How to basic fish

Fishing For Beginners: The Basic Gear And Tips To Get You Started!

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of teaching a number of people the basics of fishing and start them off on their fishing journey.

So today I wanted to take a moment and share with you a brief introduction to fishing and what you need to do in order to become a successful angler.

Introduction

In this “Fishing For Beginners” guide, there are several areas I’m going to discuss and go over with you to know exactly how to start fishing. By the end, you’ll know what kind of fishing rod and reel to use, what kind of tackle you should have and other essential fishing gear beginners should have with them.

So let’s get started!

Basic Fishing Gear For Beginners

Here’s the breakdown on the different kind of fishing gear you’ll need as a beginner. I’ll explain what each is and what it does, and you can decide which is the best for you.

Fishing Rod and Reel

Lets start off this beginners fishing guide by first talking about fishing rods and reels, and which types of fishing rods and fishing reels you’ll want to have to get started.

There are so many different kinds of fishing rods, or fishing poles as they’re also called, that are available. Just take a stroll through one of the big stores like Cabelas or even your small local bait and tackle shop. You can quickly become overwhelmed by all the different types of fishing rods that are propped up along the wall and over the isles.

You might see fly rods, ultralight rods, spinning rods, baitcasting rods, surf rods, deep sea fishing rods just to name a few. But let’s not get hung up on all those different kinds of fishing rods.

As a beginner, let’s just focus on a few basic types of rods that are going to get you out there and start catching fish right away. The only fishing rods we’re going to focus on at this point in your fishing hobby are the basic spinning rod and surf fishing rods. And you might even find that a fishing rod and reel combo is the easiest way to go. Just keep on reading to learn more about what to look for in a rod and reel.

Between these two kinds of fishing rods, you’ll be set for a very long time and equipped to fish for a wide variety of fish.

Spinning Rod And Reel

The Rod

A spinning rod is a great fishing pole for beginners. It’s the type of fishing rod you want to use when you’re targeting species of fish that are up to 6 to 7 pounds or smaller. Spinning rods are available in a variety of different lengths, but as a beginner, you should look for a spinning rod that’s 6 feet in length.

A 6 foot long spinning rod is a great size rod to help you learn how to cast and keep control of your fishing line. A rod and reel combo like the 6 foot long ugly stik fishing rod here.

Please note that this spinning rod can be used in both freshwater and saltwater. But if you use it in saltwater, take the time at the end of the day to thoroughly rinse off the rod and reel with freshwater from the hose. Salt is very corrosive and will damage your fishing gear if you don’t rinse it off.

For more information on how to clean your rod and reel after using it in saltwater, check out my article, How To Clean A Fishing Reel After Saltwater Use.

The Reel

Spinning rods are equipped with a spinning reel. Spinning reels are open faced reels that hang on the bottom side of the fishing rod. You may see folks who hold their spinning rods with the spinning reel on top. But this is the wrong way to hold it. Allow the reel to hang below the rod.

On the side of the reel is a crank, or a handle. This is how you reel in the fishing line. Most modern spinning reel handles are designed to be attached to the right or the left side of the reel, to accommodate left and right handed anglers.

How To Cast

Learning how to cast a spinning rod and reel is fairly simple. It’ll take some amount of practice to become really good at it. But to get your line out into the water and start fishing, theres only a few steps to follow. These steps are:

Fishing Line

When it comes to what kind of fishing line to use for beginners, I recommend starting out by keeping it simple and inexpensive.

I recommend for beginners to start by using 6 to 8 pound test monofilament fishing line. There are other types of fishing line available, like fluorocarbon and braided fishing line, but monofilament will be just fine.

monofilament fishing line like this one here made by Trilene is a great and non-expensive option to get you started fishing without spending a lot of money.

What Do They Mean By ‘Test’?

When anglers talk about how many pound test a line is, what the heck are they talking about? Test is essentially referring to the tensile strength of the fishing line, and how many pounds of pressure it would take to snap the line.

For example, if you’re using an 8 pound test monofilament fishing line, that means it would take at least 8 pounds of weights hanging from the line to snap it. As you can imagine, the smaller the fish you’re after, the lighter the fishing line you’ll need.

