2.  Choose the right bait. Striped Bass are opportunistic feeders who may be caught using a wide range of bait.

• Live bait such as herring, menhaden, mackerel, eels, squid, clams, anchovies, bloodworms, shad, nightcrawlers and sandworms all make great bait for striped bass fishing. You can find these baits at just about any local fishing bait and tackle shop.
• The type of bait that will bring you the most success will depend on the location you intend to fish in. If you're unfamiliar with the body of water you'll be fishing, consult with a local bait and tackle shop to find out what type of bait they recommend.
• You can also catch striped bass using a lure that resembles the forage base in the area where you'll be fishing. These lures can be made from plastic, wood, metal, resins or rubber.

3.  Choose your rod, reel and tackle. You should be able to catch striped bass with almost any rod and reel, provided it's heavier than a light spinning outfit.

• The type of rod you use will depend on type of fishing you intend to do. Will you be fishing in freshwater or saltwater? Will you be fishing on a boat? Or will you be fishing from the surf or on a jetty, bridge or pier? Will you be chunking bait, or using a lure? The answers to these questions will determine the correct weight, size and flexibility for your rod.
• The type of reel you use is arguably more important than the rod -- a saltwater spinning reel is a good option, as long as it's sturdy enough to pull in a 20 to 25 pound fish.
• In terms of line, you should be using a 10 to 20 pound test monofilament line (though some people prefer heavier lines for catching bigger fish). The hook should be nice and sharp and there should be a minimum of half an inch between the point and the shank, to avoid catching undersized bass.

4.  Look for optimal fishing conditions. Although striped bass can be caught all year round, in almost any condition, you can increase your chances of successful fishing if you understand the striper's behavior patterns.

• Striped bass are migratory fish who prefer water temperatures between 45 and 65 degrees F. Therefore, if the water temperature goes above or below this range, you are unlikely to find any striped bass, as they will have migrated to warmer or cooler waters.
• The temperature may also affect the location of the fish within the water. On a hot sunny day, the striped bass may dive to depths as low as 40 feet to avoid the heat and find more suitable temperature and oxygen levels. Whereas, on a cooler day, you might find them just a foot or two below the water's surface.
• Stripers are more prone to feeding when there is water movement due to changing tides or a strong breeze. This is due to the fact that water movement stirs up sediment, which attracts bait fish (who feed on the sediment). In turn, the feeding bait fish attract the stripers.
• Striped bass tend to feed most actively at dusk and dawn, where they can hunt smaller fish under the cover of darkness. Therefore, you may have a higher rate of success if you fish at these times.

Part 2 of 3: Live Eel Fishing

1.  Consider why you should use live eels. Fishing live eels is an exciting and effective ways of landing big striped bass up to and above the 40 pound mark. On Cape Cod Bay in particular, live eels account for many big striped bass each spring, summer and fall.

• Live eels can be used to fish for bass in deep water. They can help you to catch larger fish, as the biggest striper fish tend to lurk near the bottom.
• Live eels can be fished many different ways. One of the most popular and easiest methods is to fish live eels on light spinning setups.

2.  Make sure to store the eels under the right conditions. Place the eels in a cooler with a plastic ice block and a damp burlap sack.

• This keeps the eels moist and cool. The ice also has the advantage of slowing down the eel's metabolism, which makes them easier to handle.
• Don't submerge the eels in water, as they will deplete the oxygen levels and eventually drown.

3.  Locate the bass. When fishing from a boat, use your sonar to first locate an area where striped bass have congregated.

• When cruising at a higher speeds, striped bass will appear as small orange blotches on most sonar screens. It's easy to miss these marks so be sure to keep a keen eye on the sonar.
• Depending on the wind and tide, setup a drift that will bring the boat through the area in which striped bass have gathered.

4.  Hook the eels. Eels are slithering, squirming creatures, so they can be difficult to handle and hook.

• Use a burlap sack or even a cotton sock to hold the eel, as this will give you a better grip. Hold the eel around it's neck in order to hook it. Use circle hooks to avoid gut hooking bass.
• Hook the eel in one of two ways -- either pass the hook through the top of the eel's mouth and out one of its eyes, or place the hook as deeply into the eel's mouth as possible and pass it through the bottom of its throat.
• The former method hooks the eel more securely but runs the risk of accidentally killing it, which the latter method is less secure but keeps the eel alive for longer and makes the hook appear less obvious.

