Living in Minnesota provides me ample opportunities to chase these freshwater dinosaurs. The Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers offer both lake and shovelnose sturgeon.

Fishing for sturgeon is a combination of knowing their local waters and seasons as well as their main food source. Obtaining fresh and smelly bait is crucial for attracting these active predators, whether you find it or catch it yourself. Lastly, using bottom rigs can help keep your bait in the feeding zone and increase your chances of catching a sturgeon.

Follow me into this article, where we’ll do a deep dive into fishing for sturgeon. Read on to find out how to find, rig, hook, and land the elusive and incredible sturgeon.

How Do You Fish for Sturgeon?

Sturgeon fishing is a set-up, bait-your-hook, cast, and wait kind of activity.

While sturgeon are sometimes caught on flies or lures, this is very rare and not a practical method of fishing for these species.

How to Fish for Sturgeon from the Bank

If you’re fishing from the bank, grab a chair and a heavy-duty rod holder. While sturgeon strikes won’t suddenly yank a rod into the water, their sheer size makes losing a rod possible.

If you have your bait, you’ve rigged a slip sinker rig, and found an excellent sturgeon area, cast your rig across or slightly downstream in a river. Reel in the line so there’s no slack and set the rod in the rod holder.

Slackline while bait fishing results in missed strikes or swallowed hooks. Taught line tension ensures that we see every strike, bite, or nibble on the rod tip.

When fishing in lakes, simply cast as far out as possible and set up as before.

FUN FACT: Minnesota anglers on the St. Croix River will ice fish for sturgeon. They sleep overnight on the ice with rattle reels that go off when a freshwater dinosaur takes the bait.

How to Fish for Sturgeon from a Boat

When boat fishing for sturgeon, one technique prevails wherever you fish.

Using the same rigs, baits, and setups we’ve discussed before, use a topo map to find holes in the river and motor just upstream of the head of the hole. Ideally, you want to anchor the boat and cast your baits downstream, so they sit just around the lip of the hole.

This technique is very effective.

Some days the sturgeon will hug the middle of the pool or bowl. On other days they will sit just outside of it. If you don’t get a bite after awhile, re-cast until you find the sweet spot. Sometimes the difference can be mere feet.

A note about sturgeon fishing with bait: Since sturgeon “taste” the water with their barbels, allowing the baits to sit for long periods helps spread the scent in the area and allows the sturgeon to find it. There may be sturgeon that follow the scent trail from downstream.

How can you tell if a sturgeon is biting?

A sturgeon bite can resemble tapping, a steady pull, a deep throb, or a steady pumping cadence on the rod tip. Every sturgeon and every bite window is different. A sturgeon strike will also change depending on the current, the size of the sturgeon, and how heavy of tackle you are using.

A guide friend of mine always says, “If you’re not sure, remember, hooksets are free.” If you think you might be getting a strike, set the hook and reel in. Even if you swing and miss, you can always re-cast.

It’s also important to know that sturgeon baits are food items that many species like. If you constantly get small strikes but the fish don’t take the bait, chances are smaller species are just nibbling your bait.

How do you set the hook on a sturgeon?

Hooksets with J-Hooks

When using traditional J-hooks, set the hook on a sturgeon the same way you would any other species.

If you see the bite, gently grab the rod and hold it steady. At the next strike, you will jerk the rod sharply away from the fish in a quick snapping motion. If you move gently and sweep the rod, the fish might feel the hook and spit it out. A sharp motion is the best way to ensure a steady connection.

Hooksets with Circle Hooks

When using circle hooks, the hook set is very different. You don’t “set” the hook at all. Circle hooks are designed to sit in the corner of a fish’s mouth through line tension.

If you try setting a circle hook like a j-hook, you risk pulling the pin out of the fish’s mouth.

Instead, when you feel a strike, reel the line in with a steady retrieve, and the rod will load with the weight of the fish. As you fight the fish, the line tension will seat the hook deeper and deeper.

Circle hooks are preferable to J-hooks when fishing for sturgeon for three reasons:

1. Sturgeon mouths are angled down and are rounded compared to other fish. Circle hooks tend to sit in their mouths better.
2. Circle hooks reduce the chances of a sturgeon swallowing the bait.
3. Circle hooks are easier to remove, especially when fished without a barb. Since barbless hooks rely on line tension to keep the hook in the fish’s mouth, barbless circle hooks are the perfect combination of low injury, low risk, and high hooking percentage.

Do sturgeon fight hard?

Sturgeon can grow to over 1000 pounds. For folks using light tackle, fighting a trophy-sized sturgeon can take upwards of 45 minutes to an hour.

Even for seasoned sturgeon anglers with heavy tackle, the fight can last a half hour, with the tug-o-war battle leaving your arms shaking from adrenaline and fatigue.

That said, even smaller sturgeon around 18 inches or more fight hard and stick to fast currents. Sturgeon are known to jump out of the water, bulldog to the bottom, and zig-zag as they try to get off the hook. You never know what you might get!

As with all large fish, make sure your drag is set correctly and learn how to fight large fish before striking out for a trophy sturgeon.

A good rule of thumb for fighting big fish is, “When they want to run, let ‘em run. When they heel, go ahead and reel.” This mantra has saved me more than a few times when my excitement got the best of me and I was almost too aggressive fighting a big fish.

Sturgeon Fishing Seasons and Rules

Sturgeon fishing seasons are strictly enforced and vary depending on certain stretches of the same river, seasonal changes, and differences in state agencies. It’s essential to check and re-check local sturgeon regulations before fishing for sturgeon, especially if you plan to keep one.

Just like hunting, sturgeon seasons are sometimes managed by tags.

These regulations ensure sturgeon populations are managed effectively, and the species are maintained for future generations to enjoy.

If catch-and-release angling, keeping the sturgeon in the water is best to protect its slime coat. Avoid setting it on the ground, gravel, sand, or concrete. A fish’s slime coat acts as its immune system. The fish is susceptible to disease if that surface covering is wiped away.

Terminology and Common Rules

The rules for first-time sturgeon anglers can feel complicated. Here are 6 words and phrases every beginner sturgeon angler should know.

1. Catch and release: Catch and release angling refers to catching fish, handling them as minimally as possible, and releasing them back into the water.
2. Keep/Catch and Cook: Catch and cook or keep anglers most often keep a fish or multiple fish for food, to have it mounted, or to have it weighed as part of angling record collections.
3. Low-impact angling: Low-impact angling aims to leave as little behind as possible. This includes trash, injured fish, and signs of angler activity like forked stick rod holders.
4. Barbless hooks: Barbless hooks are specialty hooks made without a barb. Barbless hooks significantly reduce injury to the fish and make hook removal much faster.
   Note: Some people say that barbless hooks lose too many fish. The key to reeling in fish with a barbless hook is to maintain tension on the line. If you allow slack in the line, the hook may pull free. Maintaining tension always ensures a straight line between you, the fish, and the fish’s mouth.
5. Non-remove from water: Non-remove from water rules require an angler to keep the fish in the water for the entire time they interact with it. From landing, hook removing, picture taking, and releasing, sturgeon anglers fishing on waters with non-remove rules should never lift a sturgeon out of the water.
   Depending on the season, some sturgeon anglers will wade into the water to gently cradle the sturgeon before releasing it. This is the law in Idaho and other states, so be sure and check the regs where you’re fishing.
6. Handling sturgeon: Safe handling of sturgeon includes using non-abrasive rubber nets when landing them, always using a soft material or wet hands to hold them, and using proper hook removal technique to reduce injuries around their mouths.

Rig Requirements

The sliding sinker set-up for Idaho sturgeon fishing is one example of a rig requirement in place to reduce accidental injury to sturgeon populations.

The Idaho Fish and Game manual says that:

Research has found that baited hooks, fishing line, and swivels, broken off by anglers, may be ingested by sturgeon, and in rare instances cause death. Because of this, IDFG adopted rules designed to reduce the amount of tackle lost by anglers with the overarching goal of reducing unintentional sturgeon deaths.

As you can see, sturgeon fishing rules and regulations will change depending on where and when you are fishing. Always research beforehand and talk to your local fisheries management organizations if you have questions.

These actions will ensure viable sturgeon populations–and opportunities to fish for them–for years to come.

Where to Find Sturgeon

Sturgeon habitat is a mix of gravelly, rocky bottoms and those areas adjacent to muddy flats. This combination of resources offers the most food for hunting sturgeon.

On the gravelly, rocky bottoms, sturgeon can find crayfish, small minnows, aquatic insects like hellgrammites and dobsonfly larvae, and decaying materials that get caught between the cracks.

On the muddy flats, sturgeon roam looking for clams and other stationary food items.

That said, sturgeon are always on the move and constantly “taste” the water, sucking up food items they pass.

Sturgeon seek out the deepest holes and often sit around them. This is where low-pressure zones collect food.

Professional and amateur sturgeon anglers protect good sturgeon holes because they know that sturgeon will return to these places year after year.

Good sturgeon habitat also offers deep, cold regions of riverways. While ocean-run sturgeon run upriver to spawn, most of their time is spent in the ocean. Similarly, freshwater sturgeon populations need areas of cold, deeper waters to thrive and migrate to spawn.

United States Sturgeon Fishing Hot Spots

There are a surprising amount of sturgeon fishing spots in the US. In fact, catchable populations of sturgeon exist all across the US. But if you want the chance at a world-class sturgeon, these are your destinations.

The Great Lakes Region: Rainy River

The Rainy River on the border of Minnesota and Canada is a fantastic sturgeon fishery. The fish here are densely populated, and it’s not uncommon to catch multiple fish in a day.

The Pacific Northwest: Columbia River

The Columbia River is home to some true giant sturgeon. Some of these fish can live to be 150 years old and take an hour or more to reel in due to their strength and size.

The West Coast: Willamette River

The Willamette River is a popular sturgeon fishery known for large fish and impressive numbers. These fish spawn in the rivers and live in the ocean migrating back and forth as their seasons develop.

The West: Snake River

The Snake River in Idaho holds some impressive opportunities for the adventurous angler. The Hell’s Canyon section of the river is within a wilderness access area. This means the waters are unpressured, the sturgeon are giant, and the views surrounding an angler are impressive.

Famous sturgeon water: The Fraser River

The Fraser River is where our expert guide, Marc Laynes, spends much of his time guiding clients.

His guiding company’s site says, “If you are worried about hooking that thousand-pounder, rest easy – most of the “larger” fish average between 100 and 300 pounds! However, our largest sturgeon was just shy of 900 pounds and measured 11 foot 3 inches from tip to the fork of the tail!”

The Fraser River is a famous sturgeon fishery above Seattle, Washington in Canada.

How deep do you fish for sturgeon?

When fishing for sturgeon, you should always be fishing on the bottom, no matter how deep the water is. Sturgeon feed on the bottom of the water column. It’s always a good idea to research the specific waters you plan to fish and talk to local experts for guidance on the best depth to target sturgeon in that area.

What time of day is best to fish sturgeon?

Generally, sturgeon, like most fish species, are most active in the early morning and late evening with an inactive period in the middle of the day. This may change depending on local conditions, water temperature, sunlight, and water depth.

However, seasoned sturgeon anglers know that night fishing for sturgeon is the best angling time of day. Sturgeons cover more water at night and are willing to swim in shallower areas. This makes night fishing the best option for anglers fishing from shore.

Sturgeon Fishing Setup

When fishing for sturgeon, focus on heavy, strong lines with a sinker slide bottom fishing system or a slip sinker rig in states that allow it. This ensures that our bait is always in the feeding zone.

