Life-or-death situations can and do occur and often without notice, so it is imperative to take sensible precautions prior to driving or walking on frozen water in search of the perfect winter catch. Those who wish to participate in an ice fishing expedition should be in reasonably good physical condition and able to swim or to at least remain comfortable staying afloat. The reason is that you want the bait to see the fish approach them because they will become more excited and it will cause the fish to latch on better. Another thing is that you should add water softener salt to the water that is holding your live bait. The salt will make the scales of your bait harder while instantaneously preserving the slimy coat that attracts predators. Your best bet for finding a certain type of fish is to learn about the type of water it prefers. They are most often found in water that is close to their preferred temperature. Discovering the places where fish live is the first step to successful fishing. Several factors come into play when looking for a fish's habitat. These baits are primarily used for panfish, trout, and bass. Fly-tying is a harder concept to learn, making these lures unique. Lures are tested and decided upon by the individual. Many lures are determined to be useful by trying them out time and time again. When you become comfortable with a certain type of lure, you will be able to expand on its possibilities, making it more individualized for your fishing purposes. Typically, you will want to use a heavier tackle at night than you would during the day. Since sight is limited, you will have to rely on the feel of the lure to determine whether you have a bite. Some of the lures that have been proven to give results are hair jigs, pork rinds, and rubber jigs. When you are preparing for your night trip, you need to take some extra measures that you may not necessarily think about for a day trip. The best time to go surf fishing is high tide, before all of the beachgoers that scare fish come to the beach. You will need to learn to develop a great deal of patience when you go surf fishing, so bring lots of bait and get ready to settle in for the day. You do not need to buy a special type of rod to surf fish.