When kids tie a string to a stick and drop it into the water, it’s the most basic form of freshwater fishing. Any fishing that occurs in water with minimal or no salt content falls under the realm of freshwater fishing, which is a major sport fishing category.
Freshwater fishing are the most versatile type of fishing an angler can do. Within freshwater fishing, the type of water determines the fishing method used. Lakes and ponds are still water environments, while rivers and streams are moving water environments.
You can enjoy freshwater fishing from many different locations. You can cast your line from shore, stake out a spot on a dock, or kayak into shallow waters. In larger lakes, you can take a boat out and fish in deeper water, which often has bigger fish.
As with any type of fishing, the water environment and the type of fish you want to catch will affect your choice of fishing gear, your bait and lures, and even your technique. You can use several techniques from bait casting to trolling and from drift fishing to chumming.
Many beginning anglers use bait casting without even knowing the name for the technique. In bait casting, you rely on the lure’s weight to reach the right depth. The heavier the lure the deeper the hook will sink. Tolling is a boat fishing method that depends on keeping a steady pace, usually at six knots, with the fishing line trolling behind the boat.
Drift fishing is similar to trolling, but it doesn’t use a controlled speed. Instead, you let the wind current move your boat at its whim. Chumming is a technique where you bait the water with chopped up bits of fish. The chum spreads across the surface of the water and attracts fish.
With these options, there’s no reason not to enjoy freshwater fishing.