CorydonAngler

Since I am not yet a boater I have to fish from the shore more often than not. Reaching deep pools is harder for me. I live near the Ohio River and other minor rivers and creeks. I do almost no lake or pond fishing mostly because of access and distance issues. I like to wade the shallower waters. I get snagged and break off a lot! Mostly I am using 6-20lb monofilament (Trilene brand). As a very, very new angler this is frustrating. A snag is the most common thing I bag when fishing and I've caught some whoppers! The only good thing about it is that it forces me to practice my knot tying. I am finding that river fishing is a much harder task than I had anticipated but I am determined. I've not caught many species yet but it's fun to pull in a smallie on one cast and a gar on another. The Ohio is very murky but the creeks I fish tend to be a pale brown and I feel offer decent underwater visibility. I've never fished with braid or flouro before. Do you think I should switch over? Perhaps braided line for the Ohio and flouro for the minor rivers and creeks?

Thanks for the replies fellas. I will definitely be refining my methods.

Thank you. I am not sure what type of hook this is. It came in one of those eagle claw kits I picked up years ago and was in an unopened bag marked "cat fish hooks" so I went with it. I do plan to pick up a number of the hooks you mentioned. So basically it would be: -------(SINKER)(BEAD)(SWIVEL)---3'----(Hook) Correct? I am not sure what # line that is. It came with the pole and I am meaning to change it. See the attached photo. My Father-in-Law had tape wrapped around the 2 piece pole and the residue obscures the markings a little. It says, "FN-100-65 Length 10' 300cm Lure WT: 1 to 3 OZ; 30-80g I am not sure how to use this information quite yet. On my other poles it tells you what line test to use. On this pole can my lure/bait only weigh between 1 to 3 ounces? Thanks! Glad to be here. Can't believe you said my momma wears army boots! Harsh bro. I have 3 rods currently. This Okuma Fin-Chaser 10'. A 6' Medium Action Ugly Stik GX2 and a 7' Quantum Blue Runner. The 10' is definitely awkward to use but it does fly high and far. I'm stuck on shore so this is a good thing, no?

Hey fellas, I'm new to fishing. I can count on one hand the number of times I've gone in my life. However my friend and I want to become serious anglers. We're stuck on shore for now but are planning to rectify that in the coming months. Anyways, he invited me out to an impromptu night of cat fishing on the Ohio River yesterday. I told him sure but that we're not likely to catch anything but snags and that we do not have what we need yet. If anything, it got us out of the house for a few hours. I took an older 10' Okuma Fin-Chaser rod that my father-in-law gave me recently and attached this to the line. I know this is not correct but what I do not know is why. If you could critique, insult, and advise that would be helpful. Attached is a picture. We also took our ugly stik's. We did happen to catch some small bluegills near a moored boat. Thanks!