Do Your Homework Before You Go

Would you like to up your odds for that trophy fish? Calling ahead during the planning stage of your next fishing trip may be the most important thing you can do. Searching the Internet will give you a wealth of contact information for people who can save you time and money. Start by calling a state fisheries biologist who will be able to give you an overview of the fishery and what you can expect to catch. Your second call during the trip planning should be to a local bait shop. If the staff can't answer your questions they'll at least know who the local experts are and be able to put you in touch with them. Local sportsmen's clubs and travel bureaus can give you ideas for inexpensive lodging, the best boat ramps and what baits are hot. Best of all, this information is free for the asking!

Try hybrid stripers for fast sub-surface action.

Try hybrid stripers for fast sub-surface action.
The ocean-run striped bass are originally a marine fish that was landlocked interior rivers were first impounded. Fisheries biologists found that though they could survive in fresh water, warmer summer temperatures on big fish led to high mortality. A cross between the native white bass and the ocean striper resulted in a hybrid that was a hardy, deep-bodied fish that routinely topped 12 pounds, or more. During the summer, look for seagulls pointing the way to fleeing shad. The hybrids will chase the shad up to the surface during the summer months. As the hybrids close in the shad will flip out of the water in an attempt to escape. Casting small baits into the fray means taking a hybrid on nearly every cast. Most hybrids are taken on crankbaits of one kind or another, especially Rogues or Rapala Husky Jerks. Half-ounce to three-quarter ounce Rattle Traps are also killers. Small in-line spinners and spoons tossed into the feeding frenzy also take plenty of fish. If it looks like a shad, it’ll probably work.

Lay a Scent for Big Catfish

Lay a scent for big catfish if you want to increase your catch of cats. Most of us plop a stinkbait or chicken liver onto the river bottom and let the fish take it from there. You’ll increase your chances for a big, lazy cat if you try a simple trick that tournament anglers have discovered. Lay a scent trail by moving your bait. After you’ve dropped it and haven’t had any action for about 20 minutes, move it about 10 yards or so and let it rest again. If you still haven’t had a bite, move it again. Your bait is laying a water-borne scent that is giving your bait a lot more exposure than it would otherwise have. In the current, simply toss the bait downstream and keep moving it back to you. Hungry cats will get a whiff of the bait and start moving to locate the source of the scent. By moving your bait upstream you’ll be intercepting the cats and make it easier to find.

Brown Trout

Science Name: Salmo trutta
Other Names: German brown, Loch Leven trout, brownie, sea trout
Ideal Temp: 56 to 66
World Record: 40 lbs. 4 ounces Ark.
Environment: stream, lake
Techniques: light fly, light tackle, casting

Atlantic Bonito

Science Name: Sarda sarda
Other Names: common bonito, katonkel, belted bonito
Ideal Temp: 62 to 80
World Record: 18 lbs. 4 ounces, Azores
Environment: inshore, coastal
Techniques: medium tackle, trolling

Shad

American shad(Alosa sapidissima)
Description
American shad are flat-sided fish with a green- or greenish-blue back, a row of 3 to 23 dark spots along its silvery sides, and a white belly. Sharp saw-like scales, or scutes, along its belly, distinguish it from other fish. The American shad is the largest member of the herring family with an average weight of two to seven pounds and an average length of 10 to 30 inches.

Location
Shad are found along the Atlantic seaboard from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in eastern Canada to Florida and along the Pacific coast from California to Alaska.

Habitat
American shad tend to inhabit areas near the bottom in the main river channels. They are very sensitive to water temperature and any dramatic changes in the temperature of its habitat can have a very negative impact on the fish. The ideal habitats for juvenile shad are large reservoirs. However, fish ladders and dam bypasses are necessary to assist in the migration of the American shad past dams.


Spawning Habits
In late March or early June, the shad are prompted by rising temperatures to leave the ocean and return to their freshwater place of birth to spawn. These areas of spawn are rivers or streams, both requiring upstream ventures. Upon entering freshwater, the belly of the shad changes from white to a darker color.
The female shad, carrying 30,000 to 600,000 eggs, joins the male in an area with fine gravel or sandy bottoms to mix the sperm and eggs.
Shortly after spawning, adults will either die or return to the ocean. The current carries the fertilized, transparent eggs downstream. The larvae will hatch in 3 to 10 days.


