Freshwater Fishing Articles and Videos
For everything from lazy summer fishing in a pond, to ice fishing competitions over a frozen winter lake, Trails.com’s Freshwater Fishing section has articles and videos for everyone interested in the sport. We can teach you the best knots for braided line, how to make your own bait, and even how to cut a hole through ice with an auger. Learn how to catch everything from striped bass to river eels with Trails.com. Regardless of where you fish, we want to ensure that you come home with your basket full at the end of the day.
Walleyes are typically found in larger, slower-moving rivers and tend to be restless, changing position often. During high water, walleyes move shallow into newly flooded vegetation. During low water, they move deep into holes and channels. River...
Culverts, which divert streams underneath roads and other human transportation corridors, can obstruct fish movement. Many species move upstream and downstream to spawn and thermoregulate, and, thus, such barriers can have a significant impact on...
Sturgeon Bay is a popular fishing area on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. The bay is known for producing trophy fish.
Catfish are exciting to catch and can often be very large, making them good sport for anglers. The meat is often breaded and fried. One of the most popular baits used to target catfish is soap bait. People used store-bought soap as bait when it w...
Sinkers are a staple item for any angler, no matter where they fish or what they fish for. Sinkers are molded lead weights that take the anglers lure or bait down to where the fish are hiding. Making your own sinkers takes some practice, but the ...
Baitcast reels take some getting used to. They backlash and are moderately difficult to learn to cast. However, baitcast reels are durable, have strong drags and can improve your casting distance, making them worthwhile. One simple way to mini...
Bluegill is not a difficult species to catch, and most guides do not specialize in bluegill fishing. But there are guides who will pursue bluegill as well as other species that exist in bluegill waters. When targeting bluegill on unfamiliar water...
The Columbia River runs through Oregon and Washington before it enters the Pacific Ocean. Fishing for the prehistoric sturgeon species is popular on the river and all seasonal laws and other regulations must be followed.
Minnow traps work on the same principle: Minnows, attracted to the trap by the smell of food, swim into the wide end of a funnel. The funnel narrows and releases them into the trap. But once inside, the minnows can't find a way out because the ex...
Live minnows make great fishing bait. So, when heading out fishing, many anglers stop by a bait shop to pick some up. However, when on a long wilderness fishing trip, anglers can't walk into a convenient curbside bait shop. When no bait shop is n...
Coalport is a quaint village in the West Midlands county of Shropshire. The town is set on the confluence an old coal canal and the Severn River, making it a well-watered location that is popular with British anglers. If you are in the UK and wan...
Catching minnows in a trap is a great way to save money while always having minnows on hand without making a trip to the bait shop. It also ensures that the minnows you use for fishing are the same as those found in the lake. Learning how to prop...
Maryland has separate fishing regulations for its nontidal waters, which the state defines as lakes, stream, ponds and rivers that are separate from Chesapeake Bay and its waters. In addition to having a nontidal license, an angler must adhere to...
Few things are as effective or as commonly used in saltwater fishing as bait rigs. These rigs are best used in the springtime when most fish are feeding rapidly in an effort to gain back mass lost during the winter months. The best baits are natu...
To make a simple minnow trap, all you need is a few items from the sporting good store, or you may even have the supplies you need readily available in your own home or garage. By making your own minnow trap, you can save a lot of money rather th...
Bass fishing has been historically plentiful in the Ohio River. As with any fishery, an outdoors enthusiast or avid angler needs to use the right techniques to consistently catch these wary fish. Successful anglers employ some key tips to landing...
Lead core fishing line has become a staple item amongst salmon and walleye anglers. This weighted line takes lures deep without the use of a downrigger or diving planer, which provides a stealthy approach for spooky fish in clear water.
Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes and with this, many places to wet a fishing line. There are a few that stand out from the rest. From walleyes and pike to trophy panfish such as perch and crappie, these lakes have it all.
Kingston offers an abundance of fishing opportunities. The town is located on the Kitsap Peninsula and has easy access to saltwater fishing as well as inland lakes and streams. The inland area offers trout and bass while the nearby ocean has a ...
Carp are abundant in Minnesota rivers and lakes and they can grow to enormous sizes. Carp are often referred to as an invasive "trash" fish but in reality they are elusive and difficult to catch. Carp can be pursued with a variety of tackle and t...
Bass anglers in Ohio start to chase these popular game fish as soon as the ice retreats every spring. Using the right techniques can produce great catches this time of year, regardless of the cold water temperatures.
Bamboo fishing rods are simple tools that work great for catching panfish such as crappies, bullheads and bluegills. With bamboo rods that are extra long, a long distance casting reel is not necessary; rather, a simple reel that holds the line in...
While there are numerous fishing lures available on the shelves of fishing tackle shops, few can compare with a customized or custom-made lure. Fishing lures that are built specifically for certain species or water conditions often prevail over t...
Fish locators are highly technical tools used in fishing to help anglers see underwater. Also called fish finders or depth finders, these units display hidden terrain on a monitor and also identify the location of fish and often the size and even...
Rapala lures are used to imitate small bait fish. They move in the water like a small fish and are effective when targeting large predatory fish. Rapalas are primarily used for trout and bass but they can be used for a variety of species. There a...
