Fishing For Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Beyond the Book
	Where to Go from Here
Part 1 Before the Bite
	Chapter 1 Getting Hooked on Fishing
		Why Fish?
			For the outdoors
			For the enjoyment
			For the table
		Where Should You Fish?
			Fishing freshwater
			Fishing saltwater
		What Are You Fishing For?
			Common freshwater catches
			Common saltwater catches
		What Do You Need to Fish?
			Picking up fishing essentials
			Adding to your angling arsenal
		How Do You Fish?
			Casting around: Basic and fly
			Finding freshwater fish
			Basic techniques for saltwater fishing
		Fish On! Now What?
			It’s not hunting: You can release fish
			But fish taste great, and you can keep a few, too
	Chapter 2 Gathering What You Need to Fish
		Dressing for Fishing Success
			Wear layers and always be happy
			Pack your foul-weather bag
			Pick a good hat
			Pull on waders to wander into the fish’s world
			Vests: Great for wading
		Carrying Just What You Need to Fish
			Start with your rod and reel
			Pick a tackle carrier and load up
			Don’t forget food and drink for yourself
		Tucking Your Fishing License in a Safe Spot
			When you need a license
			Where to buy fishing licenses
	Chapter 3 Finding Good Fishing Water
		Knowing Where to Go
			Fish the one you’re with: Finding fishing water close to home
			Finding fish when you’re on the road
		Getting the Scoop
			From bait shops
			From online forums
			From guides
			From YouTube celebrities
			When no one knows: Walk the bank
		Evaluating Freshwater Sites
			Ponds
			Streams and rivers (big and small)
			Lakes and reservoirs
			Where NOT to fish
		Evaluating Saltwater Sites
			Tidal inlets, marshes, streams, and bays
			Surf fishing
			Fishing piers
		Finding the Right Time to Fish
		Watching the Weather
			Planning a trip around the weather
			Reacting to changing weather while fishing
	Chapter 4 Putting a Face on the Fins: Common Freshwater Fish
		Sunfish
			Bluegills: America’s spunky little sweetheart
			Crappies: A little bigger, and a bit sportier
			Largemouth bass: The most important gamefish in America
			Smallmouth: The gamest fish
		Catfish
			Blue catfish: King of the big water
			Flathead catfish: Denizens of the deep lair
			Channel catfish: Prince of the pond
			Bullhead catfish: Tough as they come
		Perch
			Walleye: Popular like a largemouth, toothy like a pike
			Yellow perch: Food for everyone
		Pike
			Northern pike: Water wolf
			Chain pickerel: Pike junior
		Temperate Bass
			Striped bass: Strong enough for saltwater, happy in freshwater
			White bass: Little fighters
			Wipers: A bit of both
		Carp
		Trout
			Rainbow trout: High jumpers
			Brown trout: The champ of the stream
			Brook trout: Sentimental favorites
			The cutthroat: Yellowstone beauty
			Lake trout: Big macks
			Pacific salmon: Not just in the Pacific anymore
			Atlantic salmon: The leaper
	Chapter 5 Familiarizing Yourself with Common Saltwater Fish
		Bluefish
		Flatfish
			Winter flounder: Another snowbird
			Fluke: Mr. Dependable
			Halibut: Like catching a doormat that fights back
		Drum
			Spotted seatrout (a.k.a. specks)
			Weakfish: Not a weakling
			Red drum: For cooks and anglers alike
		Temperate Bass: Stripers
		Cod
		Grouper
		Snapper
		Bonefish
		Snook
		Tarpon
		Sharks
		Tuna
		Billfish Family
	Chapter 6 Staying Safe on or near the Water
		Planning Ahead for Your Trip
		Water, Water Everywhere: Bringing Food and Drink
			Dehydration hurts
			Alcohol kills
			Don’t forget the bait for yourself
		Serious Safety: First Aid Kits and Sun Protection
			Making your own kit
			The sun is a fair-weather friend (sort of)
		Safe Wading
			Why you need a staff
			Handling the occasional mishap
		Danger Amplified: Boating Safety
			It starts with life jackets
			Your call, Captain
Part 2 Gearing Up Without Going Overboard
	Chapter 7 Matching the Rod and Reel
		Getting a Handle on Fishing Rod Basics
			The writing on the rod
			How slow can you go?