5.  Cast the eel out. When casting your eel out, go easily at first until you find the sweet spot -- you don't want to rip out the hook.

• Give the eel a few seconds to reach the bottom -- depending on the strength of the current and depth of the water -- before you start to slowly reel it in. You may need to add up to 1/2 ounce of weight in the form of a rubber core sinker if the tide and wind is particularly strong.
• Start reeling at a very slow rate of 3 to 5 seconds per revolution -- you want the eel to do most of the work for you.

6.  Reel in the striped bass. As soon as you feel the bass grab the eel, bow the fishing rod til it's parallel with the water.

• This will prevent the striper from feeling the tension in the eel and becoming spooked. Next, you can do one of two things:
• You can set the hook as soon as the line goes taut and reel the fish in immediately, or you can allow the fish to run for 5 to 10 seconds (keeping the line slack) before setting hook.
• The second option gives the fish more time to take the bait, but also increases the chances of hooking too deeply, which could damage a fish that you intend to release.

Part 3 of 3: Tube and Worm Trolling

1.  Know when to use the tube and worm technique. One of the easiest and most effective ways for new striper fishermen (and fisher-women!) to catch keeper-size striped bass is to learn how to troll the tube and worm.

• When trolled slowly, the colored tube imitates a large sandworm or a swimming eel -- two of the striped bass's favorite delicacies.
• This method works best when fishing in shallow, flat waters, with temperatures above 55 degrees F.

2.  Tip the tube's hook with a live sandworm or herring strip. This is very important, as tubes fished without bait rarely catch bass.

• The fresh bait helps to give the tube a inviting scent, which will encourage the striped bass to come closer and investigate.
• Never fish with old or spoiled bait -- the stripers will ignore it and you'll end up hooking a sand shark or skate instead.
• Consider adding a stinger hook to the tube to help prevent short strikes and lost bass

3.  Troll at the correct speed. A speed of 2–2.5 mph (3.2–4.0 km/h) is the most effective for trolling the tube.

• This mimics the natural swimming speed of an eel in the water, making the bait seem more realistic.
• It may feel very slow, but be patient -- catching a large striper bass is worth it!

4.  Keep the bait at the right level. Tube and worm trolling works best in water 3 to 7 feet in depth, though it's possible to fish as deep as 20 feet.

• Let the line out slowly, keeping it taut, until you feel the rig bouncing off the bottom. Reel the line in one or two turns, to keep the rig just above the bottom.
• The amount of colors of lead core trolled behind the boat can help you to determine the depth at which the tube and worm is being trolled. For example, if bass are holding at 15 feet, then 3 colors (5 feet/color) is used to reach the bass.
• Try to slowly weave the tube forward and back on opposite 45 degree angles -- this helps the movement of the bait to appear more natural.

5.  Set the drag at 9-10 pounds for the strike. Keep the boat moving forward in the initial moments after a strike in order to achieve a good hook set.

You listened to the bait shop guy and bought his equipment, so in return he offers a hot spot to try. After a couple of casts, you feel a strike and set the hook. The reel screams, and you're hooked up to a huge fish ... now what?

1.  Take It Easy - The first thing to do is relax. New anglers tend to panic when a fish is taking out line and reel furiously, which puts a twist in the line for each time they crank it if they are using a spinning rod. Let the drag and rod do the work. Before the fight, you should have set your drag — using a hand scale — at around 25 percent of the line’s breaking strength, so if you are using 12-pound test, you should be using about 4 pounds of drag. Unless you have hooked Moby Dick, this should slow the fish down. If it looks like it’s not stopping, pull up the anchor and idle after the fish. But don’t apply more drag, just make sure to keep the rod at about a 45-degree angle to the water, and point it in the direction to where the line enters the water.

