Why This Site Exists
Fishing is supposed to be enjoyable, but the first trip can feel like a wall of unanswered questions. What gear do you actually need? What fish live nearby? Is the bank public? Is there a boat launch? Which lure makes sense, and which purchases can wait?
Fish Finder Outdoors was built to reduce that guessing. The site turns decades of everyday fishing experience into plain-language starting points for people who want to learn without being buried in jargon or pushed toward a garage full of tackle.
Who Runs Fish Finder Outdoors?
Chris Smith is the founder of Mountain Dog Enterprises and Fish Finder Outdoors. He is an Idaho-based freshwater angler who turns decades of everyday experience—including bank fishing, simple tackle, trout, bass, panfish, and catfish—into practical guidance for beginners.
The goal is not to pretend one angler knows every water. It is to separate practical experience from facts that can change and to point readers to the right current authority when regulations, closures, access, stocking, or conditions matter.
What You Will Find Here
- Beginner fishing guides that explain gear, simple rigs, fish behavior, water reading, safe handling, and reasonable next steps.
- A detailed lure guide covering 35 freshwater lure types, when to use them, how to fish them, and the mistakes new anglers commonly make.
- A fishing location finder that organizes public-water information, maps, known species, access notes, nearby facilities, and official agency links.
- Dated community reports when a useful angler report has been submitted and reviewed. A report is never presented as a guarantee of current fishing.
- Gear recommendations chosen for usefulness and beginner value, with affiliate relationships disclosed clearly.
How Location Information Is Handled
Public access and fishing rules can change. A road can close, a ramp can become unusable, a land agreement can end, or emergency restrictions can appear after a page was published. Fish Finder Outdoors uses official state fish-and-wildlife information first, adds other public-agency sources when appropriate, and labels uncertain information instead of inventing an answer.
Maps and weather are planning tools, not proof of legal access or safe conditions. Before traveling, every angler should open the linked official source, check the rules for the exact water, and obey posted signs.
Experience, Sources, and Corrections
First-hand observations are identified as experience or preference. Changeable facts are checked against the responsible public agency whenever a dependable source is available. Community reports and location corrections are reviewed before they are added to the public site.
No directory is perfect. If a public water is missing, a private water appears, a name is wrong, or access has changed, please contact Fish Finder Outdoors. Useful corrections help the next angler avoid a wasted drive.
How the Site Is Supported
Fish Finder Outdoors is free to read and use. The project may earn money from clearly disclosed affiliate links, optional digital guides and advertising. Those relationships do not change regulations, access labels, safety advice, or the standards used to prepare fishing information. Learn more in the Editorial Standards and Privacy Policy.
Start Where You Are
If this is your first fishing trip, begin with the complete Beginner Fishing Basics article and the Fishing Gear for Beginners guide. If you already have basic gear and want help choosing what to throw, open the Beginner's Guide to Fishing Lures. When you are ready to choose a destination, use the Public Fishing Spots & Maps Guide or a Western state planning guide before opening the separate search application.