Freshwater Fishing

Freshwater fishing is when you are catching fish in lakes and rivers that are not full of salt water. The most common fish caught in this type of fishing are: bass, trout, catfish, and sunfish. These fish are all very different from each other and should be fished for in different ways. They are also very fun to fish for and with the exception of carp, are very good to eat. You'll also find other common freshwater game fish such as: crappies, perch, bullheads, pike, walleyes, steelhead, and freshwater salmon.

This type of fishing is great because you don't need to live near an ocean or bay in order to do it. You also don't get the wear and tear on your fishing gear that you get when salt water fishing. Small boats can be used in small lakes and rivers, so you don't have to own a large boat or big truck to pull it. You can even just sit lakeside or strap on a pair of fishing waders and walk right into the river or stream.

You can catch freshwater fish through bottom fishing, top fishing, fly fishing, and even just trolling along in your boat. Lures or live bait can be used depending on the type of fish your going for, the area your fishing in, and your particular preference.

The only real drawback to fishing in freshwater over saltwater fishing is that in the United States you probably won't find as much fish diversity in your local stream compared to what you might find in the ocean. On the plus side, you probably won't have to worry about crabs stealing the bait off of your fishing hooks either.

Keep in mind that your state and local governments may have rules and regulations as to what size fish you can keep, when you can fish particular waters, and whether or not you need a license to fish there. These regulations might seem unfair, but they help keep our fish populations strong so that we can fish for years to come.