For terminal tackle, at minimum, you will need a combination of the following:

• Weights heavy enough to stay on the bottom
• Popular weights include no-roll, pyramid, and egg sinkers
• Octopus hooks or circle hooks in sizes 8 up to 3/0 to 5/0, depending on the size of sturgeon in your area
• Barrel Swivels
• Beads
• Fluorocarbon leaders (30 to 50 pounds is common, for smaller fish 10 ponds is enough)
• Sinker slides (if using pyramid sinkers or a sinker slide rig)
• Lightweight dropper line for the sinker slide rig

Sturgeon Fishing Gear

Anglers of all species have go-to items. Sturgeon anglers are no different. Generally, sturgeon are hard-fighting fish that can grow to behemoth sizes.

When sturgeon fishing, consider the average size in your area and plan accordingly.

It’s a good idea to use heavier lines and gear than you think you need for two reasons:

1. Even if the average sturgeon size is comparatively small for sturgeon waters, the larger sturgeon will feed in the same area. These fish are not territorial.
2. Sturgeon have no teeth, but the sharp spines on their backs, sides, and gill plates can cut through line. Having a thicker line ensures that it will hold up to any sharp or abrasive surfaces.

Rod, reel, and line setups for sturgeon fishing are similar to sets made for catfishing, muskie fishing, carp fishing, and surf fishing in the ocean. Catfish anglers are known to catch sturgeon as by-catch because they use smelly baits that sit on the bottom.

Sturgeon Fishing Rigs

The tried and true rigs of sturgeon anglers everywhere are bait rigs that will hold bait on the bottom. We must stay in the sturgeon’s feeding zone to entice a bite.

Here are a few of the most popular rigs for fishing for sturgeon.

Slip Sinker Rig

When people talk about a “sturgeon rig,” they refer to any variation of a slip sinker rig with a snelled hook.

Snelled hooks are hooks with a pre-tied leader attached to a swivel. The benefits of snelled hooks are ease of re-rigging and ease of selecting leaders, hooks, and bead colors depending on conditions.

You can make snelled hooks at home or purchase them online.

You can use sinkers directly on the line like a no roll or egg sinker, or use a sinker slide system paired with a pyramid sinker, slinky sinker, or any other of your favorite styles.

The sinker should be heavy enough not to move with the current.

The slip sinker rig does three things:

1. Keeps our bait on the bottom.
2. Provides the most feel and strike sensitivity since the weight is not attached to the line. Since these rigs allow the line to slide freely through the weight or slide, the sinker does not introduce drag and is very effective for light bites.
3. Makes sturgeon fishing accessible for anyone without needing specialty rigs.

Sinker Slide Rig with a Dropper

Idaho Fish and Game requires a sliding sinker rig with a breakaway system for the weight. The idea is if the weight becomes snagged, the lighter line between the weight and the main line will break, allowing the baited hook to be reeled back in.

Three-Way Breakaway Rig

The three-way breakaway rig is another option for sturgeon anglers. This rig uses a three-way swivel. One loop goes to the rod, one loop attaches to the leader and hook, and the third loop connects the weight with a short length of dropper line.

This rig has no slip component, but some anglers prefer having weights fixed to their line.

Sturgeon Fishing Baits

If you imagine a sturgeon as a giant, armor-plated catfish, then you’d be on your way to understanding sturgeon baits with one exception: sturgeon love fresh bait—the fresher the bait, the better.

In sturgeon fishing waters nationwide, a tried-and-true bait is a gob of worms on a circle hook. The larger the mess of worms on the end of your line, the better the chances of hooking into a monster sturgeon. The writhing mass of worms is smelly, has a lot of activity underwater, and is a large, nutritious offering.

We did a super deep dive and interviewed an expert guide in this article covering the Best Bait for Sturgeon. Hit the link for the best sturgeon baits and bait tips around.

The post How to Fish for Sturgeon: A Complete Guide to a Huge Catch appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Many people ask me, “why do people go fishing?” And it makes sense! Especially when there are days that you don’t catch anything after hours of casting or simply waiting.

The secret is that people go fishing for many reasons, and most aren’t about catching fish. People fish because they want to reduce stress, build friendships, reap many health benefits, pay respect to the environment, or bring home dinner.

Fishing is often a very personal experience, and everyone’s reasons differ. This is simply a list of eight reasons why people go fishing and like it, but there are plenty more out there.

1. Reducing Stress and Producing Calm

Sometimes the reason people fish is just for the excuse to spend time outside, and this time has repeatedly been proven to be incredibly therapeutic. Researchers have found that spending more time outside is directly linked to longer and happier lives, primarily due to reduced stress levels.

Let’s face it. Our everyday lives are full of the hustle and bustle that adds up and crowds out the calming and peaceful thoughts that our brains try to bring to us. Stepping outside of this every so often is a great chance to recenter and find the calm inside yourself.

Fishing requires a mindful presence and a meditative level of focus. From baiting the hook to becoming in tune with the fish, the mind takes on a different form when fully immersing itself in the stream.

Ask most anglers, and they’ll tell you that fishing is their meditation. There’s no need for a quiet room and a pillow when their line is cast out into a calm glassy pond, with all their worries left behind. So, what is the point of fishing? Sometimes, it’s nothing other than finding some quiet.

2. Building Friendships

From the time that you’re young, fishing can be an incredibly social activity. Even when you step into a small fishing shop, you can feel a sense of comradery rather than competition.

Fellow anglers love helping each other tackle personal goals, and many old-timers are willing and ready to spout out a laundry list of time-tested wisdom regarding what equipment to use and even how to cast your line.

Even when fishing involves standing on the side of a river and quietly casting, there’s something special about having a companion a few paces away doing the same. These shared moments create stronger bonds than you can get from time spent next to each other at the bar or sitting in front of the TV screen.

Ask anyone why people go fishing, and you’ll hear the same answer: for relationships. The friends you form while fishing see you go through struggles but also witness huge successes. (Hopefully!)

These shared experiences tie you together for life, and it’s not uncommon to have lifelong fishing buddies that go out on every trip you offer up. Plus, finding others to fish with will make learning how to fish a much faster process!

3. Health Benefits

Along with all the mental health benefits, a surprising number of physical benefits come with pursuing fishing as an active hobby.

For starters, simply getting out in the sun will increase your Vitamin D levels, which affects your overall mood. It can help reduce cancer cell growth, control infections, and reduce inflammation. Even if someone can’t pinpoint the exact draw for why people fish, Vitamin D is often the hidden reason. It just makes you feel better!

Additionally, getting outside demands much more from your body than sitting around the house. You must hike to your fishing spot, haul all your gear, and actively cast while standing in potentially tough waters. When you’re doing something you love, like fishing, the time spent outside doesn’t even seem like a workout, even if it is.

4. Always Learning

One thing that I’ve always loved about fishing is that it’s the perfect environment to consistently learn new skills. I feel like every time I’m out either by myself or with a friend, I find something that I can do differently or better to bring home more fish or to make my life a bit easier.

When you establish a solid fishing community, you access a deep well of knowledge that’s been passed on through generations of anglers. This allows you to challenge yourself to try new skills while thinking creatively to solve your problems.

Even back at home, I’ve taught myself to tie my flies just to add to the experience. While it can be tricky, it makes me feel even more accomplished when I can catch a fish with something that I taught myself to make.

5. Feelings of Success

The feeling that accomplishment brings is almost unparalleled in life. From the moment a fish bites the line, there’s a sense of success coursing through my body.

The build-up and anticipation that builds while I wait for a simple nibble on the end of my line just adds to the feelings of success once I snag a fish. It’s tough to find that same rush doing other hobbies.

Not only has my success contributed to my wanting to get out more and more, but I also want to see others find that success. After teaching some friends to fish, I feel an even greater sense of accomplishment when they catch a fish.

6. Respecting the Environment

Many people don’t see fishing as respecting the environment, but when done right, it’s a process filled with respect. Fishing is a way to help manage the environment.

First, fishing helps control populations while supporting local fisheries and hatcheries that work hard to maintain populations in certain areas. Removing ourselves from the natural food chain could be dangerous for the natural systems at play.

I have also been fortunate enough to witness many rituals surrounding fish, especially salmon, by native cultures in Alaska. The relationship that many have with fish is full of respect and love. It’s a give-and-take situation where everyone benefits. Yes, even the fish.

7. Bringing Home Dinner

One of the more obvious answers to why people go fishing is that it can provide a delicious meal for free. There’s something special about eating a fish you’ve caught. It just seems to always taste better than anything you bring home from the store.

Along with all the other health benefits, eating the fish you catch provides a wealth of vitamins and nutrients that are hard to get in other foods. Many fish are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin B, which have a long list of benefits for your body.

8. The Feeling

Why do people go fishing? Most of the time, it’s for the feeling that naturally comes when standing out there casting a line.

That feeling is hard to describe. It’s a mixture of the joy from being outside, the sense of success in catching a fish, and the calming nature of the outdoors.

While it’s hard to describe, it’s something that any angler can identify when they feel it. It becomes the primary reason why we go fishing, whether we know it or not.

From the moment you get home from the last fishing trip until you cast your line out on the next one, there’s a spot waiting to be filled with the exact feeling that can only be found while out on the water.

The post 8 Reasons Why People Go Fishing and Like It appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

The St. Croix River in Minnesota is the home water where I’m learning to catch sturgeon. There’s a ton of information online. But I thought there had to be some expert tips and tricks that only the folks spending weeks on the water would know.

So for this article, I interviewed an expert sturgeon fishing guide, Marc Laynes, owner of Cascade Fishing Adventures INC. Marc has spent most of his life fishing for sturgeon, and he shared his thoughts with me on the best bait for sturgeon fishing. I also did a deep dive into sturgeon biology and behavior to decide on the best bait for sturgeon.

Is there a secret sturgeon bait? We’re going to dive into the best bait for sturgeon, why it’s the best, how to rig it, and then we’ll explore what sturgeon eat in the wild.

To get an idea of these best sturgeon baits, read on as we learn how to catch a living dinosaur: the sturgeon!

The Best Bait for Fishing Sturgeon

The best bait for sturgeon will depend on their habitat. Sea run sturgeon are used to eating sea run food like squids and sand fleas. Freshwater sturgeon eat shad, nightcrawlers, and cut suckers. Switching between the top baits in the area is your best bet to catch a sturgeon.

That said, during certain times of the year, the sturgeon may only want one food item, whether it’s a smelt spawn or a herring run.

Here are five of the best baits for sturgeon fishing in North America.

1. Nightcrawlers for sturgeon bait

Nightcrawlers as sturgeon bait are one of the best. They have a strong scent in the water, worms are present in nearly every water system, and they can be bought everywhere.

They have two drawbacks. First, you might have trouble keeping small fish off your bait since everything eats nightcrawlers. Second, nightcrawlers are fragile and it only takes one fish to strip your hook.

2. Shad, Herring, Smelt, and Anchovies for sturgeon bait

Shad, herring, smelt, and anchovies are extremely popular as sturgeon bait.

Use them whole, in crosscut chunks, strips, or halves, these baits are very versatile. The general size of these baitfish prevents small fish from stripping the hook. They are also oily and stinky, making them a go-to option as sturgeon bait.

When using baitfish as sturgeon bait, find out the primary forage in your water. If shad swim in the river, start with shad.

That said, there might be days where smelt works better or a week straight of great fishing with herring. Keep changing baits until you find out what works.

3. White sucker for sturgeon bait

White suckers can be great sturgeon bait but these fish are usually too big to use whole. Fillet the fish and cut the fillet into strips to spread the oily scent. White suckers are found all around the US and are eaten by most predatory fish species.

4. Shrimp for sturgeon bait

Some people swear by raw shrimp when fishing for sturgeon. Like worms, many fish species will eat shrimp but the strong scent and enticing meatiness is a popular bait for sturgeon.

5. Squid for sturgeon bait

Squid is a popular sturgeon fishing bait, especially for sea-run sturgeon who are more familiar with it in their food system.

Proponents of squid claim that it’s the most durable sturgeon fishing bait. They say you can catch multiple sturgeon using the same chunk of squid, and smaller fish won’t pull it off the hook.

