Fishing, explained properly. Species, techniques, lures, bait and gear for anglers, written from the sources.https://fishing.info/en-ushttps://fishing.info/lures/soft-plastics/swimbaits/https://fishing.info/lures/soft-plastics/swimbaits/Swimbaits explained by type: soft paddle tails on a jig head, rigged soft baits like the Huddleston, glide baits and segmented baits. Sizes, rods, seasons.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTluresluressoft-plasticsswimbaitsbassJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/lures/topwater/frog-lures/https://fishing.info/lures/topwater/frog-lures/A frog lure is a hollow, weedless topwater walked over matted grass and pads where nothing else can be fished. The gear, the walk, and the two-second hookset.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTlureslurestopwaterbassJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/other-freshwater/https://fishing.info/species/other-freshwater/The freshwater fish species outside the bass, trout, catfish and pike families: sturgeon, gar, bowfin, burbot, drum, eel and paddlefish, with records.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/other-freshwater/burbot/https://fishing.info/species/other-freshwater/burbot/Burbot, eelpout, ling or lawyer: how to recognize the freshwater cod, how big it gets, how to catch it through the ice at night, and how it tastes.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterburbotice-fishingJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/other-freshwater/lake-whitefish/https://fishing.info/species/other-freshwater/lake-whitefish/Lake whitefish: how to tell it from cisco and menominee, how big it gets, when whitefish spawn, how to catch them through the ice, and the Great Lakes decline.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterwhitefishice-fishinggreat-lakesJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/panfish/https://fishing.info/species/panfish/Which fish count as panfish, from bluegill and the sunfish to yellow perch and crappie: how to tell them apart, plus records, limits and eating.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterpanfishJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/panfish/bluegill/https://fishing.info/species/panfish/bluegill/How to identify a bluegill, how old an 8- or 10-inch fish is, why a pound is a trophy, the 4 lb 12 oz record and the sneaker males on the beds.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterpanfishJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/panfish/white-perch/https://fishing.info/species/panfish/white-perch/The white perch is a temperate bass, not a perch: how to tell it from yellow perch and white bass, its Great Lakes invasion, spawning and the record.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterbrackishpanfishJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/panfish/yellow-perch/https://fishing.info/species/panfish/yellow-perch/Yellow perch (Perca flavescens): how to tell it from walleye, how old a 10-inch perch is, whether it is a bottom feeder, and the 1865 record.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterpanfishperchJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/pike/https://fishing.info/species/pike/The pike family in North America: northern pike, muskie, tiger muskie and chain pickerel, how to tell each one apart, and the record for each.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterpikeJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/pike/muskie/https://fishing.info/species/pike/muskie/How big muskie get, how old a 40 or 50 inch muskellunge is, what it weighs, how to tell it from a pike, and the real hours behind 10,000 casts.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterpikemuskieJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/pike/northern-pike/https://fishing.info/species/pike/northern-pike/Northern pike: how to tell one from a muskie, how old a 24 or 36 inch pike is, what it weighs, the truth about its teeth, and where big pike go in summer.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterpikenorthern-pikeJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/salmon/https://fishing.info/species/salmon/The six types of salmon a North American angler meets: chinook, coho, sockeye, pink, chum and Atlantic, by gum line, tail spots, size and record.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciessalmonJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/salmon/coho-salmon/https://fishing.info/species/salmon/coho-salmon/Coho salmon: the white gum line that separates a silver from a king, how big they get, when they run from Alaska to the Great Lakes, and the record.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciessalmoncohogreat-lakesJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/striped-bass/https://fishing.info/species/striped-bass/Striped bass, striper, rockfish: one fish. The tongue test that sorts it from white, hybrid and yellow bass, its age by weight, and the 2026 stock.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciessaltwaterfreshwaterstriped bassJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/striped-bass/white-bass/https://fishing.info/species/striped-bass/white-bass/White bass from the agency data: how big they get, why most die by age four, the one-tooth-patch test against stripers and the 55–60 °F run.