, it all revolves around what you have the most confidence in. Jigs come in a vast array of sizes as well. I prefer 1/4oz and 1/2oz the most, unless I have to punch down through heavy structure like heavy brush or submerged hydrilla. When everything is still and the wind is not blowing, I always go with the lighter jig.

As far as the presentation goes, it’s pretty simple. Find the spot you want to lay the jig and flip it to the target. This is a technique that takes practice and during the off season I tend to practice in the basement with 5lb coffee cans placed strategically around the floor. Keep in mind that jigs are target-specific lures. Once the lure is flipped out, I usually let it sit for about 30 to 60 seconds. If you choose to just leave the jigs sitting there for a while and then reel it in and repeat the process, this is called deadsticking. You can lift and drop your tip and let the jig fall and then repeat again or you can bounce, hop or swim it across the bottom as well. Do what you want to do with the jig, as there is no right or wrong way to fish it, just theories. During fall, bass tend to become more lethargic as water temperatures drop. My favorite method during this period is to simply drag the jig past each and every piece of cover. Just a slow steady retrieve without any jerks or tugs on the line produces the best results. Bass will absolutely whack the jig if it comes cruising slowly past them. I also like to flip it to a stump or cover point and just let it fall, then hop it a few times and let it fall again. This technique is used when you are simply going for a reaction bite on the fall.

I think one of the hardest things I had to figure out when jig fishing was when to set the hook. I still know weekend anglers as well as pro anglers who miss about 70% of their strikes on the jig because they set the hook to late. I am a big plastic worm fisherman and have learned to always set the hook on the second tap, especially when you are using a Senko style worm. With a jig, the first tap is generally the bass sucking the jig up and the second tap is the bass spitting it out. I think it would behoove you to set the hook the very second that you feel a tap or when the jig feels different in any way whatsoever. One method that I use whether fishing a plastic worm or a jig is to put my finger under the line and lift up just a bit so I can feel any change that might occur. Remember, don’t try and force the jig on the fish. He will either want the bait or he will not. During early spring fishing, the jig can really irritate bedded bass and cause them to strike uncontrollably.

As you can see, there is nothing difficult about the mechanics of bass fishing with a jig. Keep in mind that confidence plays a major role in everything you do in life. When I am fishing and starting to struggle with the confidence factor, I am often reminded of Takahiro Omori from Japan. Takahiro came to the U.S. in 1992 to become a professional bass angler. When he left Japan, he had it in his mind he would win the Citgo Classic event. Before the 2004 B.A.S.S. Citgo Classic, Takahiro went to Woo Daves house to visit Woo and see the trophy that Woo had won at the Classic several years prior. When Takahiro saw it, he grabbed the trophy and started to yell and scream and shake the trophy over his head as if he had just won the Classic himself. He actually visualized himself winning! He was pretty pumped up when he left Woo’s house that evening. A short time later, Takahiro Omori won the 2004 B.A.S.S. Citgo Classic and was the first non-American too ever win a B.A.S.S. Classic. Bye the way, Takahiro said that he refocused his thinking, pumped himself up and started fishing hard during the last minutes of the tournament. Takahiro caught his two biggest bass during the last five minutes of the tournament.

“This is the best day of my life,” said Omori, who pounded the stage repeatedly and cried openly before the 13,200 spectators in the Charlotte Coliseum. Until next time, keep a tight line and happy fishin’.

G. Wayne Byrd is a professional tournament bass fisherman, who loves to help others catch more and bigger fish. He is a regular contributor to Fishin’ Secrets with Eric Allee and Friends.

http://www.fishinsecrets.com

Before I get into this, lets just understand that I consider any jig 1/4oz or larger to be heavy. Catch 10,000 bass or so on a 1/16, 1/8 and 3/16oz jigs and you would also. When fishing heavy jigs, I abandon the realm of spinning tackle and move up to stout bait casting gear. This is necessary to transport your offering to nasty places and to get it back. I normally do not skip with a bait casting rod. It can be done but you must have an extremely educated thumb to prevent backlashes. I use Shimano reels exclusively. I go with either a Scorpion 1001 or a Calais Antares 101.

