Hooked on Fishing

Fishing is an awesome sport. It is also a very good way to pass time on long summer days. You can fish in just about any body of water. If you fish in the ocean it is called deep-sea fishing. You would be fishing for very large salt-water fish.

Now if you are like me and would rather stay on land and just plain ol’ fish on a warm summer day, then you would go to a lake, stream, or creek. This type of fishing is called fresh-water fishing. You can fish for all types of fish in fresh water such as bass, catfish, trout, or even salmon.

The very first thing you need to decide is where and when you would like to go. You can fish at any time of year and at any time of day. Most fishermen like to fish in the spring and fall because the fish are moving around more. They also like to go in the mornings between six and ten or in the evenings from four to six.

The second thing you really should think about is what kind of bait you will use. You could use shiny spinners or brightly colored lures, or you could use live bait like worms, grubs, maggots, crickets, or caterpillars. Since I like plain ol’ fishing the best, I like to use big, fat earthworms. You can find worms any place there is dirt. All you need to do is take a small bucket and get as many worms as you like.

The third thing you should decide is where to go. Make sure it is okay to fish in the lake or creek before you begin. Check to see if you need a fishing license to fish in your state. In some states you have to get a specific license for either freshwater, saltwater, or both.

Now you are prepared. You have your pole, bait and a place to fish, so let’s get started.

Take your time and find a nice quiet spot. Fish can hear noises and feel vibrations. If it is too noisy, you may not have a lot of luck catching a fish. Look for some brush or a log in the water, these are very good places to fish because the fish like to hide themselves in these well camouflaged areas.

When you have the perfect spot, it is time to bait your hook. You should have a bobber on your line. That will help you to know when a fish is nibbling. Once the worm is securely on the hook, cast your line into the water.

To cast the line, hold the button in on the reel, pull your arm back, then swing it forward with a snap of the wrist while releasing the button.

Now your line is in the water. It’s time to sit back and wait for the fish to come to you. Watch your bobber.

If a fish decides to take the bait, your bobber will start to bounce up and down in the water and you may feel a slight tug on your pole. Lift up on your pole to “set” the hook into the fish’s mouth. Slowly start to reel it in – not too slow and not too fast – so the fish doesn’t have a chance to swim away with your bait.

After you have caught your fish, hold it under the water to remove the hook. There is a special tool you can buy that helps to remove hooks. Ask someone at your local fishing store to show you how to use it. While keeping it in the water so it can breathe, try to identify what kind of fish you have caught. Make sure you know how big it is. People love to hear about the huge fish you caught. Now you can let it go on its merry way. Never take the fish out of the water and leave it on the bank. If you plan to take it home to cook, you need to keep it in a bucket of water until you get home so it will stay fresh.

Keep casting your line and retrying your luck. When you have finished your fishing adventure, make sure to clean up any of the things you have dropped. If you had to put new line in your reel, be sure to not leave the old line on the ground – this could be very dangerous to animals. Never leave any kind of trace that you were even there. This is good for nature, and for other fishermen that may want to use the same spot.

When you leave, be courteous to the other people that may be there. They are trying their luck, and need the quiet just as you did.

Fishing can be a very relaxing way to spend your day. It is quiet and gives you time

to think many things, including how big that biggest fish you caught really was.