2.  Steady As She Goes - When the fish slows down and stops taking more line, it’s time to go to work. The best technique for the catch is to gently pull the rod up and then reel down as you lower it, using a pumping motion. Do it in small, smooth strokes rather than large abrupt sweeps because it will help keep both the line tight and the fish much calmer. If the fish runs again, let it go and you will probably notice that this run is shorter. That’s a good sign — it means you are wearing the fish down. While you don’t want to horse a fish, you don’t want to let it rest during the fight either, so when the reel isn’t singing, you should be trying to regain line ... even if it is only a few inches at a time.


3.  Close The Deal - When the fish gets close, this is a critical time in the fight because often it will panic when it sees the boat. If the fish is directly below the boat, make sure you don’t hold the rod too high, or it can break. If the fish suddenly goes under the boat, jam the rod tip straight down in the water so it won’t snag the bottom of the boat or foul on the engine’s lower unit. If you need a little extra pressure when pumping the fish, use the palm of your hand on the spool, but be ready to take it off if the fish runs. When a really big fish gets close to the boat, use side pressure to try to turn the fish’s head by smoothly pulling the rod toward the fish’s tail. This often causes the fish to give up the fight, which makes the next part easier.


4.  Catch And Release - Use a net to land the fish. If you are releasing the fish, make sure the net is wet, so it will be less abrasive to the fish’s protective slime. If you have a helper, place them between you and the fish and lead the fish toward the net by walking backwards when you can’t reel any more. Never try to sweep the net at the fish from behind, always net toward the fish’s head, because it can’t swim backwards. If you are keeping the fish for dinner, get it on ice. If you are releasing it, take a picture and get it back in the water, taking time to resuscitate it by grabbing it by the tail and moving it back and forth in the water until it swims off. Like the back of the shampoo bottle reads under its instructions: “Repeat.”

Catching large mouth bass ain't easy for some. A stroke of luck isn't always enough to land a large bass in your hand! It's important to consider technique and other factors when fishing, so read this article to learn more.

Steps

1.  Decide when to fish. Largemouth bass spawn in the early spring, so they'll be much more aggressive and easier to catch then. You'll also have more success fishing in the early morning - start about an hour before sunrise - and the late afternoon, about an hour before sunset. 

2. Check the weather. The best temperatures to fish for bass are between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Bass are best caught in gentle rain as well as on sunny or slightly cloudy days. 

3.  Find a place to fish. Largemouth bass can best be caught in lakes and ponds. Especially on warm and sunny days, they tend to seek shelter near underwater vegetation such as weeds, lily pads, and fallen trees/shrubs. 

4.  Choose your bait. Use live minnows, nightcrawlers, or crawfish if you want to fish with live bait. Otherwise, use a shad, grub, or worm lure between 5 and 8 inches long.

5.  Cast, and reel. Cast near underwater rocks or weeds where bass are likely to be lurking. Reel the line in at a moderately fast rate of about 2 revolutions per second 

6.  On the Bass's third "nibble", set the hook. For this, use your wrist to jerk the rod hard in an upward motion. Largemouth bass have strong jaws and a powerful bite, so don't be afraid to use a more forceful hook set. 

7.  Enjoy your catch! With these instructions, you should be able to catch a Largemouth between 14 and 18 inches long. Good luck! 

Are you an inexperienced parent trying to bring your child for a fun day at the lake? Follow these simple steps for a nice catch.

Steps









1.  Be aware that there are two major types of sunfish in New Jersey. These are the Green and Spotted sunfish.

• The Spotted sunfish are the smaller variety and are very aggressive. They can bite lures for bass. They also put up a great splashing fight for their size. You can distinguish them by their bright almost tropical coloring. They have an aqua, orange spotted carapace around the eye to their top fins, but can extend to the tail. The bottom is golden and shiny. The eyes are the most distinguishing factor, they are bright scarlet. The scale coloring is more pronounced on the smaller fish, but you should be able to notice it on the large 6 inch fish too. Like all sunfish they have spike dorsal fins, so be careful.
• Green sunfish are the bigger species. The initial author's biggest catch was a seven inch fish, which is as big as some catfish. They put up a fair fight, using their weight to dive down when hooked. They have a dark green top that blends into yellow at the bottom. They have dark green stripes going down its sides.

2.   Catch a sunfish. Sunfish are notorious for eating anything and everything as aggressively as possible for their rather small mouths. Use bait to catch sunfish, such as brown roostertail bait. Sunfish, like people will bite on meats and starch.