Food Usage/Selection
American shad are primarily plankton feeders. Depending upon the geographical region, their diet will vary. Copepods, amphipods, shrimp, zooplankton, and other small fish are common food sources.

Sporting Qualities
Sport fishing for American shad is on the rise. They are strong fighting and hard running fish. They can be caught in route to their spawning grounds by use of dip nets, if legal in that body of water, or by angling with artificial lures or bait. Many anglers have more success by offering bright and flashy lures. American shad can be found in large numbers in areas that temporarily or permanently obstruct their run upstream, such as below a shallow riffle, falls or a dam. They can also be found in areas with a deep bend pool and a moderate current.

Coho Salmon

Science Name: Oncorhynchus kisutch
Other Names: silver salmon, blueback
Ideal Temp: 53 to 58
World Record: 33 lbs. 4 NY
Environment: coastal, stream, lake
Techniques: medium casting, medium fly
Range: Great Lakes and western North America

Spotted Seatrout

Science Name: Cynoscion nebulosus
Other Names: Speckled Trout
Ideal Temp: 55 to 80
World Record: 17 lbs. 7 oz, Fl.
Environment: inshore, coastal
Techniques: light tackle, castting, fly

Snook

Science Name: Centropomus undecimalis
Other Names: linesiders, robalo, sargeant fish, common snook
Ideal Temp: Above 62
World Record: 53 lbs. 10 oz, Costa Rica
Environment: inshore, coastal
Techniques: light tackle, casting, fly

King Mackerel

Science Name: Scomberomorous cavalla
Other Names: kingfish, southern mackeral
Ideal Temp: 65 to 75
World Record: 93 lbs. Puerto Rico
Environment: reef, offshore
Techniques: medium tackle, heavy tackle, trolling,

Blue Catfish

Science Name: Ictalurus furcatus
Other Names: channel cat, hump-back blue, forktail cat, great blue cat, silver cat
Ideal Temp: 75 to 85
World Record: 111 lbs, Al.
Environment: rivers
Techniques: light tackle, medium tackle

Striped Bass

Science Name: Morone saxatilis
Other Names: striper, rockfish, rock, linesides
Ideal Temp: 65 to 70
World Record: 78.5 lbs. NJ
Environment: inshore, coastal, lake
Techniques: Surf fishing, casting, light tackle

Red Snapper

Science Name: Lutjanus campechanus
Other Names: American red snapper, northern red snapper, mutton snapper
Ideal Temp: 60 to 70
World Record: 50 lbs. 4 oz, Louisiana
Environment: reef
Techniques: bottom fishing, medium tackle

Sockeye Salmon

Science Name: Oncorhynchus nerka
Other Names: Red salmon , blueback salmon, kokanee, koke, red fish and silver trout
Ideal Temp: 50 to 55
World Record: 15 lbs. 3 ounces, Alaska
Environment: coastal, stream, lake
Techniques: light tackle, casting, fly
Range: western North America

Suwannee Bass

nce Name: Micropterus notius
Ideal Temp: 70 to 80
World Record: 3 pounds, 14 ounces, Fl.
Environment: streams and rivers
Techniques: light tackle, casting, fly
Range: Florida and Georgia

Brook Trout

Science Name: Salvelinus fontinalis
Other Names: speckled trout, brookies, Eastern brook trout, coaster, salter
Ideal Temp: 61 to 70
World Record: 14 lbs. 8 ounces ONT.
Environment: Streams, rivers, lakes
Techniques: light tackle, casting, fly fishing

Redeye Bass

Science Name: Micropterus coosae
Other Names: Coosa bass, shoal bass, Flint River smallmouth, Chipola bass, black bass
Ideal Temp: 65 to 70
World Record: 8 lbs. 12 ounces, Fl.
Environment: stream, river, lake
Techniques: light tackle, casting, fly
Range: Southeastern United States

Sockeye Salmon

Science Name: Oncorhynchus nerka
Other Names: Red salmon , blueback salmon, kokanee, koke, red fish and silver trout
Ideal Temp: 50 to 55
World Record: 15 lbs. 3 ounces, Alaska
Environment: coastal, stream, lake
Techniques: light tackle, casting, fly
Range: western North America

Redfish

Science Name: Sciaenops ocellatus
Other Names: Red Drum, channel bass, bull red, rat red
Ideal Temp: 70 to 90
World Record: 94 lbs. 2 oz, NC
Environment: inshore, coastal
Techniques: light tackle, surf fishing, fly tackle