9781422273159

The Basic Skills for Every Kind of Fishing Deep Sea Fishing Fishing Careers Fly Fishing Kayak Fishing Preparing and Enjoying the Fish You Catch

Elizabeth Dee

MASON CREST PH I L ADELPH I A | MI AMI

Mason Crest PO Box 221876, Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) • www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2022 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-4492-0 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-4493-7 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7315-9 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Editor: Jacqueline Havelka - Inform Scientific Cover and Interior Design: Torque Advertising + Design Layout: Priceless Digital Media Publisher’s Note: Websites listed in this book were active at the time of publication. The publisher is not responsible for websites that have changed their address or discontinued operation since the date of publication. The publisher reviews and updates the websites each time the book is reprinted.

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CONTENTS Chapter 1: How to Spot the Best Place to Fish. ............ 7 Chapter 2: Equipment and Bait You Need.................. 25 Chapter 3: Know Your Fish....................................... 39 Chapter 4: Water Safety and Etiquette Rules............. 55 Series Glossary of Key Terms. .................................. 74 Further Reading. .................................................... 76 Internet Resources & Educational Video Links........... 77 Index..................................................................... 78 Author’s Biography & Credits................................... 80

K E Y I C O N S T O L O O K F O R : Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! Text-Dependent Questions: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Series Glossary of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

game warden: a government official who protects wildlife by enforcing hunting and fishing laws lateral line: a fish’s internal organ used to sense the vibration of the water laydowns: objects floating or lying half-submerged in the water, such as tree logs

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How to Spot the Best Place to Fish

Start With an Internet Map Successful anglers understand the value of a great “fishing hole,” that spot where the fish are plentiful and easy to catch. If you learn the process of how and where to look, finding your special fishing spot shouldn’t be too difficult, even for a beginner. It takes time and serious effort to find a great spot to fish, but it’s worth it. It’s an important ingredient to your success as an angler. To start your search, use an Internet map that reveals all the lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams in your area. Look for the maps that provide lots of details, such as the deep and shallow areas of water. More detail helps you to narrow down your search considerably.

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Ask the Locals You can also ask about good fishing spots at local bait shops and boat rentals or on social media sites for anglers in your area. People love to post photos and details of their catches, and you can learn a lot from these sites. Gather all the information you can about what kind of fish are biting in your chosen location and where it’s best to fish.

Finding the right fishing spot takes time but it pays off in the end.

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Look for Fish Hideouts When scouting for a fishing spot, remember that fish spend a large part of their lives hiding under any available cover. Hiding protects the fish from a vast array of predators. When checking for potential good fishing spots, look for fallen logs or other objects in the water, called laydowns , which provide shelter and good spawning locations for fish. Large trees or bushes hanging over the water also provide excellent cover. You can find fish lurking in the shadows beneath docks or bridges, too, where predators can’t see them from above. Another favorite hiding place for fish is under floating vegetation such as water lily leaves, duckweed, water lettuce, or water hyacinths. Plants growing underwater also provide plenty of shelter and protection from predators such as herons or other birds. Lake shores, where rushes, cattails, or tall grass grow, can create more refuge for fish to hide and make great places to try your luck fishing. How Many Fish Are Down There? When approaching a pond, stream, or other body of water, remember to walk softly and slowly. When humans walk on a lakeshore or the bank of a river or stream, their footsteps cause the ground to vibrate. Because of an internal organ called a “ lateral line ,” fish sense these vibrations and will quickly swim away. When you walk softly, it gives you a better chance of sneaking up on fish to observe their location and number. If you don’t see or catch any fish in a new spot, don’t automatically assume there are none in that location.

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Fish are experts at hiding from view, or they may not be biting that day. Check a prospective fishing spot at different times for several days. If you fish alone in a public place, such as a dock, and someone approaches you and strikes up a conversation that

Don’t assume there are no fish in the water where you are fishing!

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makes you feel uncomfortable, leave the area immediately. Trust your instincts. If someone makes you feel strange, get away from that person as quickly as possible. Call an adult, tell them what’s happening, or call 911. If a stranger tries to entice you to go with them or get into a car, don’t do it! Leave the area as fast as you can, and call 911. Check the Weather Anglers, professional and amateur alike, agree that the weather plays a very important part in the sport of catching fish. Be sure and check the weather forecast before you plan a fishing trip. Knowledge of the weather and its effect on fish can help you become a better angler. Temperature Fish are cold-blooded creatures and rely on the water to warm them up or cool them down. Cold or warm, the water temperature affects how many fish you’ll catch or whether you catch any at all. Each type of fish prefers a different degree of warmth or cold, and that determines whether the fish will more aggressively seek food. Warm water makes some freshwater fish more active and likely to snap at your baited hook. However, if hot summer weather causes the water to become too warm, there’s less available oxygen, and the fish have a harder time breathing. When stressed by hot weather, fish don’t eat, and that means an unsuccessful fishing expedition for an angler.

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THE HISTORY OF FISHING

Humans have fished since the beginning of history. They have grappled fish out of the water with their bare hands, woven nets from grass and tree fibers, and baited hooks made from bone. For thousands of years, people have turned to fishing as a means of survival, but fishing in modern times has evolved into an incredible sport that can be enjoyed in waters anywhere on the planet. Fishing still pays homage to the sport’s ancient roots, but as individual fishermen constantly strive for bigger and better catches, inventors have created high-tech gear to land incredible fish. Fishing is the perfect pastime for all kinds of people, from those who want a quiet day out on the lake to those who welcome a great sporting contest to land the biggest fish. Fishing is certainly not a sport just for older people who have a lot of time on their hands. Fishing offers a thrill every time something unseen grabs your hook. The larger your fish, the harder the creature will fight, and the more strength and skill you will need to bring in your catch. This book gives you the information you need to develop the basic skills for every kind of fishing. It has been designed to help you learn the right techniques to be successful and to enjoy the sport, and the book also provides information on how to choose the right equipment and bait.

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For thousands of years, nets have been the most important equipment for catching fish.

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Rain Old fishing lore claims that an angler can catch more fish during a rainfall. As it turns out, science has proved this fact to be true. Most freshwater fish do become more active when it’s raining, and they start looking for food. One reason is the dramatic changes in barometric pressure before and after rain. Those barometric changes directly stimulate the fish’s lateral line as well as another internal organ called the swim bladder, which increases a fish’s appetite for that delicious bait on your hook. So, you catch more fish! After heavy rain, fish start biting in small lakes and ponds, and there’s a reason why. When lots of rain pours from the sky onto the land, the excess water then flows into the lakes and ponds. The flow of water picks up loose dirt along the way and takes it into the body of water. The soil makes the water muddy. The traveling water also carries lots of insect life and worms into the pond, which sends the fish into a feeding frenzy. Dirty water obscures the fishes’ ability to see clearly, and in their haste, they gobble up your bait, not detecting the hook until it’s too late. Always Ask Permission Never assume that it is okay to fish in any location. If the body of water is on private land, ask your parents or legal guardian to ask the owner for permission to fish on the property. If an owner refuses, respect their decision, and look for another location. If a landowner grants permission for you to fish on their land, be sure to thank them for the privilege. Ask whether there are any rules you should follow when fishing.

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