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterstriped bassspringJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/gear/line/fluorocarbon-fishing-line/https://fishing.info/gear/line/fluorocarbon-fishing-line/Fluorocarbon fishing line sinks, stretches less than mono and is nearly invisible under water. Where it wins, where it loses, and how to tie it so it holds.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTgeargearlinefluorocarbonJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/lures/crankbaits/lipless-crankbait/https://fishing.info/lures/crankbaits/lipless-crankbait/A lipless crankbait sinks, rattles and has no depth limit. The rip through grass, the yo-yo, sizes from 1/4 to 1 oz, and Bill Lewis's hand-built Rat-L-Trap.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTlureslurescrankbaitsbassJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/gear/hooks/circle-hook/https://fishing.info/gear/hooks/circle-hook/Circle hooks turn the point back toward the shank and set themselves in the corner of the mouth when you reel, not strike. How to fish them, and the rules.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTgeargearhookscatfishsaltwaterJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/lures/jigs/wacky-rig/https://fishing.info/lures/jigs/wacky-rig/The wacky rig hooks a stick bait through its middle so both ends quiver on the fall. The O-ring method, hook and line, weightless or weighted, when to use it.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTluresluresrigsbassfinesseJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/gear/reels/spincast-reel/https://fishing.info/gear/reels/spincast-reel/A spincast reel hides a fixed spool under a nose cone and casts with a thumb button: no backlash, short casts, a weak drag. Who it suits, and the Zebco story.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTgeargearreelsbeginnersJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/gear/rods/spinning-rod/https://fishing.info/gear/rods/spinning-rod/A spinning fishing rod hangs the reel below the blank and casts light lures on light line. How it differs from a casting rod, and which length and power to buy.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTgeargearrodsspinningJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/gear/fish-finders/how-to-read-a-fish-finder/https://fishing.info/gear/fish-finders/how-to-read-a-fish-finder/How to read a fish finder: why fish show as arches on 2D sonar and dots on down imaging, what hard and soft bottom look like, bait, the thermocline, settings.Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTgeargearfish-finderselectronicsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/catfish/how-to-hold-a-catfish/https://fishing.info/species/catfish/how-to-hold-a-catfish/How to hold a catfish safely: where the three spines are, the grip behind the pectoral fins for small fish, the lip grip for big ones, and first aid for stings.Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciescatfishhandlingJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/techniques/basics/fishing-terms/https://fishing.info/techniques/basics/fishing-terms/690+ fishing terms in plain words: tackle, lures, rigs, techniques, fly and ice fishing, boats, rules, tournament talk, slang and acronyms.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTtechniquesbasicsglossaryslangJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/techniques/knots/https://fishing.info/techniques/knots/The fishing knots that matter, sorted by job and line: hook knots, braid-to-leader knots, line-to-line joins, loops and the spool, with strength-test numbers.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTtechniquesknotstechniquesJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/bass/smallmouth-vs-largemouth-bass/https://fishing.info/species/bass/smallmouth-vs-largemouth-bass/Smallmouth vs largemouth bass: the jaw, the stripe and the dorsal fin settle the identification in seconds. Then habitat, size, records and how each one fights.Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwaterbassJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/trout/splake/https://fishing.info/species/trout/splake/Splake are a hatchery cross of lake trout and brook trout. How to tell them apart, whether they can reproduce, the 20 lb record and how to catch them.Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwatertroutJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/gear/line/best-braided-fishing-line/https://fishing.info/gear/line/best-braided-fishing-line/The best braided fishing line from the 2026 reviews and bench tests, compared on strands, diameter, abrasion and price, with a pick for every job.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTgeargearlinebraidJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/trout/https://fishing.info/species/trout/The types of trout anglers catch, from rainbow and brown to brook and lake trout (two are chars): the marks that identify each, spawn seasons, records.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesfreshwatertroutJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/gear/rods/beginner-fishing-rod/https://fishing.info/gear/rods/beginner-fishing-rod/A fishing rod for beginners is a 6 ft 6 in to 7 ft medium spinning combo. Eight combos from the 2026 guides compared on rod, reel, price and verdict.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTgeargearrodsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/gear/rods/best-fishing-rods/https://fishing.info/gear/rods/best-fishing-rods/The best fishing rods from the 2026 reviews, sorted by what you fish: all-round casting, spinning, budget, crankbait and catfish rods, with specs for each.