you to go outside. Some of us think that there’s something soul-supporting about being outdoors, especially in those places that are inherently wild and unmarked by humans.
For the enjoyment
Take up fishing because you need some time spent quietly by yourself. Or take up fishing because you want to spend quality time with your family or friends. Two anglers fishing in a boat, or wading their way quietly upstream, won’t be distracted by scrolling news programs, honking cars, or instant messages. Cellphones can be turned off, and social media can be ignored for a while. Whether alone or in a small group, fishing quiets the mind.
This is not to suggest that all fishing is quiet! When a monster fish thrashes near the boat, or goes airborne trying to throw the hook, the adrenaline rush the angler feels rivals that of a linebacker after a crushing tackle or a tennis player after serving an ace. It’s a physical sensation. (See Chapter 18 to find out how to land that behemoth bass.)
What fishing provides me might be one thing. You too will find a way to make fishing work for you. If you crave excitement, fish in a way that offers it. If you seek peaceful, introspective time, fishing can give you that, as well. And no one will make you commit to one kind of fishing all the time. Your fishing can evolve as you do.
For the table
Our ancestors fished for food, and you can, too. Fish are great tasting and good for you, as well. Chapters 20 and 21 tell you how to prepare fish for the table, as I even offer you some proven recipes, allowing you to make wonderful meals of your fresh-caught fish.
Many people today care about where their food comes from, and we like the idea of eating locally grown food. Well, when it comes to sustainability, fishing is tough to beat. Fish are a renewable resource. Selective harvest will ensure that we all have plenty of high-quality food available forever, possibly from a source close to your home. As long as the water quality of your fishing spot remains good, a properly prepared fish can add a healthy option to your menu.
Where Should You Fish?
Chapter 3 discusses this issue in detail, but the best advice I can give you is to fish wherever you can. (Later, I also advise you to fish whenever you can.) Big fish come from both large and small waters. Beautiful places to fish can be found locally. Slip down into a streambed and you might be surprised at what you find. Many subdivision ponds are stocked, and some of them face very little fishing pressure. Saltwater inlets and tidal rivers attract wonderfully large (and tasty) fish at times, too.
Part of the joy and challenge of fishing lies in finding your favorite spots. Fish move seasonally, especially in rivers and oceans, so catching a particular species of fish all year long will often involve traveling to follow their migrations. (This also means that a new quarry might suddenly arrive!) You’ll also learn to go to different locales to catch different kinds of fish during certain times of the year.
Fishing freshwater
Not all freshwater fishing is the same, and almost every state offers a wide range of fishing possibilities. Michigan, for example, offers everything from small stream fishing for rainbow trout to Great Lakes fishing for king salmon. Even states far from giant bodies of water boast rivers of varying sizes and both natural and manmade lakes. Your gear, and your approach, will vary quite a bit from place to place, but this too is part of the fun of fishing.
Much freshwater fishing depends on current: You’re fishing in either moving or calm water. And there are a lot of fish — and a lot of techniques to fish for them — in both kinds of water. Wherever you live, you are close to good freshwater fishing. Chapter 3 will help you learn how to find it.
Fishing saltwater
Saltwater fishing possibilities might not always be local since we don’t all live near a coast. When you find saltwater, you find an almost limitless variety of fish. Many of the techniques used in freshwater carry over to saltwater; however, the game changes a bit when you’re dealing with the fast, strong fish of the oceans.
For this reason, saltwater fishing can be intimidating. But if you limit your initial forays into saltwater fishing to inshore waters — places like estuaries, beaches, bays, and marshes — you’ll find that even beginners can find plenty of exciting action.
What Are You Fishing For?
I once caught a flathead catfish that measured more than 49 inches long from a river that you can wade across in spots. This led my wife to remark, “Why did I ever dip my toes in there?!”
So what are you fishing for? Both salt- and freshwater bodies of water boast a vast range of species, many of which can be taken on rod and reel. Maybe you prefer to catch mostly bluegill and crappie, often taking a mess of fish home to fry. Or maybe you’ve found great sport by wading flats of big lakes, taking carp on a fly rod.
Common freshwater catches
Just as there are many different kinds of habitat for freshwater fish, there are many different kinds of fish populating those habitats. Trout require cooler water. Largemouth bass do well in everything from farm ponds to big reservoirs, and anglers pursue them wherever they swim.
Big rivers hide big fish like catfish, striped bass, and carp, as well as smallmouth bass and white bass. Natural and manmade lakes can be home to any kind of freshwater fish, including walleye, northern pike, and muskies. Bluegill and other panfish like crappies can be found everywhere, as well, from the largest river to retention ponds in subdivisions. Freshwater fish represent a diverse collection of gamefish, and each one of them brings something different to the angler.
For complete coverage of freshwater fish, turn to Chapter 4.
Common saltwater catches
The sky’s the limit, or in the case of saltwater fishing, the sea’s the limit. Even fishing inshore waters, anglers can catch everything from tarpon to flounder. Anglers fishing the northeast coast can expect flounder and cod to congregate in bays and river mouths. Striped bass and bluefish fall for lures from surfcasters, as will weakfish and seatrout.
Farther south, red drum (redfish), tarpon, and bonefish excite anglers as they cruise the shallow flats of bays. These fish can be taken on traditional gear or fly-fishing tackle. Snook fight like the saltwater version of the largemouth bass, and sharks cruise off many coasts. With saltwater fishing, you don’t really know what you’re going to catch next, which is part of its great allure.
For the lowdown
