Where to Fish Near You
Still, for reasons I don't understand, most anglers overlook streams and the light tackle methods I enjoy. Many are more attuned to big waters, fast boats, and run-and-gun tactics. (I'm not complaining! The main reason streams offer good fishing is because they don't get much fishing pressure.)
People ask
How do you find where a fish is?
How do you mark a fishing spot?
How do you know where the bass is?
What are the best places to fish?
Several years ago, I made a wonderful discovery — a stream full of fish almost untouched by other fishermen. A friend and I had received permission to hunt wild turkeys on a farm that was a two-hour drive from my home. Before hunting season we went there on a scouting trip and discovered that the farm had a beautiful creek flowing through it. I instantly knew that this stream had smallmouth bass "written all over it." It had clean water and was lined by gravel bars, rocky bluffs and hardwood trees whose branches spread over the water. There was a succession of shallow riffles and deep pools — perfect for harboring fish. Minnows seemed to linger near every rock and root wad. When we returned to this area to go hunting, I also brought a spinning rod and my stream-fishing tackle box. We set up camp in a grassy pasture next to the creek. The next morning, after a few hours of chasing gobblers, I headed back to camp and rigged my rod to test the creek's potential. On the second cast, I hooked a monster smallmouth! This fish engulfed my bait, jumped once, then headed downstream like a runaway train. I did my best to turn it, but it ran under a log and hung up. The next thing I knew, my 6-pound test line snapped, and the bass was gone.
I was stunned by this turn of events. I only got a quick glimpse, but I'm sure this smallmouth would have weighed at least 5 pounds. I waited a few seconds to regain my composure, then I set about casting again around the rocks and logs along the far side of the creek.
I caught several more smallmouth that afternoon, including a couple in the 3-pound class. I also landed at least a dozen rock bass and bluegill. This stream was jam-packed with fish, and they bit as though they'd never seen a lure.
This was one of my greatest fishing discoveries ever. I've been back numerous times since that day, and this stream has never disappointed me. Now when I go, I float all day in a canoe, covering around 6 miles Of water. I concentrate only on the best spots — the holes below the riffles and the deeper runs with good cover and current, Over the years I've caught several smallmouth over 5 pounds, and a friend once landed a smallie that weighed close to 7 pounds.
Fishing spots this good are a rare find, but it's not difficult for beginning anglers to locate first-rate places where they can expect reasonable success, or better. The U. S. and Canada teem with good fishing holes, and many Of them are open to the public. Besides streams, you can find fish in natural lakes, man-made reservoirs, swamps, rivers, farm ponds, beaver ponds, oxbow lakes, drainage canals, tailraces below dams, mining pits, city lakes, pay lakes, coastal marshes and Other spots. Some of these places already get plenty fishing pressure but others, like my stream, await someone to discover them and enjoy their bounty.
As you learn more about fishing, you should also start looking for places where you can go fishing. Make a list Of possibilities, and research them thoroughly to learn which ones are best. Doing this is a matter Of knowing where to look, whom to ask and what information to collect. I guarantee, there is a broad range Of fishing waters close to where you live, wherever you live!
Finding Good Fishing Spots
My favorite way to fish is to paddle a canoe or wade along a free-running stream, casting a crawfish lure for smallmouth, spotted bass and other small sunfish. This type fishing is simple. It's very relaxing. The setting is usually beautiful, and stream fish typically bite with little hesitation. All these things combine for a wonderful outing.
Still, for reasons I don't understand, most anglers overlook streams and the light tackle methods I enjoy. Many are more attuned to big waters, fast boats, and run-and-gun tactics. (I'm not complaining! The main reason streams offer good fishing is because they don't get much fishing pressure.)
People ask
How do you find where a fish is?
How do you mark a fishing spot?
How do you know where the bass is?
What are the best places to fish?
Several years ago, I made a wonderful discovery — a stream full of fish almost untouched by other fishermen. A friend and I had received permission to hunt wild turkeys on a farm that was a two-hour drive from my home. Before hunting season we went there on a scouting trip and discovered that the farm had a beautiful creek flowing through it. I instantly knew that this stream had smallmouth bass "written all over it." It had clean water and was lined by gravel bars, rocky bluffs and hardwood trees whose branches spread over the water. There was a succession of shallow riffles and deep pools — perfect for harboring fish. Minnows seemed to linger near every rock and root wad. When we returned to this area to go hunting, I also brought a spinning rod and my stream-fishing tackle box. We set up camp in a grassy pasture next to the creek. The next morning, after a few hours of chasing gobblers, I headed back to camp and rigged my rod to test the creek's potential. On the second cast, I hooked a monster smallmouth! This fish engulfed my bait, jumped once, then headed downstream like a runaway train. I did my best to turn it, but it ran under a log and hung up. The next thing I knew, my 6-pound test line snapped, and the bass was gone.
I was stunned by this turn of events. I only got a quick glimpse, but I'm sure this smallmouth would have weighed at least 5 pounds. I waited a few seconds to regain my composure, then I set about casting again around the rocks and logs along the far side of the creek.
I caught several more smallmouth that afternoon, including a couple in the 3-pound class. I also landed at least a dozen rock bass and bluegill. This stream was jam-packed with fish, and they bit as though they'd never seen a lure.
This was one of my greatest fishing discoveries ever. I've been back numerous times since that day, and this stream has never disappointed me. Now when I go, I float all day in a canoe, covering around 6 miles Of water. I concentrate only on the best spots — the holes below the riffles and the deeper runs with good cover and current, Over the years I've caught several smallmouth over 5 pounds, and a friend once landed a smallie that weighed close to 7 pounds.
Fishing spots this good are a rare find, but it's not difficult for beginning anglers to locate first-rate places where they can expect reasonable success, or better. The U. S. and Canada teem with good fishing holes, and many Of them are open to the public. Besides streams, you can find fish in natural lakes, man-made reservoirs, swamps, rivers, farm ponds, beaver ponds, oxbow lakes, drainage canals, tailraces below dams, mining pits, city lakes, pay lakes, coastal marshes and Other spots. Some of these places already get plenty fishing pressure but others, like my stream, await someone to discover them and enjoy their bounty.
As you learn more about fishing, you should also start looking for places where you can go fishing. Make a list Of possibilities, and research them thoroughly to learn which ones are best. Doing this is a matter Of knowing where to look, whom to ask and what information to collect. I guarantee, there is a broad range Of fishing waters close to where you live, wherever you live!
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