Youth Fishing Pamplet

Youth Fishing Book
Fish:
There are four main fish in Nebraska waters
Bluegills
Largemouth Bass
Channel Catfish
Carp

All of these fish can be caught on worms, and the largemouth bass and channel catfish can be caught on minnows, little fish. All live in homes, called habitats, which can be:
weeds
sunken branches
trees
rocks
something man-made

All of these habitats can be found in places where you can fish.

Bluegills grow to be the smallest of the three species. Bluegills have a dark gill flap, greenish in color with a lighter belly, and a reddish mark under their mouth. They are mostly caught with a small piece of night crawler or worm dangled underneath a bobber or weighted to the bottom in or near structure that holds bluegill. Some lures that could catch these fish would be one that looks like a bug or jigs. They are also called 'gills.

Largemouth bass grow to be the middle in size of the three species, and are one of America's most popular sport fish and have tournaments held about them, where you could win millions of dollars. They have an average size of half of a pound to 3 pounds, the Nebraska State Record being 10 pounds, 11 ounces. They are found with bluegills and when they get bigger eat them. They can be found in shallow and slightly deeper waters tight about structure and will take lots of baits. They are usually olive green and have a stripe along their side that's usually a dark green or black. Lures that would catch these fish would be ones such as spinner baits and crank baits. They are also called bass or hogs.

Channel catfish grow to be the largest of the three species, average sizes between one to ten pounds, or state record being 39 pounds. They are uniquely distinguishable by their barbells ("whiskers"). They are usually a blue-ish or olive color, with spots when they are younger, and have no scales. They are found with the bass and bluegills, and they eat them when they get larger . Other baits that could catch these fish would be stink bait and liver. They are also called kitties or whiskers.

Carp are a non-native species that come from Europe. They are usually a dark golden color with small barbells and large scales. They are most easily mistaken with giant goldfish, a cousin of them. Good baits for carp would be corn, worms, and night crawlers. They are usually found near shore or on the bottom looking for things to eat. Mostly they weigh a few pounds, but our state record is 33 pound, 12 ounces. Carp are rarely called anything else, maybe you could make a name for them!


Bait:
Bait for these fish include:

Night Crawlers
Worms
Minnows

Night crawlers and worms can be used for all kinds of freshwater fish, and minnows can be used for bass and catfish.
To put a worm on a hook, you put the hook through the worm a couple times depending on its size, but leave a little left to wiggle so that fish want to eat it. When you leave a little left, it causes a thought in the fish's brain that it needs to be eaten.

To put on a minnow onto a hook:
*put it through the underside of the mouth out the mouth
*through the sides of the mouth
*through the tail

The reason why fish go after minnows is because they look injured and its a free meal to a fish.


Tackle:
Tackle is one of the most important parts of fishing. It is the business end of fishing, being what the fish bites, such as hooks and lures, and where the fish bite, such as sinkers and floats. All are tied onto the line, with usually Palomar and improved clinch knots. They are a critical essence of fishing and are a must in every fishing tackle box. They tackle we'll talk about today is terminal tackle (hooks, weights, and floats) and lures (jigs, crank baits, and spoons)

Terminal Tackle

Hooks are the part of fishing where fish bite on. They come in many different sizes, shapes, and uses. They also can hold plastic lures, lives baits (worms, night crawlers, minnows), artificial baits (stink bait or powerbait), and dead bait (cut bait, fish heads, or dead animals). There are three main parts to a hook: the barb, shank, and eye. The barb is the end most part of the hook, right on the tip. When a fish bites down, the tip pierces its mouth, causing it too be hooked. The barb keeps this in, so that the hook doesn't come off. Then there's the shank, the long part of the hook. Different shank should be used for different tasks, so that you fish at your best. Long shanks should be used for fish with each long teeth, so that they don't bite the line and break it, and for fish that swallow the hook, so that you can dislodge the hook for the mouth. Short shanks should be used for bait fishing so that the fish doesn't see or feel the hook the spit it out. Finally, the last part of the hook is the eye. This is the end you tie the line too, and variation is not the common.

Weights are used for either weighing down a line or getting a better casting distance. They come in many sizes, from small bb split shots to large three pound cannonballs. Each one is used for a different task and different situation. When in wind it is better to use larger weights so that bait doesn't move in the water and also so you can achieve better casting distance. Weight also chances the rate at which your presentation will fall, so pick wisely depending on what you are going after that day. Attach weights by either crimping of tying them onto the line.
Floats, usually called "bobbers", are used by fisherman to suspend the bait in the water, drift a bait, or follow where the bait is going. They can come in three different materials: plastic, cork, and wood. They also come in many sizes and many types, such as: round, slip, and pear. The attachment, or putting on, of floats if different depending on the type, so ask an adult or look at the package.

Lures
Jigs are probably the most basic lure ever created. They for the most part only a hook with a weight molded onto the eye, with then an eye attached to the weight. This probably has to be though one of the most effective lures in fishing history though, for it's varying in presentation. This lure can be bounced off the bottom, swimmed at any depth, attached to a bobber for live or artificial bait presentation, or anything you could think of! For the most basic of fishing though we're going to instruct bottom bouncing. To do this, first cast the lure off and wait for the line to stop peeling off. After this happens, reel in slack so that the line is tight and you can feel the lure. Then, tap the pole back slightly, causing the lure to hop on the bottom. Then, reel in the slack and continue this process until the lure is back too you. By doing this, the jig looks like an injured fish or crawdad so it causes the fish to attack the jig in attempt for a free meal.

