Freshwater Fishing Techniques – You Must Try Once

Whether you fish small streams, sprawling lakes or mighty rivers, mastering some essential techniques will help you catch more fish on your freshwater fishing trips. Understanding factors like reading the water, using proper bait and effectively working lures can be the difference between an epic day of catching and a skunked outing. In This article, we’ll walk you through some best freshwater fishing techniques that you can try for the better fishing experience.

Choosing Productive Fishing Spots

The first step to freshwater fishing success is positioning yourself in spots where the fish are located and active. Here are some productive types of water to target:

• Shallow coves with wood cover or vegetation – bass and panfish hide in these protected areas.
• Weed edges and lily pad fields – ambush spots for predators.
• Submerged structures like humps, ledges, and drop-offs – gamefish use these transitional areas when moving between depths.  
• Inflows and outflows of creeks or streams – current seams attract baitfish and feed trout.
• Shady areas under docks or overhanging trees – relief from bright sun for light-sensitive species.

Pay close attention to bird activity hovering over the water as this often indicates active bait fish that game fish are rounding up from below. Also key in on surface disturbances from feeding fish. Quietly position yourself within casting distance and present your lures.

Reading the Water

Learning to “read the water” is an essential freshwater fishing skill. This refers to analyzing water depth, structure and current seams to pinpoint where fish are likely holding. Here are some things to look for:

• Changes in bottom contour or depth. Move from shallow flats to deeper troughs or humps and drop-offs.
• Structure – submerged wood, rocks, docks or vegetation that provide cover.  
• Current seams – edges where fast-moving water meets slower pools. Common along banks and structural elements like fallen trees or boulders. Fish use these as ambush points to intercept food.
• Color variations – stained water or algae growth often attracts baitfish. Clearwater areas can hold wary trout and panfish though.

Start your day by studying lake contour or river maps to understand the underwater terrain. During your fishing trip, keep an eye out for swirling eddies, riffles, submerged cover, and moving debris that provides clues to structure, depth changes, and current flows beneath the surface. This allows you to identify and target the highest percentage areas.

Bait Selection 

Choosing the right bait for the prevailing conditions and target species is critical for freshwater fishing success. Carry an assortment of live bait rigs, prepared bait, and artificial lures to allow switching things up until you figure out a productive pattern. Here are some top live and prepared bait options:

• Nightcrawlers – the classic worm that catches all species. Use whole or in chunks.
• Minnows – lively baitfish that game fish prey upon. Keep them healthy with an aerated bucket.
• Grasshoppers – fun to catch yourself and a deadly summer bait for most freshwater species.  
• Salmon eggs – a staple bait for trout and carp fishing. Offer them in mesh bags or jars.
• Bread/dough balls – an inexpensive panfish and carp bait. Add attractants for more appeal.  
• Shrimp- the universal bait, freshwater fish love them. Buy frozen and thaw before use.
• Prepared bait – PowerBait, Crave, Gulp! and Berkley make excellent ready-to-use dough and paste bait.

Always hook bait in a way that presents it naturally like it would appear in the water. Match bait size to the fish species you are targeting as well.

Working Lures and Artificial Flies

In addition to bait, carrying a tackle box full of lures like crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastic swimbaits and topwater poppers gives you lots of options until the fish tell you their preference each day. Mastering lure retrieval techniques like twitching, jigging, trolling and ripping helps trigger reaction strikes from game fish.

Here are some fundamental lure Freshwater fishing techniques:

• Cast crankbaits and jerk baits to likely structure and slowly retrieve using a stop-and-go motion to mimic injured baitfish. Vary retrieves until you dial in what they want.
• Pop topwater lures like frogs over heavy vegetation and retrieve with violent upward jerks to generate surface strikes.  
• Swim jig skirted lures slowly along bottom contours, letting it sink and contact cover. Aggressively pop lures when you feel the structure.
• Burn spinnerbaits and shallow running cranks steadily over flats to attract reaction bites. Stopping briefly or snapping rod tips can further induce strikes.
• Drag large paddle tail soft plastics across the bottom while gently lifting/dropping the rod tip to imitate crayfish. Repeat near wood, rocks, or grass.

When stream fishing for trout, drift fly patterns like nymphs, streamers, and dry flies along undercut banks and through deeper pools and riffles. Matching the hatch with appropriate flies is key.

Electronics 

Modern fish-finding electronics like sonar, GPS mapping, and underwater cameras provide a major advantage for understanding water depths, bottom structure and even spotting fish.

Fish finder sonars allow seeing bottom contour, submerged cover, and bait/game fish suspended or moving through the area. Side and down imaging modes provide enhanced views beneath and around the boat.

Mapping units feature lake maps with depth, vegetation, and structure details in minute detail. This allows anglers to identify key spots before even wetting a line. Mark the best areas to target later.  

Lastly, underwater cameras like Aqua-Vu let you literally see fish, structure, and habitat with your own eyes. Lower the camera and monitor fish reaction to your lures and presentations. It’s like ice fishing from a boat!

While not essential, electronics can really help pinpoint fish locations and provide insight into their behavior.

Landing and Handling Fish

Carefully and safely landing each fish you hook, whether it’s a keeper or goes back, is the final critical piece of the puzzle. Using the right landing net size with soft knotless mesh helps minimize damage and loss of fish at boat side. For hard-fighting fish, letting them run and tire out while steadily applying side pressure with your rod and reel drag avoids pulling hooks or self-release once you get them near.

When grabbing fish, wet your hands first and avoid excessive squeezing. Hold large fish horizontally by the lower lip versus straight up vertically to support internal organs. Quickly unhook fish if being released and gently place them back into the water until they recover and swim off strongly. Have a tape measure, hooks, disgorger, long nose pliers, and camera ready to document your catch and minimize handling time.

Conclusion  

Mastering these fundamental freshwater fishing techniques will help you catch more fish and get more enjoyment from the sport. Understanding fish location patterns, presenting natural baits, working lures effectively, and managing your fishing gear are all key to consistent success on the water. Be sure to respect each fish caught and safely release them to fight another day. Now get out there and put these tips and tricks to work on your next freshwater fishing adventure!

Following these essential tips will help you become a more productive and responsible freshwater angler!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to 5 common questions about freshwater fishing techniques: