Forestry and Natural Resources
Unit 19: Rural Recreation
Unit 19: Rural Recreation
Lesson 4: California Fish and Sport/Commercial Fishing
Duration: 3 Hours
Students will be able to:
1. Identify tackle used in fishing
2. Give examples of the major fish species in California
3. Identify conditions which affect fish populations
4. Understand fishing regulations in California
5. Describe proper handling procedures for catch
Suggested Activities:
19.4A Tying Flies: Have students tie their own fly fishing lures.
19.4B Ecology Examination: Select a waterway near by and have students identify the ecology
of the area, listing species, habitat, food availability, fishing restrictions, etc.
19.4C Fish Cleaning: Bring in fresh fish and have students work in groups to clean the catch
Teaching Outline
I. Fishing
A. Tackle
1. Types of rods (TM p 18)
a. Spinning rod: 5 - 12 feet long; usually used in salt water
b. Casting rod: 5 - 12 feet long; usually used in salt water
c. Fly rod: 7 - 9 feet; usually used in fresh water
d. Trolling or boat rod: 5 - 6 feet long; used in both fresh and salt water; not used for
casting
2. Rod parts and material
a. Rod blank: wood, bamboo. fiberglass, graphite
b. Grip: cork, foam plastic, molded plastic
c. Reel seat: metal rings, metal screw, offset metal
d. Guides and tips: stainless or chromium steel, hard metal, ceramic insets
e. Wrappings and finish: nylon thread, varnish, epoxy
3. Weights
a. Ultra-light: 1 - 6 pond line; 1/16 - 1/4 oz. lures
b. Light: 4 - 12 pound line; 1/8 - 1/2 oz. lures
c. Medium: 8 - 30 pound line; 8/8 - 1 oz. lures
d. Heavy: 30 - 50 pound line; 1 - 5 oz. lures
e. Fly rods are rated from 4 (light) to 11 (heavy) fly lines
4. Rod action
a. Extra fast: most of bend is in upper 1/4 of rod
b. Fast: most of bend is in upper 1/3 of rod
c. Medium: most of bend is in upper 1/2 of rod
d. Slow: bend is uniform throughout rod
5. Rod maintenance
a. Rods should be treated carefully to avoid breakage
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Unit 19: Rural Recreation
b. Salt water rods need to be cleaned in fresh water after every use
c. Inspect guides and tips for wear caused by friction; replace as necessary
6. Types of reels (TM p 19)
a. Spinning
b. Spin casting
c. Bait casting
d. Fly
e. Trolling
7. Reel maintenance
a. Reels used in salt water should be rinsed with fresh water after each use
b. Reels should be cleaned and lubricated regularly
8. Lines and leaders
a. Braided nylon: usually casting or trolling reels; 10 - 130 pound test
b. Metal lines: used for trolling reels
c. Monofilament nylon: usually used in spinning and casting reels; 1 - 130 pound test
d. Plastic coated: fly lines
9. Bait and lures (TM p 20)
a. Artificial: spinners, spoons, jigs, minnows, flies, plastic nymphs, worms, etc.
b. Natural: salmon eggs, insects, fish, worms
10. Other equipment
a. Weights: vary from BB size to several pounds; used to lower bait/lure to fish
b. Hooks: come in a wide variety of sizes and types
c. Waders: hip or chest high rubber boots for stream fishing
d. Tackle boxes
e. Creels: basket/bag for equipment and catch
f. Pliers or angler’s clippers
g. Knife
B. California fishing
1. Cold water
a. Locations
1.) Streams and rivers
2.) Lakes and reservoirs
b. Fish caught
1.) trout
2.) salmon
c. Tackle used
1.) Ultra light to light spinning
2.) spin casting
3.) Fly
4.) bait casting
5.) Light trolling (lakes)
d. Bait
1.) lures
2.) flies
3.) Salmon eggs
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Unit 19: Rural Recreation
4.) minnows
5.) insects and worms
2. Warm water
a. locations
1.) Streams and rivers (includes some water canals and the Delta)
2.) Lakes and reservoirs (including commercial “take” ponds)
b. Fish caught
1.) Bass
2.) Blue-gill
3.) Sun fish
4.) Perch
5.) Crappie
6.) Catfish
7.) Bullhead
8.) Steelhead
9.) Sturgeon
c. Tackle used
1.) ultra light to medium spinning
2.) Spin casting
3.) Bait casting
4.) Trolling (lakes)
5.) Fly
d. Bait
1.) lures
2.) Live and cut bait (squid, anchovies, shrimp)
3.) Insects
4.) Commercially prepared baits (cheese, etc.)
