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| Fishing 101-Fishing Tips for Beginners |
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| Fishing Rods and Reels |
The kind of rod and reel you require depends on the size of your hands. Children up to the age of 12 are likely to find a spin-cast reel their best choice. This reel is held upright and has a release button on top. Spin-cast reels are commonly sold as kits with the suitable rod included.
For adults, a spinning reel or a heavy-duty spin-cast reel is likely the best choice. These reels are easy to use, allow for longer casts and for a slightly heavier line. Some spinning reels are sold as combos with a rod, but you can buy them separately.
You can tell a good drag by how the line comes off the spool. Good drags give up line smoothly and evenly; poor drags do so with halts and jerks. Avoid using reels with poor drags, as they may cost you a trophy fish one day.
As a general rule, the rod length and stiffness are determined by the size of fish you plan to catch. For fish up to 1 kilogram, a flexible rod approximately 5’6” long is ideal. If you’re after the big ones, a 6’6” to 7” rod with a stiff action will help you control the fish better.
You can carry and store rods and reels either assembled or taken apart, whichever is more convenient. But don't store the rod so it's bent or under pressure, as doing so will damage the rod or create a permanent curve in it.
Rod handles come in various diameters, so it's important to be sure the rod(s) you want fits your hands. You should be able to cast the rod repeatedly and hold it in various positions without experiencing fatigue or cramping. Cork handles can be sanded down if they feel too large.
With any rod, you'll know if you're casting correctly if you watch the rod tip. The rod must "load," that is, gain energy by bending at the tip to impart speed to the lure. As you bring the rod forward to cast, the rod tip should be bent back a bit behind (away from) you. If it's not bending, you're not being forceful enough with the forward motion.
It's a good idea to practice casting in a yard, field, or park. Avoid casting on pavement or hardtop as your line may abrade with repeated casts.
| What do I use for bait? |
You can use either live bait or lures. The most common live baits are worms and minnows, but insects, crayfish and leeches are also very effective. Using live bait is not allowed in some areas, so be sure to check the fishing regulations in your region.
Lures come in hundreds of shapes and sizes, but in many cases the inexpensive baits work just as well as the ones that cost more.
There are several types of lures. Surface lures twitch or gurgle across the top of the water. Many species of fish such as pike, muskie and bass find them irresistible. Shallow water lures such as minnow-shaped plugs and spinners will trigger a strike when fish are feeding near the surface. A wide variety of fish can be caught with these baits. Deep-water lures are best for fish that feed close to the bottom. Keep these baits close to the bottom and jiggle them from time to time to trigger a strike.
| What do I do when I get a bite? |
Whenever you feel a jerk on your line, even if it’s just a small one, pull straight up very sharply with your rod tip and immediately start to retrieve you line. With live bait you might get a second bite, but with artificial bait this is likely your only chance to set the hook. More fish are lost because of weak hook sets than any other reason.
After the fish is on the line, keep your rod tip angled upwards and retrieve steadily. Your reel has a drag setting that should be set so that large fish can strip some line without breaking it. Guide the fish into your landing net or to shore where you can remove the hook from its mouth.
If you are planning to release the fish, try to keep the time it is out of the water to a minimum. If the fish is not alert, revive it by holding it upright and move it in an S-pattern so that the water flows over its gills. If you intend to keep the fish, store it in an ice cooler until you are ready to clean it.
| Fishing License |
If you're planning to fish in fresh water (and, in some states, in salt water) anywhere in the U.S. or Canada, you will need a fishing license. You should also be acquainted with the open seasons, minimum sizes (how big a fish has to be in order to be kept by the angler), and creel limits (how many of those fish you can keep in one day's fishing)
A fishing reel holding fishing line attached to a fishing rod[em]a long, slender, flexible, and lightweight tube made of fiberglass, graphite, or a composite. Fishermen use rod, reel, or line to cast, hook, and retrieve fish.
| Tackle & Lure Tips |
Many deep-discount department stores sell fishing tackle (some even specialize in it). They offer decent selections and their prices are good. However, the sales clerk may not be well acquainted with the merchandise, and may not be able to offer much assistance. If you need sales help, you're much better off patronizing a small tackle shop staffed with knowledgeable employees. You'll pay a bit more for your tackle, but with it will come expertise.
Some fishing lures are good at catching fish, others are good at catching fishermen. When you're buying lures, don't fall for fancy packaging or ornate designs. A good lure either imitates the natural forage of the water you intend to fish[em]long, slim, sliver minnows, perhaps; or small crayfish[em]or will provoke a strike because of its action in the water.
| Fishing Method Tips |
Make sure the water you're fishing isn't so polluted that the fish you catch will be unfit for consumption[em]or even devoid of fish. Large amounts of foam in quiet waters of a stream or near a lake's shoreline, an unpleasant odor, or a constant brownish or milky hue generally indicate pollution.
If the only place you have to fish received a lot of pressure from other anglers, try to get there as soon as possible, before anyone else gets there. Then walk around a bit, away from those well-worn spots and trails created by fishermen. The combination of fishing at first light, in areas that are rarely cast to, may result in a strike from a fish bigger than you thought existed there.
The lack of "no Trespassing" signs does not necessarily indicate freedom to walk onto private land. In some states, landowners can press charges against trespassers only if the property is clearly posted in a manner prescribed by law, but other states don't require posting. If you're not sure about trespassing laws in your area, contact your state's fish and game department.
| Fish Talk |
An anadromous fish is one that migrates from the ocean to a freshwater river to spawn, such as shad and striped bass. Salmon that have been transplanted to the Great Lakes still exhibit this behavior, moving from the lake to a tributary to spawn. Fish that migrate from freshwater rivers to oceans in order to spawn are called catadromous fish.
Because fish don't like bright light, casting to large areas of shallow, sunlit waters is usually wasted time. This is one reason why dawn and dusk are usually good times to fish. also, If you can easily see a fish, that means it can also see you, and any sudden movement will scare it into hiding. Back off slowly and cast from a distance.
Fish eggs are popular forage for many fish, notably rainbow trout and steelhead (which are ocean or Great Lakes rainbows that spawn in rivers). A popular bait for both fish are salmon eggs, which are sold in jars. One pea-sized egg is usually impaled on a similar-sized gold-colored hook. Often the pale yellow salmon eggs are dyed in bright colors (usually orange) and/or scented for extra fish appeal.
| Fishing Line |
Although you can use lures and baits that are a bit lighter or heavier than recommended for a particular rod, don't stray from the recommended line strength range. Line that is lighter than recommended won't cast well and will break more easily. Using line that is much heavier than recommended may harm the rod itself, and may even break it if your hook is snagged and you pull the rod too hard.
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