Fishing for Dummies - Greg Schwipps

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Résumé :

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 3

Icons Used in This Book 3

Beyond the Book 4

Where to Go From Here 4

Part 1: Before the Bite 5

Chapter 1: Getting Hooked on Fishing 7

Why Fish? 8

For the outdoors 9

For the enjoyment 9

For the table 10

Where Should You Fish? 10

Fishing freshwater 10

Fishing saltwater 11

What are You Fishing For? 11

Common freshwater catches 11

Common saltwater catches 12

What Do You Need to Fish? 12

Picking up fishing essentials 14

Adding to your angling arsenal 15

How Do You Fish? 15

Casting around: Basic and fly 16

Finding freshwater fish 16

Basic techniques for saltwater fishing 17

Fish On! Now What? 17

It's not hunting: You can release fish 18

But fish taste great, and you can keep a few, too 18

Chapter 2: Gathering What You Need to Fish 19

Dressing for Fishing Success 20

Wear layers and always be happy 20

Pack your foul-weather bag 21

Pick a good hat 22

Pull on waders to wander into the fish's world 23

Vests: Great for wading 25

Carrying Just What You Need to Fish 27

Start with your rod and reel 27

Pick a tackle carrier and load up 27

Don't forget food and drink for yourself 28

Tucking Your Fishing License in a Safe Spot 29

When you need a license 30

Where to buy fishing licenses 30

Chapter 3: Finding Good Fishing Water 31

Knowing Where to Go 32

Fish the one you're with: Finding fishing water close to home 33

Finding fish when you're on the road 34

Getting the Scoop 34

From bait shops 35

From online forums 35

From guides 36

From YouTube celebrities 36

When no one knows: Walk the bank 36

Evaluating Freshwater Sites 37

Ponds 37

Streams and rivers (big and small) 38

Lakes and reservoirs 39

Where NOT to fish 40

Evaluating Saltwater Sites 41

Tidal inlets, marshes, streams, and bays 41

Surf fishing 44

Fishing piers 45

Finding the Right Time to Fish 46

Watching the Weather 47

Planning a trip around the weather 47

Reacting to changing weather while fishing 48

Chapter 4: Putting a Face on the Fins: Common Freshwater Fish 49

Sunfish 50

Bluegills: America's spunky little sweetheart 50

Crappies: A little bigger, and a bit sportier 50

Largemouth bass: The most important gamefish in America 51

Smallmouth: The gamest fish 52

Catfish 54

Blue catfish: King of the big water 54

Flathead catfish: Denizens of the deep lair 55

Channel catfish: Prince of the pond 56

Bullhead catfish: Tough as they come 56

Perch 57

Walleye: Popular like a largemouth, toothy like a pike 57

Yellow perch: Food for everyone 58

Pike 58

Northern pike: Water wolf 59

Chain pickerel: Pike junior 59

Temperate Bass 60

Striped bass: Strong enough for saltwater, happy in freshwater 60

White bass: Little fighters 61

Wipers: A bit of both 61

Carp 62

Trout 63

Rainbow trout: High jumpers 63

Brown trout: The champ of the stream 64

Brook trout: Sentimental favorites 65

The cutthroat: Yellowstone beauty 66

Lake trout: Big macks 67

Pacific salmon: Not just in the Pacific anymore 67

Atlantic salmon: The leaper 68

Chapter 5: Familiarizing Yourself with Common Saltwater Fish 71

Bluefish 72