3. Salt water
a. Locations
1.) surf
2.) off-shore
a.) Pier
b.) small boat
3.) Deep sea (20 - 100 miles of shore)
b. Fish caught
1.) Near shore
a.) Striped bass
b.) Stingray
c.) cabezon
d.) Corbina
e.) Flounder
f.) grunion
g.) Smelt
h.) Rock fish
i.) Surf perch
j.) Turbot
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Unit 19: Rural Recreation
2.) Deep sea
a.) Shark
b.) Salmon
c.) Halibut
d.) Bass
e.) Barracuda
f.) Yellowtail
g.) Mackerel
h.) Albacore
i.) Marling
c. Tackle used
1.) Medium to heavy spinning
2.) spin cast
3.) Bait casting
4.) Fly
5.) Trolling
d. Bait used
1.) lures (trolling)
2.) live bait
3.) cut bait
4.) mollusks
C. Conditions which effect fishing and fish populations
1. Pollution
a. Point source (spilling pollutants directly into a waterway) and non-point source
(pollutants that make their way into waterways through run-off, urban water
drains, etc.) pollution
b. Urban population (non-point source), shipping operations (point source), logging
industry (soil erosion and run-off), and agricultural (run-off) are major source of
water pollution
c. Kills fish, greatly effects spawning/reproductive rates, can cause physiological
damage in fish, and presents a danger to humans who eat contaminated fish
2. Water clarity
a. A loss of water clarity is usually caused by human activity, including logging
operations (soil erosion and run-off), urban pollution, and agriculture (run-off)
b. Can greatly effect spawning and reproductive capacities
c. Certain species, including trout and salmon require extremely clear water
3. Water temperature
a. Restricts range of certain species
b. Activity level with vary by species at different temperatures
4. Oxygenation
a. The amount of air in the water can affect the life cycle of certain fish
5. Speed of water flow
a. Fish often stay in calmer waters, using the current to “deliver” their food
b. Spawning usually occurs in calmer waters
6. Feed availability
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a. Fish with a lot of natural food are less likely to take bait
b. Rain increase food, by washing items between waterways
c. Full moons allow for longer feeding time, and thus greater intake
7. Camouflage
a. Natural camouflage (logs, stream beds and plants) provide hiding places for fish
b. Try to fish where you do not cast a shadow on the water
D. California fishing regulations
1. Licenses: everyone over the age of 16 must have a current fishing license (issued by
the California Department of Fish and Game) to fish in California waterways and off
the coast
a. exceptions include public piers and commercial “take” ponds
2. Closed seasons: time of year when it is illegal to take certain species; this times varies
with species, but usually occurs during spawning
3. Bag limits: limits the number of fish (by species) you an take per day; varies by
species and time of year
4. Size limits: sets a minimum size for catch; allows fish to reach maturity and spawn;
limits vary by species
5. Gear restrictions: limits the type and number of gear you can use
6. Closed areas: closes certain areas to fishing or restricts the type of gear you can use;
protects fish and other aquatic life
E. Handling of catch
1. Fish you keep should be killed by breaking their neck or hitting them on the head
with a solid object
2. Keep fish on a stringer in the water to keep cool and prevent drying out; or pack in a
cool cloth
3. Clean fish as soon as possible
4. To avoid spoiling, eat your fish within two days -- freeze remaining fish
F. Types of fishing operations and occupational opportunities
1. charter boats
2. in-land guide
3. catch and release ponds
4. Department of Fish and Game warden
5. fishery operations
6. tackle shop
7. custom rod making
8. fly tier
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Types of Fishing Rods
Baitcasting or
Spincasting Rod
Fly Rod
Spinning Rod
Trolling or
Boat Rod
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Types of Reels
Spinning
(Open Faced)
Reel
Spin Casting
Reel
Bait Casting
Reel
Trolling Reel
Fly Reel
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Unit 19: Rural Recreation
Artificial Baits and Lures
Spinner
Minnow
Spoon
Jig
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Fly