subject: How to Fish for Crappie [print this page] How to Fish for Crappie How to Fish for Crappie
As an avid outdoor enthusiast, I have discovered that fishing is the most enjoyable hobby or recreation that I could find. I enjoy nature and I relish the struggle of man against fish. Fish are not as dumb as most people think. It may be true, but I have discovered that these dumb fish can be as picky as your children when it comes to what and when they eat.
Know your target fish species. Knowing how your target fish behaves is more important than what kind of fishing gear you are using. When I was growing up, I was fishing with a $15 rod and reel combo and I can not begin to remember you how many times we had fish for dinner or breakfast because of what I caught on that pole. I would secure the fishing pole to my bike, throw a few hooks and weight into my pockets and head on down to the river. Knowing the target fish that I was trying to catch was the key to my success or failure. With this information I would decide if I needed to use an artificial lure or bring along an old butter dish and stop to catch grass hoppers for bait.
Know your fishing gear. I tole you that knowing your target fish species is more important than what kind of fishing gear you use, you still need to know the fishing gear that is suitable for the species of fish that your are targeting. Although there are times you might get lucky, you will probably have no luck using squid for bait when you are trying to catch crappie. Likewise, you probably do not want to attempt trout fishing with a halibut pole.
Know the body of water your are fishing. You will find many species of fish inhabit various bodies of water all across the country but their habits are usually close to the same from lake to lake and river to river. This is the reason you see one team on the Bass Masters tour dominating tournaments lake after lake and river after river. The habits of a specific species will not vary much from one body of water to another. Learn where they like to hide and you can probably find a spot just like that on another body of water.
Where do you learn to fish? There are many palces to learn how to fish, I was fortunate enough to have a father that taught me what he new and that was just enough to get me started. Now when I want to learn about a specific fish species I buy books, videos and online ebooks and study them all. Once that is done it is time to bait up and test that new found knowledge. Another option is to hire a guide to take you out and show you the ropes.