A Sturgeon Guide’s Notes on the Best Bait

Pro sturgeon fishing guide Marc says, “I have fished for sturgeon since the early 1980s while in high school. I enjoy sturgeon fishing and thought others would as well. I decided to start a guiding business in 1990 for sturgeon, salmon, and steelhead. With my post-secondary education in Fish and Wildlife, I was not only able to guide anglers but also provide my service to sturgeon and other fish-related work for the government and other consultants in our area.”

“My favorite bait is whatever is currently in season, in the river, that the sturgeon would be feeding on. Coarse fish such as pikeminnows and pea-mouth chub are available during the entire sturgeon season and work well throughout the season.

However, during certain times of the year, we experience migrations of specific fish species in large numbers that attract the attention of the sturgeon.

When this happens, the sturgeon will key in on these fish. This places other baits further down the priority list – these other baits will work, but not as effectively. For example, the Lower Fraser River sees a large migration of smelts, called eulachons, from late March to early May.

When these eulachons move into the Fraser to spawn, they do so in large numbers. This mass of fish is the main focus of the sturgeon’s diet during that time and will be the bait to use.

Other baits such as lamprey eel (early summer migration up the Fraser), sockeye salmon (summer), and chum roe (fall) are excellent baits throughout the season, but particularly during the timing of their presence in the river.”

Related: How to Fish for Sturgeon: A Complete Guide to a Huge Catch

Sturgeon Rigging Tips for Live Bait

Whichever bait you choose, bait fishing rigs for sturgeon are very similar.

Sturgeons have protrusible mouths meaning their lips extend to suck up food from the bottom of the water. In fact, it functions very much like the extension on a vacuum cleaner handle.

Since sturgeon are bottom feeders, we must ensure that baits stay near the bottom. Also, our hooks need to increase our chance of a solid connection with the fish.

Are you using herring for sturgeon bait? Do you have a secret sturgeon bait? Regardless, the best fishing rig when using live bait for sturgeon is a slip-sinker bottom rig.

You will need a combination of the following:

• Weights heavy enough to stay on the bottom
  • Popular weights include no-roll, pyramid, and egg sinkers
• Octopus hooks in sizes 3/0 to 5/0
• Barrel Swivels
• Beads
• Fluorocarbon leaders
• Sinker slides (if using pyramid sinkers)

Sturgeon bites are subtle. A bite is usually seen by a slight bend in the rod tip, a throbbing cadence different from the river, or the line moving across or against the direction of the current.

Since bites are light, the slip-sinker bottom rig telegraphs a gentle strike to the rod tip faster than a fixed-weight rig. This leads to more detected strikes and more fish in the boat.

Using octopus hooks instead of traditional J-hooks ensures that a hook sits firmly in the fish’s mouth. Sturgeons are known to jump out of the water and thrash. An octopus hook is designed to stay attached even in these aggressive attempts to escape.

A Sturgeon Guide’s Notes on Rigging Live Bait

Marc says, “When fishing with lamprey, eulachons, or coarse fish, I will tie the bait onto a J-hook using cotton or elasticated thread in a manner that the hook is fastened to the bait at the “downstream” end of the bait.

This keeps the bait straight so it will not spin against the current and twist the leader and keeps the hook well-positioned. (Not laying flat against the bait, but protruding away from the bait.)

When I am fishing salmon roe, I mostly fish the bait in a bait bag using nylons or fine mesh to avoid coarse fish eating the bait off the hook. I simply poke the hook through the roe bag.

When using fish strips, I will cut long narrow strips and simply hook the strip at the end of the fish strip onto a circle hook.

Virtually all sturgeon rigs utilize a sliding weight style rig above a quality swivel, with a leader of your choice (mono or braid/dacron) attached to the hook of your choice.”

What are sturgeon attracted to?

Similar to a catfish, sturgeon have barbels on the underside of their snout that they use to “taste” the water. These barbels detect certain chemicals in the water released by items they can eat.

This is why sturgeon anglers say that your bait has to be smelly.

However, sturgeon anglers also talk about the importance of having fresh bait. While a catfish loves to eat rotting, decomposing food items that are bloody and thick, sturgeon prefer live foods like crustaceans, worms, and fish.

What do sturgeon like to eat?

Sturgeon prefer to eat living crustaceans (like crayfish), mollusks (clams), and many kinds of bait fish.

The baits in this article are best when they are fresh. They are fatty and oily, meaning more scent dispersal in the water.

Overall, a sturgeon feeds by roaming just above the river bottom and drags its barbells over the surface. When they sense food, their mouths protrude and suck it up.

Sturgeons don’t have teeth. Instead, their powerful stomach muscles crush up any food that gets consumed.

Artificial Baits and Lures vs. Stink Baits and Live Baits

When deciding between lures or live bait for sturgeon, the clear winner is live bait. This is because it matches a sturgeon’s feeding habits, including where they feed, how they feed, and what they feed on.

A Sturgeon Guide’s Notes on Artificial vs. Live Baits

Marc says, “While sturgeon are known to take lures on occasion, the vast majority of sturgeon are caught using natural bait.

Sturgeons have an extremely keen sense of smell; therefore, natural bait attracts a fish far sooner than lures.

Sturgeons are generally found holding near or at the river bottom. Therefore, a static, natural bait laying on the bottom will provide the most effective presentation to hook a sturgeon.”

Where to Get Sturgeon Fishing Bait

Now that we know what bait to use when fishing for sturgeon, it’s time to get some!

There are several ways to source sturgeon bait.

The simple option: Local bait vendors

Many local bait stores carry most of the sturgeon bait in this article. If you can’t find these options alive, see if you can find the dates that the baits were frozen. Never use preserved baits as these scents are unnatural and mask or destroy the natural fats and oil that we want.

If they don’t sell this item, some vendors can special order baits. Ask them about special ordering sturgeon baits for your local sturgeon community. Chances are, they didn’t know there was a market for it and the shop may end up becoming your go-to for sturgeon bait.

The best option: Harvest sturgeon bait yourself

The best way to source fresh, live, healthy, and local sturgeon baits that will take your next trip to another level is to harvest it yourself. Check your local regulations when attempting to harvest your bait as some states have strict rules around this.

There are four primary ways:

1. Cast Netting

Cast netting involves throwing a large net over a school of baitfish and trapping them. You drag the cast net over to a bait bucket and shake it out.

2. Dip netting

Dip netting involves using a long-handled mesh net to scoop schools of baitfish out of the water. This is an excellent method for tightly schooling fish like shad and smelt.

3. Trapping

Trapping baitfish or other live bait involves using specialty fish traps that you can bait with dog food or bread. Some of these traps can be left overnight.

4. Hook and line

Finally, many baitfish, including shad and smelt can be caught using a traditional hook and line. Using small hooks, small pieces of worm, and a light rod, bait harvesting can feel like a micro-fishing trip before the main event!

Conclusion

The best bait for sturgeon is going to depend on many factors. The main things to consider are to match the bait to the local forage, make sure the bait is fresh, and keep it very close to or on the bottom of the lake or river.

Following these general rules will make sure your next sturgeon fishing adventure is full of lights-out action that ends in holding living dinosaurs in your hands!

Check our guide on Where to Catch Sturgeon.

The post Best Bait for Sturgeon: A Pro Fishing Guide Weighs In appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

As water temperatures begin to cool, bass will start to seek out water that has less temperature change. The upper portion of the water column and surface has the most temperature variance throughout all seasons. The fish will begin to seek deeper water during the winter, choosing the lower portion of the thermocline as their sanctuary.

This leaves many anglers confused about how to target their green quarry throughout the coldest months, wondering if it’s the bait, the depth, the time of day or just plain bad luck.

One of the essential things bass anglers can focus on during the winter is the color and choice of lure.

Winter is like no other time of year when it comes to bass fishing, with neutral and natural colored baits yielding the best results. When it comes to lure choice, anglers must pick a bait that matches the environment but creates enough of a disturbance to trigger the predatory instinct of a bass.

In this article, we cover how to select the right bait and color for bass fishing this winter and how to chase lunkers during the coldest time of year.

Winter Bass Fishing

When angling for lunkers during the coldest time of the year, anglers often ask a few questions.

• What is the best bait for winter bass fishing?
• What are the best colors for winter bass fishing?
• How to target bass in the winter?

Below, we cover each of these in depth.

The Best Bait for Bass Fishing in Winter

Lure selection is significant when it comes to winter bass fishing. Size, style, and color all matter far more than in spring or summer when bass ravenously attacks anything that remotely resembles prey.

Below are some of the best baits for winter bass fishing.

1. Jerkbait

If you’re going to attract a passive bass in deeper water, jerk baits work well for two reasons. Their steady retrieve and oblong shape resemble a crankbait but with a longer profile. This bait can meander by a hungry, lazy bass, providing them an easy meal without spooking it from erratic behavior.

However, sometimes erratic behaviors are necessary to lure a bass out of its hibernation state. The jerkbait also excels with a pause-and-go retrieve, mimicking the action of a wounded baitfish that bass love. Weighting the jerkbait down allows anglers to work lower portions in the water column where the bass may lurk during colder weather.

2. Jigs

Jigs are excellent for fishing through the ice or working lower portions of the water column, as these lures are suspended at whatever target depth anglers want. Completely interchangeable when it comes to the plastics, the weighted jig head means that anglers are not required to introduce any extra weight onto the line.

3. Blade Baits

Because colder water is usually clearer, blade baits truly shine during winter bass fishing. The sunlight that penetrates deeper into the water is reflected off of the metallic frame of the minnow-shaped lure, drawing attention to it from every species in the area.

Additionally, if the water is cloudy or visibility is reduced due to low light conditions, blade baits rattle and produce vibrations that can summon bass no matter how cold the water temperature is.

4. Crankbaits

Tried and true, crankbaits are good year around. However, winter orders anglers to up their game and be more selective about which crankbait they throw.

Ones that resemble minnows or shad are your best bet, and they better be deep diving if you plan to hook into a big bass. A steady retrieval with a few pauses is always a good game plan but if the bite isn’t happening, don’t be afraid to try something new.

Pro Tip: Go with Rat-L-Traps. It makes more noise, is easier to stop and go, and is excellent for middle to lower portions of the water column.

5. Soft Plastics

While soft plastics may be a year-round lure choice, anglers must be very specific in selecting the bait’s body type, size, and color. Because actual lizards and frogs will be hibernating during this time of year, anglers will want to avoid using artificial plastic ones as lures.

Pumpkin seeds or deep purple soft plastic worms and crawfish have always been my go-to during the coldest time of year. Not only are they incredibly versatile lures, but you can also work every part of the water column with these lures. Pick small to medium-sized plastics and always keep your retrieve a little slower than you think it should be.

6. Live Bait

Live bait is often overlooked and underutilized when it comes to bass fishing. Particularly in the winter, I have fished plenty of lakes with a minnow or nightcrawler under a cork in the middle of the water column and have caught plenty of medium-size bass.

The combination of natural prey, placement in the water column, and movement create the perfect storm to trigger the predatory instinct of a bass.

How My Dad Picked the Best Bait for Winter Bass Fishing

Mike Pelle had just called it in on his three-day hunting weekend. The wind coming in with the cold front meant the deer would smell him from a mile away and there was no sense in freezing his tail off in a treestand without much chance of a kill.

On a whim, he stopped by a family member’s property on his way back to New Orleans and decided to fish the pond for an hour before getting back on the road. The pressure was dropping, and he suspected the fish might be trying to squeeze in one last meal before the cold snap.

Armed with a rod and reel nearly as old as he was, Mike tied on a faded red and white Heddon Lucky 13 and cast into the 3-acre pond.

His lure landed just in front of a small, half-submerged log, and on the first rotation of his reel, the lure disappeared.

To hear my old man tell it, he first thought he had hooked on a massive patch of grass…until the pulling started. Though it didn’t fight nearly as hard as a spring or summer lunker, the 20-inch bass still put up a struggle.