		Catching Up with Reels
			It’s a drag, but it works
			The writing on the reel
		Classic Beginnings: Spincast Gear
			Advantages and disadvantages of spincast gear
			Considering a rod and reel combo, or striking out on your own
			If you’re limited to just one
		So Smooth: Spinning Gear
			Advantages and disadvantages of spinning gear
			Spinning rods: What makes them different
			If you’re limited to just one
		Baitcasting Gear: Complicated, but Worth It
			Advantages and disadvantages of baitcasting gear
			Baitcasting rods: Time to specialize
			If you’re limited to just one
		Fly-Fishing Gear: Artful and Effective
			Fly rods: Choosing the right one
	Chapter 8 The Bottom Line on Line
		Getting to Know the Three Kinds of Line
			Monofilament: Best for beginners
			Braid: For those who don’t like to stretch
			Fluorocarbon: For serious anglers
		Buying Line 101
			Information to get before you leave home
			Factors to consider when you’re at the shop
		Spooling Up: Attaching Line to a Reel
		Caring for Your New Line and Knowing When to Let It Go
			Protecting your line from wear and tear
			Saying goodbye to old line
		Fly Lines
			Is weight good or bad?
			Does color count?
			Taper tips
			Sink or swim
			Threading your fly line
			Looking at leaders
	Chapter 9 It’s Terminal (Tackle): Hooks, Sinkers, Snaps, Swivels, and Floats
		Hooks: What They Do and Why They Matter
			Keeping a range of hooks
			Making a point
			J hooks: Some things never change
			Circle hooks: From saltwater to freshwater
			Dehooking yourself
		Sinkers: When You Need a Little More Weight
			Selecting the right range of sinkers
			Storing your sinkers
		Adding On Swivels and Snaps
		Floats and Bobbers: When You Need to Lighten Up
	Chapter 10 Going Ahab: Fishing from Boats
		Taking Advantage of Boat Fishing
			More casting angles
			Fishing places shore-bound anglers can’t reach
			Finding bluer water: Humps, points, and channels
		Choosing a Boat That’s Right for the Way You Fish
			Great non-motorized boats for fishing
			Ideal motorized boats for fishing
		Considering the Costs of Watercraft
			Licensing, plating, and fees
			Upkeep, storage, and maintenance
			Trailering
	Chapter 11 21st Century Tech: What’s New and What’s Necessary
		Fish Finders: Can They Really Find Fish?
			How fish finders work
			Do you really need a fish finder?
