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How to Catch the Big Fish
For many people, taking up a hobby like fishing can be a relaxing way to spend a summer’s day on a weekend. For others, however, fishing isn’t just a hobby – it’s a serious sport. The select few who really take their fishing seriously usually have a common question: how do I catch the big fish? If you want to stop catching minnows and start catching muskies, this article will be a great guide.
1. Go where the big fish are.
Seem obvious? Okay, let’s try an experiment. Write down five local lakes you know that have fish that grow longer than a foot, nose to tail. Can you do it? If not, you’re going to have to do some research, ask around, and find out what you can do to start fishing where the big fish are waiting to be caught.
Many times, an ordinary Google search isn’t enough. Try asking some other fishermen at a local bait shop or fishers you come across on a lake. Many times, the die-hard fishers will be able to not only tell you where the big fish are, but when to fish for them and how to catch them.2. Know your target.
Common “big” fish caught around the United States include Muskellunge (muskie), Northern Pike, types of bass, and even catfish. If you’re going to catch the big fish, you’re going to have to know their habits – what they eat, where they eat, and what they’re often attracted to. You can’t expect to go out to a big lake, throw a worm on a hook, and catch a picture-worthy fish.
Instead, read up on your target and learn about their behaviors. Consult some fishing magazines or even an online source like Wikipedia. After about a week’s worth of easy reading, you’ll feel that you know your fish inside and out. The more experience you get, the more you’ll be able to search for a wider variety of big fish.
3. Match the bait with the fish.
You have to customize your strategy around the type of fish you’re going for, otherwise you can’t predict the kind of results you might get. In doing your research on your big fish of choice, make special note of the kind of bait and tackle that typically attracts your fish. If you know when the fish are most active and can drop some enticing bait into the water, you stand a good chance of finally catching that big fish.
Fishing is great, especially when you chase after challenges that a beginner wouldn’t necessarily try. The more you expand your awareness of local fish, the better you’ll get.
Photo Credits: Eldar
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Five Distinct Fishing Techniques
If you’ve ever taken your child out swimming and haven’t been sure about what kind of techniques to teach, don’t worry: you’re not alone. Many of us who would like to consider ourselves fun-loving and adventurous are willing to go out on a fishing trip, but how often do we really know what to do to actually catch the fish? In this article, we’ll take a look at five distinct fishing techniques that you can employ to actually look like a professional.
Doodling
Doodling is essentially a fishing technique that relies on using the worm as your chief type of bait. This will probably work better on the smaller fish that congregate toward this type of food, so keep that in mind. Doodling will entail using your worm by shaking your rod after dipping it in the water, then waiting a good half a minute for fish to approach your hook. After that, you can give your rod another shake and try to draw it around a bit.
Night Fishing
Night fishing usually emphasizes hunting the bass that tend to be interested in what you have during this time of the day. If you’re going to be night fishing, you have to make sure that you have all of the proper equipment and know all of the local ordinances involved.
Casting
When you’re fishing, casting is one of the most fundamental techniques you use in order to get your hook into deeper waters, plunging your hook into an undisturbed area of the lake or stream you’re fishing in. Overhand, underhand, and sidearm casts are different ways you can try to cast with greater efficiency – just make sure to stick with one technique to really get it down pat.
“Playing the Fish”
Playing the fish is a term that refers to what you do with a fish once it appears you’ve actually lured it into a bite. This will typically entail a quick jerk to “set the hook” into the fish’s flesh, followed by setting the “drag” on your rod to prevent the line breaking.
Flipping/Pitching
The “pitch” is a type of cast that causes very little disturbance to the water – instead of flicking your rod in order to send the hook out deeper into the lake or stream, you simply let the button loose and drop the line manually into the water, giving you a more stealthy way to pursue your fish.
These are just five things to keep in mind when you’re out fishing – remember that any one technique will take a bit of practice before you get it down to an art, particularly if you’re a beginning. The more you learn and the more experience you gain, however, the better you’ll understand which technique to employ and why.
Photo Credits: nugun
