Freshwater Fishing Basics
Fresh water fishing is fishing in
lakes, rivers and streams that have minute quantities of
dissolved salts. Freshwater sources are precipitation or
melting ice and snow. There are hundreds of fresh water
fish species, but the most popular are bass, catfish,
pickerel, pike sunfish, trout, salmon, muskellunge,
sturgeon and walleye.
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 wide variety of both live
and artificial baits that work well for fresh water
fishing.
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.
Bass
earthworms, insects, insect
larvae, frogs, minnows, crayfish, spoons, Mepps,
spinners, artificial worms, jigs, streamers and
spinners. 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.
Pickerel
earthworms, insects, insect
larvae, frogs, minnows, crayfish, spoons and Mepps,
spinners, artificial worms, jigs, spinners and
streamers. Pike
earthworms, frogs, minnows, shad,
all types of small fish species, crayfish, chub,
spinners, spoons and egg sacs. Sunfish
earthworms, bread balls, kernel
corn, insects and insect larvae, as well as small, shiny
lures. Trout
earthworms, flies, insects,
insect larvae, kernel corn, egg sacs, crayfish and
minnows.
Salmon
flies, spinners, spoons, egg
sacs, shrimp and large plugs. 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. Walleye
shad, frogs, real or artificial
minnows, worms, maggots, spinners, spoons, jigs, plugs
and small fish species.
If you wish to learn more about freshwater fishing, ask
an experienced angler to give you some tips. This can be
a family member, a friend, a fishing guide or instructor
or a staff member of your local bait and tackle shop.
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