These are some fishing tips on how to have fun on free fishing days!
Stocking up on free fishing daysFree fishing days are coming, a yearly chance to stock your freezer full of fish for the remainder of the year.
If you catch 20 fish, a reasonable number, then you can put wild-caught fish on the dinner table once a week for five months. Hopefully, you'll plan ahead for these free fishing days and catch far more.
The Dates
In Ohio, free fishing days are May 7 and 8 of 2011. In Pennsylvania, free fishing days are May 30 and and September 5, that's Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2011. Free fishing days in Ohio are for Ohio residents only, but Pennsylvania welcomes non-residents.
The state of Pennsylvania says, "Fish for Free Days allow anyone (resident or non-resident) to legally fish for Pennsylvania’s most popular fish without a fishing license. Each year the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Executive Director designates 2 Fish for Free Days. No fishing license is required to fish on Pennsylvania's waterways on these days. All other fishing regulations still apply."
Getting Ready
To be successful, careful advanced planning is necessary. You're not going out for a few hours, you're on a fishing trip for about 24 hours. So you need to take enough bait, a little food, sunscreen, and a large cooler full of ice to temporarily store your catch until you get it home. Oh, don't forget the bug repellent.
First, check online for eating recommendations by state EPA (Ohio Fish Consumption Advisory, Pennsylvania Fish Consumption Advisory). While you might like to have a freezer full of bass, you might not catch all bass or EPA recommendations suggest you eat bass less frequently. You will land bluegill, perch, catfish, and crappie more than other fish. Add them to your cooler. They are great tasting fish usually unrestricted for eating. Remember, where there are bluegill, the water is good!
Second, plan where to fish. Choose a lake or river that you think will give up a quantity of fish. If you are not familiar with the water, call ahead to local bait shops and ask where the fish are being caught and on what bait. Get a map of the lake and plan to fish features like points and weed beds.
Third, keeping your catch iced down is critical. You can use dry ice, but follow the directions because it can cause severe injury. Plan to clean your fish often during the day and away, way away, from the lake. It's illegal to clean fish near shore or on the water. Place the fillets in zip lock freezer bags, and layer the freezer bags in the cooler. When you get home, all you have to do is transfer them to the freezer.
Getting ready for free fishing days is all a part of the fun! You can be at the lake at 12:01 a.m., and you can stay until 11:59 p.m.
Fishing Cycles
Start with a good catfish lake, since your first fishing attempt should begin in darkness. Catfish bite through the night, at least up to 2 a.m.
Be ready at 5 a.m. and through the morning as fish take breakfast. This is really the very best time to fish! Noon is a lesser time, but you still should get some bites. Then evening from 5 p.m. until just after dark is another very good chance to catch fish.
Sleep between fishing cycles.
I can't stress it more! You do have to sleep some for safety's sake. Besides, if you are tired, catching fish won't be fun, and this is all about fun, free fun at the lake and on the plate. |
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