Maximum And Minimum Fishing Line Sizes

Now, if you look closely on the side of your reel, you’ll see there’s a lot of little numbers and other writings. The information you see there are the specs of that reel. Those specs show you what that specific fishing reel supports. It tells you how strong or how week of a fishing line the reel can support.

The same is true for the fishing rod. If you look closely at the base of the rod, near the handle, you’ll see a series of numbers and words. This information is telling you the size of the rod and what size line the rod can handle. For the most part, most basic 6 foot spinning rods, like the one you’ll be using, will support 6 to 8 pound test fishing line just fine.

Now that you have everything you need to know to find a good spinning rod, let’s move on to the next type of fishing rod…the surf fishing rod.

Surf Fishing Rod

A surf fishing rod is basically the same thing as the spinning rod setup that we just talked about, except everything about the surf rod is just larger. The fishing rod itself is longer and the surf fishing reel is much larger. This is because this rod and reel combo can accomodate much stronger, heavier fishing line, and is designed for fish between 6 pounds up to 100 pounds.

The surf fishing rod is a versatile rod and can be used in many different ways. I myself use my surf fishing rod for surf fishing, jetty fishing and even bottom fishing. But you can also use it for larger freshwater fish like carp fishing, catfish and even salmon.

Casting a surf rod is almost identical to how you cast the smaller spinning rod. The only difference is that you’ll be casting heavier tackle with heavier line all in the hope of catching heavier fish.

Surf Rod, Reel And Line Size

The length of surf rod that’s good for beginners is a rod that’s between 7 to 10 feet long. The surf reel should be large enough to support fishing line that’s 10 to 17 pound test line. Again, you can use just inexpensive monofilament line. And I suggest using 14 pound monofilament for your first surf fishing rod and reel setup.

For More information on surf fishing rod and reel combos, take a look at my article, The Best Surf Fishing Rod And Reel Combo For The Money.

Drag

Drag is another term you’ll hear anglers talk about quite a bit. So what is drag? Drag is how hard the fish has to pull on the fishing line to release more line from the reel, without flipping the bail.

Drag is very important for many fish out there because some fish can pull very hard on the line, even small fish. And the harder they pull on the line, the closer they get to the maximum test of the fishing line. And if the drag is not set correctly, there is the possibility of the fish snapping the line.

We don’t want that to happen! So we always want to keep a close eye on the drag setting, to make it a little easier for those strong fish to take line from our reel.

How To Set The Drag

Most spinning reels have a knob on the top of the spool that you can either turn clockwise or counterclockwise. To tighten the drag, simply turn the knob to the right. To loosen the drag, or make it easier for fish to take line, simply turn the knob to the left.

To see how tight or how loose the drag is on your reel, you can just grab the line near the base of the fishing pole and pull on it. I always like to begin my day by setting the drag so I have to pull with some effort for line to come off the ree. If line comes off too easy, it may be difficult to set the hook and reel the fish in.

Don’t get too caught up on this. Over time you’ll learn exactly how to correctly set the right drag settings.

Fishing Tackle

Now let’s spend a little time talking about fishing tackle. Again, there’s a million different kinds of fishing tackle available, and you can easily become overwhelmed. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated at all. You can keep it simple, use basic fishing tackle and still catch a lot of fish. So here’s the basic fishing tackle for beginners.

Standard Fishing Hook

The first thing here is the standard fishing hook. Fishing hooks come in a wide variety of styles and sizes. Fish hook sizes are based off of a numbering system. The smallest fish hooks start at #32 and work their way up in size as the numbers go down all the way to #1. After #1, hook sizes become 1/0 which is a very large hook. Then 2/0 and 4/0 and 6/0 which progressively get larger and larger. These hook sizes continue all the way up to 16/0.

Treble Hook

Next is the treble hook. The treble hook has a little bit different design than other types of fishing hooks. Treble hooks are basically three hooks in one. So there are three points that the fish can get caught on instead of just the one.

Treble hooks are easier to hook fish with, but you don’t get as deep of a hook set as you would using a single point standard fishing hook.

