subject: Fishing - Some Simple Ideas [print this page] Most people who say they do not enjoy fishing have never really tried it. A day in a boat or on the shore casting a reel can be one of the best ways to spend a summer afternoon. If you have enthusiasm for fishing and are interested in learning new ways to get better at it, keep reading for great advice!
Remove the fish hook carefully. If you intend to release the fish back into the water, remove the hook very carefully. Don't pull at it, instead gently back it out of the fish. This will inflict as little trauma on the fish as possible. You can but a special tool for removing the hook, but in most cases, needle nosed pliers are extremely effective.
If you feel that you have caught a fish, do not jerk your line. Any jerking motion can be the difference between catching your fish and letting it off the hook. Always try to guide your fish slowly back to your boat by making slow rotations of your fishing line.
Saltwater fish tend to be a lot sharper when it comes to the scent of your bait. For that reason, it is usually advisable to fish with fresh live or fresh dead bait, when fishing in salt water. This is more likely to attract fish from a distance than artificial lures with more subtle or less natural scents.
When you go on a fishing trip, you should prepare your equipment carefully. You will need your fishing gear as well as protective clothing. Do not forget to take a cooler to keep the fishes you caught and any kind of safety equipment. Take a map of the area as well as a cell phone.
Know the depth of water the species you seek prefers. Your bait should be properly weighted so that it is at the proper depth. The fish must see the bait in order to be attracted to it. Putting it at their level is critical to catching the fish you desire.
Learn to tie the right type of knot to secure your hook or lure to your fishing line. An improved clinch knot involves inserting the fishing line into the end of the hook or lure, then making 5 turns around the fishing line and passing the line back through the eye of the hook or lure and the first coil of the wound line.
Caution should be exercised when drinking while fishing! While many people feel that fishing is the perfect sport for a beer or other alcoholic beverages, care must be taken, especially when fishing from a boat. Additionally, alcohol is a quick route to stupid, but serious mistakes, such as a hook in someone's eye, or the loss of the day's catch.
To catch the big fish lurking in the milfoil, use a lure that works around it instead of through it. Lures that snag milfoil will be less palatable to fish. Instead of using a sinker, go with a lighter, floating lure that you can skim along the top of the weeds to lure fish out.
Clean up all your mess when you are done fishing. Do not leave wads of fishing line laying around for animals to get tangled in or swallow. Pick up all old hooks and throw away any gear that breaks and do not leave it when you leave. Of course, always pick up any trash when you are done.
To catch more fish, try chumming. Chumming is a technique where you throw "chum" into the water area you are fishing to attract fish. Chum can be ground up fish bait, canned sweet corn or even, believe it or not, breakfast cereal. Never use too much chum, you don't want fish getting completely filled up before they approach your hook.
Attain a good fish finder, if you are fishing from a boat. It is an essential piece of equipment. This will allow you to see what the bottom of the water looks like so that you can see which areas are more likely to contain fish. They may also allow you to locate bait fish that are suspended between the bottom and the surface.
Hopefully you have discovered some useful ways to improve your ability or enjoyment of fishing with the information in this article. Even if you are not too good at it, fishing can be such a pleasurable activity and when you do find ways to improve your ability, it becomes even more enjoyable. Put these tips to good use on your next fishing venture for an even greater time.