I haven't done any real fishing since my teenage years. What should I know?

I bought myself an Ugly Stik reel + rod combo (Elite set, 7' with hooks, 6lb Trieline, and some mousetail lures from Costco) and a fishing license. I don't have a boat but I'll be fishing the big river here in town (upstate NY) and maybe the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Fish in the river include yellow perch, catfish, bass, pike, steelhead, rainbow, and king salmon. I understand that's quite the range and will require different tackle and techniques.

I have one friend in town that loves fishing but we may not be able to go fishing at the same time due to work schedules. Besides Walmart there is a local bait and tackle shop in town that should be opening back up again.

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Posted by Jimbo1975

Chackbay

Member since May 2020

150 posts

Posted on 6/11/20 at 8:17 am to McVick

Glad to here you want to start fishing again. My best advice is that you watch youtube videos on the subject matter. The only thing you might want to upgrade is on the line itself. 6 lb test is very small. Good for perch, but if you catch a pike or a nice size bass, it will break easily. Might want to go to a 12 or 14 lb test. I would love to go to that area and catch some huge smallmouth bass, always watch videos from there. Small mouths are massive there.

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Posted by gumbo2176

Member since May 2018

14951 posts

Posted on 6/11/20 at 8:22 am to McVick

I'd advise more than 6 lb. test line on that reel, especially if fishing where you can catch big catfish, pike, steelhead and king salmon.

Personally, I'd put no less than 20 lb. braid on that bad boy and go with that.

If you want to target catfish, catch some perch and change out your hook to a 8/0 Circle Hook and use the whole perch as live bait and set up your line so the bait is a foot or more off the bottom. This is how I have been catching some very nice catfish in the Mississippi River. The last 2 times I went I came away with a 42" x 31 lbs. and a 32" x 25 lb. blue cat and a few smaller ones in the 5-10 lb. range.

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Posted by McVick

Member since Jan 2011

4464 posts

Posted on 6/11/20 at 8:32 am to gumbo2176

quote:
I'd advise more than 6 lb. test line on that reel, especially if fishing where you can catch big catfish, pike, steelhead and king salmon.

Thanks for the advice. Up here are channel catfish and bullhead, as well as bowfin. Oh, and walleye. That's one I'm excited to try and catch.

I should also say I'm more of a catch and release type fisherman as Im not fond of eating fish. It really more for the sport and something to do up around here.

This post was edited on 6/11/20 at 8:34 am

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Posted by gumbo2176

Member since May 2018

14951 posts

Posted on 6/11/20 at 8:40 am to McVick

quote:
Thanks for the advice. Up here are channel catfish and bullhead, as well as bowfin.

Check out some videos by a guy that posts them on u-tube called "Kayak Catfishing" and watch the monsters he pulls out of the Tennessee River. He's also a catch and release guy.

Usually where I fish there are several other folks trying their luck, so many times I'll give what I catch to someone since many of them are fishing to put food on the table. Once I have enough in my freezer, I tend to give them away or release them.

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Posted by bad93ex

Member since Sep 2018

26856 posts

Posted on 6/11/20 at 9:56 am to McVick

quote:
watch youtube videos on the subject matter

^^ This right here, you'll be surprised how many videos you will find for your area and the seasons. Also look into picking up a used kayak in order to gain access to more fishing areas.

I just started going back out myself and on a whim I found a ton of videos on lakes in my area and fishing them via kayak.

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Posted by Drunken_tiger

Member since Oct 2016

147 posts

Posted on 6/11/20 at 9:57 am to McVick

I would get some rooster tails/ inline spinner type baits. There super easy to use and Should catch most of the fish you named.

As far as line goes your going to have to take water clarity into consideration. If you use braid your going to need a leader. You could use something like 10-12lb test for a good all purpose line.

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Posted by yatesdog38

in your head rent free

Member since Sep 2013

12737 posts

Posted on 6/11/20 at 10:03 am to McVick

Get bigger line 20lb suffix 832 braid is my preferred line. Learn how to Texas rig. Buy a pack of tubes green pumpkin works fine, a pack of senkos. Get a squarebill Crankbait. Jerkbaits will catch everything... Not sure if you could work them properly from the bank, but I have caught almost every species in my lake down south on one.

Another option would be learning how to Carolina rig and you could put some catfish bait on and if that ain't working use a plastic worm to catch bass.

There are some fishing forums setup similar to this they help... Wired2fish is a great website. And tacklewarehouse is the best place online to buy lures. Good luck!

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