Wet your hands thoroughly before pulling in your catch. This will help keep the fish from drying out when it comes into contact with your hands. Wetting your hands is especially important for catch-and-release fishing, when you should take the most care in returning the fish safely to the water.
If you are trying to catch big fish, use bigger bait. Even though larger bait can cost more, you can get a bigger reward in larger fish if you get some. This makes a lot of sense because bigger fish would normally eat larger things in the water, making them interested in bigger baits.
The improved clinch knot is a good knot to use when you attach your lure or hook to your fishing line. This knot is made by placing the line's tip through the end of the hook, and then going around the line five times and passing the end of the line through the eye of the hook and the first coil. Pull the end of the line as tightly as possible to finish.
If you plan on fishing a lot, then you will need a very sharp hook. Test the hook by lightly scraping the tip across your fingernail. If it leaves a little scratch, it's sharp enough. If your hook does not pass this scratch test, then sharpen or replace it in order to be successful at catching any fish.
The best fisherman is a patient and optimistic one. It is easy to become frustrated while fishing, so a good attitude is a must. Don't get too frustrated even if you aren't getting any bites.
If a net must be used when trying to land a fish, always net the fish head first to avoid spooking it. When you do this, the fish won't be able to move as much, which means it's not as likely to escape from the net. It's usually best to avoid netting unless it is the last resort.
Fishing Trip
If you are a novice fisherman, be sure to stick with a mentor. An experienced fisherman can give you great tips and also keep you safe by showing you how to avoid dangerous situations.
The weather can dictate whether a fishing trip will be good or bad. Make sure to look at a forecast before you head out. Checking a week in advance is good, and so is checking on the day before. If the weather does not look good, postpone your fishing trip.
Fish finders will help you find the best fishing spots from your boat. Fish finders are used to locate schools of fish in the water. However, some fishermen prefer to not use a fish finder. To them the fish finder is an advantage that should not be used in the sport of fishing.
When fishing a new area, talk with the locals and ask them for advice. Fishing habits can change over the seasons, so it's good to ask around. People are generally more than glad to share what lures work best during that season.
Look for the optimal fishing spot, and then find an area upstream to cast from. This causes your bait and hook to move past the fish. The downstream drift of the water will attract fish to your bait. This strategy works quite well if the sought after fish dwell under an obstruction.