Catch guides for the fish you chase.
Profiles of freshwater and saltwater fish: habitat, seasons, tackle, baits and how to catch them.
226 fish species profiles and 94 how-to guides so far.
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How to Sharpen Fishing Hooks
A dull hook point costs you fish that bite but never stay on. How to test a point on your thumbnail, which file or stone to use, how to sharpen single and treble hooks with a few strokes in one direction, and when a hook is better replaced.
Best Trout Lures and Baits
Seven trout lures and baits compared from their makers' pages (spinner, spoon, minnow, jig, dough, floating eggs and a scented worm), how to fish each in lakes and in rivers, trout jigs, and the rules to check first.
Urban Fishing: Getting Started
Many states stock city park ponds with catfish and trout. How state urban and community fishing programs work, where to cast in a park pond or city river, simple baits and tackle, and the rules that still apply, following Indiana DNR, Connecticut DEEP and New York DEC.
Lake Turnover Explained For Anglers
Turnover is the autumn spell when a stratified lake mixes top to bottom and the bite falls apart. Here is what is physically happening, how to recognise it on the water, and where fish stay catchable while it passes.
Cleaning and Filleting Fish
There is a deep satisfaction in eating a fish you caught yourself. Keeping the catch fresh, the tools, filleting step by step, scaling and gutting, storing and cooking.
How to Fish a Jigging Spoon
A jigging (slab) spoon is a heavy metal lure that flutters as it falls. How a spoon attracts fish, the snap-and-flutter retrieve Arkansas Game and Fish describes for winter bass, watching the line on the fall, where it snags, and the fish it catches.
Find your fish
All 226 species
Largemouth Bass
FRESHWATER FISH
Redfish
SALTWATER FISH
Smallmouth Bass
FRESHWATER FISH
Spotted Seatrout
SALTWATER FISH
Rainbow Trout
FRESHWATER FISH
Snook
SALTWATER FISH
Bluegill
FRESHWATER FISH
Tarpon
SALTWATER FISH
Crappie
FRESHWATER FISH
Flounder
SALTWATER FISH
Channel Catfish
FRESHWATER FISH215 more
See all fishBrowse by water type.
Every profile covers identification, habitat, seasons, tackle, baits, technique, and where the fish suits an angler best.
Freshwater Fish
120 species · full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, tackle and technique for every freshwater fish.
Saltwater Fish
106 species · full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, tackle and technique for every saltwater fish.
Frequently asked questions.
The things new anglers ask us most.
I've never fished before. How do I start?
You need less than the shops suggest: a simple rod-and-reel combo, a few hooks and some bait will catch fish. Our first fish walkthrough takes you from setup to your first catch in five steps, and Start Here covers the basics without the jargon.
Are Anglervale's guides free to read?
Yes. Every species profile and how-to on the site is free, with no login or paywall. The site is funded through clearly labelled affiliate links on gear recommendations, which never change the advice.
What's the best bait or lure to use?
It depends on the species and the season more than on any single "best" lure. Each species profile lists what actually works for that fish, our bait and lure guide explains when to use what, and what's biting shows what is active right now.
When is the best time of day to go fishing?
Dawn and dusk are classic for a reason, but weather, water and moon all matter. Our today's conditions tool scores the day from live weather and pressure, and the solunar calendar flags the peak feeding windows.
Do I need a fishing licence?
In most US states, yes, once you are over a certain age, and rules vary by state and water. Always check your own state wildlife agency before you fish. Many states also run free fishing days when no licence is needed.