Freshwater Fishing Tips - Fishing From Shore

The picture above shows my 7 year old grandson, Cody, holding up a 21" carp I had just caught. We were on a bank and had lost 2 big ones a few days before when we forgot our net. This time we had it and Cody got the fish in the net after I reeled it in.

The next day we went back and Cody hauled in a 23" carp. I did the net work this time. I will have pictures on my fishing tips site as soon as I write the article on carp fishing.

Note his expression. If you have kids or grandkids, introduce them to fishing. It will create a bond and will be something they will remember all their lives.

I started Cody fishing when he was 5. He would cast in the line and set the pole down and walk around seeing if anyone caught a fish. He would ask the fishermen to let him hold it and they always would. When I caught them he would always want to cook them no matter the size, and didn't understand why I would toss them back in if they weren't big enough.

He caught his first fish, a 10" bass, the next year. He wanted to eat it. Since it was his first, we took it home and had little pieces to nibble on. He was a happy camper.

He now baits his hook, casts it, removes the fish, and has turned into quite a fisherman. I've been giving him tips as we go along but have always allowed him to reel in the fish he catches without my help. On the carp he caught, he was working away for a good solid 5 minutes and laughing, telling me he was getting tired. I told him to hand in there and fight it.

Teach your kids and grandkids to fish. Let them do it. I have seen some fishermen run over when their kid hooks one and start reeling it in so they don't lose it. Fishing is supposed to be fun so treat it that way. They learn by doing, just as you did.

On this hub, we will be talking about different fishing tips that will help you catch more fish. Please add your own tips as well.

Worms is a bait you can use to catch almost any fish. We've had days when you put a worm on the hook, toss it out, and start to reel it back in. Depending on where we're fishing, I almost always start with worms; particularly in small streams.

Hot dogs and brats also work well. The brats usually catch more fish for us than hot dogs. I'm guessing maybe the smell and/or the oils. I don't know for sure but I know they work. We've tried catfish bait you pick up in a store but have yet to catch anything with it.

When we hit a wide open lake, I usually start with a spinner. It allows me to search the area quickly. I start out bringing it in fairly fast and then start slowing down my retrieve. Dark colors seem to work in cloudy water, whereas brighter colors seem to work better in clear water. But test if for yourself. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to fishing.

We'll hit an area for about 20 minutes and, if we get no bites, we try another spot. I know some fishermen will say that's not long enough, but it's a strategy that works for us. Keep in mind I am fishing with a small kid so their patience isn't up to par with ours. OK - I admit mine lacks at times as well.

I've fished with Mr. Twister. You have likely seen commercials for it. Right now I've not had good luck with it but will let you know if that changes.

I'm curious to know if anyone has ever used the banjo minnow? I mean the cost for the set is decent but their site lacks in detail. They send a 2nd set for ship cost but never tell you how much that might be. I haven't found it in stores. I'm just leery of this. I will be doing some in depth reviews at my Fishing site when time permits.

It's not always about catching fish. We were fishing a small inlet and were in heavy brush and trees so casting was on the difficult side. But we were catching fish so it was worth the effort.

Cody hollered over to me, He had caught his line in a tree. I finally managed to get it loose and, while reeling in the line, we noticed he had hooked a lure, a good hook and a bobber. We got quite a kick out of that.

While we were fishing, I landed this big soft back snapping turtle. Actually snagged it with a spinnerbait. We were on a dock and weren't sure the fishing net would hold it.

The turtle measured over 30" and looked prehistoric.