The Best Colors for Winter Bass Fishing

Picking the best colors for winter bass fishing can be tough. Most anglers think brighter, more radiant colors like neon, chartreuse, or bright red are the best colors for winter bass fishing. Unfortunately, you will probably go home empty-handed if you use those colors during the coldest months when angling for lunkers.

Generally speaking, winter bass bait colors should look like a bass’ primary food source at that time of year.

1. Neutral Colors are the Best

Keeping your baits neutral is essential when bass fishing during the winter. While spring and summer often spawn various insects and amphibians, winter sees very little of these creatures. Most of the food consumed by bass consists of other fish, crustaceans, or tiny aquatic organisms.

Because most of these creatures are not vibrant, anglers should select lures that match these prey species.

2. Dull Hard Plastics

When it comes to hard plastic baits such as crank or jerkbaits, the shiny green or gray colors with vibrant metal hues are a no-go. Think dull, think subdued, think natural. A bright metallic lure racing through the water might work during the hay days of summer, but it’s not likely to yield results in the winter.

3. Gold Spoons

When it comes to spoons, stay away from silver. Gold does a much better job during the colder months, and especially farther down the water column, it appears more natural to bass.

4. Green and Purple Soft Plastics

Your soft plastics that usually come in neon colors and often feature silvery flakes are things of the past. Stick to deep greens, purples, or pumpkin seeds.

5. Natural Crank Baits and Topwaters

Finally, if you’re going to work the upper portions of the water column with a shallow running crankbait or a topwater, don’t pick the most visually stimulating lure full of bright colors. Instead, go for the most natural-looking lure that closely resembles naturally-occurring prey in both style and coloration.

Visiting your local bait shop or doing some research before hitting the water can inform you about what species are native to the lake, stream, or pond you plan on fishing This can help you select the right color lure to catch bass.

How to Target Bass in the Winter

While picking the right color and lure may be easy, many anglers struggle with targeting bass in the winter. With the popular summer and spring hotspots empty, anglers must change tactics and pay attention to feeding patterns, weather, and time of day to catch bass during the colder months.

Feeding Patterns

Bass feeding patterns during the spring, summer, and fall can often look like targeting top water prey or schools of bait swarming in the shallows. During winter time, this is not the case.

Much of the insect and amphibian population hibernates during the winter, meaning the surface activity is lower. Additionally, the water exposed to the elements on the surface is usually cooler than that of the thermocline, making it so that the bass rarely venture near the surface or shallows unless the sun has warmed it up.

During winter, many bait fish that bass predate upon will find themselves at the bottom of lakes or up in creeks near structures. These bait fish are similarly lethargic to the bass, and their suspended activity doesn’t trigger the predatory instincts of the bass nearly as much as in spring or summer.

Weather

Winter is known for colder temperatures, less sunlight, and snow or ice in many locations throughout the United States. These factors can directly impact anglers’ ability to catch bass in myriad ways.

Cold

The ideal temperature spectrum for bass is water between 61 to 85°F. In this range, bass can spawn and feed unhindered, thriving in their aquatic habitat. The upper and lower ends of the spectrum do see a decrease in activity and bass will seek out deeper water where the variance in temperature is less.

Colder weather induces lethargy, making bass less aggressive and hungry as they stay in the thermocline. With cold weather often comes strong winds blowing cold air over the surface of the water, disturbing the water, polluting the clarity, and dropping the service temperature even further.

Less Sunlight

Because bass are sight predators, the limited amount of sunlight restricts their feeding hours significantly. Depending on the time of year and location in the United States, the difference in sunlight from spring and summer angling could be a few minutes to several hours.

The limited sunlight also reduces plant life and photosynthesis in the water for microorganisms and inhibits the water warming near the surface. Finally, less sunlight means that when there is direct exposure to the sun’s rays, bass will capitalize on this opportunity in colder weather to be comfy near the surface, providing the optimal time for bass anglers to target the upper portions of a water column.

Snow

Many locations throughout the United States face snow in the winter. In such cases, the water temperature drops rapidly with the introduction of ice into the environment. The surface of the water will plummet in temperature, while the thermocline and depths will take longer to change in temperature.

From an environmental standpoint, insects, amphibians, small birds, or mammals that bass may strike on the surface will hunker down on land and wait out the snow. When it’s snowing, it’s not the optimal time to angle for bass because the upper water column will be completely shut down. Anglers are limited to the lower portion of the thermocline, rapidly plummeting in temperature.

Ice

While many anglers may think ice fishing is entirely off the table for bass, that’s untrue. In northern states, bass can be caught beneath the ice regularly, provided the body of water has enough depth to accommodate vast transitioning from the colder upper portion of the water column into the thermocline.

If the lake is frozen, anglers should target the deeper locations that regularly have bass. Because ice is translucent, the surface of the water beneath the ice sheet is susceptible to change from exposure to sunlight. Anglers should target sunny days when ice fishing for bass, as enhanced water clarity and increased sunlight helps the bait stand out for lethargic bass.

4 Stellar Winter Bass Fishing Tips

1. Slow Your Roll

If winter bass fishing could be summarized in a single word, it would be slow. Anglers are required to have an abundance of patience when it comes to winter bass fishing due to the lack of activity and aggression by the fish.

When working a lure, anglers need to slow their retrieve down and present in a fashion that assimilates to the lethargy of the bait fish and bass in the water. Rather than the darting maneuvers or quick start and stop retrieves used during spring, summer, and fall months, winter angling is about presenting the bait to the bass as long as possible to allow it to strike.

2. Right Place, Right Time

The success or failure of a winter bass fishing trip can be decided by as little as place and time. Anglers should try to find days with the mildest weather conditions and target locations exposed to as much sunlight as possible. The more moderate the water and overall temperatures are, the higher the likelihood of increased activity from the bass.

With little cloud cover, the middle of the day can provide a high level of visibility, warmer water, and optimal bass fishing conditions. Additionally, anglers should stick to the basics of bass fishing, such as targeting submerged structures and areas with a high density of bait.

3. Size Matters

No matter what they tell you, size matters. This is especially true when winter bass fishing, as anglers cannot be picky and choosy about which bass they catch. The smaller the bay, the larger spectrum of bass you have a likelihood of catching. Pick baits that match the ecosystem in size, color, and species, and put them out there for the bass.

4. Hit the Bottom

Anglers should target the lower end of the thermocline and the bottom of the water column when fishing for bass during the winter. This is because there is little change in water temperature in these locations, and bass prefer that over the constantly fluctuating surface temperature. It is also where most of the bass will head if they can find structure in deeper water.

This is not to say anglers should try to dredge up mud or silt on the bottom of the lake or pond they are angling in. Instead, look to have the bait 1-6 feet off the bottom, depending on the overall water depth.

Conclusion

While bass fishing is one of the most popular kinds of angling in the US, it takes a hit during the colder months. Anglers are often hung out to dry by their favorite quarry who seem to have given up and vanished at the first sign of cold weather.

However, with the right lure and color combo and understanding bass patterns during the winter, anglers can still rip lips during the coldest time of year. We hope this article helps you fish for bass this winter.

Related: Early Fall Bass Patterns

As always, good luck, and stay safe out on the water.

The post The Best Colors and Baits for Winter Bass Fishing appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

My time as a guide and educator taught me how to take the most popular types of fishing and make them easy to understand. I do this by looking at the big picture, then zooming in on the most popular techniques in each category.

We’re going to look at the types, styles, or methods of fishing as opposed to where people most commonly fish (e.g., freshwater vs. saltwater) or what they fish for (target species).

The most popular types of fishing are lure, bait, and fly fishing. Common fishing methods often vary by region or season, and bowfishing is growing in popularity. Though commercial fishing accounts for most of the fish harvest in the US, there are more people who fish recreationally.

For that reason, we can say that the most popular types of fishing, in terms of how many people practice it, are done recreationally. Let’s dive in and look at some common fishing methods worldwide.

How Many Different Types of Fishing are There?

While we have identified (and will explain) six popular types of fishing along with well over a dozen common fishing methods, these are just those which are particularly popular in developed countries like the US. The actual number of fishing methods cannot be quantified.

Fishing is an activity practiced all over the world. In some places, it’s a sport, but in others, it’s a subsistence activity that people use to feed themselves. The different styles of fishing are nearly endless.

Each species will live in a different area and have a different diet, so we must change our techniques and tools to fit the situation. Rods, nets, pots, spears, and traps are only a few tools used to catch fish, let alone the methods employed to use them.

Most Popular Types of Fishing

The most popular types of fishing are broadly categorized into lure, fly, bait, regional/seasonal, bow, and commercial. However, each of these types has multiple techniques that fishermen and anglers use depending on the kind of water they are fishing and what they are fishing for.

These are the most popular types of fishing and the most effective fishing methods within each category:

1. Lure Fishing – Baitcaster, Float, Clear Plastic Bobber, Snap Jigging, and Topwater
2. Bait Fishing – Bottom, Bobber, and Keiryu
3. Fly Fishing – Traditional fly fishing, Tenkara, Spey Casting, and Euro Nymphing
4. Regional and Seasonal Specialties – Trolling, Centerpin, Ice, and Ayu
5. Bowfishing
6. Commercial Fishing

This list also includes rising and exotic methods of fishing that many people have never heard about.

Lure Fishing Styles

Lure fishing is a form of angling (fishing with a rod and reel) that involves using an artificial bait with a hook (a.k.a. lure) at the end of your line to catch fish. A lure is intended to mimic a fish’s prey and attract it through scent, motion, or sound as it is reeled in or propelled through the water.

Baitcaster Fishing

Baitcasting reels are free-running spools that spin to let out the line. To cast one of these, a person has to “thumb the spool.” Thumbing the spool is a simple way to slow down the spool spin rate.

People who use baitcasting reels like to use them for their accuracy when casting lures under docks or alongside weed edges.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no clear benefit between a baitcasting reel vs. a spinning reel. These reel styles can be used interchangeably for lure and bait fishing, and people’s use of them comes down to personal preference.

Float Fishing

Float fishing involves casting a floating bobber and a lure like a marabou jig or a grub. This keeps the bait higher in the water column.

The bobber can be slowly reeled, left to bob with the waves, or jerked to move the lure.

Clear Plastic Bubble Fly Fishing

Clear plastic bubble fly fishing is a style of spin fishing that lets an angler use weightless fly fishing flies. The bobber is usually made of a clear plastic that is heavily weighted. Some types can be filled with water. The bubble is nearly invisible in the water.

The fly is attached to the bubble using a leader—the fly trails behind it as an angler casts and reels.

This rig is popular for situations where a fly rod is unavailable or you’d like to cast long distances. It’s also popular among folks who want to be able to switch between flies and bait. An angler only needs to change the hook to change the lure or fly.

Snap Jigging Fishing

Snap jigging is a lure fishing technique using a blade bait or jigging rap from a boat. As the boat slowly motors, is pushed by the wind, or flows with the river’s current, you snap the rod tip up and slowly let it drop.

Keeping the lure just off the bottom makes loud vibrations in the water and entices a fish to strike the erratic bait.

Topwater Fishing

Topwater fishing is a technique that utilizes high-floating baits like poppers and frogs to skip or bubble along the surface of the water. Aggressive surface-eating fish like largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass will attack a surface bait. This style of fishing is visual and very exciting. You never know when a fish will strike!

Bait Fishing Styles

Bait fishing is similar to lure fishing in that it uses a rod, reel, and line with a hook or “rig” at the end designed for targeting a specific kind of fish or environment. Unlike lures that rely primarily on motion and noise to attract fish, bait fishing relies more heavily on scent.

Bait fishing generally involves infrequent casting and reeling. Instead, you let your bait sit stationary or drift with the water’s current and attract fish to come and find it.