• Other successful baits include cheese, hotdog, smoked salmon, worms, and beef jerky.
• Smelly and meaty is the best for baits. Smoked salmon is good because of the fishy smell which is used to catch catfish, but it's pricey and falls off the hook a lot.
• Slim Jims and mealworms are recommended though earthworms (also called nightcrawlers) are good too. Slim Jims are cheap and contain a spicy juice that will attract Sunfish and catfish. You can buy earthworms 2$ for 20 or 50 “super” (type of older mealworms that are much larger) mealworms for 6$. Mealworms are recommended because, even though they are nasty little crawlers, they are natural food for catfish, bass, and sunnies. They do not smell much, so combining mealworms and Slim Jims works very well.

3.  Use a very small hook. To catch sunnies, cast out as far as you can with a bobber that’s set about 2 feet above the hook, though you can vary it on the depth of the fishing area. Use two small splitshot sinkers set an inch apart in between bobber and hook. (Small weights that can be pressed into the lines.) They make the line sit straighter and farther down, and will help you cast considerably farther especially on windy days.

4.  Wait after you cast about five minutes. If the line doesn’t tug or the bobber move by then, reel in about a foot and repeat the process. If there are no bites where you cast and you use a bait mentioned above, then there are probably no hungry fish in the area, so cast in a different place.

• When they bite, you will see ripples and the bobber might go under then up over the water with a loud plop. Don’t move your rod. This is difficult and infuriating but the fish is probably just nibbling and smelling the bait.
• When they bite, the bobber will go under and to the side. Jerk your rod up lightly in the opposite direction of the bobber to set the hook. If the bobber moves to one side but not down then the Sunny hasn’t bit the hook.

5.  It’s tricky to know when or if to set the hook. Just feel the rod and do your best. Sunfish are fun to catch and numerous in numbers so good luck catching the feisty 

You fish to find something in yourself that is lost in modern society with its specialization of labor. For the serious fisherman, tired of fishless days, fishing becomes a passion and eventually a practical pursuit.

Steps

1.  Determine what your goals are. Your goals could be to have fun, get some exercise, explore new places, to test your fishing skill, as a profession or to catch fish. 

2.  Make a plan based on what your goals are. If your goal is to catch fish, decide whether it will be catch and release or for consumption.

3.   Read about the fish you are targeting in general and locally. Sports Afield and Field and Stream are great magazines to read for entertainment and to learn. Read your local fishing magazine, watch your local fishing show on TV and ask the clerk at the fishing store for advice. Find out which fish are in season and also notice when fishermen congregating at a certain fishing spot

5.   In general, to catch fish, even small fish, you have to either get to a secluded spot in the country, have access to a watercraft or walk a distance in from the parking area.

6.  Use natural bait. Although expert fly fishermen catch many trout with flies and many bass fisherman catch many largemouth bass with worms or spinnerbaits, using natural bait will require less skill.

• If you are unsure of what to use, worms, minnows, and leeches are all good bets.

7.  Use artificial bait when it is the most productive way to catch the fish you are after. If the fish are not biting with the artificial baits, try putting a strip of natural bait on your artificial.

8.   When fishing for fish bigger than pan size, be prepared to haul the fish in with no finesse. Many times, the most productive places to find these big fishes are places where your line can break or get tangled.

9.  Set the hook quicker with artificial lures than with natural bait. With plastic worms your hook setting will be a bit delayed compared to using a topwater wood or resin plug.

10.   With natural bait, pause before setting the hook. Think of some method, when using natural bait so you do not set the hook too quickly or too hard. All this is if you are after small to medium sized fishes.

• When using a reel, instead of lifting the rod to set the hook, turn the reel handle quickly. Turning the handle quickly is slower than yanking the rod back (and have your rig shoot out of the water at you).

11.  Be sure to have a good high quality rod and a variety of lures and hooks.With spinning gear, carry an extra spool with a heavier line. Once in a blue moon, you will see a very big fish, when going for panfish, that will be close to impossible to catch with your ultralight tackle. With your extra spool with some heavy line, and a big rig or two,you could catch that lunker as a bonus. When catching a monster fish with heavy line, but on a light pole, do not fight the fish by pumping the rod in the usual way. Pump the rod, by keeping the rod angle fixed, and move your arms ie do not break your rod.

