Simple fishing qusetion

[look 171]

Kids are bored as heck glued to the computer. We have been bike riding and doing other activities but the thought of fishing came up again. When they were much younger, we fished the trout farm twice. Very easy and expensive catch but great fun for them. When I took them out to the lake to catch blue gills, they were bored to death waiting for the fish to bite. Never again cried the both of them. I remember going to the breakwater to fish for sculpins or other rock fish. Drop a line in the hole with a piece of squid, there's a guarantee bite and we always pulled up a fish. My question is, it is better during sunset or dawn? Fished don't normally bite during the day?

[porsche4life]

YouTube. Seriously, search the area you want to fish and there will be tons of videos showing the best techniques for the area and the time.

[Bill Douglas]

Here in the South Pacific we the Maori calendar. Seriously it says what days (weeks?) the fish are biting. I don't know why or how, but it does seem fairly much right.

Some days out not a bite. Then other days can't stop catching them. then I check the Maori calendar and sure enough it has been correct.

So there may be more to it than biting during dusk and dawn. Who knows, or is it just a whole lotta Pacifica mumbo jumbo.

[Tishabet]

+1 to YouTube for the local intel like bait, technique etc. Going to the local fishing shop and asking for advice on what to use to target fish at location X is also useful, they're usually happy to share intel if you're dropping a few bucks on gear.

Whether a fish "bite" is time dependant and\or tide dependant really comes down to the fish species. For Chinook salmon, very time and tide dependant. For sculpin and other bottom fish? The bite is always on.

[drcoastline]

The question isn't as simple as you think. It depends on what species of fish you are going for and if salt or fresh water fish. It has been my experience fresh water fish are spookier than salt water fish in general and takes more skill more skill regarding casting and retrieving, bait presentation etc. I also do not think dawn or sunset plays much of a role. Fresh water fish are also always in the body of water you are fishing, sure they may migrate around a lake depending on the season, spawning, etc. but they are there you just need to locate where they are and present your bait lure in an attractive manner.

Salt water fish are different most are migratory so first thing you need to know is if the species is even there? In general they are also less spooky and are opportunistic or ambush feeders so presentation for many species isn't as critical. They attack then decide if they like it and swallow or spit it out. Tide is also very important on inshore fishing. Again, as they are ambush or opportunistic feeders the half hour before and after a tide change when bait fish are being swept and moved by the tide shift are often best. In my experience here on the East coast fishing the tide the shift is more important than morning or evening and the shift from high to low is better than low to high. The moon phase is also important. Again, as ambush feeders the proper structure is important and knowing the level the fish is habitating. There are bottom feeders, mid level and top level feeders. So you need to know where that fish is in the strata.

I did some quick research on the Sculpin that you mention. The appear to be bottom fish much like the black sea bass we have here on the East Coast. I would fish those with a top and bottom rig. Lower hook a few inches off the bottom the upper hook six or eight inches above that. You can buy premade top and bottom rigs at Walmart and any bait and tackle shop. A simple squid strip and/or clam maybe with a bucktail and/or a bead. Drop the line in find the bottom and take up the slack and wait for the hit. I would think the high to low tide shift would be the best feeding time with these fish much like our Black Bass, Stripers (Rock fish), Tautog (Black fish) on the East Coast but I would bet anytime will probably get you something.

[cabmandone]

If you're fishing for bluegill it's always best to find where they are bedding. Once you find where they're bedding it's nonstop action. I tend to fish the shoreline where any wind is hitting me in the face. The thought is that the "waves" bring in food source for the fish. You can also view the SoLunar tables but that never did much for me. Finding where the bluegill bed... now THAT paid dividends.

And if you aren't using wax worms for bluegill, use them. I use an ultralight setup with 4lb line for bluegill with about as small a hook as I can put on the line. I use a slip bobber and put a wax worm on that tiny little hook. Works every time.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by look 171

.... My question is, it is better during sunset or dawn? Fished don't normally bite during the day?

I only catch abnormal fish

[DWBOX2000]

Kayaks are a game changer for fresh water fishing. Gets you places to fish where the shore fishermen can’t go and it’s just fun. Pack up a cooler and bring along. I seem to have the best luck with these rubber worms called sweet potato pie that they sell in Walmart. I think they are strike king. I Wacky worm them. Easy and engaging since your moving around and working the worm, not just sitting there.
Good luck.