Bottom Fishing

Bottom fishing is one of the most popular types of fishing with bait and uses different bottom fishing rigs. This technique lets the worm, minnow, leech, cut bait, or crayfish sit on the bottom of the river, lake, or sea.

Since fish feed primarily on or around the bottom, bottom fishing is a high-producing technique.

Common bottom fishing rigs include:

• Slip sinker
• Fixed sinker
• Pier rig
• Float rig
• Jighead
• Split shot rig

Bobber Fishing

Bobber fishing is a style of fishing using a float to keep your bait suspended in the water column. These floats are broadly split into two groups: fixed and slip bobbers. Fixed bobbers attach to the line at a certain area and cannot move up or down until you change the orientation.

However, slip bobbers freely slide up or down the line and only stop at a “bobber stop,” which is a piece of thread tied onto the fishing line. The bobber stop is easy to adjust and can be put anywhere on the fishing line.

While a fixed bobber has a max depth of about 6 feet or less, slip bobbers can reach depths of 30 feet or more.

Keiryu Fishing

Keiryu refers to a specific kind of cane fishing pole called a keiryu rod, and this technique is gaining popularity. The exciting and unique fishing experience of catching big fish with a cane rod is second to none.

The keiryu rod is a long rod with a thicker backbone meant to fight larger fish. The bait is attached to the hook on the end of a fixed line and dropped into fish-holding areas.

This technique offers a “drag-free” drift meaning the baits can float with the exact speed of the current. This creates a natural look that won’t scare the fish away.

Without a drag-free drift, fish can tell that something is up and may ignore a bait.

Fly Fishing Styles

Fly fishing is also a form of angling, but it uses different equipment and attracts fish differently than lure or bait fishing. It involves a lot more casting of various types, and it generally takes longer to become proficient at it.

The most distinguishing characteristic of fly fishing is the fly at the end of the line, which attempts to mimic insects (or sometimes small animals) that fish prey upon.

Traditional Fly Fishing

Fly fishing’s origins are unclear because many cultures worldwide have historical records of fishing techniques closely resembling the fly fishing we know today. Early fly lines were made out of horse hair, and flies were often tied as a nondescript bundle of feathers and fur.

However, fly fishing in the US and Europe has a clear history all its own.

These days, fly fishing lines are made of special tapered materials so the flies are easier to cast. Since flies are nearly weightless, the fly line is used to cast the lure using specialty casting techniques such as the roll cast and the overhead cast.

Some different styles of fly fishing include:

• Dry fly fishing
• Streamer fishing
• Terrestrial fishing
• Indicator nymphing
• Swing fishing
• Popper fishing

Euro Nymphing

Euro nymphing is a tight-line fly fishing method using specialty lines and a long fly fishing rod. The flies are heavily weighted. An angler holds the rod directly above the water where it is drifting. To adjust depth, the angler only needs to raise or lower the rod tip.

This style of fishing results in a drag-free drift and is gaining in popularity. Instead of watching a strike indicator (a fly fishing bobber), the angler feels the strike with their hand. This technique is highly effective.

Tenkara Fly Fishing

Tenkara fly fishing is a technique originally created to fish mountain streams in Japan. The thick foliage and quickly moving streams would have made fly fishing with conventional gear nearly impossible.

Early anglers devised a special rod made of long bamboo and a single strand of fine hairline they could use to dabble the fly in high-producing holes and pockets. Specialty flies that kept the fly in the water while keeping tension on the line made this technique perfect for these anglers’ home waters.

Many businesses now offer tenkara rods and kits for anglers worldwide.

Spey Casting Fly Fishing

Spey casting was created to cast heavy salmon flies in waters that didn’t have enough casting room for a traditional fly cast.

The Spey rod is a long, two-handed fishing rod that uses a specialty spey cast to launch the fly. The weighted line uses a water load to bend the rod using the surface tension of the water. As it snaps forward, the line is released from a pre-formed coil in the hands.

The flies are then swung through the water and fish are caught, fought, and landed using special techniques unique to Spey casting.

Specialty Fishing Styles

People have developed numerous ways to attract and harvest fish within their specific region or in harsh environments.

You can’t very well fly fish on a frozen lake or river. Enter ice fishing. That’s just one example. Here are a few common fishing methods developed for specific purposes.

Trolling

Trolling is a technique used for fishing from a boat. Lures and live bait are slowly pulled behind a boat as it travels. This means that the hooks are constantly in motion and is a good technique when looking for fish. It lets you cover water and offer the fish different techniques.

When trolling with bait, spinner rigs on bottom bouncers are very common. The bottom bouncer is a heavyweight with a thick wire that sits vertically in the water. The wire warns an angler when they hit bottom and prevents the rig from becoming stuck.

The spinner rig then trails behind the bottom bouncer with a minnow, worm, or leech while a small spinner swirls around the line.

When trolling with lures, common choices include spoons, spinners, and crankbaits that flutter or wobble as the lure is trolled. The fluttering action causes loud vibrations in the water that mimic live fish.

Centerpin Float Fishing

Centerpin fishing is used primarily for salmon fishing on large rivers. It allows precise control over an angler’s drift using long rods and special reels.

The “centerpin fishing reels” are called so because they have no drag system and instead spin freely around a center pin.

This technique usually involves floating specialty bobber rigs with baits like eggs sacs, fake eggs, and even worms and minnows.

Ice Fishing

When the lakes and rivers freeze over, access to the water is sealed off. However, later in the winter months, when the ice reaches at least 4 inches of clear thickness, there is enough ice so a person can safely walk on it.

Ice fishing is done by drilling a hole through the ice using a giant drill called an auger. Baits and lures are dropped straight down the hole.

Like fishing in the summer, there are specialty rods, reels, baits, and lures made just for this activity. Rods are rarely longer than three feet long, and the reels are often made so you hold part of the reel instead of the grip.

Ayu Fishing

Ayu fishing is unique to Japan and is used when targeting a specific species called ayu. The ayu is very territorial and large ayu will head butt smaller ayu if they get too close to their territory. Ayu anglers catch a small ayu, attach a circular ring to the nose, and then a single free-floating hook is attached near the head.

The smaller Ayu is then swung from a long rod into prime ayu territory as bait. When the larger ayu sitting behind a large rock or in a large eddy sees the smaller ayu in its territory, it will body slam the smaller ayu and get caught by the dangling hook.

This technique is very unique to mountainous regions in Japan and is only used when fishing for ayu.

Other Fishing Topics and Their Styles

Then we have fishing methods that evolved from other activities, like hunting.

Bowfishing

Bowfishing involves using a specialty reel setup on a bow and arrow. A special arrow is attached to the string of a bow-mounted reel and allows a person to reel in a fish after it’s been struck by the arrow.

While not considered fishing by most anglers, bow fishing is gaining in popularity among the bowhunting community as a way to practice their bowhunting skills in the off-season.

Darkroom Spearfishing

Spearfishing is a technique that coincides with the ice fishing season.

First, spear anglers will cut a large hole in the ice using a special ice saw. Then, an ice fishing hut is erected over the hole to block the sunlight from above. This increases the water visibility for the spear hunters in the hut.

A decoy or live sucker is dropped into the hole, and the spear hunter waits for a predatory fish like a northern pike, muskie, or walleye to investigate the struggling food source.

When a fish is close enough, the spear hunter throws a heavily weighted spear resembling a pitchfork. They pin the fish to the bottom of the lake and attempt to lift it out. Curved barbs on the end of the spear prevent the fish from sliding off.

Spearfishing

Spearfishing is an underwater snorkeling technique where participants use a pole spear or spear gun to shoot and capture their quarry. This technique is most common near the ocean.

A spear hunter will do long breath holds as they swim in the water looking for prey. They will shoot the fish, lobster, or other species when they see one and swim back to the surface.

Their speargun is often attached to a float on the water’s surface. Some spearguns have an attached reel that can be used to reel in the fish after it’s been shot. This way, the fish can tire itself out, and the spear fisherman can swim back to the prey on the next breath hold.

Commercial Trawling Fishing

Trawling is a method used only by large boats. It involves setting out long nets that are towed behind a boat. When the net is filled with fish, a trawling boat pulls the net to the surface and drops the load in storage and sorting areas on the boat’s deck.

Trawling is very effective. However, it’s so effective that overfishing can decimate a fishery’s health. Special regulations, research, and studies are in place to prevent this.

Conclusion

The most popular types of fishing are broadly categorized into lure, fly, bait, regional, bow, and commercial.

Regardless of the technique and the type of fish, we should always follow ethical fishing practices. Wetting our hands before touching the fish we plan to release is an excellent way to protect their slime coat.

Doing our research and asking folks for help is a simple way to take our skills to the next level. There are so many different fishing styles, it’s fun to try them all!

Types of Fishing FAQs

What is the most common type of fishing?

The most common type of fishing is bait fishing. Bait fishing is the method that most people use when they first start. Bait fishing is also extremely effective around the world for everything from minnows to sharks.

What is the best type of fishing?

The best type of fishing is based on the water and the fish we are targeting. I determine the best type of fishing for each situation by accounting for factors like time of year, type of fish, weather, gear, and many other things.

The best type of fishing is the one that works at the right time and place on your local waters.

Where is fishing the most popular?

There is no single place where fishing is the most popular. Why? Every region that has access to water has a community of anglers.

That said, fishing is very popular along coastal towns and islands. Many inland states with lots of water, like Minnesota, or unique fishing environments like Colorado are home to thriving fishing communities.

The post The Most Popular Types of Fishing (Common Styles & Methods) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Fall is a transition period for bass from warmer to cooler water and weather. The mornings and evenings of moderate temperature days are the best time to hit shorelines and structure to maximize your chances of hooking into a fall bass.

However, there is more to setting a hook on a green machine in the fall than meets the eye. In this fall bass fishing guide, we will cover early fall bass patterns, including how the fish behave at that time of year and the best fall baits and colors that will help you reel some in.

How To Fish for Bass in Early Fall

Although it is self-explanatory, bass need to eat. The easiest way to target bass throughout any season is to locate bait fish. During the fall, the bait’s location can vary depending on several factors.

Since early fall is a transition period, the variance in temperature, rainfall, hours of daylight, and even animal behavior can leave anglers scratching their heads when their spring hotspot turns out to be a dry hole.

The guidance and tips below will help you better understand how to fish for bass in early fall.

Early Fall Bass Patterns

To know where and how to target bass in the early fall, you first need to learn their patterns. Understanding how they behave, where they go, and when they’re active will help you know how, where, and when to target them.

It’s not the same as summer. Here’s what changes.

Summer to Fall Transition Bass Fishing

The transition from summer to fall for bass is an often overlooked component of angling during one of the most beautiful times of the year.

During the warmer months of late spring through summer, bass tend to adhere to a pattern of the shallows during transition times, such as morning and night, and stick to the deeper parts of any body of water during the hottest part of the day.

Because of this, anglers will usually hit the water just after dawn or before nightfall for the highest chance of hooking into a lunker.

During the early portions of fall, bass hold to a very similar pattern. The weather is still warm enough that the bass will be found in the shallows during the morning and evening, but their windows will extend longer than the warm months of summer.

Water Temperature

As the water temperature drops, early fall is the sweet spot where bass spend most of their time in the shallows, similar to spawning season.

There are two reasons for this. First, the water temperature plays a significant factor in a bass’s location, biting in water between 61°F and 84°F. The sweet spot sits in the 70s, a typical temperature range for fall lakes, ponds, and rivers.

Shallow water gains and loses heat faster than deeper portions of a lake or pond, making them a favorite of smaller baitfish and predators such as bass during early fall.

Because bass will follow the baitfish, which usually school around the structure or hide amongst aquatic vegetation, the shoreline is a safe bet in early fall.

With the temperatures hitting the sweet spot in the 70s, the bass bite ratchets up in preparation for winter. Similar to the feeding frenzy before spawning when bass fatten up for the upcoming activity, these green machines will increase their food intake to prepare for the colder months.

