Kathy Sparrow, MA
Fishing Instructor
wikiHow's Editorial Process wikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.
Co-authored Articles (24)
How to
Tie Two Fishing Lines Together
Whether you want to tie a leader to a main line or tie together two lines of different diameters, there are many types of strong knots to choose from. For example, the surgeon’s knot is one of the strongest and best fo...
How to
Tie a Braid to a Mono
When you want to tie braided fishing line to monofilament line, such as when you are connecting a mono leader to a braided main line, the best knot to use is a double uni knot. This knot is simple, fast to tie, and very ...
How to Put a Weight on a Fishing Line
Want to catch more fish swimming below the surface? Adding weights or sinkers to your rig can help your bait sink to deeper water where fish are more likely to strike. Even though there are a few different kinds of weigh...
How to Put a Bobber on a Fishing Line
If you’re out fishing and want to know when a fish bites, a bobber will let you know as soon as one strikes. Attaching a bobber to your fishing line is a skill any angler should know, and it’s really easy to do even ...
How to
Rig a Fishing Line
The key to hooking a prize catch is to start with a solid line that provides the right balance between visibility, weight, and control. There are many different ways to rig a fishing line, depending on the equipment you�...
How to
Spool New Fishing Line Onto a Reel
Over time, your fishing line wears out, tangles more easily, and becomes more difficult to catch. Spooling new line is the same no matter what kind of rod you have. All you have to do is knot the line and wrap it around ...
How to
Make a Handmade Fishing Net
Mass-produced fishing nets can be expensive to replace and a pain to store or travel with. Fortunately net-making is a well-honed craft that gets easier with practice. All you’ll need is some space, some string and few...
How to
Bait and Use a Minnow Trap
Trap fishing is a simple way to catch minnows to use as live bait for larger fish. Minnows live near the shore around rocks, tree roots, and other hiding surfaces. They are easily drawn out with inexpensive baits, includ...
How to
Make Wooden Fishing Lures
Although most plugs and crankbaits today are made of hard plastic, the first ones were made out of wood. Some manufacturers still make wooden fishing lures. Instead of buying expensive lures, you can save money by carvin...
How to
Catch Mullet
Mullet can be a fun fish to go after, and there a number of different ways to approach it. There are a large number of mullet species, which can be found throughout the world in warm coastal waters, and sometimes freshwa...
How to
Fish With Lures
Artificial bait or fishing lures have been used to catch fish since 2,000 B.C. Made from a wide variety of materials, colors, sizes, and styles, lures are used to attract fish and convince them to bite into the attached ...
How to
Catch Striped Bass
Striped bass are a perciform fish native to the Atlantic coast of North America, from Florida to Nova Scotia. They are a migratory fish that move between freshwater and saltwater. The striped bass (or "striper") is popul...
How to
Fish in a River
Fishing in a river can be hard since a river usually has a fast current, and they are different from fishing in calm quiet creeks, lakes, and oceans. It takes specific supplies and talent to be able to fish in a river - ...
How to
Catch Crawfish
Crawfish—also known as crayfish or crawdads—are small, 10-legged crustaceans found in bodies of water across the U.S.A. and other countries. Catching them is a fun family activity that can be done using fishing poles...
How to
Tie Flies for Fly Fishing
Tying your own flies for fly fishing will allow you to customize the design, shape, and texture. There are two basic types of flies: the wet fly (also called a nymph) and the dry fly. Wet flies are the most common and re...
How to
Find the Best Time for Fishing
Fishing at the right time is critical for a successful fishing trip. Even if you have the best fishing spot and all the right equipment, you may not catch anything if you go at a bad time. There are a number of factors t...
How to
Fish for Bass
Whether you’re a competitive sports fisher or just want to spend a fun afternoon with your family on the lake, bass fishing is a difficult pastime if you aren’t properly equipped. Nature is unpredictable but if you u...
How to
Catch Halibut
Halibut can be caught in the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to California. The large size and weight of halibut makes them a desired trophy fish for many anglers. Due to their size, temperament, and propensity for bottom-dw...
How to
Catch Trout
Fishing can seem like a difficult past-time for you to get into because of the different varieties of fishing and all of the equipment. You can buy all the equipment for a relatively cheap price and it's easy to use. Fis...
How to
Catch Shad
Shad are overgrown members of the herring family that live in the ocean but spawn in freshwater each spring. They're East Coast natives that are now found in abundance in the west, too. Shad may be caught for food and sp...
