Bass
When bass fishing, use live baits such as shad and crayfish especially during early season. During this time, bass are typically unwilling to chase most artificial lures due to cold water temperatures and low metabolism rates, according to Game&Fish Magazine. When winter bass fishing, search in areas like the deepest waters in a lake, or at shallow flats after a string of sunny days. Hook shad through its back, behind the dorsal fin. When slow trolling, hook the bait-fish through its nostrils. Use a 1/0 to 3/0 Daiichi Improved Circle hook when using shad as bait.
Carp
When fishing for carp in rivers, areas to search include deep pools and eddies; carp likes to linger in these areas where they can avoid the current. In lakes, find them in and around the bays. Carp likes to eat a variety of foods and are true opportunistic omnivorous feeders, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Many anglers are successful with chumming--feeding the fish to attract them by throwing handfuls of food in the water. Different types of chum include bread, nuts, corn and birdseed. A regular 6- to 9-foot bait casting or spinning rod with a 10- to 20-pound line is effective for carp fishing. Use size 8-1/0 hooks with a few pieces of bread, kernels of corn or dough bait.
Salmon
Different types of salmon include sockeye, chinook, coho, pink and chum. Choose from a variety of salmon fishing methods like back trolling plugs, drift fishing and float fishing. Back trolling is one of the most effective and widely used techniques for salmon fishing among Pacific Northwest anglers, according to Piscatorial Pursuits, a salmon fishing guide based in Soldotna, Alaska. Plugs such as Kwikfish and Magnum Wiggle Wart work well for back trolling especially for deeper holes. When drift fishing, use baits such as sandshrimp and eggs with 8.5-foot rods. You can also use longer rods of 9 to 10 feet or more for greater line control and farther casting distance.
