Fishing help setup fresh water (kinda long)

[22Talon]

Hey guys have not been able to do any airgunning for a while as they are still at parents house and have not been able to get them yet(soon I hope) though North VA seems pretty unfriendly towards guns and airguns.

Anyway I'm trying to fish around here and could use some help and knowledge.for gear setup.

I grew up in MI the lower part so not a lot of good places to fish. Mainly used the old zebcos when my dad would take the boat out and some ponds and river etc

When I moved to MS for airforce training I bought a salt water reel and basic rod with shrimp and big weights. Did ok, then stopped fishing when I got sent to OK as it was pretty limited, went back to MI by traverse city for college, but my ocean rod was too big for the fishing and I didn't buy smaller gear as fishing near school was kinda limited due to beaches, private property etc and no money or room for a boat.

Went back to MI after school and when not deployed used the old gear my dad had.

Then when I got laid off I had time while looking for jobs and bought some basic gear and started getting into  fishing.


So now that I want to fish more, I'm trying to see what I need and can discard/store. I usually just take my 2 rods and a bag with the plastic fishing cases with hooks, lures etc but it's getting pretty crowded in there , so I'm trying to figure out the basics to pack and use.

 I fish from shore and so far not many places to fish, without a boat. Mostly a few small public ponds, some places on a few small rivers etc

Lot of info out there and some people have a rod and reel combo for every type of fish they go after and every type of water. Kinda like some guys here with airguns lol.

I'm looking to get the basic range covered, IE the fishing equivalent of a decent .22 cal 30 lb airgun and maybe a 12lb to that covers sparrows to raccoons but for fish.

So far I have 2 rods a 5.5 foot with a Shakespeare micro series light action rated for 4-6lbs mono. Reel is a shimano senora 1500. I have 6lbs on it for panfish etc

The other is 7foot graphite rod made in Korea from like the 80s medium light action,8-15lbs line and I have twelve. Reel is a daiwa regal 3000. I am thinking of going to Cabela's and have them spool some braided line on them.

I was thinking 10 lbs braided for the small rod for panfish,(maybe trout?) a little heavy but would allow me to take some small bass etc if they hit it.

Bigger rod I was thinking like 25lbs braid and use to with bigger baits for bass, maybe carp(lots around here it seems) etc

Are these good for that? Or should I look for other? I also have an Optrix 60 with old 25lb mono i used in the MS gulf. Maybe got a big ugly stick and use it for catfish?

Now for baits I have a couple lures from like an inch long to several inches, basically small bass to big pike. But I don't use them as all the places I can fish here or when in MI I would snag and lose them, so I stick to rubber or the cheap rooster tail stuff I can get at Walmart for a buck, so losing them doesn't hurt.

I mostly use live baits and soft plastics
I have basic tubes for gold fish sized up to about 2 inches in various colors

The ones that look like a worm but then have a fish tail. Again various sizes and colors.

A few little trout and panfish stuff that has hooks already in them, as kits from Walmart.

Tiny little fake fish that come in the smelly liquid in a jar.

Small little frogs like the size of finger tip.

Yum dingers(senko knock offs) for wacky rigs.
Large fake worms, some fake little fish and some frogs and crawfish(large size)

Bobbers from small little to ones the size of golf balls. I use the small bobbers set about a foot above the small plastics and bug lures to get distance, especially if using weightless hooks. And of course for any live baits.

Hooks I have widgap number 2 the wacky rigs recommend on package.

I have bait holders from size 12 to like size 4, some j hooks with weights built in(medium size?)

Basic J hooks various sizes, some small Aberdeen hooks(came with panfish kit) 1/16 jig heads and some larger ones.

Bullet weights, clip on weights and some big 2-3 oz pyramid weights.

And some other misc stuff. Clips, swivels etc

So if I could consolidate into a small enough package to fit into a medium soft tackle box  or maybe 2 that would be great.

What would you guys recommend I buy and use of what I have? Trying to have the basics that cover basic fish.

Also for hooks, can I just get by with bait holders of a few sizes or is there a reason I would need to have regular J hooks and aberdeen? Do you have some of every size ? Or can you skip a few sizes? IE 10, 6,4 etc?

Appreciate any help, suggestions and information.

Better yet, if anybody here is in VA within an hour or so id love to go fishing and learn more and find some good spots.

