Howdy all, I recently joined up here, and dig the information.

I'm a beginner to this freshwater thing (used to fish on the S Tex coast as a youngster). Live in Joshua (S of Ft W), and don't have a boat. Want to get my family into fishing, don't need to tell any of you why, you get it, but really don't know what I'm doing.

I don't really care what species to begin with, though good eating would be nice, just want to learn how to cateh the finned critters.

Any and all advice appreciated!

Gig 'em,
CM

Well nightcrawlers are the easiest bait to use, just stick em on the hook and wait for the nibble. Try some peeled shrimp or chicken livers for catfish, just takes time and patience.

to the TFF!

You leave it wide open. Check the different forums, including bank fishing, since you don't have a boat. The more you read the more you can figure out what you want to try for.

Where are you located Chuck

Welcome aboard!!

@LRN, Joshua. Between Cleburne & Burleson specifically.

@WCLBASS, thanks, enjoying it!

crickets and a small hook, fish shallow water around points or road beds if you can get to any of those. Kids will be hooked and you will be exausted. Good luck

When our kids were itty bitty we used whole kernel corn for bait. The wife felt that corn was more sanitary and nutritious than worms and crickets. (I�m pretty sure that she was at least half right about that.)
Caught tons of perch and a few channel cats and crappies over the years on corn and the kids had a blast. I�m working this same program with our grandbabies now. Wife still thinks that the corn is better for them than worms�I'm still not so sure about that.

Chuck, welcome to the forum. Bream (sunfish) are the easiest to catch near shore, along with some small largemouth bass. Best baits are red wigglers (worms), mealy worms, crickets and pieces of Catalpa worms. Shiners for the bass under a bobber are also a good choice. You can find these species in all of the city ponds, creeks, canals, etc. Be sure and understand access, and go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ and look at the regulations on licenses and daily limits/min/max lengths. You do not need a license if you are fishing private waters.

If you can afford it, and just to get the kids really interested by getting their string stretched, any of the pay catfish places are a great option for a couple hours. Be warned, you pay by the live pound and must keep everything you catch. I about bankrupted my Daddy catching 2-5 pound Rainbows out of a pay-pond in Bella Vista, Ark. when I was 13

But I will NEVER forget that day nor the meal afterwards. I can see it in my mind's eye like it was yesterday, and I'm 51.

Good on ya' for getting those kids in the outdoors, sir

Welcome to TFF.

find someone on here that will let ya fish some stock ponds....kids will love it.. If you were closer Id say come here... throw a bobber out with a perch hook, cover the barb with any kind of plastic worm ripped in half and you can catch perch and bass all day here... and thats just the small pond..the catfish pond is too easy..they boil the surface when you step on the dock!

Kids and lazy adults like me enjoy easy, Scotty!

+1 on the stock ponds, Chuck. They're harder to gain access to, but in your area it shouldn't be too difficult. I would imagine we have a member or two that live out that way. Maybe someone will come along and extend an invite. After all, who can resist kids that want to fish?

stock ponds are the best for teaching the kiddos.. I'm sure someone will step up in his area and offer up a place to wet a line..

I dont have a ton of knowledge but I will share a few things that I have learned. Fish rocky banks or behind dams for catfish. You can make your own chum by going to the feed store and buying either milo or range cubes. If you buy the milo empty some in a 5 gallon bucket, mix in a beer or two, fill with water to cover. Place the lid over and either close half way or drill holes into the lead to allow the gases to expand. Take a little bit of either and throw in the area you will be fishing.

If you're on the bank in a creek or channel and can see brush, trees and other structure try some minnows and/or crappie jigs. Crappie are like eating a big perch, very tasty.