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Let’s go Fishing...Huh?
By Jeff Phelan @ 6:23 AM :: 3579 Views ::
1 Comments ::  :: Fishing - General, Learn How to Fish, Fishing 101
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So you want to take your family out fishing and you don’t know where to begin. There are a few important questions to ask yourself before you get started. What kind of fish do we want to catch? Where should we go? and last but not least “What do we need to bring?” This article will be the first in a two part series to help guide you toward having an exceptional family fishing experience. Part I will cover the “What to catch” and “Where to go”. Part II will cover the basics of “What to use” and “How to use it”.
Central MN has a wide variety of shore fishing opportunities for families wishing to explore the sport for the first time. Maps detailing fishing piers and shore fishing sties throughout MN are available for free online at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/water_access.
 When choosing a place to start, you first need to decide what kind of fish you want to catch. You can venture out to various lakes or rivers that are suited for abundant, easy to catch, panfish such as crappies, sunfish or perch. One of the nice things about most Minnesota waters is that the lakes and rivers that have panfish present, usually also offer anglers a chance to catch bass, northern pike and the coveted walleye. If you’re open to any variety of “bent rod” action, some lesser known warm water species such as carp, catfish, or bullheads can provide ample continuous action and they’ll eat just about any bait you put in front of them.
Your local bait and tackle shops are usually the biggest gold mines for finding out which lakes are producing right now. When the local bait store can’t pinpoint a lake to fit your families fishing needs, just take a few minutes to go back online and visit the DNR lake finder at www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind . This site has complete survey and stocking rundown for almost every lake in the state. You can check out the spots you had in mind and see what each one has to offer.
 In the Saint Cloud area, the upper Mississippi River has numerous locations that offer a chance at all of the above species. Other nearby waters such as the Sauk River in Cold Spring, Cedar Lake near Annandale, or Lake Sylvia near Melrose also have a fairly diverse range of fish that can be caught. A little longer drive would take you to some more recognizable locations such as Lake Mille Lacs, Gull Lake or Leech Lake.
The time of day that you head to the water can have a big impact on your success. Earlier in the morning as well as late in the afternoon toward dusk are typically periods of higher fish activity. By planning your trip accordingly you increase your chances for success. There is one last consideration for the family starting out in fishing. Success shouldn’t be measured by the size or number of fish you catch, but rather the total experience in the outdoors. Time together as a family enjoying the wildlife, weather and each other can make for some of the most memorable outings.
Enjoy the Outdoors,
Jeff "Fish On!" Phelan
JustNorth Outdoors Columnist
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 By
Buck Anderson @
Friday, September 08, 2006 11:09 AM
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Great article Jeff! Raising my boys in St. Cloud, I can relate to your information. I believe it is also important to choose the species of fish to hold a young childs interest. A trip for panfish is a great way to get get a child excited about fishing.
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