Crank baits, are probably the most colorful and ever changing of all the fishing lures. With thousands of colors, sizes, brands, types, and looks, going to even the most basic of fishing stores can stun you. First of all, let's set everyone with a basic idea of what a crank bait is. It is a lure made into a fish like shape(most the time) that has a lip that enables it too dive into the water and wobble back and forth when diving. They can be made to either float, sink, or suspend; dive to shallow, mid-ranged, or deep water; and can be made of a few different materials. For the most basic purposes, get a crank bait of a basic color, such as black, is made of balsa wood, and has a shallow lip. I am going to teach you the stop and go method, a retrieval type which prompts fish to attack because it looks like a dying fish in the water. First, cast it out in to a place fish will likely be, then wait for there for a few seconds. Then, reel in extra slack so the line is almost tight but still has a little slack. Next, jerk the rod back close to the ground so the lure dives into the water, this part though is when fish bite the most so be prepared. Then reel in a bit and continue until the lure is back too you.

Spoons, along with jigs and flies, are one the oldest of lures still used today. They are basically a piece of metal bent into the shape of a spoon with a hook attached. This looks like a fish going through the water, water flutters giving it the look of being injured, causing the fish to attack it. They come mostly in either red and white, gold, or silver. They have all the same shape for the most part, but they are slightly different sometimes. To use a spoon, simply cast it out and reel it back in, jerking it every five seconds.


Casting

To learn to cast a pole can be a scary task, but with a little practice you can be casting in no time.

First you must know how to hold the pole correctly. First, grab the pole with your right hand for right handed models, and your left for left handed models. Wrap your bottom four fingers (pointer, middle, ring, and pinkie) around the base of the pole (If there is a trigger, put your pointer finger on it and wrap it around comfortably). Next put your thumb on the button lightly, do not push it because this will let all the line out. Finally, put your opposite hand on the reel. This is how you correctly hold a fishing pole for spin cast models.

To cast, push and hold the thumb button. Then bring the pole to 2 o'clock behind you. Then in a fluid motion, quickly cast the pole forward, releasing the button at 10 o'clock in front of your body to let the bait fly. This does take practice and not everyone gets it at the same time so don't worry, it took me three months to figure out how to cast and I spend all the time practicing it and I still mess up, and I've been fishing for 17 years now. If you don't get it right away ask for help, no one is gonna make fun of you just cause you messed up, we are all here to help you.


How to catch fish

To catch fish, cast out around places where fish could be with only a half of a foot to a foot and a half distance between the float and the bait, weight down with a small bell sinker with a few inches between the bait and the sinker or, if you know how, a lure. When fishing with a float, keep a little bit of slack on the line and wait for the float to go down all the way, then reel in and pull back sharply but controlled as you feel the fish, then reel it in and give it to an adult or a certified person to take off the fish for you. If you have the bait on the bottom with a sinker, keep the line taunt, but make sure that you don't pull it. When a fish begins to play with the bait, the line will twitch in small movements, causing the pole to move in your hand, but do not pull on the pole just yet. When you feel the fish swim off with the bait, pull back and reel it in, then go to a person who is certified to take off the fish.


Handling

For sunfish, hold across the body firmly.

Largemouth bass, hold across the belly.

Carp, hold behind the gills.

Catfish and bullheads, hold under the belly and put your pointer and middle finger around the pectoral fin on one side, and your thumb under the other, hold firmly.

Large fish, hold under the belly firmly.

Never hold fish by the eyes, gills, or fins.

If they swallow the hook, cut the line. The fish's enzymes dissolve the hook.

To get the hook out, either use your hands, pliers, or a hook out.

Don't throw fish.

If you can, keep the fish in the water to help keep it alive.


Knots

There are two main knots used by anglers; the Palomar knot and the improved clinch knot.

The Palomar Knot is easy to tie, exceptionally strong, and very popular with bass fishing pros for tying on jigs and worm hooks. It's somewhat awkward to tie when using lures with treble hooks, but it is the recommended knot for braided lines.
1) Double about four inches of line and pass the loop through the eye.
2) Let the lure or hook hang loose and tie and overhand knot in the doubled line. Avoid twisting the line and don't over tighten.
3) Pull the loop of line far enough to pass it over the lure or hook. Make sure the loop passes completely over this attachment.
4) To tighten, pull the tag end while holding the standing line. Clip the tag end.

The Improved Clinch is very easy to tie, which is the main reason it's so popular for connecting monofilament to terminal tackle. It's most effective on lines under 20-pound test.
1) Pass the line through the eye of the hook, swivel, or lure. Double back and make five turns around the standing line.
2) Holding the coils in place, thread the tag end of the first loop above the eye, then through the big loop.
3) Hold the tag end and standing line while pulling up the coils. Make sure the coils are in a spiral, not overlapping each other. Slide against the eye.
4) Clip the tag end.