The Texans

Guide to
Freshwater
Fishing
TECM 2700
Group 6

Source: (Fishing In The Great Smoky Mountains 2013)

Table of Contents

iii

Table of Contents
Contents
Table of Contents ................................................... iii
Introduction .............................................................v
Chapter One ............................................................ 3
Legality ................................................................ 3
Boating ................................................................ 5
Registration....................................................... 5
Certification ...................................................... 6
Boating Safety ...................................................... 7
Operation .......................................................... 7
Chapter Two .......................................................... 15
Poles .................................................................. 15
Basics of fishing rods ...................................... 15
Types of Poles .................................................. 16
Fishing Reels ................................................... 17
Hooks, Knots, Lures, and Baits .......................... 18
Hooks ............................................................. 18
Lures .............................................................. 20
Baiting ............................................................ 26
Casting............................................................... 20
Casting a Spincaster Reel ................................ 20
Casting a Spinning Reel .................................. 22
Casting a Baitcaster Reel ................................. 24
Reeling ............................................................... 29

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The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Smaller fish..................................................... 29
Bigger Fish ...................................................... 29

Chapter Three ....................................................... 33

Catch or Release ................................................ 33
Storing ............................................................... 35
Index ..................................................................... 37

Introduction

Getting Started

Fishing is a common sport now days. This manual

will take you through the basic steps of how to fish
safely, and also how to boat safely. Through this
manual we hope to teach you the basic parts of the
fishing rod, the basics of casting, reeling, and storing.
Safety is of the utmost importance when fishing, and
this manual will teach you how to take care of fish
you catch, in order to keep them fresh until you have
finished your day of fishing. Though fishing is now a
popular recreational sport, as it has grown, so do the
accidents that can happen. We urge you to take all
necessary precautions while engaging in this
stimulating outdoor sport.

Chapter One

Chapter One

Legality

Before beginning any form of fishing, you must obtain

a Fishing License for the specific state you are fishing
in. In Texas you are required to have a Fishing
license with the required salt or freshwater stamp to
take fish, clams, crayfish or other aquatic life from
Texas waters. However the License isnt necessary if
you are fishing on the banks of a lake in state park
grounds, or in a lake entirely enclosed by the state
park

In the state of Texas, there are two types of Fishing

Licenses:

Resident
Non-Resident

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Resident Fishing Licenses are required for any

resident of Texas that wishes to fish public waters of
Texas. Exceptions of this license apply:

If you are under the age of 17

If you were born before January 1, 1931
If you are a mentally disabled person engaging
in medically approved therapy and under
supervision of an approved employee of a
hospital, residence or school.
If you are a mentally disabled person under
supervision of a licensed angler who is a family
member or has permission from the family to
take the mentally disabled person fishing.

Non-Resident Fishing Licenses are required for any

non-resident of Texas that wishes to fish public
waters of Texas. Exceptions of this license apply:

If you are a non-resident under 17 years of age

If you are Louisiana resident 65 or older who
possesses a valid Louisiana Recreational
Fishing License
If you are a resident of Oklahoma 65 years or
older (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department n.d.)

It is important to check your current local fishing

legalities concurrently with this manual in order
to ensure a successful, safe fishing experience as
laws are susceptible to change.

Chapter One

Boating
Registration

Whether on a small lake or out in the Gulf of

Mexico, certain registration requirements must
be met.

Before boating, all motorboats must be officially

titled and registered regardless of length.

Always have a valid, unexpired registration

sticker on your boat proving the legality of
operation of the boat.

To check the local requirements for your boat,

visit your nearest Texas Parks & Wildlife office.
o The nearest office can be found at this
site:

http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/bo
at/owner/office_locations/index.ph
tml

To check any other requirements for your

specific boat regarding titling and registration,
visit
http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/owner/tit
les_and_registration/ (Texas Parks & Wildlife
Department n.d.).

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Certification

Anyone born on or after September 1st, 1993

who wishes to operate a vessel on the public
waterways of Texas must take a Boater
Education Certification Course in one of two
forms:
o Online:

Online courses consist of the

actual course content and then a
test and are available for $20 each
on boaterexam.com and boated.com, or free of charge on
BoatUS.com

o Classes:

Classes can be taken at your

nearest Texas Parks & Wildlife
Office. Class schedules can be
found by visiting Price varies
depending on location (Texas Parks
& Wildlife Department n.d.).

