Fishing guides

Practical, no-fluff guides for anglers of every level: how to read a depth map, where fish go each season, which rig to tie on, and how to stay safe on the water. Free, like everything at FreeFish.

Maps & water

• Maps & waterHow to read a lake depth mapContour lines, drop-offs, points and flats: what a depth map is telling you and how to turn it into a short list of spots to fish.
• Maps & waterWhere fish are in every seasonHow water temperature moves fish through the year, and where to look for them in spring, summer, fall and winter.
• Maps & waterHow weather affects fishingFronts, wind, clouds, rain and barometric pressure: what really changes fish behavior and how to adjust your plan for the day.
• Maps & waterRiver fishing basicsHow current shapes where fish hold in rivers, how to read eddies, seams and holes, and how to fish them safely.

Rigs & techniques

• Rigs & techniquesHow to rig and fish a drop shotThe finesse rig that catches fish when nothing else will: how to tie it, what to put on it and how to work it.
• Rigs & techniquesTexas, wacky and Ned rigs explainedThree soft plastic rigs that catch fish everywhere: how to set up each one, and when to choose which.
• Rigs & techniquesThe fishing knots you actually needFour reliable knots cover nearly every situation: the Palomar, the improved clinch, the uni knot and the double uni for joining lines.
• Rigs & techniquesMono, fluorocarbon or braid? Choosing fishing lineWhat each type of fishing line is good at, which strength to buy, and simple setups for the most common kinds of fishing.

Species

• SpeciesWalleye fishing basicsWhere walleye live, when they feed, and the jigs, rigs and crankbaits that catch them through the year.
• SpeciesLargemouth bass through the yearWhere largemouth bass live and what they eat in each season, with simple lure choices for every month.
• SpeciesCatching panfish: bluegill, crappie and perchSimple, fun and great for beginners and kids. Where to find bluegill, crappie and perch, and the small baits that catch them.
• SpeciesTrout fishing in streamsHow to read a trout stream, where trout hold, and simple ways to catch them with spinners, bait and flies.

Getting started

• Getting startedYour first fishing trip: a beginner's checklistEverything you need for your first day of fishing: a license, simple gear, bait, where to go and what to do when you hook a fish.
• Getting startedFishing licenses and regulations: how to find your rulesWho needs a fishing license, how to buy one, and how to find the seasons, size limits and bag limits that apply to the water you're fishing.
• Getting startedCatch and release done rightSimple habits that give released fish the best chance of survival: playing, landing, unhooking, photographing and reviving.
• Getting startedIce fishing safety basicsHow to judge ice, what to carry, and what to do if you fall through. Read this before you step onto a frozen lake.

Seasons

• SeasonsFall turnover: what it is and how to fish itWhy lakes "flip" in the fall, how to tell when it's happening, and where to find fish before, during and after turnover.
• SeasonsFall walleye fishing: where they go and what to throwCooling water triggers some of the best walleye fishing of the year. Here's where to find fall walleye in lakes and rivers, and how to catch them.
• SeasonsGetting ready for first iceA checklist for the weeks before ice fishing season: gear to prepare, safety equipment, and how to scout spots while the water is still open.

Fly fishing

• Fly fishingFly fishing basics: gear, casting and your first troutWhat you need to start fly fishing, how the rod, line, leader and tippet work together, and simple steps to catch your first fish on a fly.
• Fly fishingNymphing for trout: indicator and euro nymphingMost of what trout eat lives underwater. How to rig and fish nymphs under an indicator and with tight-line euro nymphing.
• Fly fishingDry flies and matching the hatchHow to choose and fish dry flies, read rising trout, and match the insects that are hatching, with a seasonal hatch chart.
• Fly fishingStreamer fishing for big troutHow to rig, cast and strip streamers, when they work best, and how color and retrieve change with water clarity and light.
• Fly fishing12 flies that catch trout almost anywhereA simple starter fly box: the nymphs, dries and streamers that catch trout in most rivers, with sizes, colors and when to use each.
• Fly fishingTrout species: how to tell them apartHow to identify rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat and lake trout and steelhead, where each lives, and the water temperatures they prefer.

Fishing by state

Depth maps, notable waters and official rules for 13 states.