[ramonesfreak]

good info above so i’ll just advise this- remove your barbs, especially when fishing with kids. there is no reason to use barbs unless your depending on catching fish for survival or competition. i have fished my entire life and never considered this until 10 years ago when i hooked myself late at night unhooking a walleye requiring an expensive trip to the emergency room

it’s simple to do. just use some needle nose pliers to flatten the barb down

you and the fish will have your stress level significantly reduced by doing this. i’ve never looked back

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

Kayaks are a game changer for fresh water fishing. Gets you places to fish where the shore fishermen can’t go and it’s just fun. Pack up a cooler and bring along. I seem to have the best luck with these rubber worms called sweet potato pie that they sell in Walmart. I think they are strike king. I Wacky worm them. Easy and engaging since your moving around and working the worm, not just sitting there.
Good luck.

That's what she said

Sorry, I had to.

[id10t]

Freshwater pond fishing time of day has never really mattered. Before a front blows thru is ok, but not immediately after.

Saltwater for me depends on where you are fishing - eg. in Cedar Key (West coast Fl.) fishing is best on the incoming tide, peaking just before high tide. Over near St. Augustine (East coast Fl) fishing is best on the outgoing tide.

[DWBOX2000]

For freshwater I find middle of the day is useless for fishing. I am in the northeast. Our large bass are bait fish for you southerners.

[Zeke]

I think fish farm fishing is not anywhere near the experience of stream fishing. That goes for lakes too. I know, you want a bass, got to a bass lake.

Stream fishing (especially fly fishing) requires a lot of knowledge and finesse. How can that be boring? Give it a try. The Kern isn't that far away.

[911 Rod]

It's called fishing and not catching for a reason.
You need to commit to time and equipment.
Not as much fun for kids sometimes.

[look 171]

Thanks for the tips. My plan is to have a bit of fun and not get too technical into fishing (I don't know too much about). My kid is 13 and depressed from lack of friends since going to a brand new school and on line classes. His teachers are kicking his ass with boring busy work. I just want to pry him off the computer for half a day. Sitting there holding a fishing rot for 4-5 hours isn't much fun neither and doesn't do him any good.

[id10t]

A quick google for "urban fishing los angeles" gives some interesting results, you should probably go check it out.

Freshwater -

OK, so the first thing to do is a bit of scouting. I like fishing urban ponds - retention ponds, golf course stuff, whatever I can get away with. I tend towards microlight spinning rigs and artificials... If it holds water at least a few inches deep all year it will have fish in it.

Assuming you have a pond/lake nearby where you won't have to doge the cops and can actually chill and fish, just confirm they are there with some quick scouting and off you go. Polarized glasses help a lot. Basically, get some bread and make little balls 1/4-1/2" diameter. Toss 'em in the water, 4-5 feet from shore where hte water should be a foot or more deep. You should see the balls moving around weird, that is the fish fighting over it. Just some bread floating on top may bring them up to hit it as well. You can do the same by using a hand trowel or shovel to scoop up an ant bed and toss it in the shallows.

Equipment - a Zebco 202 or 404 rod/reel combo from walmart. Get some #6 and #8 hooks, some small BB sized split shot and a few floats. Hook on the end of the line, one split shot 8" above that, and the bobber maybe 18" above hook. Maybe $35 at walmart.

Bait - bread balls, dough balls (mix water and flour to right consistency, or use pizza dough, canned biscuits, etc) are usually good. Greasy meat like little pieces of bacon fat or fatback work really well and can help catch other things besides bluegills (like catfish or even bass). You can order a minnow trap from basspro for $10 plus shipping and use minnows, which again expand the possibilities of what you will catch.


Saltwater - assuming from pier or beach.

Equipment - 6-8' medium heavy spinning rod, 12-20lb test line. Some 1/0 circle hooks, maybe some light wire leaders (depends on where exactly you are fishing and likely to catch - lots of teeth, use the leader), some barrel swivels and some pyramid weights from 1/4oz up to 2oz (more current/wave action = more weight needed). Hook, 18" line, barrel swivel, main line through eye on the weight. Maybe $50 total at walmart.

Bait - shrimp, live or dead bait fish (mullet, cigar minnows, shad, anchovies, etc), dead squid, crabs if you can get 'em, sand fleas etc. Ask the locals about underwater land shape, toss it into the trough between sand bars, etc. or just chuck it out as far as you can.

