Fishing with Style

In my first blog post we talked about the sense of freedom and relaxation that fishing can bring you, but this week its all about style. So let's talk style. By that, I mean which style of fishing might best fit you, for what you want to accomplish while fishing. If you have a properly equipped boat, you probably don't want to sit around on the bank and peck away at some bream or walk halfway around the world to cast into that for sure bass spot. However, if you do not have a boat do not fear. You can have a full day of enjoyment while fishing from the bank.

From top to bottom you have Black Sea Bass, Spanish Mackerel, and Spotted Sea Trout.

The fish you see in the above picture are usually caught from boat. However, there are ways to catch these same fish from land, but we will not delve into that this round. As I said you usually will find yourself on a boat fishing for these, and we call this style Grass Flats Fishing. This particular style can be a little bit expensive, but it is definitely not at the high end cost for fishing. The general idea for this style is to take your boat out into your favorite saltwater grass flat, and drift along slowly while presenting the preferred bait. For those that don't know, a grass flat is a flat area of the ocean floor covered in grass in about 3-10 foot of water. Most of the fish found in the grass flats are predators and will strike at anything shiny or bloody. Many people feel it's more complicated than that, but it really is as simple as finding the right bait and getting it out in the water. The predators will do the rest.

Largemouth Bass caught by me at Lake Sunrise in Quitman, GA.

Now we move to the fishing done from the bank. Fishing from the bank can and does exclude you from some species,but as you can see from the picture just above, you can still catch a monster from the shore. The three most popular types of fish targeted in fresh water from the shore are bream, bass, and catfish. All of which are very tasty, I might add. The laziest style is for the catfish. All you need is a sturdy rod, medium sized hook, a heavy weight, and some chicken livers. Once your rigged just toss the bait out, take in the slack, and wait for a nibble. Pretty simple huh? It's also one of the cheapest fishing methods available. The brim fishing takes just a tad bit more work, because you will often have to re-bait your hook. All you need is a bamboo cane pole, 10 feet of light line, a small hook, a small float, and a can of worms, basket of crickets, or several slices of bread if you are squeamish. Toss your bait out, wait for the float to go under, and then give it a pull to set the hook. Wallah! You have caught yourself a brim. This style is also very cheap. The bass fishing takes the most work. You will have to move around a lot and you will cast and retrieve your lure countless times, but when that big fat bass grabs hold you will forget about all the work. This style is as cheap or expensive as you wish to make it. If you are after big bass, you probably need a good rod, and those vary in price. The lures are relatively cheap. The hardest part is figuring out which lure the bass in that area like, but when you start catching them you will have found the right one.

Next week I will share a story from one of my fishing trips. I will also talk more in depth on my favorite kind of fishing, and that is Saltwater Fishing.

Fishing for Freedom

Fishing is an addiction that many people, myself included, cannot live without. There are many reasons why millions of people around the world consider fishing to be a very important part of their lives. Not only does fishing offer a high repeat value of recreational enjoyment, but many cultures depend upon fishing for their very survival. This weeks entry focuses on the feeling of freedom that one can achieve from fishing. I for one find fishing to be a very relaxing way to forget all my troubles, if just for a little while. When I first came back from overseas while I was in the military, I was depressed. I had lost several close friends in the war, and seen countless unnecessary acts of violence. I was on the verge of a breakdown, but then a friend came to me and invited me to go fishing. I hadn't been fishing in almost two years so I was excited to go. From the time we got out on the water, my troubles began to melt away. Looking at the beautiful scenery, catching and releasing bass, and chit chatting with my friend suddenly made me feel a since of freedom I hadn't felt in four years. When you head out there to go fishing, find your inner peace, calm your thoughts, and just have fun, all while lowering your blood pressure. Next weeks blog I will discuss different styles of fishing and the cost and rewards associated with them. Some of the techniques will be for beginners, while some will be for the more advanced. So stay tuned to find out which style is for you!