The phrase peer pressure is a common buzz word in our society. Individuals exposed to peer pressure can make all kinds of bad life decisions. Thankfully, there is a different kind of pier pressure that's all about smiles, fun and high fives.
Fishing from piers, jetties and even docks can provide some amazing fishing opportunities. Pier fishermen commonly target perch, walleye, bass, trout, bluegills, white bass, salmon, whitefish and even catfish. In short, just about everything that swims is going to end up on the stringer of those who have discovered piers are highways to fishing success.
WHAT MAKES PIER FISHING SO POPULAR?
Pier fishing may well be the ultimate mixed bag experience. Perched on the end of one of these rock and concrete structures, an angler casting into the depths never knows what might bite next! The pier fishing game is popular among those targeting panfish like perch and just as popular among those after big game trophies like king salmon or steelhead.
Pier fishing can provide fishing opportunities on any shift. Morning, noon or night are all good times to target various species from piers.
The popular presentations used by pier fishermen are also straight forward and require minimal specialized gear. Long spinning rods are a popular choice. At the terminal end, the most common casting lures include spoons, crankbaits and spinners. Live bait is also a popular sight on piers. Depending on the target species natural baits can include minnows, wigglers, crawlers, cutbait or spawn.
In short, a rod and reel combo, an assortment of lures or live bait rigs and a cart to haul all your gear out onto the pier completes the list of essentials. The only other thing an angler might consider essential is a lantern or headlamp for fishing after dark.
TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
Among most pier fishermen there are two defined schools of thought. One group favors the sit and wait for fish to bite approach, while the second takes a more pro-active angle and moves constantly trying to encounter fish.
For the angler who is familiar with a particular pier and knows that certain spots routinely produce fish, staking out a spot and waiting for nature to run its course makes some sense. Of course this style of fishing requires skills at remaining patient and positive.
Faced with the reality of not knowing exactly where fish are most likely to be found, the run and gun approach becomes a method of necessity. Moving up and down the pier while casting tends to target active fish.
Either way, the region of the pier that tends to produce the most action always seems to be the furthest from the truck. The end of the pier is the prime fishing real estate most anglers are after. Piers that have dog legs are also especially popular because of the additional surface (fishing) area this provides.
CRITICAL GEAR
"All kinds of piers, jetties and docks have one thing in common," says Paul Chilson a science teacher in Michigan who considers himself a "pier rat". "Fishing opportunities are limited to how far an angler can cast. Long rods provide two essential functions. First, a longer rod allows the lure to be casted further. Secondly, longer rods allow anglers to use lighter line than normal."
Adding just 10% to the distance of each cast is like making one extra cast for every 10 attempts! In the end, catching fish boils down to covering water. The more casts an angler makes and the more time the lure is in the water, the more fish an angler is likely to encounter and catch. Longer rods are an important part of this straight forward strategy.
Going light on fishing line is another key part of pier fishing success. Many of the fish caught from piers are big. Steelhead, brown trout, king salmon and catfish are all powerful fish that normally require the use of heavy lines. Even these powerful fish can be easily landed on six or eight pound test line when a nine or 10 foot rod is used to tire the fish.
Lighter line increases casting distance and also improves lure action, further making the decision to use long rods and light lines a good approach.
MANAGING GEAR
Most states allow anglers to fish two rods per license. Pier fisherman use this regulation to their advantage by casting an artificial lure on one rod, while still fishing bait on a second.
"Fishing conditions on a pier change as quickly as in a boat," says Chilson. "You never know what presentation is going to produce best on any given day or at any time during the day. My routine is always the same. I start out by casting an artificial lure with one rod and still fishing bait on a second. If fishing bait starts produces more fish, I'll quickly rig up a second live bait outfit and double up on what works best."
Fishing two rods requires some form of rod holder. Most piers don't have rails or another convenient place to place rods so avid pier fishermen fashion custom made carts complete with rod holders. "My Dad and I built my cart from parts we scrounged at a garage sale," adds Chilson. "The cart has several important purposes, including hauling gear out onto the pier, providing rod holders, offering up a place to sit and also hauling fish back to the truck."
The latter of these tasks may not seem like a big deal. That is until you try to carry three big king salmon along a half mile long pier! Every serious pier fisherman has use for a cart.
TOP RIGS
The artificial lures and live bait rigs that produce best depends upon the target species. Perch fishermen do best with simple spreader rigs baited with minnows, wigglers or crayfish. A slip sinker rig with fresh cutbait works great on cats. The same rig modified to provide a floating spawn sac or chunk of fresh skein is deadly on trout and salmon.
Walleye anglers do best casting crankbaits. Slender minnow style lures are popular, but the Ohio state record was caught with a lipless style crankbait fished from a Lake Erie pier.
Salmon and steelhead anglers will find similar results casting spoons like the famous Little Cleo or KO Wobbler. In-line spinners also take trout and salmon.
Bass anglers will find that piers are a good place to fish jigs dressed with plastic grubs or jigging spoons.
SUMMING IT UP
Most anglers associate piers with Great Lakes waters, but the truth is any major body of water is likely to have piers, jetties or major dock systems that allow anglers easy access to great fishing. Even better, the only pressure you'll feel is the pressure to make a good net job.
The phrase peer pressure is a common buzz word in our society. Individuals exposed to peer pressure can make all kinds of bad life decisions. Thankfully, there is a different kind of pier pressure that's all about smiles, fun and high fives.
For the angler who is familiar with a particular pier and knows that certain spots routinely produce fish, staking out a spot and waiting for nature to run its course makes some sense. Of course this style of fishing requires skills at remaining patient and positive.
Most states allow anglers to fish two rods per license. Pier fisherman use this regulation to their advantage by casting an artificial lure on one rod, while still fishing bait on a second.