12.  Be patient because most fish will not bite at the moment you put the hook in the water.

• Conversely, be prepared to set the hook immediately after casting your lure, predator fish might track the flight of your lure, in the air, and viciously attack it when it hits the water.

13.  Bass tend to usually bite more at sunset and sunrise than during the day.

Want to know the simple steps needed to catch a whole lot of bullhead catfish? Want to know how to enjoy a day at the lake and maybe catch a lunker? Follow these simple steps to success.

1.  Tie a hook on to the end of your line using a regular clinch knot, multiple lines are an option though bullheads usually don't travel in schools. If you don't know the depth of your fishing area multiple hooks at different lengths are an option. Size 2 hooks are good for bullhead and you won't catch a sunny usually. If you do catch a sunfish, or any other fish, you can cut it into chunks.


2.  Put a split shot sinker on the line. Do not put too much weight as the fish might spit it out when it feels the pressure. Another option is a leader tied to a swivel with sliding weights set above the swivel


3.  Put the bobber a few feet above the hook usually. Catfish are bottom feeders and it pays to remember so.


4.  Bait the hook with something smelly! Stink baits are good along with homemade dough bait. Also corn and worms work well. The thing to remember is that Catfish can't see well but have a better smell then bloodhounds. Smelly and meaty are good. Pieces of fish work too. Using minnows and frogs from the area works very well too as the fish have likely encountered that food source before and remember its scent.


5.  Cast out according to the season. In spring Catfish are shallow, in summer deep, in fall anywhere really. Wait for a bite then jerk the rod. If the baits smell is enticing to the catfish, they will come to it so just wait patiently. 


6.  Good Luck!


Tips

• You might catch bluegill with small hooks keep them and you have good cut bait for catfish.
• Use heavy line 4-10 pounds even though bullhead only get 3 pounds heavier line for heavier cover
• Catfish are not everywhere so make sure there's catfish in the lake or pond when fishing.

Warnings

• Bullhead Catfish have sharp barbed spikes on their dorsal and pectoral fins. Also sometimes the catfish will swallow hooks and they will bite your fingers when you try to take it out. It won't hurt due to lack of teeth but will scare some little kids.

Blackfish are popular among anglers in the region from Nova Scotia to South Carolina and are most plentiful along the Cape Cod to Chesapeake Bay area. Also known by its Native American name Tautog, the blackfish can be found near the shoreline as well as deeper waters, depending on the time of year. Blackfish tend to congregate along the bottom in areas that are rocky and their favorite spots include piers, bridge pilings, wrecks and mussel beds. The fish have a set of teeth resembling molars located in the back of their mouths that help them to crush shellfish and crabs. Blackfish can be difficult to catch and require some skill in setting the hook and reeling them in without getting your line tangled up in rocks.

Steps

1.  Know that blackfish tend to stay closer to the shoreline during the warmer months. When the weather cools during autumn, blackfish will move out into deeper waters in the ocean and stay there during the winter.

2.   Realize that blackfish tend to prefer familiar territory and a structured environment. Blackfish will gather and stay in a particular area and not travel too far when looking for food.

3.   Consider that fishing for blackfish requires some skill and knowledge of the area waters where you will be casting your line. If a popular area has a reputation for an abundance of blackfish, after a time it may be fished out and you will need to find a new fishing spot.

5.  Catch blackfish using bait such as fiddler crabs, green crabs, clams or shrimp. Rig your line with a sinker, the weight of which should be in the range of 2 to 4 oz. (56 to 113 g) for inshore fishing or up to 8 to 12 oz. (226 to 340 g) when fishing offshore where the waters are deep.

• Use a strong fishing rod and a 40 lb. (18 kg) test fishing line in addition to a heavier weight leader, 60 lb. to 100 lb. (27 kg to 45 kg), to protect the line from becoming frayed once you hook a blackfish. Consider that you will be putting your line down among sharp rocks, jetties, piers and bridge abutments.

