How to find where the fish are is something a lot of newbies to fishing ask, frequently. Before you attempt to catch fish, you need to find out where they are. Fish are found nearly everywhere there is water, food, oxygen, and cover. You’re certain to be within close distance to a lake or stream that has fish in it. For a fisherperson this is good news but now you have to find the fish.
Not all fish live in the same kind of waters. Different fish tolerate different conditions better than others. Some include differing levels of salt, amounts of oxygen, amounts of food, water temperature, and hiding areas. The most distinguishing element of fish is salt. Freshwater fish don’t live in areas where there’s a lot of salt but there are some fish that need salt to survive. There are also some types of fish that can live in both saltwater and freshwater.
Freshwater ponds, reservoirs, and rivers hold much less less salt than the ocean. Some of the fish that you will find in these freshwater lakes and streams are the bluegill, carp, catfish, crappie, and bass, perch, walleyes, northern pike, sunfish and more. There are many species of fish that live in the ocean’s salty water. Thanks to their kidneys, these fish are able to keep the proper balance of salt in their body. The more popular saltwater fish are the bluefish, cod, sea trout, tuna, and flounder.
Another factor that’s very important for fish and finding fish is oxygen. All fish must have a certain level of dissolved oxygen to survive. Some fish, such as carp, survive on less oxygen than fish like brook trout. The plants in a lake or stream directly affect the amount of oxygen in the water. They add oxygen to the water through photosynthesis. This process uses sunlight to make food for the plants and oxygen is a by product. Oxygen also makes its way into water from the surrounding air. If you’re trying to find fish in an area witout enough oxygen you’re wasting your time.
You will find certain fish in certain bodies of water based on what kind of food is there. All fish need to eat, so the amount of competition with other fish is a factor that determines which fish will be in certain areas.
Fish prefer different water temperatures. Some fish are flexible. They have the ability to live in a wide range of temperatures. Other fish need either cold or warm water to survive. Trout are an example of this. You will only find trout in cold water. Your best bet for finding a certain type of fish is to learn about the type of water it prefers. They are most often found in water that is close to their preferred temperature.
Water quality often determines where a fish will live and we have the means to ensure a high level of water quality. All fish must have water that has adequate levels of oxygen. Good-quality water will obviously support more species of fish than water that is polluted. Water that is stagnant, polluted, or lacking adequate oxygen simply can’t support a large group of fish. While some fish, such as carp, live in water that is not very clean, most fish need high quality water in order to survive.
Discovering the places where fish live is the first step to successful fishing. Several factors come into play when looking for a fish’s habitat. Some of these are the levels of salt and oxygen found in water. Another factor is the temperature of the water. All fish are different. Because of this, it benefits you, the angler, to take the time necessary to find the bodies of water in which they live.
Now that you know how to find fish you may want to know how to catch big fish? If that’s the case click the link and read the article as it has good fishing info in it. Plus it’s a great fishing blog.
If you’re reading this you have computer access so use it to find the information on lakes in your area. Every state has a Dept. of Natural Resources or something similar. You can find really great information on their websites as most include fish numbers, forage available, which lakes record fish came from and more. Use that resource to find out where the fish are and if the fish are big enough to catch. That’s the best way I know how to find where the fish are.
IF you’re into river fishing you might want to check out these river fishing tips.