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by look 171

Thanks for the tips. My plan is to have a bit of fun and not get too technical into fishing (I don't know too much about). My kid is 13 and depressed from lack of friends since going to a brand new school and on line classes. His teachers are kicking his ass with boring busy work. I just want to pry him off the computer for half a day. Sitting there holding a fishing rot for 4-5 hours isn't much fun neither and doesn't do him any good.

if you don’t know much about fishing and the kids aren’t begging to fish (i assume) why not just go for a bike ride?

i don’t know how to fish without getting too technical about it. in my opinion, like hunting, there is a certain amount of responsibility that goes with fishing.....including having enough technical knowledge to behave ethically

sure i remember being a kid, maybe 8 or 10 when my grandpa would take me bluegill fishing. he knew nothing about fishing and just wanted to have fun with me and we did. we would use worms and catch a hundred bluegill using those junk zebco outfits......what has haunted (maybe haunted isn’t the right word) me ever since is i remember the bluegill would swallow the tiny hook and he would simply pull the hook out -guts and all and toss the fish like he was picking weeds....no other way to get it out. of course unlike me, he was a manly fireman sorta guy and didn’t have feelings for fish or any animal really

while i enjoyed my time with grandpa i absolutely despise this sort of behavior now as an adult and would never teach my kids to behave like this. .

unless i’m gonna eat panfish- i don’t target them because the hooks required are small and usually swallowed and result in mass casualty and suffering. it probably doesn’t help that i have 10 fish tanks filled with pet fish and are therefore inclined to be sympathetic....nevertheless, i believe proper respect should be given to animals that are being used for both food and especially, for entertainment. that said, i only target larger fish like salmon, bass and walleye

when you fish with improper equipment because you just wanna have some fun, an example of one of the many bad things that can happen is this: you end up catching a large fish on light line. the line brakes and the fish now swims off with a hook stuck somewhere in its body. the fish then possibly dies a slow death from starvation or infection and is likely then picked up by an eagle that gets the same hook caught in its beak.....even when trying to do all the right things, this still happens and it sucks. i always try to mitigate this type of scenario

it’s not my intention to lecture or tell you how to live your life but maybe either think of something else to do or maybe dive into the sport of fishing in a serious manner and perhaps pass that knowledge and good sportsmanlike behavior on to the kids.....i’ve learned the hard way and if i can help you avoid a headache thats all...

[drcoastline]

Look171 the answer is simple go to Ramonesfreak's house and fish in his tank. Guaranteed the kids will have fun.

I remember as a kid fishing in my gold fish tank. It was fun on a rainy day.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

Look171 the answer is simple go to Ramonesfreak's house and fish in his tank. Guaranteed the kids will have fun.

I remember as a kid fishing in my gold fish tank. It was fun on a rainy day.

Yeah, but which tank?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

if you don’t know much about fishing and the kids aren’t begging to fish (i assume) why not just go for a bike ride?

i don’t know how to fish without getting too technical about it. in my opinion, like hunting, there is a certain amount of responsibility that goes with fishing.....including having enough technical knowledge to behave ethically

sure i remember being a kid, maybe 8 or 10 when my grandpa would take me bluegill fishing. he knew nothing about fishing and just wanted to have fun with me and we did. we would use worms and catch a hundred bluegill using those junk zebco outfits......what has haunted (maybe haunted isn’t the right word) me ever since is i remember the bluegill would swallow the tiny hook and he would simply pull the hook out -guts and all and toss the fish like he was picking weeds....no other way to get it out. of course unlike me, he was a manly fireman sorta guy and didn’t have feelings for fish or any animal really

while i enjoyed my time with grandpa i absolutely despise this sort of behavior now as an adult and would never teach my kids to behave like this. .

unless i’m gonna eat panfish- i don’t target them because the hooks required are small and usually swallowed and result in mass casualty and suffering. it probably doesn’t help that i have 10 fish tanks filled with pet fish and are therefore inclined to be sympathetic....nevertheless, i believe proper respect should be given to animals that are being used for both food and especially, for entertainment. that said, i only target larger fish like salmon, bass and walleye

when you fish with improper equipment because you just wanna have some fun, an example of one of the many bad things that can happen is this: you end up catching a large fish on light line. the line brakes and the fish now swims off with a hook stuck somewhere in its body. the fish then possibly dies a slow death from starvation or infection and is likely then picked up by an eagle that gets the same hook caught in its beak.....even when trying to do all the right things, this still happens and it sucks. i always try to mitigate this type of scenario

it’s not my intention to lecture or tell you how to live your life but maybe either think of something else to do or maybe dive into the sport of fishing in a serious manner and perhaps pass that knowledge and good sportsmanlike behavior on to the kids.....i’ve learned the hard way and if i can help you avoid a headache thats all...

Got it. Isn't it very easy for the fish to spit the hook if its barbless?