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Angler Reference

Fishing Techniques Hub

Every fishing method explained - fly, trolling, jigging, spearfishing, ice, cast-net and beyond. Gear lists, best seasons, target species and pro tips for each. From beginner to expert, freshwater to saltwater.

🎣 28 techniques 🌊 3 water types

Bait 6 techniques

Fishing with bait resting on or near the bottom - the most universally productive fishing method for...

Both Beginner Commercial

Center-Pin Fishing

A precision drift-fishing technique using a free-spinning "float" reel - the gold standard for Great...

Freshwater Advanced

Dispersing ground bait or fish parts into the water to create a scent trail that attracts fish from...

Saltwater Intermediate Commercial

Deep-Sea Offshore Fishing

Big-game fishing from offshore boats for pelagic gamefish like marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi, and swordfis...

Saltwater Advanced Commercial

Live Bait Fishing

Fishing with live prey - minnows, shrimp, crabs, worms, or eels - the most fundamental and universal...

Both Beginner Commercial

Casting from ocean piers - one of the most accessible saltwater fishing formats, targeting species t...

Saltwater Beginner

Cast Net 1 technique

Throwing a weighted circular net to capture schooling baitfish - a global technique for bait collect...

Both Intermediate Commercial

Drop Shot 1 technique

A finesse rig with the sinker on the bottom and the hook suspended above - deadly for pressured bass...

Freshwater Intermediate

Fly 3 techniques

Fly Casting (Streamer)

Fly fishing with larger baitfish-imitating flies for predatory fish - producing the most aggressive...

Freshwater Intermediate

Casting near-weightless artificial flies using the weight of the line itself - the most elegant and...

Both Intermediate

Tenkara Fishing

A traditional Japanese fly fishing technique using only a long telescoping rod, fixed line, and simp...

Freshwater Beginner

Gill Net 1 technique

A vertical net wall in which fish become entangled by their gills - simple, effective, but with sign...

Both Expert Commercial

Hand Line 1 technique

Noodling (Hand Fishing)

Catching catfish by reaching into their spawning burrows and provoking them to bite - a traditional...

Freshwater Advanced

Ice 1 technique

Fishing through holes in frozen lakes - a distinctive winter tradition of the northern latitudes, pr...

Freshwater Beginner

Jigging 1 technique

Working weighted lures vertically to imitate injured or fleeing prey - deadly effective for bottom f...

Both Intermediate

Long Line 1 technique

Longlining (Commercial)

Commercial fishing with long baited lines carrying hundreds to thousands of hooks - a major method f...

Saltwater Expert Commercial

Lure 5 techniques

A separated weight and hook rig with a long leader - lets soft plastics float naturally over the bot...

Freshwater Intermediate

Crankbait Fishing

Fishing with hard-plastic diving lures that wobble and vibrate - one of the most efficient ways to c...

Freshwater Beginner

Visually locating specific fish and casting to them individually - the most demanding and rewarding...

Texas Rig Bass Fishing

A weedless soft-plastic rig with the hook point buried in the bait - the go-to bass technique for fi...

Freshwater Beginner

Topwater Fishing

Fishing surface lures - poppers, walkers, buzzbaits, frogs - for the most visually dramatic strikes...

Freshwater Intermediate

Net 2 techniques

Bottom Trawling (Commercial)

Dragging weighted nets across the seafloor - one of the highest-yielding but most controversial comm...

Saltwater Expert Commercial

A commercial method where a vertical net wall encircles a school of fish and is then drawn shut like...

Saltwater Expert Commercial

Spear 2 techniques

Fishing with a bow and specialised arrow attached to a retrieval line - primarily targeting rough fi...

Both Intermediate

Hunting fish underwater with a spear or speargun - the most direct and selective form of fishing, re...

Saltwater Advanced

Surf 1 technique

Casting from the beach or shoreline into the surf zone - one of the most accessible saltwater fishin...

Saltwater Beginner

Trolling 2 techniques

Fishing from a paddle or pedal kayak - offering access to shallow, quiet water inaccessible to large...

Both Intermediate

Drawing baited lines behind a moving boat to cover water and locate active fish - the most efficient...

Both Beginner Commercial