Join the Discussion "Do you fish during the holidays?  How do you beat the crowds?" Ronnie
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July 4th week is upon us. It is great having time off, but everybody else is off too, and sometimes it seems every living person in the USA heads for the lake. How can we fishermen beat the crowds this holiday weekend as well as during other holidays? Several tricks will help you find a place to catch fish even on the most popular holidays.

If you have a private lake, great. You can control how crowded it gets. Or if you can get invited to a private lake, as long as the invitations are limited, you can enjoy the peace and quiet associated with fishing. Most of us don't have that option, though.

Fishing at night works this time of year to some extent. Although fewer people fish at night, there will be a good number on the lake. Night fishermen will not have to face our nemesis of skidoos, offshore yachts and skiers that churn up the water during the day. It is a lot of fun tying up under a bridge, hanging a lantern over the side, baiting up and waiting on a crappie or white bass to bite. Casting plugs, spinnerbaits and worms at night will catch bass. And if you have enough bug spray, building a fire on the bank, baiting up for catfish, putting several rods out and relaxing is a great way to spend the night.

If you don't like the idea of fishing in the dark, another way to escape the crowds is to head up creeks and streams. If you go far enough, there will not be enough water for the pleasure boats and skiers. The only things that will bother you are the skidoos and there is not much you can do about the inconsiderate operators that harass fishermen, either because they are not smart enough to realize what they are doing are because they are inconsiderate idiots.

In the upper reaches of creeks, bass sometimes are more active due to moving water. The water is often cooler and the fish have fewer places to hide. The water is also usually stained more than the lake and all those things help you locate and catch fish. This type fishing usually means casting to visible cover or flipping to it. You are close to the fish and it can get real exciting when you hook a big one.

Try flipping a jig and pig or a worm to all the cover you find. A spinnerbait also works well. Run it up to a stump, limb or bush in the water and let it fall. A crankbait can be worked the same way but it will float up by the cover, offering the bass a different enticement.

If bass don't turn you on, bream, catfish and crappie are sometimes very active in the backs of creeks. Use a small jig on light line and you can catch all species except the cats. You need live bait like worms or minnows for them, or liver, cut bait or stink bait.

Fishing during a holiday can be relaxing if you find the right place. Give it a shot.