Chapter One

Boating Safety
Operation

In all bodies of water it is unlawful for any

person to:
o Operate a personal watercraft at night
(sunset to sunrise)
o Operate a personal watercraft within 50
feet of another personal watercraft,
motorboat, vessel, platform, person,
object, or shore except at headway speed
without creating a swell or wake
(Headway speed = Slow, idle speed, or
speed only fast enough to maintain
steerage).
o Operate a personal watercraft and jump
the wake of another vessel recklessly or
unnecessarily close.
o Operate at a rate of speed greater than is
reasonable and prudent or greater than
will permit him to bring such boat to a
stop within the assured clear distance
ahead.
o Operate so as to cause a hazardous wake
or wash.

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

o Operate in a circular course around any

other boat or PWC occupied by a person
engaged in fishing, waterskiing, or
similar activity.
o Moor or attach to any buoy, beacon, light
marker, stake, flag or other aid to safe
operation, or to move, remove, displace,
tamper with, damage or destroy the
same.
o Anchor in the traveled portion of any
river or channel so as to prevent, impede,
or interfere with safe passage of any
other boat through the same area.
o Operate within an area designated as
bathing, fishing, swimming, or otherwise
restricted.
o Operate within designated "no wake" area
except at headway speed without
creating a swell or wake.
o Engage in water skiing, surfboarding or
other similar activity between the hours
of hour after sunset to hour before
sunrise; provided that this shall not
apply to vessels used in recognized water
ski tournaments, competitions,
exhibitions or trials, provided that the
water area is adequately lighted.

Chapter One

o Operate while intoxicated (loss of mental

or physical faculties, or blood alcohol
content of .08 or higher). First conviction
punishable by a fine not to exceed
$2,000, confinement in jail not to exceed
180 days or both; second conviction
punishable by a fine not to exceed
$4,000, confinement not to exceed one
year or both; third conviction punishable
by a fine not to exceed $10,000,
imprisonment for not more than 10 years
or less than 2 years. **Failure to submit
a specimen to determine blood alcohol
content may result in suspension of your
driver's license.
o Operate any vessel or manipulate any
water skis, aquaplane or similar device,
in a willful or wanton disregard of the
rights or safety of others and at a speed
or in a manner so as to endanger or be
likely to endanger any person or
property. (Violation of this provision shall
be punishable, upon conviction, by a fine
of not less than $200 nor more than
$2,000 or by confinement in jail not to
exceed 180 days or both.)
o Swim or dive within two hundred yards
of any sight-seeing or excursion boat
except for maintenance purposes or
unless within an enclosed area.

10

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

o Operate within 50 feet of a "Diver Down

Flag" or operate a boat within 150 feet of
a "Diver Down Flag" except at
Headway/Steerage Speed.
o Fail to comply with the U.S. Coast Guard
Inland Rules of the Road.

For passengers in a personal watercraft it

important to:
o NOT distract the driver.
o Always wear a lifejacket if under the age
of 13.
o Never sit in a pedestal seat as it is unsafe
compared the riding seats and it may
also impair the drivers visions (Texas
Parks & Wildlife Department n.d.).

On the following page is a pre-departure checklist

that can be used to ensure that you are prepared
each time you depart onto Texas waters.

Chapter One

11

Source: (Pre-Departure Checklist n.d.)

Because boating can be dangerous, it is

impossible to cover every safety precaution in a
single safety manual. It is important to use safe
judgement when dealing with situations not
covered in those manual. If you are unsure of a
certain legality or rule, contact your local Texas
Parks & Wildlife office.

Chapter Two

15

Chapter Two

Poles
Basics of fishing rods
A fishing pole or rod, is a long, flexible length of glass
fiber composite, carbon fiber composite, or,
classically, bamboo used to catch fish. Fishing poles
are typically used in recreational fishing and
competitive casting. In its simplest form a fishing
pole is a stick with a line, or string of thin wire, with
a hook on the end. Generally bait or lures are used in
order to attract fish to the hook, and these items will
be discussed later in the chapter. The line is
generally stored on the reel.

