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Whether you are 2 or 102 years old, it's time to grab your pole, bait and bucket and experience one of the hottest, most cost-effective family activities out there Ð fishing for glory in the great outdoors. While you may come home sans fish, you'll never walk away empty-handed...for who can help but unwind to the harmonic dance of a fly or the unmitigated wonder and excitement of a child's first cast.
From the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and all of the rivers in between, the East Coast is literally overflowing with fish-filled waterways just yearning to be explored by you and your family. To aid and potentially jumpstart this exploration, we've enlisted the help of a lifelong PA Fish and Game Commission Warden, Perry Heath, to tackle some of recreational fishing's top questions... What's the best time of day to go fishing? There's an old wives' tale that says if the cows are eating, then the fish are biting. In my experience, no matter the time of day, something will be biting. For example, bass fishing is usually most successful during periods of low light...such as the morning or evenings...but in the late spring and fall when they are on a feeding frenzy, you can catch them at any point in the day. I think the important thing to remember is that actually catching a fish is only a small part of the fishing equation. I remember one early spring morning; my granddaughter and I went to a nearby lake to do some early morning fishing. When we arrived at the lake, the water's warmth had caused a low, rolling mist to form over the entire region; the air had a quiet stillness that completely isolated us from the hustle and bustle of the outside world; and when we glanced across the shore, there was a majestic buck with his herd causally strolling along the water's edge. I can't remember if we caught anything that day, but it remains one of our favorite memories. Do I need a license to fish? In most states, if you are under the age of 16, no you do not need a license to fish. Since each state varies slightly as to the requirements for offshore and boat fishing, I would check with your state's Fish and Game Commission for the specific rules and regulations governing public waterways. Usually, the license fees are extremely reasonable and go to protect and stock the very waterways that you will be using. What kinds of fish are in fresh-water and what kinds are in saltwater...and how do I tell them apart? The two most popular types of freshwater fish are the various types of trout and bass. Rainbow trout, perhaps the most common trout, are distinguishable by their forked tail, two widely spaced dorsal fins, small scales and teeth. They get the name rainbow from a pink band they may have on each side of their body, a silver back with black spots, and a silver belly. Bass, whether small mouth, largemouth, or stripped, will have thick, elongated bodies, usually with a black stripe along each side. As for saltwater fish, a popular favorite is the Atlantic salmon...mostly due to their amazing agility and determination to survive. Between April and November, these salmon return to their home rivers in an extraordinary journey that may span more than 4,000 km. of open-ocean followed by an up-river battle, including jumping over obstacles up to three meters high, in order to spawn and recreate life. They are distinguished by vertical markings on their flank, with 9 to 11 bars along their sides - which act as camouflage. Depending on their age and size, salmon may also have a silvery coat to further aid their camouflage at sea. A favorite salmon fishing spot of mine is Lake Ontario. |