6.   Let your baited line lie quietly on the ocean floor to attract the blackfish. Do not move or bounce the line. Let the blackfish take the bait and swallow it before you set the hook or you will risk losing the fish.

• Reel in your blackfish quickly once it is securely on the hook. Bring the blackfish up before it attempts to swim into the rocks and tangles up your fishing line.

7.  Cook with blackfish to make fish stews and chowders. Blackfish has a lean, white flesh with a mild taste and can also be broiled, saut�ed or baked as well as poached or smoked.

• Enjoy your blackfish in a variety of recipes. Blackfish can also be frozen and later thawed for cooking.

This will guarantee you a snipe. Works well anywhere especially in crowded public places.

1.  Have some bait. That is always a requirement. A chocolate bar will do.

2.  Make a trap. One of those "Official Wilderness Explorer Snipe Traps" will work. After you make the trap, put the chocolate bar in the middle of the trap.

• Don't let the name fool you. It not only catches snipes but human and any other organism that happens to set of the trigger. It will trap you as well. If you are uncoordinated, we suggest you not go near this trap unsupervised.

3.  Know what to do if a snipe can't smell. Then dang nabbit, you have to let him hear you. Snipes are a bit like dogs, so walk around in circles and clap loudly yelling at the top of you lungs "HERE SNIPEY SNIPEY!!!!"

4.  Do this until the snipe comes. You cannot stop or the snipe will go away!

5.  Know that following all these steps correctly will, most likely, attract a snipe. It will also attract you a lot of publicity, so that is a two for one deal right there.


Tips

• While calling the snipe, it may be helpful to do a little dance. They really like tribal dances and jigs of all sort. You just have to get it and they will come.

Catfish are freshwater fish that thrive in ponds, lakes and rivers in temperate climates. To be good at catching catfish, you need to know what they like to eat, where they dwell, and which techniques entice them to take the bait. Read on for catfish-catching tips that will ensure you won't leave the boat with an empty cooler.


Method 1 of 3: Choosing Gear and Bait 

1.  Buy a fishing rod and line. The size of the rod you buy should be determined by the size of the fish available to catch in your region.

• For fish under 20 pounds, use a six-foot rod with at least a 10-pound test line.
• For fish over 20 pounds, use a seven-foot rod with at least a 20-pound test line.
  • Longer rods are better for fishing from banks, as opposed to a boat, since they offer greater reach.

2.   Buy fishhooks, bobbers, and other gear. Most sporting good stores sell starter tackle boxes that include a range of supplies to get you started. When it comes down to it, all you really need are sharp fishhooks, but some of the other accessories are nice to have.

• Glow-in-the-dark bobbers can come in handy when you're fishing at night.
• Other types of bobbers can be helpful when you're fishing on a still pond.
• You'll also need buckets and coolers to hold your bait and any catfish you'll be bringing home.

4.   Choose a bait size that matches the size of the fish you want to catch. If you know you stand the chance of catching a 50-pound fish, you're going to need a large piece of bait. Smaller bait like nightcrawlers will get stolen off the hook.

2.  Go early in the morning. Catfish are more active very early in the morning, so plan to start your fishing expedition before sunrise, or even earlier. They tend to feed during these hours.

• Fishing at night can also yield a large catch. If you like to stay up all night on the water, try fishing starting around one or two in the morning.
• You might find some catfish later in the day if it's overcast or raining, but if there's full sun, the fish are likely to be less active.

3.   Look for spots with cover. Catfish like to dwell in places where a current meets a still area, so they can rest without fighting the current. "Covered" areas can be found where the current hits a large log or rock, usually near the bank of a river. Other resting places might be found near dams or other man-made structures in the water.

• In smaller rivers and streams, look for eddies created by rocks and fallen logs toward the middle of the water.
• If you're fishing in a pond or reservoir, look for areas near feeder creeks, very deep spots, and fallen logs and boulders.

4.   Take your position. Once you've chosen the spot where you want to start fishing, drop your anchor, set up your equipment, cast your line and wait for a bite.

Method 3 of 3: Bringing in a Fish

1.  Reel it in. When a catfish bites, let the line go a bit slack and then start reeling it in, quickly. Read How to Reel in a Large Fish to learn proper reeling techniques.