Pre-Snelled Hooks

Pre snelled hooks are are hooks that come in a package and are already tied with a short leader line. The leader line has a loop on one end which makes it very easy to attach to a swivel.

Sliders

Next is a slider. What a slider does is exactly what it’s name implies. It ‘slides’ on your fishing line. The fishing line runs through the body of the slider and the leader to your hook attaches to the snap on the slider.

When the fish pulls on your hook, the fish won’t feel the tension from the weight thats at the other end of your line. This is good, because often times a fish will spit out the hook if it feels tension from the line.

What a slider does is allow you, the angler to feel the fish bite the bait, but the fish is unable to feel the line.

Round Fishing Weights

Next on the list is the basic round fishing weight. Round weights are commonly used in lakes or in streams and rivers if the water is moving very slowly. If the water is moving a bit faster, then you would use more weight to keep the line on the bottom. And if the water is shallow and slow moving water you would use a lighter round weight.

Pyramid Weights

Pyramid weights are used for primarily is for muddy bottoms or fishing in rivers where the water’s moving fast. How these work is the point of the pyramid weight sticks into the mud and keeps it on the bottom and from moving downstream.

Snap Swivel

Snap swivels are a critical piece of fishing tackle in my tackle box. Snap swivels not only prevent your line from twisting, but also make changing hooks and lures a breeze.

Your fishing line ties onto the closed loop end of the snap swivel. On the other end, you see a snap, which opens and closes much like a safety pin. On that end of the swivel you can attach your pre snelled hook. Just unsnap the swivel, put the loop in, and snap the swivel shut.

Fishing Bobbers

All you need for bobbers to get started fishing is the traditional plastic round bobber. What the fishing bobber does is it keeps your bait up off the bottom of the lake or river. It does this by attaching to your line and floating on the surface of the water. When a fish bites, you can see the bobber move or even be pulled down below the surface.

To attach a bobber, you just push the top down to expose the little hook on the other side of the bobber. Place your line under the hook. Then on the other end push the bottom hook out and place your line in that hook. Now the bobber should be secured to your fishing line and should not easily move up and down the line.

Fishing Tools

Now we’re going to move on to some of the basic tools every fisherman should bring along with them on their fishing trip. You may not think you need some of these items, but once you’re out there fishing, you’ll quickly understand why I have them on the ‘must have’ list of fishing tools.

Needle Nosed Pliers

One of the most important things that every fisherman needs is a good pair of needle-nose pliers. The reason you should have a pair of needle nosed pliers in your tackle box is because a lot of the times the fish will swallow the hook. What I mean by this is, the fish takes the hook too deep into its mouth. And when the hook is so far down the fish’s throat, you simply can’t reach in there with your fingers to remove the hook.

So a needle nose pliers can really come in handy and save the day. They are long enough and narrow enough to get in there and remove the hook safely from the fish’s mouth.

Fishing Net

Make sure you get a good quality net that’s large enough to handle the type of fish you plan on catching. One of the things you can do that many other anglers do, is to mark a ruler on the handle of the net. That way you can easily check the length of the fish you catch, even while its still in the net.

Knife

Make sure that you have a good quality knife with you. And make sure the knife you have is sharp! There are countless uses for a knife on a fishing trip, but some of the main uses for the kife are cutting fishing line, cutting bait and cleaning fish. A knife will always come in handy while fishing.

Tape Measure

A tape measure is another tool you’re going to want to just keep in your tackle box or with your fishing gear. A tape measure will come in handy because chances are, the type of fish you’re fishing for has regulations on what size of fish you can keep. For example, currently in Oregon where I live and do a lot of jetty fishing, you can only keep Ling Cod that are 24 inches or longer. I’ve had to pull out my tape measure countless times to make sure the Lings I caught were over that 24 inch mark.

So you definitely want to have a tape measure as part of your basic fishing gear. The last thing anyone wants is unnecessary attention from the local game warden. Fines for keeping undersized fish are not cheap! Wouldn’t you rather spend that money on a good fishing reel? Me too.

Not comfortable reading one? Here’s a great article that teaches you how to read a tape measure.