Contrary to many other anglers, I do not use a very heavy line 10 or 12lb line fills the bill for me and can handle most situations. I like Hybrid line. Gamakatsu G-Lock is also very good for flipping. I have used Vanish fluorocarbon and I like it also. It has great abrasion resistance. I only tie my jigs on with a palomar knot. I feel this is the strongest most reliable knot anyone can tie. I rely on Kistler Helium rods. I prefer a medium action rod. The lighter line and medium action rod make this a light line method when compared to the 25 and 20lb test many guys are using. I’ve been doing a ton of flipping with a 6-6 ML rod and Scorpion 1001 reel. I usually do not go above a 3/16oz jig but it is a dynamite combo. It is sheer fun. I’ve never broken a rod while fishing jigs.

Targeting Bass

I can flip, I can Skip, I can pitch. Which is best? Do what works for you. I am more effective skipping with a spinning rod so I usually do not skip with bait casting rods. My presentation is a cross between flipping and pitching. It is a kind of under hand lob low to the water that may be skipping-like in reality. When the bait hits the water, there is very little disturbance.

I am always searching for targets to hit. I will drop jigs into places many guys won’t. You can’t worry about losing a bait. If you do, you will handicap yourself mentally. Putting jigs in tough places can mean the difference between catching a horse and casting practice. I hit my targets from many different angles. This gives the fish a presentation it may not have seen. I see far too many guys drop a jig on a stump once or twice only to move on. I do not fish my jig back to the boat. Once I feel I have saturated the target, I reel in and cast again.

Strikes range from a mushy weighty feeling to an unmistakable chomp. I learned to fish jigs by forcing myself to only take them with me while fishing. I learned early on to discern what the jig felt like on the end of my line. Anything lighter or heavier was surely a bass. This is what I have come to name “Weighing the line”. I learned what a 3/16oz jig feels like in the water. This strategy has helped me learn complex techniques and has definitely made me a better, more consistent angler.

Let’s talk about hook sets. If you are fishing a jig correctly, you will have very little slack line. It is a contact bait in which an angler must know what it is doing at all times. This makes for instantaneous hook sets and excellent sensitivity. If you feel something out of the ordinary, swing on it, hook sets are free. I set my hook hard over my right shoulder. It is violent, it is lightning quick and it gets the job done. I notice that very few anglers get the gist of the hook set in most applications. There is no pussy footing around here, set it like you mean it or go home empty handed. There really is no style to it, just speed and power.

Detecting a strike will come as a natural feeling in time and with practice. The time it takes you to detect a strike and swing on it is the difference between hooking up and getting beaned in the head by your jig. A jig is made of metal and silicone. A bass will rarely hold on to it for a long period of time. Scent and salt may help increase the odds by a half second or so but it is important to set up as soon as you detect the strike.

Rattles

Rattles may give the angler an advantage when the water is murky or cold. I prefer to fish without rattles 95% of the time. When I use them, I prefer the strap type of collar so the rattles hang down in the skirt. This way they do not impede with my hook set. One little trick I employ is to add a small piece of sponge on the hook shank. I spray it with a bit of garlic or craw scent. I think it at least gives me the confidence to be more effective.

A jig is a contact bait. It is built be used in nasty places and it is strong enough to wrestle big bass out of them. Many guys make the mistake of not attempting to penetrate deep into cover with them. By failing to do this, they decrease their chances for success. You’ve got to get into the places where these fish live.

Although I am a light tackle jig guy by nature, I’m smart enough to realize that heavy jigs definitely have a place in my arsenal. On the other side of it, don’t just use heavier baits. You will be pleasantly surprised when you tie on a light jig n pig.

