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Step 10Bigger fish
There are several kinds of fish that you might catch in fresh water depending on the area of the country and the type of bait you are using. These include catfish, bass, crappie, yellow perch, and others.
Fishing with doughballs might get you a catfish. These can grow large enough to break your pole, but are excellent eating. When removing catfish from the line, you will need to exercise some care (kids will need some help here), since catfish have barbed fins on each side just behind the gills and on top along the spine. These barbs are painful if the catfish flops and manages to embed one in you.
A catfish can be safely held using the same grip as used for bluegills, but because catfish have skin instead of scales, they can be harder to hold and require a very firm grip. The thumb goes on one gill just before the barbed fin, the palm against the back in front of the top barbed fin, and the first and second fingers against the opposite gill in front of the barbed fin, with the third and fourth fingers in back of the barbed fin. This gives you excellent control of the catfish and the hook can be removed safely.
If you are fishing with worms, in addition to bluegills and catfish, you might also catch bass, crappie, or yellow perch. These fish prefer live bait and worms are a favorite.
If you are fishing with worms, the easiest way to bait your hook to catch bluegills is to pinch the worm in half and then thread the worm onto the hook, leaving the tip of the worm to wiggle and attract the fish. Once bluegills realize that worms are available, they will bite on even the tiniest bit of worm on the end of the barb.
Fishing with doughballs might get you a catfish. These can grow large enough to break your pole, but are excellent eating. When removing catfish from the line, you will need to exercise some care (kids will need some help here), since catfish have barbed fins on each side just behind the gills and on top along the spine. These barbs are painful if the catfish flops and manages to embed one in you.
A catfish can be safely held using the same grip as used for bluegills, but because catfish have skin instead of scales, they can be harder to hold and require a very firm grip. The thumb goes on one gill just before the barbed fin, the palm against the back in front of the top barbed fin, and the first and second fingers against the opposite gill in front of the barbed fin, with the third and fourth fingers in back of the barbed fin. This gives you excellent control of the catfish and the hook can be removed safely.
If you are fishing with worms, in addition to bluegills and catfish, you might also catch bass, crappie, or yellow perch. These fish prefer live bait and worms are a favorite.
If you are fishing with worms, the easiest way to bait your hook to catch bluegills is to pinch the worm in half and then thread the worm onto the hook, leaving the tip of the worm to wiggle and attract the fish. Once bluegills realize that worms are available, they will bite on even the tiniest bit of worm on the end of the barb.
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Cook some fries and you are in for some good eating.