Fish with a hand line

Step-by-step

1. 1

   Wrap 30-50 ft of line around a smooth stick or bottle to keep it tangle-free.

2. 2

   Tie on a small hook and a stone or split-shot for weight.

3. 3

   Bait with grubs from under bark, worms from wet soil, or minnows caught with a shirt seine.

4. 4

   Cast underhand from cover; let the bait sink to where fish hold — undercut banks, log jams, current seams.

5. 5

   Set the hook with a firm wrist snap the moment you feel the tap.

Tip: Fish are more active at dawn and dusk. If nothing hits in 15 minutes, move.