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTgeargearrodsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/gear/rods/kids-fishing-pole/https://fishing.info/gear/rods/kids-fishing-pole/The kids fishing pole the 2026 guides pick for each age, 3 to 14: push-button first, spinning from about 8, with prices, owner complaints and the first rig.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTgeargearrodskidsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/catfish/catfish-rigs/https://fishing.info/species/catfish/catfish-rigs/The five catfish rigs the guides use, slip sinker, Santee Cooper, three-way, slip float and bottom rig, with sinker weights, hook sizes and when to use each.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciescatfishrigsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/Fish facts with a number and a source for each: how fish sleep, breathe, hear and feel, and what every answer means when you hook and release one.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-drink-water/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-drink-water/Do fish drink water? Freshwater fish barely do, saltwater fish drink all day, sharks cheat with urea. The numbers, and what it means for bait and livewells.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-drown/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-drown/Do fish drown? Not by the dictionary, but they suffocate three ways: low oxygen, damaged gills, no water flow. How long a fish lasts in air, how to revive one.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-fart/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-fart/Do fish fart? Herring do, on purpose, and scientists won a prize for proving it. Which fish pass gas, where it goes, and what to do with a bloated bass.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-feel-pain/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-feel-pain/Do fish feel pain? They sense damage and react; whether they suffer is contested. The trout study, both camps, and what decides if a released fish lives.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-get-cold/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-get-cold/Do fish get cold? Yes: a fish is as cold as its water and feels it as slowness. What fish do in winter, who carries antifreeze, and how to fish cold water.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-have-bones/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-have-bones/Do fish have bones? Most do; sharks run on cartilage and 16 icefish have clear blood. How skeleton, heart and blood work, and what it means for your fillets.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-have-brains/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-have-brains/Do fish have brains? Yes: a full brain, no neocortex, a memory that lasts months. What goldfish, carp and pike learned, and what it means at the water.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-have-feelings/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-have-feelings/Do fish have feelings? They get stressed, learn fear by watching, and one fish passes the mirror test. Both camps, and how to release a fish so it recovers.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-have-teeth/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-have-teeth/Do fish have teeth? Nearly all do, grown from scales and replaced for life. Which fish bite hardest, which you can hold by the lip, and when you need a leader.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-have-tongues/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-have-tongues/Do fish have tongues? Yes, a bony one with no muscles or taste buds. How fish taste with lips and skin, and the louse that replaces a tongue.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-hear/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-hear/Do fish hear? Yes, with inner ears and no eardrums. How well bass, carp and catfish hear, what your voice does, and which noises to avoid.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-see-water/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-see-water/Do fish see water? No, they see through it. How a fish eye works, what a bass sees above the surface and in color, and how to stay unseen.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-sleep/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/do-fish-sleep/Do fish sleep? Yes, in their own way: how fish rest with no eyelids, how to spot a sleeping fish, and which game fish rest or hunt at night.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesbasicsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/how-do-fish-breathe/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/how-do-fish-breathe/How do fish breathe? With gills, from water that holds 1/26 the oxygen of air. The oxygen-by-temperature table and the livewell numbers.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijerhttps://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/how-do-fish-reproduce/https://fishing.info/species/fish-facts/how-do-fish-reproduce/How do fish reproduce? Most lay eggs the male fertilizes in the water; sharks and guppies give birth. Egg counts, nest builders, and fishing the spawn.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTspeciesspeciesfish-factsJeroen Leidelmeijer