			Where to find fish finders
		GPS Units: Finding Yourself
			Waypoint fever
			Updating your maps
		Trolling Motors: Quiet Power for Boats
			Pairing the trolling motor to your fish finder
			Mounting a trolling motor
		Underwater Cameras: Seeing Is Believing
			What you can learn by viewing
			What cameras can’t do for you
		Anchormates, Lightning Detectors, and What’s Coming Next
Part 3 The End of Your Line: Enticing Fish with Bait, Lures, and Flies
	Chapter 12 Real Food for Real Fish: Using Bait
		Assessing Your Bait Options
		Gathering and Keeping Bait
			Support your local bait shop
			Forget your checkbook: Gathering free bait
			Grocery store baits
			Storing and transporting bait
		Common Natural Freshwater Baits
			Nightcrawlers: Great bait by the dozen
			Minnows and other baitfish: Little fish catch big fish
			Grasshoppers and crickets: Hopping good bait
			Leeches suck, but fish like them
			Salmon eggs
		Common Natural Saltwater Baits
			Clams and mussels on the half-shell
			Marine worms: Salty nightcrawlers
			Bunker: Bait school
			Squid: Easy and effective
			Shrimp and crabs: Fish like them, too
			Mullet: More than a hairstyle
			Ballyhoo: Funny but effective
			Eels: The ultimate slime
		Why You Can’t Take It with You: Disposing of Leftover Bait
	Chapter 13 It Only Looks Alive: Tricking Fish with Lures
		Picking Perfect Plugs
			Popping and chugging plugs: Designed for surface explosions
			Wobblers and propbaits: A steady retrieve should do it
			Stickbaits: For fetching a fish
			Floating/diving plugs: Classics that work, even for beginners
			Deep divers: Good for hitting the bottom
		Spoons: Heavy Metal Time
		Spinners: Easy to Fish, Hard to Miss
		Spinnerbaits: The Masters of Bass
		Jigs: More Than a Weighted Hook
		Soft Baits: Plastic Worms and Beyond
		Narrowing Your Lure Options by Asking Some Key Questions
			How deep does the lure run?
			Where’s the action?
			How fast is the lure designed to move through the water?
			How big should the lure be?
			Does the lure raise a ruckus?
			Does a lure’s color count?
			Does this lure match my gear?
			Do taste and smell matter?
	Chapter 14 Fish Don’t Fly, But Flies Catch Fish
		Taking a Look at Where the Fly in Fly Fishing Came From
			Immature little buggers: The nymph phase
			Time to shed some skin: The emerger phase
			All grown up: The dun phase
			Ready to mate: The spinner phase
		Figuring Out Which Fly to Use
			Opting for the dry fly
			Discovering when you may want a wet fly
			Going the nymph route
			Picking the meatier streamer fly
			Choosing the caddisfly
			Getting bigger with stoneflies
			Extra: Terrestrials
		A Rundown of Flies That Work Everywhere
			The Ausable Wulff
			Clouser Minnow
			The Compara-dun
			Dave’s Hopper
			Elk Hair Caddis
			Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear
			Griffith’s Gnat
			The Muddler Minnow
			The Variant
			The Wooly Bugger
Part 4 Now You’re Fishing
	Chapter 15 Tying Popular Fishing Knots and Rigs
		The Knots You Need
			The Arbor knot: Getting the line tied to the reel
			The Trilene knot: Connecting your line to hook (and about anything else)
			The Palomar knot: An easy classic
			The Blood knot: For joining two lines of similar size
			The Albright: Joining a thicker line to a thinner line
		Snelling: How to Attach a Hook to Your Line
		Using the Right Rig to Present Your Offering
			Rigging most soft plastic baits: Texas versus Carolina style
			Rigging jigs
		Livebait Rigs: For Presenting Bait in Any Situation
			Fixed-float rigs: Classic bobber presentations
			Slip-floating away: How to fish a float at any depth
			Bottom rigs: Waiting out a bite
			River rig: For anything current
			Drift fishing with bottom rigs
	Chapter 16 Choreographing Your Cast
		Casting Spincast Gear: Great for Beginners
			Push-button reels: Casting made easy
			Mastering the basics of the overhead cast
		Casting Spinning Gear: A Little More Difficult, a Lot Smoother
			Preparing to cast
			A nice, smooth delivery: Perfecting the overhead spinning cast