Fingernail Clippers

Fingernail clippers are extremely handy because you can quickly clip or cut fishing line while your tying lures or other tackle. When I was a kid, I used to always “bite” off the extra fishing line, and let me tell you, that is such a bad idea. It’s so bad for your teeth.

Now they make clippers especially for anglers. These are so nice because they come attached to a lanyard that you can just throw around your neck. That way your clipper is readily accesible at any time. This is definitely a MUST HAVE!

Fish Stringer Or Bucket

You always want to have a bucket or a Stringer with you to keep your fish in. At the least, take along a bag to put your fish in if you plan on keeping them. This keep your fish up off the ground and out of the dirt and grass. The last thing you want is your fish lying on the ground in the dirt where birds and other animals can grab it from you. And believe me, that will happen!

Rag Or Hand Towel

The final recommendation I have for your collection of basic fishing gear for beginners is to take an old rag or hand towel with you. You’re going to be handling bait and fish and your hands are going to get dirty, smelly and slimy. Having a towel close by will ensure that you always have something to clean the bait or fish slime off your hands.

Conclusion

So that concludes my list of recommeded basic fishing gear for beginners. Now you’re ready to get started and get out there fishing. Now the final thing you need to do is decide where you want to go fishing and what kind of fish you’re going to try and catch. Start there, then buy the correct size tackle that best suits that size of fish.

You’ll also want to do some kind of research and find out what exactly that type of fish likes to feed on. Once you find that out, you can select the proper kind of bait for that fish. Find out if it’s a bottom feeder fish or a top feeder fish. A quick search on Google will quickly answer that for you.

Finally, try to invite an experienced angler to tag along with you. Spending time with another fisherman is probably the best way to learn how to fish if you’re a beginner.

Good luck! And report back with how you do!

Basic fishing tips

WARNING : This section is intended to help players that have little or no experience of fishing in real-life, so it’ll probably be boring for the proficient anglers!

Neither! It’s better to consider fish as a worthy adversary. Keep in mind that fish in this game behave and react just like they would in real life, not like mindless clusters of pixels. They have senses, instincts, and even some tricks «up the sleeve». You should think twice before casting just any lure or any bait to any random place in the water if you’re hoping to catch something. In short, you have to think to outsmart the fish and experience the joy of a nice catch.

How to locate the fish

Fish tend to choose their hiding spots based on underwater structures and terrain. Any logs, rocks, any cluster of underwater vegetation, any weed beds or lily pads, any breaks in water bottom «continuity», any transition areas from muddy to sandy/rocky bottom etc. is a place where you’re likely to find some fish. Explore all these places and you will surely find your prey.

Fish senses

In contrast to land, where sight is the dominant sense, things are a bit different when it comes to water. Fish locate their food or prey using a different arsenal of senses, pretty much in this order:

On the other hand, some species have an exacerbated territorial instinct and will attack anything that comes close to their stalking, feeding or nesting places. The most notorious of all are pike, who will attack any fish, small water mammals, frogs or other amphibians, and even other pike.

How does weather affect fish

An important part of maximizing your chances of success is understanding how the weather will affect the fishing conditions, because fish, like many other animals, strongly react to the weather. They are extremely sensitive to passing fronts and pressure changes.

The weather ahead of cold fronts will lead to favorable fishing conditions due to lower pressure. Because fish are so good at sensing pressure changes, they will often increase their activity in the days before a cold front moves in, creating better conditions for fishing.

After the front passes through and for a few days after that, conditions will worsen, however. The high pressure that comes after the cold fronts makes fish become lethargic, meaning they won’t move as far or as near the surface. Fish are less likely to come up and feed as frequently in high pressure as they would when the pressure is lower.

Warm fronts also bring ideal fishing conditions. Lower pressure and weaker winds will attract fish closer to the surface and liven them up for swimming longer distances.

Rain can affect how well the fish bite as well. Fishing during a light rain makes casting lines less noticeable. Insects are also more likely to be out flying near the surface of the water during or immediately after a light rain, which will bring fish closer to the surface and make them more susceptible to being caught. Rain can also cause more organic matter to run into bodies of water and lure fish to the surface to eat.

