Tips And Tricks Of Fishing

[offtrail]

I'm hoping others will pitch in and give advice on catching fish for food. First off how many different ways can you catch a fish or fishes?
Fishing pole, flyrod, hand line, bank line, float line, net, gig, fish trap, poison and concussion.
What are the best times to go fishing?
Dusk, dawn, night time, just before and as a storm is going through, cloudy days and changing of the seasons.
Best places to catch fish.
Shady spots, log jams, fishing docks, bridges, rocks & rock piles, undercut banks, shoreline, drop offs, weed beds, points and currents...fast water borders calm water...also fish move to the shallows to feed, this includes ripples.
What about bait or lures, whats the best live bait and artificial lures to use?
Live bait... includes...minnows, crayfish, red worms or dug worm, night crawlers, Crickets, grasshoppers, cut baits, just about anything that wiggles, buzzes, stinks or kicks it's little legs will work.
Artificial bait...Plastic worms, grubs, crayfish, twister tails, swim baits, plugs, poppers, stink baits, Jigs, spinner baits, inline spinners, buzz baits and flies of all kinds.
Terminal tackle...hooks, sinkers, floats, Snap swivels, swivels or barrel swivels, steel leaders, spreaders and fishing line.
Attaching line to reel...most people don't have a clue when it comes to changing line. Sooner or later that old fishing line will need replaced...but do you know how? You can't simply tie the new line on and think it's going to spool up. Without the special knot your line will simply slide around the spool. Some people use the arbor knot,others like myself use the slip knot. Just make a loop at the end of the line, then use your fingers and reach through the loop and grab the main line and pull it through the loop...slip knot. This knot will grip the spool allowing you to crank new line from the filler spool to your reel.
Knots...A good strong knot is the only connection you have to that fish, tie a crappy knot and you will lose your catch. I mostly use the palomar knot because it's easy to tie and very strong. if tried correctly the line will break before the knot will...the end...not yet lol

[USCGME2]

Line, hooks, and weight. I'm a fan of braided line because I can carry more without bulk and stronger for much lighter diameter. Hooks of several types and sizes. Hooks are light, hard to effectively fabricate, and take up little space. Weights of various sizes help too. You don't necessarily need large ones but, a couple dozen split shot do help. The rest you can usually fabricate or scavenge (pole and bait). I like limb lines since the tree limb acts as a pole and flexes if a biggn cat or turtle should bite. The size of fish even small creeks hold would surprise most folks. Limb lines and trot lines do the work for you. Let's you concentrate on other matters. All that said, I do carry some trick worms and 4" twin tail skirted grubs (watermelon red flake) off set #2 hooks and couple cone weights because I can work these with an improvised cane pole set up and hook a bass.

Oh yeah, my BOB also has a small frog/fish gig too. Suckers eat good!

As far as where, in MO creeks I prefer head of pools below riffles and any structure on the shaded bank. Same for ponds, shade is where I do best. If it's spring and the spawn was on, I look to find nesting areas on the flats.

[cajunlady87]

Y'all have a lot covered. The only thing I can think of adding for now is using yellow light sticks broken open and scattered over the water to attract fish.