April 1, 2025

Nothing beats the feeling of settling into your favorite fishing spot and enjoying the peacefulness of the water while you patiently wait for fish to bite. It’s a hobby for anglers of all experience levels and any age. So whether you fish for a sense of relaxation or for the thrill of the catch, it’s important to know what you’ve got on your line and where you are likely to get lucky and hook them again.

If you’re ready to cast your reel but aren’t quite sure what’s going to bite, here is our ultimate Fish 101 guide.

1. Bass

Without a doubt, bass are one of the most common freshwater fish anglers seek out. The bass you’re most likely to catch happen to be the kind Justin Hamner, Bassmaster Classic champion, and other pros catch too — the black bass.

While it can be difficult to tell some members of the bass family apart, the largemouth bass can be identified by its long jawline. The jawline of a smallmouth bass and spotted bass lines up with its eye while the jawline of a largemouth bass extends past its eye. It takes a close look to separate them. Besides their jawline, largemouth bass have a horizontal stripe that extends from their eyes all the way to their tail. Diamond shaped spots run horizontally along a spotted bass, and smallmouth bass have vertical stripes extending the length of their body. An easy difference lies in their color. Both largemouth bass and spotted bass are green while a smallmouth bass is bronze.

Freshwater bass live where you might expect them to live — freshwater ponds, lakes and rivers in regions across the U.S. and Canada. Largemouth bass tend to favor warm water and can be found in both in shallow and deep parts of the water that have lots of aquatic plants. Don’t be surprised if you can’t spot them easily; it’s not uncommon for them to be in areas with lots of brush piles and weed beds for cover. If you are floating down the river, you can find largies settling in calm areas where they don’t have to fight against the current.

Smallmouth bass grow bigger in colder waters, typically up north, but can still be found both in Southern and Midwestern rivers systems. You are most likely to find these big guys in spots such as the Great Lakes or up in the waters of Ontario and Quebec. They also prefer to look for food around waters with weed beds, trees or rocks rather than swim in them. Smallies are up for the chase and like hunting in harder currents.

To find a spotted bass, take a trip to the Mississippi River basin or the lakes and reservoirs in Texas, the Florida panhandle, Oklahoma and California. The warmer waters are where spotted bass call home. Spotted bass tend to avoid aquatic plants and like to stay in clear waters — they aren’t shy.

2. Crappies

Another fish you are likely to catch are crappies. These guys have a small, slab-like build and wide jaws. You are more than likely to catch either a black or a white crappie. To tell the difference, count their dorsal spine and take a glimpse at their color. White crappies have 5 to 6 spines and black crappies have 7 to 8. Like the name suggests, white crappies are more white whereas black crappies have more black spots, so they are a bit grayer. You can also look at their shape and markings. White crappies have black spots that arrange themselves in vertical lines, and black crappies have spots arranged randomly. 

Luckily, you don’t have to make it too far offshore to find these guys. Crappies are commonly found in shallow waters of lakes, reservoirs or rivers under/around submerged trees and brush piles. While they are primarily spread across the U.S., they can be found in southern Canada, a popular spot for Garmin users and down into Mexico.

3. Walleye

If you catch a walleye, hold tight to your line because these guys are heavy. Walleye can range from 12” to 31” in length and weigh from 10 to 20 pounds. You’ll know you’ve reeled one in based on telltale features such as its golden olive coloring, white eyes and white tip at the bottom of its tail, a dark area at the base of its dorsal fin, and dozen or so dorsal spines.  

Because they prefer colder water, walleye can be found in the Great Lakes, basins of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, and across Canada. They prefer deep, calm waters during hotter months and shallower waters in the spring and fall. During peak ice fishing season, they can be found in open water.

How to catch them

Something all these fish have in common is that they are easy to find when you have the right fishfinder. If you are looking for a product to jump-start your fishing experience, the Garmin STRIKER™ series is the…