Freshwater fishing is a popular type of activity in the USA, enjoying no less interest than fishing for sea and ocean predators. You can catch Rainbow Trout, Northern Pike, Salmon, and other predators in lakes and rivers. However, one of the most important decisions an angler faces is choosing the right body of water to fish in. Let’s explore the main advantages and disadvantages of fishing in lakes & rivers.
Pros and cons of fishing in the lake
Lakes are one of the most peaceful places to fish and are often the best choice for beginners. Main advantages:
- A large selection of fish of different sizes. For example, in lakes, you can catch carp, pike, catfish, bass, and other species;
- Wide and often open water spaces, providing a wide selection of locations and making casting easier, as perfect accuracy is not required;
- Convenient access, as many lakes are close to tourist locations. There is no need for specialized equipment that must be lightweight and compact;
- Calm water, which means the angler does not have to deal with the strong currents and waves typical of many rivers and oceans;
- You can use a variety of gear (it all depends on which kind of prey you want to catch): for example, lightweight easy-to-use spincast combos and more massive/powerful baitcasting models.
However, compared to rivers, lakes also have some disadvantages. The main ones are that, due to the lack of constant/strong currents, prey can be less active, and the large spaces make it harder to find them. As a result, the risk of a small catch in such conditions increases. It is also worth considering that lake ecosystems are quite stable, and changes are rare, so regular fishing in the same body of water can become predictable and disappointing.
Pros and cons of fishing in the river
The river is the choice of anglers who appreciate the dynamics and more challenging fishing conditions. This type of vacation is more unpredictable and often evokes more emotions than a more relaxed fishing trip to the lake. However, it also requires more skill and experience. Main advantages:
- A wide range of challenging but interesting fishing conditions, ideal for honing various techniques (jigging, long-distance cast, and so on) and testing various baits/lures. For example, the angler can alternate between quiet backwaters, pools, and rapids with a stormy current;
- The angler can use a lot of specific lures and baits that are particularly effective in a dynamic water environment. They often attract fish with their shine/active movement. Good choices: spinnerbaits, hard crankbaits, soft plastics with colorful skirts, and others;
- The angler has a chance to catch large/aggressive predators. Many of them like to live in these dynamic environments, but hide in snags/thickets. For example, zander;
- Increased chance of a big catch. In dynamic conditions, fish have to move more and expend more energy, and as a consequence, they have to feed эin greater amounts. So the chance of a bite increases.
But this type of fishing has some disadvantages. For example:
- Weather conditions and seasons greatly affect fishing. The level and transparency of water, prey activity, and so on will vary greatly. In some periods, angling can be difficult;
- Strong current and heterogeneous relief with rapids, whirlpools, and various rocks can be a serious challenge for a novice angler. Jigging, heavy float, feeder, wobbler, or crankbait angling will be effective, but they require skill and special equipment.
- Conversely, some styles of fishing may not yield very good results in these conditions: light float, smooth fishing, angling with very light baits, and so on.
In general, we can conclude that both river and lake fishing are excellent choices. In both cases, the angler can use a variety of basic equipment components (Spinning/Spincast/Baitcast combos). But each has its own challenges:
- The lake is more suited for beginners and those looking for a more relaxing type of vacation. But the catch in such places may be less impressive.
- The river can be a more exciting adventure and offers a variety of catches, from small skittish fish to large trophy predators. But this type of angling is less relaxing and will require skill.
However, the undeniable advantage of freshwater fishing is that it requires more budget-friendly gear than ocean angling. Also, you don’t have to worry about premature wear of the gear due to the aggressive effects of the saltwater environment.
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