Do you have the memory of your first fish catch in your head? It might have been during a particular trip with your grandfather or father, or it might have been with your friends at the cottage. Anyone can take up the hobby of fishing, and by following the advice this article gives you, you can be successful at fishing.

Never go out fishing without first checking the weather forecast. Taking a radio can be helpful as well, to make sure you aren’t caught off guard by a sudden change in weather.

TIP! You need to keep your hook sharp if you want to catch fish. The hook you’re using for fishing is there to make sure the fish stay on the line while reeling them in.

If you are new to fishing, the first fish you should try to catch is bass. This is because bass are more likely to take the bait and they are not too hard to pick up. Even advanced fishermen enjoy fishing for bass, as they can put up an exciting fight – making for a fun fishing experience.

Fishermen should carry a scale as part of their gear. You never know when you will catch that once in a lifetime trophy, so make sure you carry around a scale, particularly if you practice catch and release.

TIP! You should give fly fishing a try! Fly fishing is a great activity that has a unique style and is different than any other kind of fishing. If you’re interested in fly fishing, you’ll need very different equipment such as clothing, lures, and rods.

Each fish caught should not always be kept. As a common courtesy you should release smaller fish and any excessive fish you catch. If you will control how many fish you take out of a lake it can help ensure fish will be around for future seasons.

One of the best things you can do when fishing is to keep your attitude upbeat and positive. Fishing has the potential to be a source of great frustration, and negativity can spoil an outing quite easily. Don’t get down on yourself, if you haven’t gotten a bite in awhile.

TIP! If you want to know where the fish are when you’re out on the water, make sure you keep a keen eye on the birds. Birds can spot fish from far away up in the sky.

Quality Rod

A quality rod goes a long way towards improving your fishing experience. Lower quality rods lack the same level of testing and strength as higher quality ones. It is worth paying a bit more upfront for a quality rod you’ll have forever, rather than replacing cheap rod after cheap rod.

TIP! Natural live bait will catch the most fish. Typically, fish dine on the insects native to the body of water that they live in.

The interaction between the color of bait you choose and water color can determine whether or not the fish bite. You want something that will clash so the fish down there will see your bait. Use bright, easily seen colors in water that is murky. In clearer water, deeper and darker tones will blend in less and catch the fish’s attention.

The right weather can mean the difference between a miserable and a memorable fishing trip. Always check the weather forecast before going fishing. You should check the weather a week ahead of time to make plans and perhaps a day before you go fishing. Don’t be reluctant to reschedule your outing if the weather seems like it will be bad.

TIP! Make sure your hands are wet before reeling in your fish for the last catch. This helps prevent the fish scales from drying out.

When your big fish is on the hook, swimming like mad to escape, keep your calm. As the fish is swimming away, avoid reeling it in. Hang back and let your rod’s drag take care of the work for you. Set your pole’s drag once you have set the hook in your fish. Keep the fishing rod angled at about 45 degrees to the surface of the water, keeping it pointed towards your fish.

If a big fish turns around as you’re trying to bring it in, let it go. Your line will be too short to be able to let it out and back in again. Next time, you should wait longer prior to reeling in the fish.

TIP! Learn what the fishing laws of the location are that you will be fishing in. Regulations are varied and can apply to certain bodies of water, specific fish species and changing seasons.

Time and temperature are two important variables when it comes to fishing. When fishing bass, bigger bass are most likely to feed at dusk and dawn. However, it is important to find a time when the water reaches at least 50 degrees so that the fish will be ready to take the bait.

If you are going fishing only for the experience and do not intend to eat your catch, apply methods of catching and releasing. To do this, simply remove the hook from the fish, then toss the fish into the water. This will allow the fish population to grow larger, resulting in more fishing opportunities in the future.

TIP! You can easily get discouraged if you are fishing in areas with lots of weeds and plants around. Such areas, however, are often places where fish love to hang out.

Don’t get frustrated and give up if you don’t catch fish right away; stick with it. Fishing requires a lot of patience. Spend at least 30 minutes in any fishing area before you decide whether it is a good place to fish or not. There are tons of things that can affect where the fish are in the area; a lot of movement, time of day, and weather conditions all can have an effect.

Catching Fish

TIP! It is very important that you know what type of bait attracts the fish that you wish to catch. Catfish like to eat raw chicken livers while bream eat crickets or other insects.

The simplest way to catch more fish is to maximize the time your line spends in the water. When you constantly reel in and recast, not only are you scaring the fish, but you’re getting tangled up, losing your bait, and wasting time that could be spent actually catching fish. The only chance you have of catching fish is if you actually have a line out.

Don’t keep these tips to yourself! Unless you’re the competitive type, why not let your fellow fishermen in on this information? You can help your friend to become better fishermen as you surprise them with your knowledge on the subject. This is sure to bring the everyone closer together, as you are creating fun and wonderful memories.

TIP! Using a fish finder while on a boat can be a great asset when looking for fish in deeper water. Fish finders use sonar to locate small schools of fish.