Like a bear preparing for hibernation, these fish will hit on various baits, lures, and insects if placed in front of them.

Best Bass Baits for Fall Transition

Picking the best lures for early fall bass fishing isn’t hard. The bass is stocking up for winter, and as long as the weather isn’t too cold, the baitfish, insects, and some amphibians will be plentiful.

However, a hungry bass is not a dumb one, and selecting a lure or bait that is out of season or not native to the body of water may lead to a wet but empty hook.

While many anglers swear by insect-like lures, fall is the time to break out your favorite imitation minnow swim bait, crankbait, or buzz bait you’ve been hiding in your tackle box.

The bass follows as the baitfish push into the shallow coves, creeks, cuts, and channels during the fall. Sunfish, shad, and other minnows make up most of a bass diet during early fall, so set yourself up for success by picking lures that resemble your local fishing holes’ baitfish.

When it comes to the best colors to use for bass in early fall, stick with neutral to moderately bright lures. Spring and summertime colors like chartreuse, neon, and other shades don’t naturally occur during this time so go with pumpkin seed, deep purples and reds, or burnished silver and gold.

Where Bass Go in Early Fall

There are three primary levels to any lake, pond, or reservoir that bass anglers need to know. These are referred to collectively as the water column.

Below, we cover when and why you should target each.

Top

During the early fall months, the top of the water column is one of the best places to target. From mid-morning until noon, the water temperatures are usually optimal for the bass bite before heating up and sending the bass down into the thermocline. Once temperatures cool later in the day, the bass will usually return to the shallows and be caught in the upper portions of the water column.

The shallows are usually a favorite of largemouth bass, so anglers should expect big heavy strikes from ambush locations. Shallow running crankbaits are a favorite for the upper portion of the water column during early fall. Not only do they resemble the baitfish the bass are chasing, but they also can cover large swathes of water.

Another popular lure for working the upper portions of the water column for early fall bass fishing is my favorite: the top water frog. Although amphibians aren’t a staple in the bass diet, I’ve caught more monster bass with a topwater frog than any other lure. Cast it around lily pads, under docks, or next to vegetation along the shoreline, and watch a topwater explosion, worthy of a National Geographic cover, take your lure.

Thermocline

Also known as the middle of the water column, the thermocline is a consistent sliver of temperate water just above the icy depths but just beneath the warm surface. Bass tend to hang out here when temperatures are changing rapidly as it rarely shifts in temperature and still allows the bass to watch the surface for prey.

During the coldest and warmest parts of the day, I’ve found the smallmouth bass swimming comfortably in the thermocline waiting for the surface to return to optimal temperatures. While not as aggressive as in the shallows or near the surface, I’ve caught plenty of bass in the middle of the water column with the right lures or bait.

Surprisingly, a shad or minnow under a deep cork is one of the most successful setups I’ve used when fishing for bass during the early fall. Dead bait fish usually yield catfish, so make sure your minnow or shad is alive and kicking when you cast them out. Next to the structure or floated past creek or channel mouths, I’ve found this setup to work very well during the middle of the day or night fishing for bass during the early fall.

Soft plastics are another lure I use when angling for bass during the early fall. Pumpkin seed lizards or worms weighted with a slip sinker allow anglers to cover plenty of water at the proper depth. These lures are easy to retrieve and can be rigged weedless, making them a great choice around structure.

Bottom

The bottom of the water column is the least likely spot to find bass during early fall unless a storm or a heat wave occurs.

Here in south Louisiana, it wouldn’t be early fall if a tropical storm or hurricane didn’t roll through. The wind and waves churn up the surface of every body of water, stirring up silt and pulling every dead or dying leaf off trees and dumping them into the lake or pond.

On the handful of occasions I’ve fished as a storm moves in, I’ve found that Texas or Carolina Rigs have been miracle workers. Everything from massive lunkers to hungry cats have bitten on the plastic worms or small minnows I’ve hooked and placed on the bottom.

During heat waves, the bass will seek respite from the hot surface level and head down to the coldest portions of any lake, pond, or reservoir. While this means the bite will be slower, anglers will still be able to catch their share of these green-eating machines using bottom rigs.

Similar to the cork set up for fishing the thermocline, you must use live minnows or shad as dead fish attract catfish or, in some cases, pickerel or gar.

Where to Target Bass in Early Fall

When it comes to angling during the early fall, location is everything. The following is a list of locations anglers should target when out on the water during early fall to rip lips with trophy bass.

1. Stumps

Although anglers may not be able to see them, stumps are a common occurrence throughout freshwater, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. With a root system that branches out, forming a nebulous web of cover, these are an excellent ambush site for bass and should be targeted if you can locate them with a fishfinder or by eye.

2. Shoreline

It’s always a safe bet to target the shoreline when the sun is out and the weather is warm. Aside from the middle of the day, casting against structure or vegetation on the shoreline or working your way down the bank is a surefire way to find out if there are bass in the water.

3. Docks

While most people consider docks to be a staging point for boats or to fish from, beneath the dock itself is often a haven for bait fish, and bass are hungry predators. Particularly during the warmest parts of the day, docks provide shade for bass and can be targeted by boat or from the shore.

4. Drop-offs

This is where a fishfinder comes in handy. If anglers can locate drop-offs, there’s a good chance that big fish are waiting just beneath the rise. They’re lying in wait for the tide to bring them bait, fish, or to seek respite from the warm, sun-beaten surface water.

5. Creeks

In most large lakes and reservoirs, feeder creeks are filled with bait fish and cut deeply into the shoreline. These are often the hunting grounds for large bass during the morning and evening hours. Anglers can target those by the bank or cast into the creek and retrieve them towards its mouth by boat.

6. Undercut Banks

Undercut banks are a favorite of large catfish and bass in rivers and large streams. Working a cork or a soft plastic past, these hiding spots are a great way to figure out what’s lurking beneath the surface.

7. Vegetation

Most waterways in North America have some form of aquatic vegetation within their footprint. This is a favorite of bass as it provides concealment for ambushing prey and cover from its much larger predators. Placing a Topwater frog or weedless plastic amongst the vegetation is a great way to rip lips with trophy bass.

Best Time to Fish in Early Fall

The time of day plays a massive role in bass patterns throughout the early fall. Due to temperature, fluctuations, light, variance, and weather systems, it’s essential to understand each segment of the day, when to target, and how anglers can capitalize on each.

Morning

Morning is probably one of the most angled times throughout the day. It is a temperature-rising, light-increasing environment where fish begin their daily feeding cycle as the water warms. Most early fall, bass and bait fish will transition into the shallows from just after sunrise until temperatures reach numbers that force them back into the thermocline or beneath the structure.

Anglers should pay attention to the weather cycle of the night before and the moon cycle, as this can affect the bite and the hours the fish are active throughout the day. For instance, a full moon the night before means anglers should probably head out later in the morning as the fish have been feeding all night.

Alternatively, little to no moon means the anglers should be out on the water as early as possible to catch the ravenous fish heading out for breakfast.

Early fall mornings are usually moderate in temperature, so anglers won’t have to worry about the water warming up for feeding to begin. That said, cold snaps do happen, so paying attention to the weather cycle is vital to know when to hit the water in the morning.

When it comes to lures, I’ve always found it’s best to start your day off with a bang. I prefer buzz baits, topwater, or soft plastics when targeting bass during the mornings. These often make quite the splash and are great for targeting cuts, coves, creeks, and channels.

Midday

Probably the slowest time of day on the water is midday or noon. There is a lull in the bite and many anglers call it quits. However, if you understand the bass pattern, it can be easy to make the most out of the hottest part of the day.

During the sun’s zenith, anglers usually find that bass head to deeper water to escape the heat and only return when the surface temperatures have reached acceptable feeding levels. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t catch bass in the thermocline or lower portions of the water column during the middle of the day.

For the most part, early fall days will be warm around noon and likely sunny. This means anglers should target deep structure, drop-offs, or shaded portions of water with submerged vegetation. All of these provide cover for bass until water temperatures return to normal.

The one exception is if a cold snap rolls through, in which case bass may prefer to feed during the warmer portions of the day and may be found in the shallows.

During the early fall, I have found that spinnerbaits or deep corks yield the best results for mid-day lures or baits. This is because they tend to sit deeper into the water column and provide an excellent presentation in murky water.

Deep corks, baited with small sunfish, minnows, shad, and Texas rigs baited the same way, have yielded excellent results during the middle of the day in early fall bass fishing. Spinner baits allow anglers to cover more water, and as an active option, anglers can work from a boat or shoreline to target, submerge, structure or dropbox.

Evening

Evening bass fishing during the early fall is one of the most active times of day to hit the water. The golden hours between late afternoon and sunset tend to be the least affected by temperature or weather as bass make one last run for food before the darkness sets in.

As the setting sun illuminates the water with its golden rays, it’s not uncommon to see large topwater strikes or schools of bait fish being blown out of the water by a hungry bass. Anglers’ best bet during this time of day is to stick to the shallows. Shorelines, cuts, and coves make for some excellent fishing, particularly around aquatic vegetation and structure.

I find that docks are some of the best locations to angle around during the latter part of the day, as bass are transitioning from beneath the structure as shade and begin hunting the surrounding shoreline.

Getting under these docks can be tricky, but the evening hours is the time to use both midday rigs and morning lures to figure out what the bass are biting on. A deep cork or topwater frog retrieved out from the underside of a dock can work magic. Anglers can also use a crankbait or soft plastic along the shoreline with great success.

Night

Nighttime angling is an often overlooked opportunity to rip lips with some trophy bass during the early fall. With the weather still relatively temperate, anglers can catch the tail end of the summer night fishing high for a cooler yet beautiful time on the water.

Nighttime fishing largely relies on the weather and the moon cycle cooperating. If these two factors line up, anglers should ensure their drag is set, as some of the largest bass I’ve ever caught have been at night from late August through mid-October.

Drawing in the bait fish is the trick to angling for bass at night. Most often done from a dock, I’ve seen underwater lights and chum used to bring in the bait, and the hungry bass lurks just outside the submerged illumination.

Working directly around the structure, deep corks and crankbaits tend to work well, while the shoreline is ripe for the picking with spinnerbaits.

Pro Tip: Silver spoons work best at night.

Early Fall Bass Fishing Tips

Here are a few tips to help you successfully fish for bass in the early fall.

1. Hit the Docks

Underneath docks tends to be one of the most successful locations when fishing for bass during the early fall.

2. Watch the Wind

Wind can help anglers determine where the fish are. Locate a structure that shelters water, whether on a river, pond, or lake, and fish the protected water where bass lay up in wait for bait.

3. Colors

The color of your bait is critical. Gold spoons tend to work very well in the daytime during the early fall. While spring and summer bring colorful insects, amphibians, and small fish, fall is a time for more neutral, toned lures such as silver, gold, deep reds, purples, and greens.

4. Temperature Time Bomb

The early fall window is short, often no longer than a month. During this time, the weather is spectacular for bass fishing, with largemouths preferring the warmer waters closer to summer, and smallmouth activity picking up as the weather cools.

Anglers should capitalize on this sweet spot but watch for variances like heatwaves, or cold snaps to help them determine which day is best to hit the water.

Conclusion

Bass fishing is one of the most popular pastimes in North America, and there’s no better time to hit the water than early fall. Not only are the views spectacular, the weather pleasant, and the days long, but the bass activity is second to none.

Check out our winter bass fishing article for more on seasonal bass fishing.

Recommended reading: What Makes a Good Tube Fishing Rod

The post Early Fall Bass Patterns (Behavior, Baits and Colors) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Thanks to conservation efforts, however, sturgeon have found refuge in many areas around the United States.

There are generally a lot of regulations and restrictions around sturgeon fishing. Short seasons, barbless hooks, and wet release requirements are a few of the rules you’ll need to commit to before attempting to reel in a dinosaur.