Craig DeFronzo has written over 300 articles that are bass fishing related within the past decade for several of the top bass fishing web sites and periodicals. He is the author of over 12 books and eBooks on bass fishing and is the creator of Micro Munch Tackle. He started a small bait company based on the belief that unique custom tackle would be more appealing to bass that are continuously bombarded by the same commercial baits every day. Custom baits and lighter tackle have helped him achieve success in competition. For more information on custom handmade baits and more articles and Craig’s ebooks visit http://micromunchtackle.com/

There is a fairly new technique when it comes to bass fishing but it works great especially when bass are under a lot of pressure, it’s called drop-shotting. When you see other fishermen using worms and fishing the edges of creek channels, try this and fish the bottom of the channels instead of the edges. It’s also good around boat docks and bridges and in shallow water when the bass are bedding.

When fishing the bottom of a channel try a small worm hook with a 3/16 ounce sinker. If you have one already a bullet sinker you are using for worm fishing works great. Don’t drag the bait or hop it, shake it, you know jiggle it in place.

When bass are on their beds try flipping a tube with 25 pound test line and a 1/2 ounce weight. This is also an excellent way to fish light line as it lets your lure have more natural action.

Here is what you need to rig a drop shot:

A small worm hook and an 1/8 to 1/2 ounce bullet sinker like you use to worm fish. Tie the hook on your line using a palamar knot and leave enough line after the knot for the depth you want the sinker below it. Tie the bullet weight at the bottom of the line and peg it with a toothpick.

It’s that easy.

Charles E. White has fished for almost 50 years for bass from California to Florida. In his lifetime, it is estimated that he has caught over 6,000 bass. His biggest bass is a 12 pound 14 ounce that hangs on his wall in his office.

Charles has fished with people who have never fished for bass before and taught them how to become successful anglers and also has fished with the Pros in Florida.

His new website about fishing for bass is at: http://www.bassfishingweekly.com.

You have decided that you want to learn to fish. There are several ways of learning, the hardest being trial and error. It would be best to find an instructor for one-on-one lessons.

1. Buy seasickness medication

Nothing is worse than ruining your fishing because of seasickness. Most seasickness medication e.g. Bonine would be fine. Even seasoned fishermen are known to take some on rough days. Take one before you go to sleep, another when you wake up and a third one before you board.

2. Buy a reference book

A lot of good books are available at your bookstores and online. The book should give you instructions as well as terms and definitions. Some things you may not immediately understand but you should know anyway. Learn how to tie different kinds of knots. This knowledge will be invaluable for other purposes throughout your life.

3. Go to a party

There are party boats that carry from fifteen to as many as sixty anglers. The boat provides everything like bait, rod, reel, sinkers and hooks. They assist you in fishing and take the fish off the hook for you. Mates will spot you and will generally stay close to assist you. Party boats generally will cost you $25 - $70 a day, and the fish are yours to keep. The party boat is a bargain for beginners.

4. Pick your pier

Assuming you have already acquired skills to operate a rod and reel, you need to look for a fishing pier.
Majority of coastal cities have one public pier or pay-to-fish pier. You can rent tackle and buy bait at the piers. If you’re having trouble, there are many pier anglers willing to help and give you tips.

5. Party or pier

You may want to do either step three or four or both at this point. The best thing to do is to do both several times to really learn.

6. The reel deal

The conventional reel is probably what you’re using up to this point. The conventional reel is designed for a lot of wear and tear. You may now want to consider other types and makes of reels. Ideally you have met people and perhaps made a friend or two who can assist you in selecting a reel. You can even ask a tackle shop owner for tips.

You need to understand the mechanics of the reel and the other equipment. Learning to cast, tie knots and bait are not that complicated. Secondly, you need to learn where to fish. Successful fishermen know where the fish are located. Fish move from place to place and knowledgeable anglers understand these patterns and are able to anticipate where the fish are located.