Fishing rods come in a variety of sizes, lengths and

configuration depending on the size and type fish
they are being used for, and whether they are being
used in fresh or salt water situations.

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The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Types of Poles
The type of fishing pole you use can change how you
fish. Each pole, or rod, is specialized for different
purposes:

Fly rods used casting artificial flies, used in

both fresh and saltwater environments.

Spinning rods and Baitcasting rods used to

cast bait or lures, and are used in both
freshwater and marine environments. The
difference between the two being the reels, Spin
fishing rods have a reel that does not have a
trigger to release the line, whereas the Bait
casting rod does.

Ice Fishing rods - Are designed to fish through

very small openings in ice covered lakes.

Trolling rods - used to drag baits and lures

behind moving boats.

The main rod used in recreational fishing is the Bait

casting rod, but the adventurous can try other types.
However in this manual we will only be describing the
proper methods of using the bait casting rod.

Chapter Two

17

Fishing Reels
Traditionally used in recreational fishing, attached to
the fishing rod to aid in casting. They store the line
used to pull in the fish and suspend the bait/ lures
in the water. The line is traditionally made of fishing
wire, a strong flexible wire that can withstand a lot of
force applied to it.

18

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Hooks, Knots, Lures, and Baits

In fishing, you will use hooks, lures, and bait in order
to attract and catch your fish. By definition, a hook is
a small piece of rounded metal with a point at the tip.
A lure is some form of aesthetic that is attached to
one or multiple hooks. Bait is some form of food or
food smell that is used to attract fish.

Hooks
You will have a choice to use two different types of
hooks, the single hook and the treble hook. A single
hook looks like a small amount of metal formed into
the shape of a J with a point on the tip. A treble
hook can be described as three single hooks facing
away from each other, all joined together along the
straight edge with a single top. Each hook has a
small circular opening at the top. Be sure to exercise
caution when handling all hooks.

Chapter Two

19

Knots
In order to attach the hook to the fishing line:

Source: (Black Lake NY Chamber of Commerce n.d.)

20

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Casting
Casting a Spincaster Reel

1. Hold the rod at about waist level with the reel

being on top of the rod, so your thumb is
placed naturally on the button at the base of
the reel.

Source: (Fishing 101 - How to Cast a Spincast Reel

n.d.)

2. Before you cast the rod, the bait or lure should

be 8-10 inches below the tip of the rod. To let
the line out, simply pull it gently with your
hand.

Chapter Two

21

3. Push and hold the button with your thumb.

Pull the rod tip behind your head so the tip is

4. Above your dominant shoulder. Quickly bring

the rod forward and point it at the targeted
direction. Release the button so that the weight
of the lure can pull the line from the reel.

Source: (Fishing 101 - How to Cast a Spincast Reel n.d.)

5. When the lure hits the water, reel once to

engage the bail and drag, and then begin to reel
in (reeling will be explained later in the
section).

22

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Casting a Spinning Reel

1. Hold the rod at about waist level, so that the

reel is under the rod, and the stem of the reel
feels natural between your fingers.

Source: (Fishing Techniques: Casting a Spinning Rod

n.d.)

2. The bait or lure should be hanging 10-18

inches below the tip of the rod. Hook the line
with your forefinger, and open the bail,
continuing to hold the line.

Chapter Two

23

Source: (Fishing Techniques: Casting a Spinning Rod

n.d.)

3. Pull the rod tip back so the tip sweeps over

your dominant shoulder, and then bring it
forward swiftly pointing the rod tip at your
target.

4. release the line with your finger so the weight

of the lure pulls line off the reel

5. . Close the bail with your hand, and begin to

reel in as the rod comes forward of your
shoulder.

24

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Casting a Baitcaster Reel

1. To learn how to cast with baitcaster reels, begin by

holding the rod about waist level, grasping it so
that the reel is above the rod, and your thumb
falls naturally on the bottom of the spool.

Source: (Fishing Techniques: Casting with a Baitcaster

Reel n.d.)

2. The bait or lure should be hanging 8-10 inches

below the tip of the rod. Push the button to put
the reel in free spool while holding your thumb
against the spool to prevent it from unwinding.

