Useful Fishing Tips For Hikers

Plastic Bait

There's no getting away from plastics. Where fishing equipment once was fashioned out of wood and other natural materials, molded plastics of every description have found their way into ponds, lakes, and streams. Multicolored, squiggly, wiggly things of every description are being used widely by anglers of every experience level. Some plastic lures are even coated with scented fish attractants-a kind of fishy perfume, if you will-that, combined with all kinds of noise-making bobbles, make for a lure that screams to be eaten!

The most common plastic lure is shaped like a worm, round at the head with a flat tail that causes the lure to swish and sashay as it is reeled in. "Starter" worms are six inches long and are shaded purple. They are designed to have a hook pushed through them in much the same manner as a real worm, but doing this with a plastic worm won't remind you of the meathook scenes in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. When going this route, you'll need to use a special hook meant for use with plastic worms; such hooks won't do live worms. Feed some monofilament fishing line through the hook eye and tie a standard Trilene knot on the hook. (Don't use a swivel snap when rigging a plastic worm.) Push the hook through the worm to conceal the hook eye and knot in the worm's head. The hook should also be somewhat concealed in the body of the worm. Since plastic worms used in this configuration are quite light, they won't cast as far as more heavily weighted lines, and their effectiveness is related to the angler's willingness to play the worm in the water, gently jerking the lure every so often as a tease to the fish. For a more sincere cast, attach some weight to the line with split shot squeezed on to the line about a foot above the worm. Bring the worm in slowly.

Plastic lures also come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. So, besides standard plastic worms, you might want to try experimenting with plastic reproductions of newts, frogs, minnows, crayfish, eels, and bugs to see what works for you. But at the end of the day, it's not the jig but the jigger who carries the day by bringing back a fish or two to fry up at the campsite.

Hooking

Like most things that rely on tradition for explanation, fish-hook sizes are classified according to a system seemingly based on the illogical thoughts of a confused drunkard. To the novice, the numbers relating to fish hooks bear no relation their sizes whatsoever. In fact, there is some method to fish-hook madness: Assuming that "1" represents the average size hook, with hooks getting smaller as they go up in numbers (in multiples of two)-say 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, with a size-2 hook being bigger than a size-10 hook, for instance.

Hooks that are bigger than a size-1 hook are expressed with a number and a zero on each side of a slash (1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0). Notice here that hook sizes are numbered sequentially and can include ascending numbers that aren't multiples of 2. "Standard" hook sizes used with worms and other bait are usually sized at 2, 4, 6, and 8. Smaller hooks are used to catch smaller fish, and bigger hooks, larger fish. "Treble" hooks (three points) that you see on artificial lures follow the same numbering system.

Catching

Catching a fish is a lot like playing a good game of poker. You can't change the cards you're dealt, but you can change the way you play them. Luck is involved, but skill is just as important.

There are days when the fish just aren't biting. Or times when you're fishing in one place, but the fish are off somewhere else. But you can really increase your odds of catching a fish if you know what you're doing.

Some of the best times to fish from shore are early in the morning and at dusk. In the middle of the afternoon, on a hot sunny day, you'll have a better chance of finding fish in deeper water-it's where they go to cool off! If you are fishing in a stream, for example, this may be a good time for you to look for them in deeper pools.

The first thing you need to know is what types of fish can be found in the wildlife area you will be exploring. Look through some of the brochures on the region; call or write to the wildlife department in the area (or the local outfitter). Ask about the best time of year to fish, where to find the hot spots in the area, and the best time of day to go. Especially important is to find out when the legal fishing season for a specific species of fish begins and ends, where you can buy your fishing license, and how much it will cost. If you're fishing in a national park, you can usually buy a national park fishing license that enables you to fish throughout the park for a limited period.

There are fish you won't be able to catch with your ultralight gear, such as salmon or muskellunge-some weigh as much as a small child. On the other hand, perch, rock bass, trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, and even small pike are fair game. They weigh just a few pounds each, and all are worth their weight in dinner. These fish can all be snared with your ultralight rod and reel and your film container's-worth of tackle.

Once you know which types of fish are in the area, you can narrow down the tackle you need to bring on your trip. Ask your local sporting-goods store to help you select the right lures for the fish you'll be trying to catch. Not all fish respond to live bait; some respond to nothing else. Trout are one of the tastiest and most beautiful fish out there, but also the fussiest. They usually respond just to flies, but when they are hungry enough have been known to chase a worm or a light lure. Some fly-fishing purists may cringe at the thought, but I have caught many brown trout from shore using just a hook, a weight, and a small worm. Besides the fish pictured previously, you may encounter bluegill, sunfish, and crappie in many lakes. There are many varieties of bass, so the picture here may not match what you catch.

Tip

You need to get a fishing license before you can start fishing. These licenses can usually be purchased at local bait shops, grocery stores, or national park offices. The license limits the species you can fish for and the seasons you can fish for them. Sometimes there are limits on how many fish of a particular type you're allowed to take out of the water.

Different types of fish live in different habitats; most have their preferences. Some live in lakes, others prefer rivers and streams. Trout, one of the most desirable fish to catch, can be found in all three. River fishing can be difficult for the beginner. It usually involves wading in the river-and often the water is moving so rapidly that it's hard to tell whether the fish are biting. Beginners may find lake and stream fishing easier.

When fishing in streams, look for potentially deep pools where the fish may be resting. I've found that when fishing in a lake from the shore, it can be a good idea to put your hook near a shady spot-underneath some low-hanging branches or near some big rocks. This can be especially effective on a hot sunny day. Just be careful not to snag your line on a rock or a tree-that's a great way to lose your tackle!

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