Travis Clemens is a life time fisherman and he knows the ins and outs of gettinem on the hook! You too can gettem on the hook with Travis as your guide! www.best-fishing-tips.com

The Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. The walleye is sometimes also called the yellow walleye to distinguish it from the blue walleye.

In some parts of its range, the fish is known as the yellow pike or pickerel, although the use of these names should be discouraged since the fish is related neither to the pikes nor to the pickerels, both of which are members of the family Esocidae.

Genetically, walleyes show a fair amount of variation across watersheds. In general, fish within a watershed are quite similar and are genetically distinct from those of nearby watersheds.

The species has been artificially propagated for over a century and has been planted on top of existing populations or introduced into waters naturally devoid of the species, sometimes reducing the overall genetic distinctiveness of populations.

The common name, “walleye”, comes from the fact that their eyes, not unlike those of cats, reflect light. This is the result of a light-gathering layer in the eyes called the tapetum lucidum which allows them to see well in low-light conditions.

In fact, many anglers look for walleyes at night since this is when most major feeding patterns occur. Their eyes also allow them to see well in turbid waters (stained or rough, breaking waters) which gives them an advantage over their prey. Thus, walleye anglers will commonly look for days and locations where there is a good “walleye chop” (i.e. rough water).

Walleyes are largely olive and gold in. The dorsal side of a walleye is olive, grading into a golden hue on the flanks. The olive/gold pattern is broken up by five darker saddles that extend to the upper sides.

The colour shades to white on the belly. The mouth of a walleye is large and is armed with many sharp teeth. The first dorsal and anal fins are spinous as is the operculum. Walleyes are distinguished from their close cousin the sauger by the white colouration on the lower lobe of the tail.

The walleye is a relatively r-selected species. They require fairly clean waters and are found most often in deep mesotrophic lakes and moderate- to low-gradient rivers. The walleye is considered a “cool water” species. Adults migrate to tributary streams in late winter or early spring to lay eggs over gravel and rock, although there are open water reef or shoal spawning strains as well.

Some populations are known to spawn on sand or on vegetation. A large female can lay up to 500,000 eggs and no care is given by the parents to the eggs or fry. The eggs are slightly adhesive and fall into spaces between rocks.

The incubation period for the embryos is temperature-dependent but generally lasts from 12 to 30 days. After absorbing the small amount of yolk, young walleyes begin feeding on invertebrates. After 40 to 60 days, juvenile walleyes become piscivorous. After this time, both juvenile and adult walleyes eat fish almost exclusively, frequently yellow perch or ciscoes, moving onto bars and shoals at night to feed.

The walleye is often considered to have the best tasting flesh of any freshwater fish, and, consequently, is fished recreationally and commercially. Because of its nocturnal feeding habits, it is most easily caught at night using live minnows or lures that mimic small fishes.

Most commercial fisheries for walleye occur in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes but there are other locations as well. One of the best lakes for catching walleyes is Mille Lacs in central Minnesota.

Learn all about walleye fishing here.

What are the different types?

Bass fishing lures are probably the most highly purchased of all fishing lures today. Bass fishing today has become one the hottest sports among anglers. Like golf, Bass fishing tournaments are common and becoming popular as tournament stakes are high. There are many manufacturers of bass fishing lures, companies such as Heddon, Rapala, and Bass Pro Shops offer anglers sponsorship into tournaments for the serious angler that can prove his or her level of professionalism.

These aggressive fish can be found in nearly any body of water throughout the United States. Both large and small-mouth bass are habitually warm water fish, and are likely to hide in cover in hopes of attacking their prey. Bass fishing lures come in many shapes, sizes and colors to help the angler mimic this prey.

Spinnerbaits are one of the most popular and adaptable bass fishing lures ever invented. These effective fishing lures can be fished fast or slow, in clear or murky water, at variety of depths.

Crankbaits are another commonly used bass fishing lure that come in all shapes and sizes covering a full spectrum of colors. Crankbaits are comparatively simple to fish and can be very efficient when used in the right situations. Diving depth is determined by the size of the lip or bill the longer the lip the deeper this bass fishing lure will dive.

