 Fishing Basics
How to catch fish depends on where you are,
and when you're there. Fishing changes from hour to hour, day to day,
and season to season. Even the fishermen that have been around for
decades don't have a method to completely out flank the fish. Which
in a way is better because its always an adventure with a challenge.
In order to find the fish, it's always good to know your fish that
your going for as far as where they live, what they eat, etc... That's
the formula for good fishing.
Fishing is always going to be 'fishing'. Good fishing
comes with practice but as much practice you get you'll never be a perfect
fisherman. Although having a lot of practice is helpful in seeing patterns
in how fish react or where they are time to time throughout each season.
A fish is always at the mercy of nature. Fish tend
to move with whatever the weather and water conditions are doing around
him. Seasonal changes and day-to-day weather factors such as wind, sun
and barometric pressure all act upon a fish to determine its movements
and activities. Fish are very pressure and temperature sensitive. All
adult freshwater game fish display a schooling instinct. With some fish,
like walleyes and crappies, it's stronger alone than with others.
 The fish population in a lake or stream is very much
like a society. Each fish has its own comfort zone so to speak. As far
as patterns of breeding, feeding and moving about. Preferring certain
habitat conditions including bottom types, water temperatures, cover
and light conditions. Fish follow seasonal and daily "migrational" patterns
determined by breeding, feeding and comfort factors. Weather has a lot
to do with the progress of these patterns. Fish are always moving around
and have many homes do to the season and its condition. For example,
in spring a walleye will go home to a rocky/gravel shoreline to spawn;
in summer it will move to deeper areas or underwater structure.
Fish nearly always hunt in schools. They follow familiar landmarks to guide
them along the bottom in search of minnows, small fish, crayfish, etc. Generally,
the larger and more aggressive fish get their fill earlier and in deeper water
than do their smaller relatives. A school often stops at a drop-off, weedline,
or "break" near the shallows where it scatters and enters the shallower
feeding grounds as individuals and small groups. Fish mark there territory
and when feeding conditions are good they'll come right back to their "hot
spots".
 Lakes are different. Each lake offers conditions which
are suited more for one fish than others. Consequently, every lake has
a predominant fish. Some lakes are "walleye lakes" while others
are ruled by largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike or other
species. Always fish for the dominant species in any lake to put the
averages in your favor. In most lakes, fish are "stacked",
with large fish deep and smaller fish up shallow. Except during spawning,
most sizable game fish will be deeper than eight feet, just watch for
exceptions.
Fish have three appetite moods:
 POSITIVE - when a fish is definitely hungry and
actively searching for food.
 NEUTRAL - when a fish is not actively hunting but
will feed (or bite!) if something comes close and looks especially
tempting.
 NEGATIVE - when a fish is off feed and simply doesn't
want to be bothered.
Obviously, when in the positive mood, fish are easiest
to catch. But for 95% of your fishing time the mood will be neutral or
negative, requiring careful and meticulous bait presentations. More often
than not, a cold front with its falling temperature and gusty north or
northwest winds will kill fishing. When your fishing becomes "impossible" during
a cold front, your best bet is to jump from one hot spot to another,
hoping to catch stray biters here and there.
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