3. Pull the rod back so the tip sweeps over your

dominant shoulder, and then bring it forward
swiftly, pointing the rod tip at your target.

Chapter Two

25

4. As the rod comes forward over your shoulder let

your thumb off the spool so the lure can pull line
from the reel. With a baitcaster, you have to stop
the spools motion before or just as the lure hits
the water, so let your thumb hover just above the
spool.

5. Place your thumb back down on the spool as the

lure splashes into the water.

Miss the timing, and you can get a birds

nest or backlash where the spool keeps
spinning, but the line has nowhere to go so
it bunches up in the reel. A little practice
will help keep this from happening.

6. Reel once or twice to engage the anti-reverse and

youre ready to fish. Mastering how to cast with
baitcaster reels is not difficult, it just takes
practice. After your cast you should retrieve your
bait or lure with one of these fishing techniques.

26

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Lures
There are a multitude of different lures that can be
used to attract many different types of fish. There are
some lures that are made to resemble small fish, and
others that reflect sunlight in the water to imitate the
same reflection of a fishs skin. All lures attach to the
line and pole in the exact same way as the hook. It is
a simple overhand knot that is explained in the
diagram on the last page. When fishing, you can
choose any lure that you wish. There are some lures
are heavy, and others may require some additional
weights. The use of a lure is very practical, because
most lures are used to replace using bait.

Baiting
The bait that is placed on a hook can come in all
different shapes, sizes, and smells. The traditional
bait that someone would think of being placed on a
fishing hook is the earthworm. No one really knows
how the use of the earthworm to fish began, but it
continues to be an effective method.

Chapter Two

27

In order to attach, or hook a worm to a hook:

Source: (How to Bait a Hook with a Worm n.d.)

1. Pierce the end of the hook through the worms

body.

2. Pierce the body three or four times to assure

that the worm will stay in place.

28

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Another type of bait is the minnow. A minnow is a

very small fish that most other fish species prey
upon. In order to hook the minnow, pierce the
minnow in the middle of its back, right below its
spine. The reasoning behind hooking the minnow this
way is because since the minnow is still alive,
hooking it right under its spine will not kill it, thus
allowing the minnow to swim around and attract
more fish.

A third, more simple type of bait is a raw hot dog.

Simply hook the raw piece of hot dog and cast away,
no special requirements.

Adding a hook to your fishing pole is a must in

order to properly catch a fish. Given this, hooks
are sharp and can easily pierce human skin.
Exercise extreme caution when using fishing
hooks as they may cause serious injury, which
could lead to infection.

Chapter Two

29

Reeling

Smaller fish
If you are a beginner angler, try learning how to play
a fish on a small pond or a lake for such species as
panfish or bluegill. Many small fish can be landed
simply by reeling them in:

Hold the tip of your fishing rod at a 45

degree angle and reel. If you're catch and
release fishing, don't play the fish too long
or the fish can die from exhaustion before or
after you release it.

Bigger Fish
Bigger fish pull harder, and can be more challenging
to reel in. You will know it is a big fish if it starts to
take line off of your fishing while you are holding it
tightly. Youll know this is happening by the sound
the reel makes when it goes into reverse. Its a buzz
sound that many experienced anglers love to hear.

30

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

An important part of learning how to play a fish is

knowing not to reel while the fish is swimming away
(and taking line off the reel). Relax and let the drag
and rod do the work. Just keep the fishing rod up at
about a 45-degree angle to the water, aim it straight
towards the fish, and be ready to reel when the drag
stops moving and buzzing.

When the fish slows down and stops taking line off
your reel, it's time to go to work. When learning how
to reel in a fish of greater size, a great technique to
try is the pump and reel.
Without reeling the fish in, lift the tip of the rod
up like youre trying to point it skyward to about 90
degrees. A stronger, or heavier fish will often put a
major bend in your fishing rod, but dont worry this
is normal.
1.

Then reel as you lower the rod tip back down to

about 45 degrees, keeping even pressure on the fish
2.

3.

Repeat this process.