Buzzbaits produce a splashing, sputtering, and gurgling commotion which bass find hard to resist. This deafening line of bass fishing lures when fished on the surface will often persuade bass to come out of deep cover.

Artificial worms and minnows are also common bass fishing lures and will produce great results when others may fail.

Trolling for bass another excellent technique that works best in large rivers or lakes that have long stretches of deep water with slow to moderate current. While trolling, bass fishing lures should remain in the water at all times. Try varying depths until desired results are achieved. Trolling is a relatively easier technique as compared to casting, and enables the amateur angler to cover more water thoroughly. Any of the bass fishing lures mentioned in this article can be trolled effectively.

Choosing the right bass fishing lure depends on many conditions. Color plays an important role of duplicating the baitfish in the particular body of water you are fishing. The size of the lure number of blades etc, are just many things to consider when choosing your lure. With spring just
around the corner, bass fishing is sure to be a sport enjoyed by many.

Dennis Driscoll lives in Northern Michigan and is the creator and a contributing author of several websites.
Fishing Lures and Imformation
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I never understood the appeal of fishing. My father would rise before the roosters, pack his gear and go out to sit idly on a rock, drink beer and coffee, trade stories with my Uncle Roosevelt and if he were lucky—come home with enough to feed the family. There were eleven of us and most times, he did just that.

My father had been an avid fisherman all of his life, so it came as no surprise when my siblings took up this activity. Still, I did not understand the joy of this hobby. But then a funny thing happened. While on vacation and going through a divorce, I was looking for a new hobby to occupy my time. I decided on fishing and I wouldn’t have to seek out a teacher because my brothers lived a few doors down from me.

That was 14 years ago and now I have become a more than capable angler. My favorite fishing spot is the California Delta, which offers a plethora of hard fighting whiskerfish. This 1100-mile region is a conjunction of three rivers—The Sacramento, San Joaquin and Mokelumne and numerous sloughs and lakes. There are a number of piers, levees, islands and crags that one can bank fish from and plenty of area for boat fishing. I know this area extensively and offer these five tips for bank fishing.

1. Get up early—preferably around three a.m. giving yourself room for last minute hold-ups—usually that sleepy headed buddy who isn’t ready when you arrive. The catfish bite is usually strongest around dawn and dusk. I also like night fishing.

2. Prepare your bait the night before, particularly stinkbait mixtures. Catfish rely on smell so if you fish with shrimp or grubs you might be wise to let it sit in the sun for several hours, then placing the bait in a jar for safekeeping. You can also soak shrimp in vanilla. But even if you buy pre-packaged bait, it is best to do so in advance. My choices of bait are clams, chicken liver, mackerel, nightcrawlers, blood worms and sometimes meal worms dipped in vanilla. (I’ll use the latter when I know that there are crappie and perch in the vicinity as well). Other fishermen suggest using whole kernel corn. Let it sit in the sun for a day or two, then add black pepper.

3. If you miss a catfish bite, be patient. These creatures are greedy. Theyw ill strike again, usually within seconds after the initial bite. They are also known to “hook themselves”. Once you snag one, be prepared for a tough and fun fight. Even the smaller ones are tenacious!

4. I tend to cast into the middle of the water, but when the bite slows, try fishing along shaded areas and amongst the tulles. Fish among the pilings and other debris if possible. In either case, be wary of getting hung up.

5. My five favorite sites: Hogback Slough (near Isleton), Frank’s Tract, Lindsey Slough (near Rio Vista), Eight mile slough (near Stockton) and Jersey Island.

Now all you have to do is prepare, be on the bank before the sun rises, cast out and relax.

Timothy N. Stelly is a writer for several e-zines and is the author of two novels, “The Malice of Cain” and “Tempest In The Stone”. He is an avid camper and fisherman.