For the most part sturgeon fishing will be catch and release only, though a very limited harvest in some states. But that doesn’t make it any less fun.

Sturgeon fishing can be done both legally and responsibly. But first you need to know where to catch sturgeon.

Most sturgeon are anadromous, meaning they spawn in freshwater and migrate to saltwater. In North America, sturgeon primarily live in freshwater lakes or rivers. Deep rivers of the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes region generally offer the best sturgeon fishing opportunities in the US.

We have compiled a helpful list of where you can find and fish for sturgeon throughout the US. We have broken it up into three main areas: Pacific Northwest, Midwest & Great Lakes, and Other Areas in the US.

Where to Catch Sturgeon: Pacific Northwest

Some of the best sturgeon fishing in North America is found along the Columbia River, and its estuaries, in Oregon and Washington.

The white sturgeon, found along the West Coast, is the largest freshwater fish in North America. It is the largest sturgeon that you can catch, reaching lengths of 10-20 feet. They can weigh in at up to a whopping 2000 pounds. However, most are under 10 feet and weigh around 500 pounds.

You have many options to choose from when it comes to sturgeon fishing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and beyond. Here we outline the best spots. Remember to check the regulations and current rules before you head out on a fishing trip.

Related: How to Fish for Sturgeon: A Complete Guide to a Huge Catch

Columbia River Estuary

The Columbia River is probably the best-known area for sturgeon fishing. And the Columbia River Estuary is thick with food for these beasts, so it has sturgeon all year round. But the most popular time to fish for them is during the late spring and early summer when the numbers are high and seasons open.

Here are a few spots to try:

• Astoria: There’s an area off the northwest shore of Astoria called Desdemona Sands. It’s a shallow area north of the deep shipping channel.
• Baker Bay: There are other shallow spots in this bay, near Chinook and Ilwaco, that are great for catching sturgeon and aren’t as challenging to get to.

Be sure you are mindful of other fishermen and be especially careful to stay out of the shipping channel and away from the big ships. They have the right-of-way and you should give them a wide berth.

Near Portland

If you are in the Portland/Vancouver area and want to get out sturgeon fishing, there are a lot of great areas to do so. Be prepared to have some crowds since you’re so close to two major cities. But this can be a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and try to find a dinosaur.

• Government Island, on the Washington side of the island
• Kelly Point Park area, at the mouth of the Willamette River
• Sauvie Island, on the tip of the island near Warrior Rock
• Scappoose Bay
• St. Helens

There are sturgeon in these areas year-round, but it’s best to fish for them during the colder and wetter months of November through March.

Bonneville Dam Area

The Bonneville Dam, on the Columbia River, has been a very popular site for sturgeon fishing for a long time. Due to the falling population, sturgeon fishing has become very heavily regulated in this area. Be sure to check the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife site for updated rules and regulations.

Sturgeon fishing is only open for catch and release in this area, but don’t let that stop you. Fighting one of these huge fish is a rite of passage and a ton of fun. There are only certain dates and times it’s open, so check the website and book a trip.

Upper Colombia River

Portions of the Columbia River above the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington have opened to sturgeon fishing in recent years. This area is open under emergency regulations, so you will need to check fishing regulations regularly to be sure you are in compliance.

For the 2022 fishing season, this area was open from Grand Coulee Dam to China Bend Boat Ramp. It was declared open from June 18-September 30, 2022. Check for announcements regarding the 2023 season for white sturgeon.

Snake River

There are certain portions of the Snake River that are best for sturgeon fishing.

Southern Idaho: According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the best sturgeon fishing in the state is in and around C.J. Strike Reservoir. This 65-mile stretch of the Snake River is some of the best sturgeon fishing in the state.

“The healthiest populations of white sturgeon remaining in Idaho are found in the free-flowing stretch of the Snake River between the Bliss Dam and the upper end of C.J. Strike Reservoir in southern Idaho.” – IDFG

North/Central Idaho: Hells Canyon has produced some of the biggest sturgeon caught in Idaho. The most popular areas are between the Hells Canyon Dam in western Idaho down to Lower Granite Dam in eastern Washington.

Where to Catch Sturgeon: Midwest & Great Lakes

Like many areas of the US, commercial fishing and habitat loss lead to a decline in the population of sturgeon. With conservation efforts, numbers are now rebounding and sturgeon are returning to their native waters.

The midwestern US and Great Lakes regions have seen a great rebound in their sturgeon numbers. While this is a very large area, we have outlined a few spots for you to go find that monster sturgeon of your dreams.

You can have some success in the Greak Lakes, but you will see your opportunities increase the farther north you go. The more you can fish upriver, the more likely you will succeed.

Related: Best Bait for Sturgeon Fishing

The Rainy River

With the right gear and patience, anglers can find Lake Sturgeon in various spots in Minnesota. Some of the most successful areas are:

• The Rainy River
• 4 Mile Bay
• Lake of the Woods

In any of these areas, it’s best to fish in deep holes in the river. Position yourself just upstream from the hole to try to snag the sturgeon as they swim up current to feed.

The St. Croix River

This is a popular spot for Anglers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area. Just 20 minutes east of St. Paul will get you into some great fishing spots on the river.

The season opens in June, but the fishing won’t be great until the temperature starts to cool off. When the fall temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit kick in, you know it’s time to head to the river.

Where to Catch Sturgeon: Other Areas of the US

We have listed some of the areas with the largest sturgeon populations. But this is by no means an exhaustive list. Here are some additional areas you could look into if you’re looking to fish for sturgeon closer to where you live.

• Missouri River
• Upper, Mid- and Lower-Mississippi River
• Mississippi Delta
• Gulf Coast
• San Francisco Bay Area, California

Conclusion

Sturgeon fishing is a thrill of a lifetime. These monsters will give you a run for your money. If you are able to reel one in, you will have a souvenir photo like none other.

Regulations vary widely depending on where you go, the time of year, and the type of sturgeon. So, be sure to check with the local fish and game office before you head out.

The post Where to Catch Sturgeon: Rivers, Lakes & Oceans by US Region appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Fluorocarbon is a type of fishing line that is UV resistant and reflects light, so it looks clear in the water. Floroclear is a proprietary fishing line coated in fluorocarbon, so it looks clear while in water. However, it is not entirely made of fluorocarbon.

While fluorocarbon is a type of fishing line made by many different manufacturers, Floroclear is a unique product made by a company called P-Line. Floroclear is essentially a lower-cost alternative to fluorocarbon.

More information about the differences between Floroclear and fluorocarbon is included below. We’ll also discuss the disadvantages of a fluorocarbon fishing line.

What are the Differences Between Floroclear and Fluorocarbon

P-Line Floroclear Filler Spool

$8.68

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 01:25 pm GMT

Fluorocarbon Fishing Line

$11.68

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 12:09 am GMT

The main difference between Floroclear and fluorocarbon is what these fishing lines are made out of. Floroclear is a fishing line that is coated in fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon fishing lines are made out of fluoropolymer PVDF.

Both fishing lines are highly reflective and seem to disappear when they are in the water. This makes both of them effective lines in most scenarios.

There are, however, some important distinctions between the two.

Weight

Fluorocarbon is slightly heavier than Floroclear, so it sinks into the water slightly. This is helpful when you are trying to catch fish that typically swim deep in the water rather than stay near the surface.

Price

Floroclear is typically cheaper than fluorocarbon, as it typically costs between $9 and $55 depending on the retailer and the length of the spool. Fluorocarbon typically costs between $11 and $139.

Durability

Floroclear is considered stronger than fluorocarbon because fluorocarbon often becomes brittle as you use it. This is irritating when you have done the hard work to catch a fish and then the line breaks while you’re reeling it in. Now you’ve lost your line, hook, and your prize-winning and record-breaking catch.

Floroclear is slightly more durable than fluorocarbon. This is partially because the P-Line co-polymer in the interior of the line is stronger than fluorocarbon. And because Floroclear is coated in fluorocarbon, there is an extra layer of material to prevent Floroclear fishing line from breaking.

What are the Disadvantages of Fluorocarbon Line?

There are several disadvantages to using fluorocarbon fishing line. Fluorocarbon is not always ideal because it can be:

• stiff and brittle
• more prone to slipping when tying knots
• more expensive than Floroclear
• difficult to cast long distances
• too stiff for spinning rods

In many cases, anglers opt to use fluorocarbon only as a leader. This can help conceal the end of the line that the bait is attached to from suspicious fish. Given the added cost of fluorocarbon compared to monofilament fishing line, this also helps keep the cost down.

Despite the disadvantages, there are ways to optimize your rigging with flurocarbon.

Is P-Line Floroclear Good Fishing Line?

P-line Floroclear is an excellent fishing line and is preferred by many because of its durability. It has the lightweight and reflective benefits of a fluorocarbon fishing line but is more durable and slightly cheaper than pure fluorocarbon.

Floroclear is also preferred for its reduced memory and increased castability.

What Is the Best Knot for P-Line Floroclear?

There are four different knots that work well when using a P-line Floroclear fishing line:

• Palomar Knot
• Snell Knot
• San Diego Jam Knot
• Clinch Knot

The best knot varies depending on your knotting skills, what type of fish you want to catch, and what type of lure you are currently using.

The Palomar knot is an extremely easy knot to tie. It is often used because of its strength, but you need 8-12 inches of fishing line to tie it properly.

The Snell knot is slightly more difficult and time-consuming than the Palomar knot, but it takes less fishing line to tie properly.

The San Diego Jam knot is solid, even stronger than the Palomar knot, but it is extremely time-consuming to tie. If you are confident that you can tie the San Diego Jam knot, we recommend tying this one with your P-line Floroclear fishing line.

The Clinch knot is one of the best-known knots for attaching your line to a hook, lure, or swivel. It is relatively easy to tie, but some beginner fishermen may find it difficult.

Conclusion

P-Line Floroclear Filler Spool

$8.68

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 01:25 pm GMT

Fluorocarbon Fishing Line

$11.68

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 12:09 am GMT

Fluorocarbon and Floroclear fishing lines look extremely similar because of their reflective properties, but they are different.

Before deciding which one to use on any given fishing trip, you’ll want to consider your target fish, where they live, and how big they are.

If going deep in the water with your line is most important, the weight of fluorocarbon could be the most helpful.

On the other hand, if you’re using a spinning rod, then P-Line Floroclear could be your go-to.

Both will virtually disappear in the water. This should help you catch the fish of your dreams.

The post Floroclear vs Fluorocarbon: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

To start fishing with your kids, you’ll need a fishing rod and reel, some basic tackle, and bait. You will also want to bring snacks and a healthy dose of both patience and enthusiasm in order to have a successful fishing trip with your kids.

We’ve done the hard work for you and have made some simple lists.

Read on for some helpful details and examples of how to make your fishing trips both successful and memorable. You’ll want to create happy memories so that your kids will want to go again and again.

Basic Gear That You’ll Need When Taking Kids Fishing

When you take kids fishing, start by just taking the basics. Until your kids really start getting serious about catching fish, just bring a fishing rod and a simple tackle box. Kids will be excited by whatever you bring, but you don’t want it to be too overwhelming (or messy)!

Here’s a simple list of what you could include in your gear and tackle box:

• Fishing rod and reel
• Extra fishing line
• Needle nose pliers to remove hooks from the fish’s mouth
• Bobbers to keep your bait at the right depth (and more importantly for this trip, to help your little ones see when a fish is on their line)
• Lures or bait to attract the fish
• Swivels to keep your line from twisting and change bait more easily
• Barbless hooks of different sizes for different fish
• Ruler to measure your catches
• Knife to cut line or other debris
• Flashlight because it can never be too bright for nimble work
• First-aid kit because you need to protect yourself (and your kids) from cuts and infections
• Sunscreen because you’ll be exposed
• Wipes for washing dirty or sticky hands
• Hand sanitizer for cleaning hands before snack time or going home

Just about any spinning or spincasting rod and reel will do to get started. But avoid a baitcaster at first. They take a little finesse to use and new youth anglers will probably get frustrated as they end up untangling their line all day.

