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Camp Fishing Quick Reference Card

One rig. One knot. Four species. Everything a first-time camp angler needs on one card, front and back.

Single-sheet printable · front & back · Letter / A4 · Free with email signup

One rig, one knot, one cast. This is the setup that gets a first-timer from a bare rod to a baited hook in the water, plus the knot you'll tie more than any other.

Rig & Cast

  1. Thread the linePull line off the spool and run it through every rod guide, bottom guides first.
  2. Tie on a swivelAttach a small swivel or clip with the improved clinch knot at right.
  3. Add weightPinch one split shot about 12 inches up the line from the swivel.
  4. Add a bobberClip a bobber on about 3 feet up the line from the split shot.
  5. Bait the hookClip on a hook sized for the target fish and thread on the bait.
  6. CastHold the rod at 10 o’clock, open the bail, sweep forward to 2 o’clock, and release the line off your finger.

Improved Clinch Knot

  1. ThreadPass 6 inches of line through the eye of the hook or swivel.
  2. WrapWrap the tag end around the main line 5 times (4 times on line over 20 lb test), wrapping away from the eye.
  3. First loopPass the tag end through the small loop that formed just above the eye.
  4. Improved loopPass the tag end through the larger loop you just made - the step that keeps this knot from slipping.
  5. Wet and cinchWet the knot, then pull both ends steadily until the wraps seat tight against the eye. Trim the tag to about ¼ inch.
Before every castLook behind and overhead for people, branches, and power lines. For kids, pinch the hook barb flat with pliers first - easier releases and far fewer trips to the first aid kit.

What to Use, By Species

Panfish (bluegill, sunfish, crappie)Hook: Size 8-10Bait: A piece of worm the size of a thumbnailSetup: Bobber, shallow water, near structure
Trout (streams)Hook: Size 8-12Bait: Match what’s hatching if visible; otherwise a small spinner or gold spoonSetup: Light line, drift with the current
BassHook: Size 1-4, weedlessBait: A 4-6 inch soft plastic wormSetup: Slow retrieve near structure; slower still in cold water
CatfishHook: Size 1-4Bait: Strong-smelling dough bait or cut baitSetup: Heavy sinker, no bobber, on the bottom

Not sure where to start? A nightcrawler on a size 8 hook under a bobber catches bass, panfish, catfish, and trout - the closest thing to a universal first choice.

Catch & Release

  1. Land it quicklyA long fight exhausts the fish before it ever reaches your hands.
  2. Wet your handsDry hands strip the slime coat that protects the fish from infection.
  3. Hold it horizontallyOne hand under the belly, one near the tail. Never squeeze, and never lift by the gills or jaw.
  4. Remove the hookBack it out the way it went in. If it’s deep, cut the line close instead of digging for it - the hook will dissolve.
  5. Let it swim offLower it into the water facing the current and let it kick free on its own. Don’t toss it.

Most states require a fishing license for anglers above a certain age, and set their own size and bag limits by species and water. Check your state wildlife agency's rules before you cast.

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What you get

  • The basic rig: line, swivel, split shot, bobber, and hook, in order
  • The improved clinch knot - the one knot that attaches almost anything to the line
  • Hook, bait, and setup picks for panfish, stream trout, bass, and catfish
  • The catch-and-release steps that keep a fish healthy if you are letting it go
  • Letter / A4 sized, front & back, one-color print

Use it for

  • Rig a rod for a first-time angler before the lake or pond is even in sight
  • A pocket reference for which bait to tie on when nothing is biting
  • Teach a kid to release a fish without hurting it

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