| Before you attempt to catch fish, you need to | | | | make food. Oxygen also makes its way into |
| find out where they are. Remember that fish are | | | | water from the surrounding air. You will find |
| found nearly everywhere there is water with | | | | certain fish in certain bodies of water based on |
| sufficient levels of food, oxygen, and cover. You | | | | what kind of food is there. It is based on the |
| are certain to be within a relatively close distance | | | | amount and type of food available in a setting. All |
| to a body of water that has fish living in it. For an | | | | fish need to eat, so the amount of competition |
| angler, this is good news. They are there - now | | | | with other fish is a factor that determines which |
| you have to find them! | | | | fish will be in certain areas. |
| All fish are different. Because of this, they do not | | | | Fish prefer different water temperatures. Some |
| all live in the same kind of waters. Fish tolerate | | | | fish are flexible. They have the ability to live in a |
| different environmental conditions. Some of these | | | | wide range of temperatures. Other fish, however, |
| include differing levels of salt, amounts of oxygen, | | | | need either cold or warm water to survive. Trout |
| types and amounts of food, water temperature, | | | | is an example of this. You will only find trout in |
| and hiding areas. The most distinguishing element | | | | cold water. Your best bet for finding a certain |
| of fish is salt. Some fish do not live in areas | | | | type of fish is to learn about the type of water it |
| where there is a lot of salt. | | | | prefers. They are most often found in water that |
| On the other hand, some fish need salt to | | | | is close to their preferred temperature. We, as |
| survive. There are also some types of fish that | | | | humans, can control one factor when it comes to |
| can live in both saltwater and freshwater. | | | | where fish live. Water quality often determines |
| Freshwater ponds, reservoirs, and rivers contain | | | | where a fish will live and we have the means to |
| significantly less salt than the ocean. North | | | | ensure a high level of water quality. All fish must |
| America has a majority of freshwater bodies. | | | | have water that has adequate levels of oxygen. |
| Some of the fish that you will find in these | | | | Good-quality water will obviously support more |
| freshwater bodies are the bluegill, carp, catfish, | | | | species of fish than water that is polluted. Water |
| crappie, and bass. In contrast, many species of | | | | that is stagnant, polluted, or lacking adequate |
| fish live in the ocean's salty water. Thanks to their | | | | oxygen simply cannot support a large group of |
| kidneys, these fish are able to keep the proper | | | | fish. |
| balance of salt in their body. The more popular | | | | While some fish, such as carp, live in water that is |
| saltwater fish are the bluefish, cod, sea trout, | | | | not very clean, most fish need a high quality of |
| tuna, and flounder. | | | | water in order to survive. Discovering the |
| Another factor that weighs heavily on where you | | | | places where fish live is the first step to |
| will find certain fish is oxygen. All fish must have a | | | | successful fishing. Several factors come into play |
| certain level of oxygen to survive. Some fish, | | | | when looking for a fish's habitat. Some of these |
| such as carp, survive on less oxygen than fish like | | | | are the levels of salt and oxygen found in water. |
| trout. The living plants within a lake or stream | | | | Another factor is the temperature of the water. |
| directly affect the amount of oxygen in the | | | | All fish are different. Because of this, it benefits |
| water. They add oxygen to the water through | | | | you, the angler, to take the time necessary to |
| photosynthesis. This process uses sunlight to | | | | find the bodies of water in which they live. |