Use barbless hooks so if or when the kid hooks their finger or clothes, it’s slightly less of an ordeal to get it out.

When it comes to things like hook sizes and baits, the specific types you need will depend on where you’re going. The best thing you can do is to go to a bait shop or sporting goods store near the location you’re going to fish. Ask the guy that works there what to use.

Avoid complicated baits, but a few different bait options will make it fun. If you’re fishing for trout get a spinner, barbless hooks, Power Bait, and worms.

When in doubt, get some #4 barbless hooks and nightcrawlers.

Fishing on a Boat? Add These Items to Your List:

When you’re fishing from a boat, there are a few more safety hazards and logistics to consider. It’s always best to be overprepared, so add a few things to the boat before you go.

Here’s a simple list of things to add when fishing from a boat:

• Life jackets for all, making sure to have the right size for all children
• Hats to protect little faces from the sun
• Spare dry clothes
• Jackets
• Towels

Life jackets are the most important, and not just because it’s the law. This is another chance to model safety for your kids. Talk to them about why life jackets are mandatory on boats, and what to do if they fall in the water.

Let Kids Explore the Tackle Box

You know that as soon as they see that fun little box, your kids will want to pull everything out and see what it’s all about. Rather than letting the little buggers destroy everything, tell them that they can look but not touch anything…yet.

Once they’ve looked with just their eyes, let them hold and discover a few of the (safe) items. You can use their excitement to teach them what the different items are for. Try to let them handle and become familiar with as many things as possible. This will keep them interested and motivated, and they’ll also feel empowered.

Related: What Kids Should Wear Fishing (Printable Checklist)

How To Have a Successful Fishing Trip with Kids

Before you can teach anyone else to fish, you’ve got to know the basics yourself. This is especially true when teaching kids. If all you know are the basics, just teach the basics. As you learn and become more confident, you can teach your kids more and more.

Keep Kids Engaged

When you’re out teaching kids how to fish, it is not the time to try something new. Stick with what you know well and make that fun and engaging for the kids.

Kids need to know basic rules and regulations, but they don’t need to know all the specifics and details right away. Teach them about size regulations by helping them measure each fish they catch. Teach by doing, not just talking.

While your line is in the water, ask your kids questions about what’s going on around them. Ask questions that help them notice the wind, the sounds, what their line (or bobber) is doing, etc.

Encourage your kids to ask whatever questions they have. They may surprise you with what they notice or don’t understand. Get excited about what your kids are talking about. When kids offer their opinions on something, it is a way for them to take ownership of the situation.

Keep Kids Safe

An important concept that needs immediate attention is safety. You don’t need to scare the poor youngsters, but you do want them to understand that safety is #1.

There will be many safety rules to practice with kids. Start with the most basic (and important!) and then move on to technical things.

You might start by showing them how to safely walk around the water, whether on a dock, boat, or the shore. Let them test out different surfaces and show them how to take little steps and watch where they’re going.

Rather than assuming that your child understands this, go ahead and model for them so they can see it before they try it on their own.

Once you start fishing, there will be a whole host of safety hazards: hooks, fishing line tangles, bait that looks tasty to youngsters, etc. But never fear! By slowing down and taking one thing at a time, kids will quickly learn how to stay safe.

After all, they’ll understand that in order to get to go fishing again they’ll need to follow the rules. And you can bet they’ll be motivated! So take some time to teach them how to safely handle a rod, line, and hook, and how to safely cast and pull in a fish. They’ll feel so grown up and excited and all your hard work and dedication will be worth it!

Keep It Short

It’s important, too, to be conscious of children’s attention span. Plan your first hands-on experience to be a short one and go during a good time of day. There is no need for a long drive, a long boat ride, or hours holding a rod. This could leave a bad taste in your mouth (and your kids’s) and you don’t want that.

By keeping the outing short and sweet, you won’t overextend anyone and you’ll leave the kids wanting more. Try it out for an hour, then maybe next time go for two. Having simple snacks nearby may extend your window, so stuff your pockets with a couple of surprises.

Keep Your Cool

Finally, your patience is going to be key. Kids need positive reinforcement, especially when they make mistakes. You will be cast in the uber-important role of the empathetic expert. Ask yourself what you want the young ones to take away from the experience besides the fishing.

Indeed, you want them to consider it a bonding experience, even if they’re too young to be able to define it. When it’s over, and you ask them if they want to go again, you’ll want to hear that resounding, “YES!” So much of that will depend on the feelings they have when they’re with you. So take some deep breaths and feel the love!

What Is a Good Age To Take a Child Fishing?

You can take your child fishing as soon as they’re old enough to hold a rod and follow simple rules. For most kids, this will be around age 3 or 4. If fishing is of utmost importance to you, go ahead and take them out sooner.

If your kid has a hard time sitting still or following directions, you might want to wait until age 5 or 6. You know your kid best, so be realistic and consider when they could have a good time while being safe.

What Are the Rules for Fishing With Kids?

Rules and regulations for fishing vary by state. Every state has some licensing rules in order to fish. Generally, kids under a certain age (often 14, 16 or 18) are allowed to fish for free and without a license. In some states, however, kids can fish without a license as long as they’re with an adult who is carrying a fishing license. Check your local fish and game site for rules in your state.

There are also rules by state about catch limits, catch and release protocols, and size details. These vary, of course, but the good news is that you don’t have to know the fishing codes for the entire country, only your location.

Before you take the kids out, make it a point to review these rules so that you can pass them along. For instance, if you catch a perch in your local pond and it’s too small to keep, don’t simply throw it back in silence. Rather, explain why you aren’t allowed to keep it.

When it comes to what you need to start fishing with kids, your patience and enthusiasm are your biggest assets. That coupled with your fully stocked tackle box and pockets of snacks, you’ll be all set for a great day of fishing with your kids.

For more gear tips on getting started with fishing, check out our Beginner’s Fishing Gear Guide.

The post What You Need to Start Fishing with Kids (Basic Gear & Tips) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

A fish finder detects fish within a cone shape starting at the transducer beneath the boat. In the standard vertical view, a fish finder will display the fish and structure below the boat, but with a slight time delay. So when you spot a fish on your display, you likely want to cast to where your boat was just moments prior.

To use a fish finder properly, you need to know how they work, what kind of data they are showing you, and how to read them correctly.

Where Fish Finders Look and Where to Cast

Sometimes it can be hard to tell where the fish are, even if the fish finder is showing you. You must know how to read your fish finder so that you can actually get to the fish. You don’t want to be out on the water when you realize that you have no idea what you’re looking at, let alone where to cast.

It is important to note that most recreational grade fish finders do not display a real-time or live image. They display an image that was recorded (or measured) moments prior. While most fish finders take a new sonar reading at a rate of at least 30 times per second, the image on your screen is a model of what was recorded over several seconds.

This is why you may see fish pop on and off the screen. Fish are not inanimate objects and they aren’t necessarily going to hang out in view of your fish finder while you figure out exactly where to throw your bait.

There are exceptions and newer, more expensive systems can display in near real-time. This makes your fish finder more like watching a tv show as opposed to a map being plotted.

That said, you need to think of your fish finder as a record of recent history. So if it shows a lunker right below the boat and you’re in motion, at best that lunker is now 20 yards behind the boat, and there’s a good chance he’s moved on.

Where your fish finder is looking varies slightly depending on the view you have on your display. Let’s take a look at some common views and modes of fish finders.

Vertical View

By default most fish finders show the information that the sonar waves returned in a vertical, or profile view. It’s like looking at the broad side of a slice of bread.

At the bottom of the screen, you will see the bottom of the river or lake, directly below your boat at the time the image was recorded. That would be like the bottom crust of your slice of bread. At the top of the screen, you will see the surface of the water (top crust of the bread). In the middle you will see fish, plants, and rocks, though sometimes they can be hard to tell apart.

If you’re on the move and you see a fish in the lower right side of your display in vertical view, that fish is probably now off the starboard side of the stearn of your boat, and down pretty deep.

But if you are stationary, like when you anchor or hold steady with the trolling motor, and you see a fish displayed in the upper left, that fish is likely near the surface of the water off to your port side either at a beam or straight off the bow.

Downscan

Sometimes it can be hard to see the fish on the screen when they are hidden within weed beds. Some fish finders will have a structure downscan option. This shows you what is directly beneath your boat. (And slightly in front and behind your boat, too.)

When using downscan, it will look like there are many light blue-colored things on a dark background. The fish will usually show up as clusters of blue with small arches of yellow and orange.

Downscan is better at indicating the difference between fish and other things in the environment, like weeds. You will be able to pick the fish out from the rest because of the arches of yellow and orange.

Sidescan

You can see how deep the fish are with the downscan sonar, but you won’t easily be able to figure out whether to cast on the right or left side. That is where sidescan comes in. If your transmitter can shoot a horizontal beam, you can tell how far the fish are to either side of your boat.

Features and fish on the right side of the screen will be off to the starboard (right) side of the boat. Whereas those on the left side of the screen will be off to the port (left) side of the boat.

Using both the sidescan and the downscan features of your fish finder, you can figure out exactly how far away and how deep the fish are so that you can cast in the right spot.

Note that different fish finders have different functions. On some of the more sophisticated systems the transducer can pivot independently of the boat. So it may not always be aligned with the boat’s orientation.

Now that you know what you’re looking at, you can locate the fish near your boat and know where it is that you need to cast.

How Does a Fish Finder Work?

There’s nothing more peaceful than getting out on a boat in the middle of a quiet lake, casting a line, and reeling in some fish. However, you don’t want it to be too peaceful and quiet because that means you haven’t caught anything. Having a fish finder makes it easier to find fish so that you can catch more.

A fish finder uses Sound Navigation and Ranging (sonar) to locate fish in the water. There is a transmitter that you attach to part of the boat beneath the water. This transmitter sends out sonar waves emitted in a cone shape. The tip of the cone is at the transmitter, and the waves steadily grow in size until they hit bottom.

The fish finder shows where the fish are in this cone area because the sonar waves bounce off anything in that zone and reflect to the transmitter.

The fish finder will take this information and use it to determine the location and size of anything in that cone shape. It will display this information on the screen.

When you look at a fish finder, you see what the sonar waves have hit on their way down to the bottom. They are showing you what is in that cone-shaped area beneath the boat.

What You See On Screen

Not all fish finders show cute little graphics of fish. Some fish finders will translate the raw data for you and guess which objects floating in the water are fish, but others won’t. Instead, they show what looks like, to an untrained eye, blobs of red, orange, yellow, and blue on a light background.

The color represents the strength of the waves that return to the transducer. The wave strength is affected by the density and hardness of the object.

Fish usually show up on a fish finder as arches or dots. A larger fish will be easier for the fish finder to locate and so will show up as an arch. The thicker the arch, the larger the fish. Smaller fish are harder for the fish finder to locate, so they are generally just seen as collections of small blue dots.

Other Features of a Fish Finder

Many fish finders also have depth, temperature, and speed sensors. The depth finder can tell how deep the water beneath your boat is. This gives you an idea of the types of fish that could potentially live there. The depth is typically displayed in the top left corner.

Some fish finders can also gauge the temperature of the water. This feature can help you locate species of fish that prefer warm or cool environments. Some fish finders also have a speed sensor that can tell you how fast you are going.

These features may not seem as crucial as locating fish beneath your boat. But they can help you figure out what kind of fish you will likely catch. Better yet, you’ll know where the specific type of fish you are looking for might be.

Recommended:

Best Fish Finders Reviewed and Tested (Hands-on Guide)

Hands-on Guide to the Best Fish Finders for Kayaks

Best Portable Fish Finders Reviewed and Tested (Hands-on Guide)

The post Where is My Fish Finder Looking? (Understand Where to Cast) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.