Learning to Fish

  Like with all disciplines of fishing, river fishing has its own sets of challenges and advantages. River fishing consists of fishing from the shore, or from a boat in a flowing body of water like rivers and streams. Brushy banks, shallow depths, rocks, and underwater snags makes river fishing a very challenging (and expensive) discipline of fishing. I have lost more gear fishing in rivers and streams than anywhere else. The danger of snags is everywhere, from trees or bushes on the shore, to rocks and fallen trees that lie hidden under the water. River fishing requires a more strategic approach to where and how you cast, and what gear you use.  https://www.wainnsiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/flyfishing-yakima-river-WIIN-scaled.jpg River fishing also has its advantages. There are species that live in rivers and streams that do not live anywhere else. The oxygen filled clean water also allows for larger fish to thrive, and reach greater sizes. Eating fish from a river o...

  In fishing, trolling is the process of fishing from a boat of some kind, and towing a lure or bait behind the boat to imitate the natural movements of prey in the water. Trolling is used heavily in offshore saltwater fishing to catch monster predators such as marlin and tuna. In fresh water, trolling is used to catch fish such as pike, bass, and trout. The process can be difficult, as obtaining access to a boat is hard. Trolling also generally takes place in larger bodies of water like lakes and reservoirs, making locating fish difficult. https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.kUB9h204HfBUZN6obZ9Y6QHaE8&pid=Api&P=0&h=220 The process generally begins by sinking a lure to the desired depth. Different species of fish reside in different depths, which means that one must determine the desired depth based on species, as well as water temperature. Once the desired depth has been reached with weights of rudders, the boat must drive at a relatively slow speed (between 5 and 10 mi...

  For my fifth blog post I will be outlining some commonly used gear in fresh water fishing. Since starting the blog I have done hours of research into what kind of gear to use to improve my overall fishing experience. When I moved to Chico I was using a small, light weight, and very old rod and reel combo. While this combo worked well for catching trout in mountain streams and small fish, the age of the reel finally let me down, causing a lot of tangles, jams, and headaches. In search of a new rod, I researched the many types of rods and reels, in search of the best fit for me.  https://irp.cdn-website.com/0a3bd12b/dms3rep/multi/fishing+rods+on+racks.jpeg The first thing that I researched was what kind of rod I wanted. My old rod was a 5’5” rod with light action, which worked well with small fish and in brushy and cramped fishing spots. For my new rod, I wanted something with a little heavier action, and a little longer so that I could cast farther. I originally considered ...

  For my fourth post in this blog, I will be exploring different species of fish that reside in the waters near me. Butte County is home to a number of different species of fish that reside in many different environments, such as lakes, rivers, small streams, and ponds. There are varieties of fishing species ranging from bluegill to white sturgeon. Each of these fish present their own unique challenges when anglers are attempting to catch them. In this blog post I will be exploring the different methods used to catch these different species of fish, and the uses people have for them.  One of the most common and popular varieties of fish in the United States is the bass. Butte County is home to multiple bass species, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, and striped bass. Being the most common sportfish in the United States, there is a huge list of ways to catch them. Bass are very aggressive predatory fish, and will try to eat anything that fits in their m...

  For the third post of my blog I will be discussing different baits and lures that I have been experimenting with for the past couple of weeks. There are a ton of different baits and lures that people use, ranging from a piece of stale bread to a $100 lure. For the past couple of weeks I have been experimenting with many types, including soft baits, crank baits, spinner bates, flasher bates, chunk bait, and more.  Different types of soft fishing baits imitate various prey to attract fish. Worms look like invertebrates such as earthworms, appealing to most species of fish. Grubs mimic small insects and attract panfish and bass. I have had a lot of luck with small grubs. Creature baits resemble crayfish or shrimp, enticing predatory fish. While I am somewhat unfamiliar with creature baits I would like to try them more in the future. Swimbaits imitate fish and attract larger game fish. Soft plastics like lizards and frogs imitate amphibians and reptiles, appealing to fish in d...

       In this post I will be discussing the variety of fishing spots in Butte County, as well as some of the species that can be fished for. Butte county holds many waterways, including lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds. Many of these waterways can be fished and each hold their own species and secrets.  One of my favorite places to fish in Butte County is the Sacramento River. The Sacramento River flows through a large portion of Northern California and is home to a large variety of fish species, including bass, trout, catfish, and salmon. The Sacramento River is celebrated for its clear waters and an abundance of fish, attracting anglers of varying skill levels. A notable highlight of this river is its flourishing Chinook salmon population, rendering it a top spot for salmon fishing. The river is most popular during the salmon runs, eagerly aiming to hook these prized catches and battling with these large fish. https://media.fishreports.com/r...