I need tips on how to be a better fisherman

[Jorge323]

Well ive been fishing for a couple of years now but ive always baitfished. I am now trying to start fishing using lures because it seems more exciting and challenging. I mostly fish at jetties and piers and occasionally go to some lakes. Can sombody please give me some tips on how to start this new style of fishing and what i would need. I need to know what lures work best what kind of fishing rod and reel i would need etc
please try to be specific -thanks

[xjdesertfox]

what kind of lures are you wantin to use? crankbaits? soft plastics?

[Jorge323]

Crankbaits but i would give softplastics a try too

[xjdesertfox]

get a rod made specifically with crankbaits, or something with a moderate to moderate fast taper. When setting the hook, instead of swinging, just let the rod load up and then pull back a little and give a firm 2 revolutions on the reel to set the hook.

Fishing reel is all personal preference, i like slower reels for cranksbaits in the 5.x:1 area.

For soft plastics, i like an 8-17lbs rod with fast taper paired with a 7.x:1 gear ratio reel. The crankbait rod would work for this technique too, but when you set the hook, you'd need to swing for the fences to make up for the moderate taper.

[Jorge323]

Thanks alot man i appreciate the tips
which crankbait works best for you?

[xjdesertfox]

i've caught fish on both lucky craft flash minnow 110's, and the daiwa minnow sp13's

however, i now use more of the daiwa minnows as theyre only $7 each, compared to the $15 each the LC's are.

For freshwater, the megabait charlie soft crankbaits have done me well.

[bman90278]

Here is the best advice I have for you to become a better fisherman.

-Have fun. You have to enjoy yourself to really be successful and you have to be confident too.

-Read the reports and threads on these forums.

-Decide on what type of fish you want to target. Fishing for bass, catfish, carp, bluegills???

Buy either used or new rods and reels that are specifically made for your type of fishing. Spinning rods or casting rods...Dropshotting, crankbaits, jigs, etc. Personally, I think you can find some very nice slightly used items. Lots of experienced fisherman are always upgrading their equipment and take good care of their stuff. I've recently bought 2 really good bass rods that were basically new for less than $100 for the pair.

Most importantly........Go fishing, go fishing, go fishing, go fishing
You can read and post questions all day long, but you need to get out there and practice with your presentations. The more often you go fishing, you'll meet the local fisherman and will start learning more and more of what works and what doesn't work.

Keep in mind that many things don't always work from lake to lake too. So you might fish a specific body of water until you get more experienced.


Good luck to ya!
Brian

[smokehound]

One clarification-- My tips were for freshwater.

One MAJOR part is paying close attention to your environment.. This is important especially for the surf, where the environment is ALWAYS changing 24/7. Where action was great one day, it will be a ghost town the next.

Go out during a good low.. Check for the tide forecast online-- during the low, scout the area out.

Look for depressions in the sand.. look for little potholes. troughs will look like miniature canyons, and ditches.

http://www.eefishent.com/tides_&_structure.htm --this will give you examples of troughs.

When a wave moves over a depression, it appears to weaken and disappear, while the rest of the wave that travels over level sand will remain strong.



^---That's a trough at low tide. Holes are virtually the same, but instead of a line like that, it will be.. well..
.. a hole.