Years ago, this webauthor was privileged to live by a large fresh-water lake in the upper Midwest, during which years he was able to do a significant amount of fishing. Accordingly, he has experience and information he believes is rather trustworthy and beneficial to all you anglers and would-be anglers out there in cyberspace.
In the spring, it is best to fish shallow near the shore. A heavy sinker attached to the line is not necessary that time of year. When fishing during autumn, however, the opposite is true, being that fish are closer to the lake bottom and a heavier line sinker is helpful. The sinkers in both cases should be the ones with rubber twisters at both ends.
Using 6-lb.-test monofilament line will get you more fish on the line, but you will lose more with such light test. 8-lb. test is preferable, and without using a leader connected to the lure.....although, again, you will lose fish if you don't use a leader being that fish frequently bite off the line as they grab the lure.
It is best to have clean hands - without gas, oil, or any other noticeable smell - when handling all lines, lures, and bait to attract fish.
A number of fishermen troll far too fast for most fish, with the exception perhaps of northern pike. A small and noiseless electric trolling motor is best to approach fish silently without scaring them, and avoid making such noise in the boat as stomping on the floor or hitting the sides of the boat, especially if you have a stringer of lively fish you have already caught.
Live bait, especially small and not larger minnows, fish can promptly grab at once without having to try to slowly suck them in. Worms are great for bass, and tiny minnows for crappies. If an artificial lure is used, both a Rappala and Lazy Ike are somewhat effective, for the game fish.
Still-fishing in a weedbed is a good place to get sunfish and perch. Make sure you hook your nightcrawler worms on a small-enough-curve hook with a long-enough shank, so that sunfish and perch with small mouth openings do not merely nibble your bait off a large hook they can't get into their mouths. The long shank on the hook is useful in cases where the small fish swallow the hook, to prevent the delay and bloody mess it takes to rip the hook out of their throats.
Fishing near a sandbar is a favorite area for walleyes. On windy days, it is possible to not drop anchor but let the boat quietly drift over sandbar areas for such fish.
If you get a quick then constant pull on your line while trolling, you have caught a snagbass (i.e. weed), and it is best to reel in and remove the weed from the lure. If you get a nibble, don't jerk the bait out of the fish's mouth: let it take the bait, and then hook it. If you get a slight or greater tug on the line, and the line is then tugged in gentle or more forceful jerks, you probably have a fish on. With light monofilament line, do not horse the fish in...let the fish take it. Keep your rod up and not sideways, and keep the line fairly taut, but not so tight as to pull the lure out of the fish's mouth nor break the line.
Have a large-enough net on hand for the bigger fish.
During summer, it is typical to troll out about 25-70 feet from shore in water depth of 12 or more feet deep. If there are beachhouses, lakehomes, watercraft, swimmers, and sunbathers along the shore, study the architecture and variety, but watch out for protruding docks and approaching watercraft. Never drink so much as to get drunk while boating. Wear sunscreens on the face and neck areas to avoid sunburn and melanoma skin cancer. Hats help prevent sunstroke, and long-sleeves plus long pants and socks with shoes provide protection from sun and cold. Sit on a life-preserver cushion, and keep noisy radios off.
In the New Testament, God through Paul stated that He likes things done "decently and in good order" (I Corinthians 14:40).
The Lord, through that same apostle, declared that it is the will of God that we all - both genders - abstain from immorality by taking and possessing sexual mates for ourselves in holiness and honor and not in the passion of lust so that no one is defrauded nor caused to be unclean by not so doing (I Thessalonians 4:4-8).