			Trick shots: The sidearm spinning cast
		Mastering (Sort of) Baitcasting Techniques
			Setting the reel (and using your thumb) to cast better
			Casting overhead with a baitcaster
		Flycasting: The Beauty of Presenting Flies
			Striving for the oneness of rod and line
			The forward (and sometimes sidearm) cast
			Figuring out what you did wrong
		Caster of Disaster: How to Handle Snags and Snarls
	Chapter 17 Exploring Different Fishing Techniques
		Stillfishing (After All These Years)
			Bottom rigs: Waiting out the fish
			Floating away
		Casting About for Fish
			Covering water and taking fish
			Matching your retrieve to the conditions
		Fishing Calm (Nonflowing) Water
			Working the banks: A deliberate approach
			Fan casting: Covering the bases
			The exception to the rule: Fishing windy days
		Fishing Flowing Water
			Casting upriver, retrieving downriver
			Floats: Meals delivered to a fish’s door
			River rigs: This is where they shine
		Other Fishing Techniques
			Jigging
			Night fishing
			Drifting and trolling
		Making the Most of the Latest Technology
			Finding places to fish
			Using tech on the water
		Matching Terminal Tackle, Lure, and Techniques to the Fish You’re After
			Popular freshwater fish
			Popular saltwater fish
	Chapter 18 The Fun Part: How to Hook, Fight, Land, and Release a Fish
		Finally! How to Handle a Fish Strike
			Starting out in the right (positive) frame of mind
			Setting the hook with J hooks
			Setting the hook with circle hooks
		Fighting a Fish the Right Way
			Savoring the most enjoyable part of fishing
			Letting the rod, reel, and line help you
			Pulling up and then reeling down
			Getting the fish pointed up
			Using current if it’s there
			Reacting when the fish jumps
			Handling a snagged fish
			Knowing how long to play a fish
		Landing, Netting, and Gaffing Fish
			The right way to use a landing net
			What about a gaff?
		When It’s Time to Say Goodbye: Releasing Fish
			Taking quick action after landing a fish
			Reviving an exhausted fish
Part 5 After the Catch
	Chapter 19 Photographing and Preserving Fish for Posterity
		CPR: It’s about Preservation, Not Resuscitation
		Hurry Up and Take Your Time: Photographing Fish
			Digital cameras: Perfect fishing partners
			Tricks for capturing the best fish photo
			Taking measurements for bragging rights
		Come On, Everyone’s Doing It: Making a Fish Video
			YouTube, here you come
			Things to consider before becoming a videographer
		You Want This Fish Forever: One for the Wall
			Caution: Taxidermist at work
			Fiberglass replicas: A win-win alternative
	Chapter 20 Cleaning Fish for the Table
		Taking Quick Action to Preserve Taste and Texture
			Being a good executioner
			Storing and transporting so your fish stay fresh
		Cleaning: A Good Meal Starts with the First Cut
			Scaling
			Gutting
			Filleting
			Cutting steaks
		Freezing to Avoid an Oily, Fishy Taste
	Chapter 21 Biting Back: Cooking and Eating Fish
		Is It Done Yet?
			How long do I cook my fish?
			Marinate with caution
		Fearless Frying
		Traditional Fried Fish
		Reddened Blackfish
		Crispy Fish with Asian-Inspired Dipping Sauce
		Poaching Allowed
		Poached Fish
		Firing Up the Grill
		Islamorada Grilled Speckled Trout
		More Favorite Fish Recipes
		Door County Fish Boil
		Halibut Stew with Red Wine Sauce
		Hearty Fish Chowder
		Fish Salad Sandwich
Part 6 The Part of Tens
	Chapter 22 Ten Fishing Lessons You Don’t Have to Learn the Hard Way
		Avoid Making Bad Vibes
		Know Gimmick Lures When You See Them
		Cast No Shadow
		Choose Clothing That Blends In
		Reuse Home Items
		Pick a Bait Cooler
		Seek Out Advice
		Keep a Fishing Journal
		Be Open to Multispecies Angling
		Take Someone Along for the Trip
	Chapter 23 Ten Fun Ways to Get Kids Fishing
		Plan (and Pack) for Success, not Failure
		Tap into Bluegill Mania
		Make Bait Fun
		Get Gear That Works
		Burn Up a Spinner
		Canoe or Kayak into the Local Wilderness
		Chum Up Carp
		Try Fish Camping
		Crank Up Tourney Time
		Go Night Fishing
Index
Supplemental Images
EULA