There are more fishing opportunities today than ever with more anglers “fishing on the edge” so to speak, pursuing the sport in ways that don’t require a big boat or lots of equipment.
Shore Fishing
Look to the river banks of any metro area, and you’ll notice a surge in angler participation.
Fact is, bank fishing is an easy and many times effective way to catch fish, whether you live in the country, suburbs, or inner city.
There’s probably overlooked fishing right out your back door: like state, county, and city piers, docks, and platforms designed specifically for anglers, often conveniently located near prime fishing areas.
That’s not to say you can’t do your own trailblazing, which is definitely part of the fun as a shore angler!
Look for feeder creeks into a larger river or lake, eddies, holes, points, and bays or partially camouflaged paths to spots used by other keen fishermen.
Slip on a pair of waders and you can go even farther for casting walleyes at night, or tapping shallow bass and panfish, or even pike and muskies. Add a fly rod to the mix and you’re in for a real treat!
Kayaks
Once limited to whitewater, today’s fishing kayaks are another great way to find and catch fish.
Affordable, lightweight, easy to transport and store, kayaks hold the key to unlock waters inaccessible with bigger boats — such as lakes without a useable boat ramp. Little fishing pressure can mean epic bites, pure and simple.
From simple paddle models to high-tech ‘yaks with pedal-drives or electric motors for hands-free fishing, there are options galore.
Some anglers are rigging their kayaks with all the technology found in today’s bass boats, making them look like warships —
pretty cool, but by no means required.
Youth Opportunities
There are a lot of cool things happening to get kids fishing, too.
From programs like the Minnesota DNR’s Fishing in the Neighborhoods, which stocks metro lakes and provides youth angler education – to growing high school and college fishing teams across the country – youth fishing opportunities are growing each day.
Hire a Guide
Maybe you don’t have enough time to fish. Consider hiring a guide. This can be a great way to minimize investments in gear, planning, figuring out where the fish are, and how to catch ‘em.
For a reasonable fee, guides can put you on the best bites right now, while providing you with top equipment, teaching you valuable tactics, and even cleaning your fish at the end of the day.
For anglers on an R&R trip, a good guide is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. Likewise, if you’re new to the waters and just need push in the right direction, guides can be worth their weight in gold.
From shore fishing to modern kayaks to hiring a guide – and youth opportunities – there are many ways to fish on the edge of a sport we can all enjoy, no matter our age or walk in life.
