Q: How do you like to learn about fish that you want to catch? Videos, books, special reports, yahoo answers, magazines??? Thanks everyone I appreciate your candor. Tight lines!!
A: It helps to have a good mentor, an older more experienced fisherman that you can ask questions of or maybe go fishing with sometimes. They can be a wealth of information, I did that during my teenage years, then just started getting out there and reading some reference books about that type of fish - where they live, what they like to eat. Then when I'm fishing for them I use something that is on their list of favorite foods that is normally in that river/lake/pond and use it for bait or find a lure that looks like it. You need to develop your own style or way of fishing too, some people like really heavy line (as an example) but I prefer lighter line with a good drag. Numerous times I've been fishing right next to someone else and they are catching lots of fish - me none - same bait. Then I put a leader on my line and I started catching fish.... Another way of finding out what they like to eat is when you clean them - cut open their stomach and look at what they've been eating. Sometimes you just have to get out there and start throwing different lures/baits out there to see what they're biting on - water color and the weather mean alot too. Different color lures in stained vs clear water, cloudy vs sunny days... don't try to rush it - just get out there and do it. Good luck ...