In Illinois we keep them and try to get them out of the water. They pray on everything we like to catch. Don't want this to sound uncaring about nature, but read up on them. Good bless Dan
For channels, my go to is chicken liver. Number one make sure there is channels in the canals. Buy a container of liver and try to find the firmer pieces. Then cut the size desired with a sharp knife. Lob it out there and try to keep a slack line. Once you find them a number of baits will work on different days. Good luck and God bless. Dan
So do I, and my 14 year old grandson, will not let me slow down. Gotta love it. Good bless Dan
Man and nature. We all have a responsible to mother Earth, but today it seems to be all money. I live in a gated community with a 220 acre lake. The board thinks they can control the lake with money. 20 years ago it was a sporting community with some of the best fishing around. Today it's a pontoon luxury community with poor fishing. They have killed out 80% of the weeds because they strangle the fish. It's a shame that today's generation just don't understand. The next severe storm, I plan on throwing some money at it to get it to go away. Good bless Dan
Am glad to welcome you to the great world of the outdoors. Fishing is a great past time. I have found that fishing can be done in so many ways. A friend of mine who loved to drink while fishing, told me that, if you put a large sinker on the line and no hook. The fish would leave you alone all day. Truth told, the future of the sport, is getting today's generation out there. Good luck and God bless. Dan
I was raised fishing and hunting, the cardinal rule was to never waste anything that you killed. If the fish population is good and it's legal to harvest them? Then keeping a dinner or two is perfectly fine. I just don't agree with those who want to put everything they catch in the freezer. Fresh fish taste better and will always be there for others, if harvested correctly. Thank you for being concerned. Dan
Why do you have such a organized hook box? You could of spent that time on the water 😂
It looks like the pin came out of the handle where it pivots to fold. Go to an auto parts store and buy a roll pin kit or some times they have single ones. Get it a little tight but not too tight. Use a good pair of pliers to gently squeeze the new pin in. Hope this helps.
Being new to the sport, welcome. It all depends on what area you live in. Ask at the bait shops around you. Good luck and happy fishing.
Can't believe I am reading all these answers and that I am getting old enough to know what one is.
It depends on what you are fishing for. I have had swivels break on larger fish, but had rivers twist a Many a lines.
My go to for channels is chicken liver, cut bait and night crawlers. Flatheads love bull heads, blue Gill and smaller fish. Blue cat's love anything dead. I fish a lot of pressured water and used to see the rod bounce once, then never again. I started adding a rubber band to the handle of my rod. I fish the calmer water and place the line under the rubber band. Then I take a piece of styrofoam coffee cup about an inch square and make a cut down the middle not quite thru. I open the bail and place the cut off the styrofoam onto the line. When the fish hits he is allowed to swim away with the line. In the slack water the rig will go to the first eyelet. If the line is still running? Set the hook. If not you don't have him. At night the styrofoam is easy to see even with dull light. Good luck. Dan
My go to for channels is chicken liver, cut bait and night crawlers. Flatheads love bull heads, blue Gill and smaller fish. Blue cat's love anything dead. I fish a lot of pressured water and used to see the rod bounce once, then never again. I started adding a rubber band to the handle of my rod. I fish the calmer water and place the line under the rubber band. Then I take a piece of styrofoam coffee cup about an inch square and make a cut down the middle not quite thru. I open the bail and place the cut off the styrofoam onto the line. When the fish hits he is allowed to swim away with the line. In the slack water the rig will go to the first eyelet. If the line is still running? Set the hook. If not you don't have him. At night the styrofoam is easy to see even with dull light. Good luck. Dan