Fishing Tips & Advice

I could use some help here... Can anyone actually walk me through the basics? I need more than just surface-level advice on rods, reels, hooks, line, floats, or bait—and don't even get me started on knot tying. I'm looking for actual substance, not just one-liners for every question. If you aren't willing to write out a proper explanation, just drop some decent links that cover everything in detail.

You can actually pick up quite a bit if you hang around the fishing forums (that’s how I got my start, I suppose)

Samuel Price58 said:Man, I could really use some pointers here... can anyone break down the basics for me? I'm looking for the lowdown on rods, reels, hooks, line, floats, bait, even how to tie those knots properly. I want to actually learn this stuff. Please give me some real, meaty answers—don't just give me a one-liner for everything. If you're too busy to type it all out, just drop some links to good guides that cover the whole kit and caboodle.

Look, you can find pretty much any tip or tutorial you need right here, and feel free to ask specific questions as you go:
http://www.pijanitvor.com/forum/index.php
http://www.cro-carp.com/forum/

First thing though—what kind of fish are we talking about targeting?

northernangler said:hey simo, you can find tons of useful stuff on these sites and just ask whatever...
http://www.pijanitvor.com/forum/index.php
http://www.cro-carp.com/forum/

So, what kind of fish are you aiming for?

use dough bait, man. caught a huge pounder last year using those little bits of bread and pellets soaked and mashed up... but now I've been trying some other bait and it's working great...

Roger Morris5 said:If you want to get results, you gotta use the right bait. Last year, I pulled in a whole pound of squid using just those little bits of bread—just soak 'em and squeeze 'em together. But honestly, some guys were using totally different stuff and it worked even better.

Maybe try targeting some squid instead...

Could anyone recommend a solid fishing forum?

Please and thank you!

Why hasn't anyone just started a dedicated thread for this yet? I honestly don't get it—it's getting messy here.

I spend my time fishing out on the Mississippi River—whether I'm jigging, spinning, or whatever else works—and honestly, I can't wait for version 1.6 so I can finally get after some bass. There’s just nothing quite like the thrill of the strike. Being out there in the early morning, maybe around 4:30 AM, watching the sunrise while the fish are actively feeding... it’s something special, I guess.

So why on earth aren't you guys out there hunting for him at night?

Mark Bishop3 said:I fish the Mississippi River—whether I'm using a jig, spinning, or whatever else works—and I can't wait for mid-January to start chasing bass. There is nothing quite like the thrill of the strike. Being out there at dawn, around 4:30 AM, watching the sunrise while the fish are biting... it’s something special.

For me, the real pleasure lies in fishing mountain rivers and streams.
Chasing trout through nearly untouched wilderness... it provides an escape from all the negative energy accumulated while living in a frantic, destructive urban environment.

Along the way, you might even forage for some wild mushrooms or other forest treasures.

My other passion is hiking. It’s painful for those who aren't prepared when they run into a traveler on thin continental tires—even worse is some city girl with her melodic "oh my" who insists on adding salt to the wound, especially when she shouts "water!" on a drive toward the coast and ends up pulling a few pounds of squid out of the ocean.

I’m looking for some advice on the best way to strip old guides off telescopic rods. I’d really appreciate it if anyone with actual experience could weigh in—my main goal is to get them off without wrecking the blank in the process. Thanks!😕

placidviper4 said:Why don't you go looking for them at night?

I’m out there searching for them day and night whenever I get the chance—really. I’m just waiting for the water level on the Mississippi River to drop a bit before I head out.

Used to be you could just roll up without a permit, get stopped by a game warden, and just pay the daily fee on the spot. Now I'm hearing that's out the window and you gotta buy the day pass ahead of time. Is that actually true? Any other new rules I should know about?

Dana Barnes2 said:Does anyone know of a decent fishing forum?

Help me out here!

If you ask me, this one is actually pretty solid—lots of interesting threads and some good banter too.

http://fishingforum.com

Greetings. I am curious if anyone here has experience using the William Shakespeare Tele Carp 3.60m 3lb telescopic rod.

So... I could use some advice. I have a fishing tournament coming up on April 17th. I don't know much about the terrain or what to expect, so I'm looking for some pointers on how to prepare. I think I have my training down, but if anyone has any insights they think I might be missing, please let me know
I really want to be fully prepared, so any solid tips from experienced anglers would be appreciated... Also, I have a question regarding my gear. I’m using 14-foot and 13-foot rods... what weight of sinkers (in grams) should I be using for those when I'm trying to cast out to 300-400 feet?

hollowviper10 said:I'm part of a club and I hit up competitions. Saltwater fishing, obviously.

Look, man, if you're hitting the water too, could you do me a solid and drop a link to that hook? Also, what kind of line am I looking at here—how heavy does it need to be?
I'm pretty much a total newbie, so if anyone could film a quick clip showing how to tie a knot on a hook by eye, that would be huge.

THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!🙏

Hey folks, I’ve been out on the water a few times lately. I know it's still spring, but the fish really should be biting by now. I even hit the local pond four times and didn't get a single strike... just caught some bluegill and sunfish. It’s getting pretty frustrating. Is anyone else dealing with this, or has the fish population just taken a hit overall?

👍

Is there anyone hanging around here who actually uses a panhandle setup for targeting amberjack? And while we're at it, does anyone have any real-world experience trying to pull them in using spider skin?

Hey there. I’m looking for some advice regarding a Penn Pursuit reel... I picked one up about a month ago specifically for some light saltwater jigging, but after only ten hours of actual use, the reel has started making this incredibly annoying sound. It happens right at the moment the spool drops, almost like a distinct creak or a sort of rhythmic squeak... I actually tried taking it back to the shop where I bought it, but they just brushed me off and told me that it's perfectly normal behavior for this model. Personally, I can't help but feel that a piece of equipment like this shouldn't be changing its operational state after just a few hours on the water... because if I truly wanted a reel that came with its own built-in soundtrack, I probably would have just spent $50$33 instead of paying $133 for this. So, if anyone out there has any insight or advice on what might be going on, I'd really appreciate it...