Chapter Three

33

Chapter Three

Catch or Release

Catching and releasing a fish is an important fishing

technique a fisherman should know. Someone would
want to know this if certain state regulations prohibit
the catching of fish or if someone would prefer to
release a fish. Catching and releasing a fish can prove
vital to fish populations. For even more information
on the legality of keeping or releasing a fish, please
visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/.

A fisherman should keep in mind whether they plan

to catch and release a fish and have the appropriate
equipment to catch and release fish before they go on
their trip. If you are fishing in a place where you dont
want to keep the fish then change locations, change
the depth you are fishing, or use different bait.

34

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

Use the appropriate tackles and hooks for catch and

release fishing as well as keeping on hand tools for
catch and release fishing. Barbless hooks are easiest
to remove but circle hooks are good too. Rubberized
mesh nets, lip gripping tools, and dehookers are
useful tools to minimalize handling and the survival
of the fish. If a fisherman doesnt have any of the
catch and release tools then one can use needle nose
pliers. If a fish has been hooked deep then the best
course of action is to cut the line as close to the
mouth of the fish as possible.

Minimalize handling when unhooking a fish and

when you do keep your hands wet. . Depending on
what the fisherman prefers, one can use gloves to
prevent the loss of the slime coating of the fish and
can protect the fisherman from sharp dorsal spines
or gill plates. Remember to keep the fish horizontal
not vertical. If wanting to take a picture then hold the
fish by the base of its belly and hold it by the bottom
of the head, be careful of the gills and eyes and be
careful to not drop the fish.

Chapter Three

35

Storing
If you decide that the fish that you catch is worth
keeping, then you will need to store the fish in your
live well. The live well is the space in the flooring of
the boat that is covered by a flat lid that matches the
carpeting in the boat. You need to fill the live well
with the water from the lake. After the live well is
filled, then de-hook the fish and gently place it in the
live well. After your boat is docked, or back on your
boat trailer, you may either leave the fish in the live
well, or you may fillet them after your boat is parked.

Fish left in the live well may not survive for more
than six hours without proper care.

Referneces

37

References
n.d. "Black Lake NY Chamber of Commerce." Black
Lake NY Chamber of Commerce. Accessed May
4, 2015.
http://blacklakeny.com/article475d.html.
n.d. "Fishing 101 - How to Cast a Spincast Reel."
YouTube. Accessed May 4, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzuhXBNVZo.
2013. "Fishing In The Great Smoky Mountains." Visit
My Smokies. January 19. Accessed May 4,
2015.
http://www.visitmysmokies.com/blog/smokymountains/fishing-great-smoky-mountains/.
n.d. "Fishing Techniques: Casting a Spinning Rod."
YouTube. Accessed May 4, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=55&v=tPV
XhRGrr28.
n.d. "Fishing Techniques: Casting with a Baitcaster
Reel." YouTube. Accessed May 4, 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=66&v=azgvhxhdQU.
n.d. "How to Bait a Hook with a Worm." Wikihow.
Accessed May 4, 2015.
http://www.wikihow.com/Bait-a-Hook-with-aWorm.

38

The Texans Guide to Freshwater Fishing

n.d. "Pre-Departure Checklist." Discover Boating.

Accessed May 4, 2015.
http://nmma.net/assets/cabinets/Cabinet464
/7918_DB14_Pre-Departure_Checklist.pdf.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. n.d. Boater
Education Overview. Accessed May 4, 2015.
http://tpwd.texas.gov/education/boatereducation/.
. n.d. Fishing Licenses, Stamps, Tags & Packages.
Accessed May 4, 2015.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoorannual/licenses/fishing-licenses-stamps-tagspackages.
TPWD: Boat Ownership Titles and Registration. n.d.
Titles, Registration and Tax. Accessed May 4,
2015.
http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/owner/tit
les_and_registration/.

Index

39

Index
bait, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20,
22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 33
Baitcaster, iii, 27
Catching, 33
Certification, iii, 6
checklist, 10
Fly rods, 16
hook, 15, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 35
Ice Fishing rods, 16
License, 3, 4
minnow, 22

Operation, iii, 7
pole, 15, 16, 20, 22
Registration, iii, 5
releasing, 33
rod, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24,
25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Spincaster, iii, 23
Spinning, iii, 16, 25
Spinning rods, 16
Storing, iv, 35
Trolling rods, 16