[Blowpipe Sam]

It sounds like you have a good selection of rods to start experimenting with.  It usually takes me a couple of seasons to learn to fish a new area so be patient.  There is a lot of trial and error in fishing.  Remember 99% of all fishing tackle is designed to catch fishermen.  Paring it down to the essentials is the trick.
Bait:
Live bait is better than dead bait.
Dead bait is better than artificial bait.
Artificial bait is better than no bait.

Grubs.  Simply the best bait for a lot of freshwater fish.
Worms.  An old standard and fall back.
Crickets or grasshoppers.  At the right time of year panfish won't eat anything else.

Learn to "match the hatch".  Be knowledgeable about what your target fish are eating and bring bait that approximates the most abundant natural foods.
Familiarize yourself with the habits and lifecycle of the fish that you are targeting.
Talk to local fishermen.  We love to yack about our sport.
I am the author of two "Foot path fishing guides" about accessing public waterways for fishing and a primitive fishing program for the Florida Park Service.

[Motorhead]

I've been an avid freshwater kokanee salmon fisherman for 47 years now, if I've learned anything in all the time invested is that THIS SPECIES and miens to be successful in catching them is far more specialized in technique with a few simple unwavering rules than any other fresh water species.
There Salmon fresh water or otherwise ..They eat Plankton and not any bait or lure your jigging or trolling past or threw there schools is the reason they take a bite or strike at it !!
Oddly there are scent triggers that enhance there willingness to do so ... as there not trying to eat your offerings.
There mouth parts are darn near non structural ( Soft mouthed ) and once hooked have a very high likelihood you will never get one into the net if ones fishing set up is too rigid in line tension, rod stiffness or snug drag .... Snubbers to take out line shock only sorta work ... Rubber bands are best     

If fishing was easy they would have called in shopping ... but it's not & called FISHING for this reason.

[22Talon]

Thanks for the encouragement, you are correct fishing is called fishing and not catching for a reasons. Though I'm getting skunked every time I go out, though I don't get to go often due to shift work right now(on late mids) and the wife and kid.

Plus it is just starting to warm up and the days I can go it's windy rain it seems.
Hopefully it gets better as I haven't even gotten bites with live wax worms and such yet.

Crazy thing is the parks around here all seem to close at 6pm or 7pm so it limits fishing on days off being in night mode .

Ok glad my basic rod and reel setup seems to cover most basic fresh fish I can catch.
Reading articles and some fishing stuff it makes it so complicated with all the types of actions, power levels etc

About hooks though. Is there any reason I couldn't just use baitholder hooks for most applications? That way live bait and soft plastic are covered? Or is there a reason not to use baitholder with plastic or regular J hooks with live bait?

On that note, why use Aberdeen hooks? Only real benefit I can see is if you have fish with teeth they won't bite the line, but if going after pike or something(would need a boat I think) wouldn't you just use a steel leader?

I"m thinking I probably need to have 2 boxes for gear. One for panfish or small fish and one for the bigger ones. But then I worry if I'm out fishing with the small stuff and the bass and such happen to be there and biting I'd miss out. But I can't carry everything easily like on a boat.

What do you guys have for a panfish/small fish box and what in a bass/bigger fish box?

Do you use braid or mono? I'm using mono but thinking of going braid as I can put 15lb braid on my panfish with lighter leader, and then if needed change the leader to a bigger line if needed or put a smaller leader on my bigger rod setup.  Is that correct?

[Motorhead]

Spinning reels .. MONO
Bait casters / level winds .. Braid

Hooks and bait .... Being stealthy is sorta important as some species of fish nudge/nibble at a bait before deciding to eat it & if hook is prominent / exposed too much a fish may detect texture is not right and never grab it and go !!!

Fish that are attracted to motion ( wounded fish / easy meal ) presentation is less important as there strike can be fast and violent.

[farrlarr]

Before you do anything or buy additional stuff, talk to local fisherpeople! Or even better, go fishing with some of them and spend most of your time watching what they do and how they do it.  Those folks are going to know the waters and the equipment to best use there.  As Blowpipe Sam said, it appears that you have the basic equipment, the real issue now is how to utilize that stuff in your local area and the local folks will know how best to do that.  They probably won't tell you about, or take you to, their best fishing spots but they will probably get you in the general area. 

[Xraycer]

I was thinking 10 lbs braided for the small rod for panfish,(maybe trout?) a little heavy but would allow me to take some small bass etc if they hit it.

Overkill!
I've hauled in a 20lb steelhead with 4lb monofilament! Not a fish tale! Learn to use drag. Go with heavier line when you're dealing with a lot of weed and water debris such as branches.

[JPSAXNC]

Google the local fish and game dept. web site. Probably good info there.