Before starting a fishing session, have a look at the weather forecast and on chart that «predicts» fishing activity during the day. That chart can show almost any pattern, from «morning/evening» to «all day long»:

How to Fish – Ultimate Guide on Fishing for Beginners

How to Fish – Ultimate Guide on Fishing for Beginners

How to Fish in Freshwater

Learning how to fish is overwhelming. The act of dropping a line is easy, but being a successful angler is hard. That’s why they call it fishing and not catching. The 3 biggest challenges in fishing for beginners are finding fish, tying on the right fishing tackle, and using the best technique to catch fish on that tackle. This guide breaks down all 3 challenges and gives you step by step directions for your first fishing trip. Our team of fishing guides gives you exact recommendation on what to use and how to use it so you start catching fish right away without breaking the bank.

Setting Goals

In the beginning, your goal is to start catching fish in the easiest way possible. There is a lot that goes into learning the basics. Nailing the basics of fishing is best done by catching a smaller species like Panfish near the shore. If you are ready to step your game up with larger species, check out our beginner guides on Bass Fishing and Walleye Fishing.

Find a Place to Fish

Start googling to find a public area that has shore access available for fishing. If the public location has a dock or pier access the better. Start by searching your “county or city” + “public fishing access”. A lot of State DNR websites have “Lake Finders” or other tools to search for public fishing access near your town. While fishing off the beaten path is a scenic ideal, you should focus on finding a location that is convenient. This way you can focus on fishing and avoid complications. Many local parks have stocked ponds and small lakes with convenient public fishing access. Restrooms, short distances, and stocked Panfish make up the ideal location at this point in your journey.

Pick the Right Fishing Rod & Reel

Purchase a Spinning Combo that is close to the specifications below. This Rod & Reel size pairing can be used to target the majority of freshwater fish. It’s large enough to hone in on Largemouth Bass and Walleye once you get your licks in, and will do just fine for catching some Panfish off the dock.

Rod: 6’6″ Length, Medium Power, Fast Action, Line Weight: 6-12 Lbs.

Reel: Size 35, 4-7 Ball Bearings, Line Capacity: 6Lb./230 Yds, 8Lb./185 Yds, 10Lb./150 Yds.

Spool your Reel with Fishing Line

Don’t worry about all the fishing line options out there for these first couple trips. Simply spool your reel with 200 yards of 6lb Monofilament Fishing Line. To spool your reel, run the line through your rod guides and tie a double knot to your spool while the bail is open. Place the spool of line you purchased in the water, or in a pot of water at home, and apply tension with your thumb and index finger while you reel the line on.

Caution on Over Spooling your Reel

Your reel may be able to handle a few more yards than the recommended amount above, but it is important not to over spool. Leave about 1/8 of an inch between your spooled line and the rim of your spool. Fresh monofilament will curl to its original circumference from the spool you purchased, which is typically twice the size of the circumference of your reel’s spool. When you open the bail to cast, the line will pool out to its original shape. Always spool a bit less than full.

Start with 6 Lb. Monofilament

6 Lb. monofilament is the ideal fishing line while you are still learning the basics. It is strong enough to land a Largemouth Bass that may happen to take advantage of your Panfishing presentation, but slender enough to target Panfish. 6 Lb. mono is also easy to tie. Once you get into higher tests or different line types, a secure fishing knot is more challenging. There are some other great line types such as Braid and Flourocarbon. These will be better suited for mastery later in your journey. For your first reel, 6 Lb. mono is the best option for versatility and ease of use.

Basic Fishing Tackle: Hooks, Sinkers and Bobbers

You need hooks, sinkers, and some snap bobbers. Nothing too fancy, just the right collection of bait holder hooks, split shot sinkers and some small snap bobbers. For the first few trips this basic rig will land you some Panfish:

#4 Baitholder Hook + 3/0 Split Shot Sinker + 1″ Snap Bobber = Basic Shoreline Fishing Rig

This simple setup should be be baited with a 1″ piece of worm. Tie your hook by simply double knotting it, you can learn the Clinch Knot later. Double knotting the hook will work fine for the Panfish. Pinch your 3/0 Split Shot sinker about 1 ft. above the hook and snap on your bobber through both loops, about 2-3 ft. above your sinker.

