Fishing Secrets

If the lake you are at offers this, try fishing behind the waterfalls. They collect food naturally behind them, and this tends to attract small minnows and game fish. Live bait is generally better than lures in these situations. Just be certain to keep the bait there long enough to give fish a chance.

Here are just a few tips for catching smallmouth bass.

• An effective bait for smallmouth bass are plastic worms or flies.

• They are less aware when they are feeding or think they will be feeding.

• Smallmouth bass will be usually found on rocky structures with and without light weed lines.

• The bass has and exceptional sense of sight, smell, and hearing.

• The smallmouth. like most fish, is light-shy.

• Smallmouth bass are schooling fish by nature, so you are likely to catch several bass in the same locations. Actually anytime I catch a fish I hit that area until I’m sure it is tapped out.

One of the most effective and most popular methods of catching a small mouth is to work over the top of weed beds. Some fishermen prefer jigs, while others choose live bait.

Smallmouth’s are active in cold waters so definitely fish for them in the spring or fall. Start searching for them when the water temperature is in the mid-40s.

When the temperature begins to reach mid-50s, they will generally start to move on to cooler or deeper holes so change your technique. A plastic worm will be a good strategy with this because even the most slow-moving bass will respond when you drag one slowly in its nose.

I have more success catching largemouths in the summer but you just never know.

How to Catch Crappie

If you have never fished for crappie, you might want to consider giving it a try. These fish are not only fun to catch; they taste great!

Crappie tend to move around a lot during the spring. When fishing for them in the spring, move around with them Hit different spots and, if you catch one, stay at that spot as there most likely.

You can find crappie in almost any water, they’re willing to strike simple lures, such as jigs and minnows. They begin to move to deeper waters when the water gets warmer. In any lake, the bigger crappie are always going to be in the muddy water.

Although minnows work best, if you’re going to be using artificial baits, use Pinkies, streamers, spinners, small spoons, twisters, poppers, or high-riding hair flies. I have used worms with some success and even caught a couple using brats. Don’t be afraid to try different baits. I mean c’mon, if you don’t catch a crappie you may catch another fish. You use techniques and bait to catch the fish you are after but that doesn’t mean that’s the only fish you are going to snag.

The time of day can make a difference -  two hours before sunset to an hour after sunset will provide you best time to fish for this species. Crappies have large eyes that are very sensitive to sun light. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fish for them at other times, though. I have hauled in some nice catches in the middle of the day when it was sunny and hot. I caught them in deep water.

Crappies love timber. Look for wood structure while fishing. Standing trees in the water, fallen timber or even man made wooden structure in the water are great fishing spots when fishing for these fish.

Review of crappie fishing tips.

• Crappies are usually situated around structure including points, drop offs, creek beds, and cover such as brush piles, fallen trees and stumps.
• During summer most of Ohio’s lakes develop a thermocline at 15 – 20 feet, so fish near or above these depths when fishing deeper water. Check the same for lakes in your area.
  
• In smaller lakes, crappie maybe very close to woody structure all year long.
• If fishing deeper than 4 feet a slip bobber is very helpful.
• If crappies are in the area and the bite is slow, a change in jig color may increase the bite rate.

Learn the Best Crappie Fishing Secrets

If you choose not to keep a fish once you’ve caught it, release it by first wetting your hands, gently unhooking the fish, and then immediately placing the fish back into the water. If a fish has swallowed a hook, cut the line close to the mouth and return the fish to the water, the hook will dissolve from stomach acid.

Chlorophyll is a dark green color – and when you have enough Chlorophyll in one area the water will appear dark green or even black. You want to be on the lookout for this colored water during the daylight fishing hours.

“Fishing by this stain” is so incredible that if you are in a body of water where you can find these stains easily – it doesn’t make any sense to ever fish in a spot where the isn’t a stain.

If you find this chlorophyll, fish it and stay fishing it. You will be rewarded.