Fishing equipment

If you haven't done much fishing before, don't worry. It's not hard. To catch fish, all you need is a rod, a reel, some hooks or lures, a bobber, a few sinkers, a container of bait, and a fishing license if you are 16 years or older.

You'll also want to know the basic fishing laws and few simple things about where fish live, what they eat, and when they are hungry.

Equipment

Rod- Almost any type will work. The basic fishing rod is 6 feet long and has a medium "weight" (which means it's a good all-purpose rod). A cane pole or even a long stick will work for crappies and sunfish.

Reel- The easiest ones to use and called spin-cast reels. Spinning reels are popular, but they are a bit harder to use.

If you use a can pole or a stick, just tie the line to the end.

Line- Line is sold according to it's strength (called "test"), which ranges from 2-pound test up to more than 30-pound test. A good all-purpose line is 8-pound test.

Note: Only one line is allowed per person in the summer.

Bait fishing

Hooks- Any type of hook will work. But treble hooks are illegal in Minnesota unless they are part of an artificial lure.

The smaller the number, the larger the hook. Look for hooks in sizes 4-10. Hooks with a long "shank" (the part between the eye and the barb) are easier to remove from fish with small mouths, such as sunfish.

Use a hook that fits the mouth of the fish you want to catch. Size 8 and 10 hooks are best for crappies, sunfish, and carp. Size 4 and 6 are good for walleyes, catfish, and northern pike.

Note: To learn how to tie fishing line to a hook or lure click here

Sinkers- Also called split-shot, these weights keep your bait down near the lake or river bottom, where most fish swim.

For most shore fishing, pinch on one or two small weights the size of a BB, about 10 inches up from you hook. Use only enough to sink the bait. If the fish feels too much weight it will drop the bait before you can set the hook.

Note: There are now alternatives to lead sinkers. These alternatives are usually made of steel, ceramic or cement. If you loose your sinker, these alternatives are safer for water birds. For more information click here

Bobber- Usually the smaller and thinner bobbers work best. But don't use one so small that the weight and bait sink it. When the bobber goes under the water surface, you know that a fish has taken your bait. A bobber also adds weight to the line to help you cast farther.

Bait- There is a lot to choose from. For most fish, the best all-around baits are nightcrawlers, and half a nightcrawler, or worms.

Waxworms work well for sunfish. To catch carp, try a kernel of canned corn. Catfish are partial to a piece of turkey liver.

Minnows are great fish-getters. Try tiny (1-inch-long) minnows for crappies and larger (2-to 6-inch-long) sucker and fathead minnows for walleyes and northern pike.

If you don't know what type of minnow to use, just ask the person selling the bait.

Take along a needle-nosed pliers to remove the hook from the mouth of any fish you catch.

Note: Worms, minnows, and nightcrawlers die easily, and when dead they will no longer attract fish.

Keep worms and nightcrawlers in a cool, moist place, out of the sun. Put minnows in a bucket with a few small holes punched in the sides and keep it in shaded water nearby. To keep water from spilling out, transport the bait bucket in a larger bucket.

Lures

Of the hundreds of lures on the market, the most popular are spinners (such as Mepps or Rooster Tails), crankbaits (such as Rapalas), and jigs with feathers or rubber bodies (such as Mister Twisters).

Jig- This is simply a hook with a lead ball near the eye. Retrieve a jig by bouncing it along the bottom of the lake or river.

Note: There are now alternatives to jigs. These alternatives are usually made of steel, ceramic or cement. If you loose your sinker, these alternatives are safer for water birds.

Spinners- These lures vibrate when retrieved through the water, attracting fish. They are easy to use and will catch a wide variety of fish.

Spoons- These heavy lures can be cast far out into a lake or river. Spoons are mostly used for northern pike and muskies.

Crankbaits- More expensive than other lures, crankbaits are excellent for walleyes, pike, muskie, and bass.