Freshwater fish are available to almost everyone close to home and offer a variety of types that fill every skill level and pocketbook. Many are excellent table fare and can be prepared in a variety of ways. You can catch them from the bank or from a boat, and boating for them is usually much easier than in salt water.

Common Freshwater Fish

Some freshwater fish like bass and bluegill are widespread, others like cutthroat trout and sturgeon have a limited range. Learning to catch one of the more widespread species makes traveling to new areas and catching fish easier. It's always challenging to try to learn to catch a new species, though, and some people keep a list of all the fish they have caught. You can enjoy reliving the catch of the ones on your list and the anticipation of adding new ones.

Ten popular freshwater fish are:

• Bass: Black bass species include largemouth, smallmouth and spotted They're widespread and very popular.

• Bream: Bluegill, shellcracker, pumpkinseed and many others make up this group of sunfish. They're easy to catch and some can be found in all fresh water.

• Carp: Considered a trash fish by some, carp are a primary game fish in many countries. They grow big and fight hard.

• Catfish: Flatheads, blue, and channel are the most popular catfish. They get huge, are found in most waters, and are very good to eat.

• Crappie: One of the best fish to eat in fresh water. They can be found all across the United States and are not fished too often.

• Muskie: A challenging fish to catch, muskie attract dedicated anglers who fish for nothing else. They're cool-water fish that grow to huge sizes.

• Pike: A good fighting fish that is also fairly good to eat. Pike are usually found in cooler northern waters.

• Salmon: Most salmon are spawned in fresh water and grow up in the sea, but some are landlocked. They fight well and are excellent table fare.

• Trout: There are a wide variety of trout and they inhabit small streams to big lakes that stay cool year round. They're fun to catch and taste very good.

• Walleye: According to many fishermen walleye are the best-tasting freshwater fish. They're a cool-water fish found in lakes and bigger streams and rivers.

These freshwater fish are all popular because they put up a good fight when hooked or are very good to eat. They're fairly widespread in the United States and most fishermen can fish for several of these species close to home. Some are easy to catch, others more of a challenge.

Advantages of Freshwater Fish

Accessibility to almost every fisherman is a big advantage of freshwater fish, because fresh water is almost always nearby. Plus, there are enough different kinds of freshwater fish to fulfill most any kind of fishing desire, and you seldom need special equipment to take them. Many kinds of freshwater fish can be landed on the most simple of equipment, and the water they live in won't corrode it nearly as bad as salt water does.

Disadvantages of Freshwater Fish

You'll need a state fishing license for all freshwater fishing in the United States and most other countries. There are strict number limits on most species and many have size limits, too. They don't taste as good as saltwater fish, and you usually can't catch as many fish as fast as you do in salt water.