Can You Eat Bass? Taste, Which Ones to Keep, Limits and Fish Advisories
Largemouth, smallmouth and striped bass all make good table fare. The keys are choosing the right fish, following limits and checking local advisories.
Category: Fishing Basics
Licenses and regulations, knots, catch and release, fish handling, boating and kayak basics, and how to start fishing as a beginner.
How to Tie a Palomar Knot: Step by Step, Why It Holds and When to Use Something Else
Double the line, pass it through the eye, tie an overhand knot, slip the loop over the hook and pull tight. Here's how to do it right every time.
The Essential Fishing Knots: Palomar, Improved Clinch, Uni, Double Uni and FG
You don't need a book of knots. Five reliable ones handle tying on hooks and lures, joining braid to a leader and spooling a reel.
How to Hold a Bass (and Other Fish) Without Hurting It
The classic thumb-in-the-mouth grip is fine for most bass, but heavy fish need a second hand under the belly. Here's how to hold fish safely, species by species.
Crappie Fishing Tips: Seasons, Spawn, Brush Piles, Jigs, Minnows and Slip Bobbers
Crappie school up around cover and move with the seasons. Find the depth, show them a small jig or minnow slowly, and you can catch plenty.
Trout Fishing for Beginners: Stocked Lakes vs Streams, Baits, Lures and Rules
The fastest way to catch your first trout is a recently stocked lake and a light spinning rod. Here's the gear, the rigs and the rules worth knowing.
Weather and Fishing: Pressure, Fronts, Wind, Clouds, Rain and the Moon
Fronts, wind and light change where fish sit and how they feed. Barometric pressure and the moon get the headlines, but they matter less than you think.
Lake Fishing for Beginners: Where Fish Hold, Simple Rigs and a First-Trip Checklist
Most fish in a lake live along edges: weed lines, drop-offs, docks and points. Start there with a couple of simple rigs and your first trip has a real chance.