Building your Tackle Box

Our Basic Fishing Tackle Kit is a good option for getting these basics and setting yourself up for the other live bait techniques. If you have a fishing tackle shop nearby you should be able to buy Baitholder Hooks, Split Shot Sinkers, and Snap Bobbers separately.

Tailored Tackle’s Basic Fishing Kit

How to Fish with Bait

Baiting your Hook

For the worm option, use your thumbnail to pinch off a small 1-2″ section of the worm. Pierce one end of the worm and thread it to the barbs on the shank of your #4 Baitholder hook. Pierce the worm piece once more on the other end, securing it to your barb, but covering the point of the hook.

Piece of Nightcrawler, 4-5 Kernels of Corn, 1/4 Slices of Hot Dog on a #4 Baitholder Hook

Getting Bait out For Beginners

If you have access to a dock on this first trip, don’t worry about casting your bait out. Panfish hold closely to the dock and scavenge for anything edible that falls nearby. Simply open your bail and let your rig fall to the water right next to the dock. Try to fish in 4-7 ft. of water, you should be able to see the active Panfish underneath and may not need to use the bobber. Sight fishing is challenging to explain but you will have a natural ability to land fish if they are visible next to the dock.

Casting your Bait Out

If a dock or deeper water is not accessible on your first trip, you will need to learn how to cast. Hold the rod in your throwing hand, with the reel’s shaft in-between your middle and ring finger. Open the bail with your opposite hand while pinching the line between your index finger and the rod handle with the hand gripping the rod. Slowly, direct your rod to the side of your body at a 45 degree. Gradually bring the rod back to center with your body, releasing the finger that’s pinching your line once the momentum of your rod is in front of you.

Here’s a great video on How to Cast from Joshua Taylor @ Salty Scales.

Getting Bait in Front of the Fish

The bait is now out in the water, and all your hard work should start to pay off. If you are using the basic bobber rig, you should see your bobber halfway submerged, with the top half above the water and the bottom half underwater. Make sure your baited hook is at least 1 foot off of the bottom. If your bobber is submerged without a bite, you have added too much weight with your sinker or the bobber is too small.

Fish Bait Near Cover

Try to position your bait near the dock, fallen timber, weedline or a swimming platform. Fish hold to Cover which provides shade and an ambush point. If Cover is not available, just do your best to set the rig 1-2 ft. off the bottom.

How to Tell if You Have a Bite

You will notice that you are getting a bite when your bobber moves up and down, or drives to one side or the other. Let the fish take the bait. Give the bite a 5-10 second count if your bobber is not completely submerged. Small Panfish do not have the strength to completely submerge your bobber. Their mouths are very small, and they suck in and push out food with their gills. You likely have a fish hooked if the bobber moves erratically for over 5 seconds. If you do not give it 5 seconds, you run the risk of pulling the bait out of the fishes mouth while it exhales. The feeling for when to set the hook will develop over time.

Reeling in the Fish

After you have confirmed the 5 second rule, you need to set your hook. Start by slowly reeling in your line until it is taut. Gently lift your rod tip a few inches to connect with the fish and set the hook into its mouth. This is not the Bass Master Classic, do not over do it. You are reeling in a healthy and vibrant Sunfish and you want to keep them healthy and vibrant. Gradually reel the fish in, guiding your rod with the movement of the fish and monitoring your line’s tension. When the fish starts to surface, lift them by your rod above the dock or ground. Be careful not to reel in too much slack or your bobber will get stuck on the top of your rod’s guide. Your line with break and you will lose your catch before properly releasing it.

Keep your Catch Off the Ground

Once your fish is out of the water, try not to contact it with the dock or ground. Keep it propped in the air as you gently place the palm of your hand underneath its belly and wrap your fingers around its body. Panfish spines are sharp, and can poke easily. Be careful to wrap your hands around the belly and hold it in a cradling form with the spine pointed upwards.

Having pliers is a convenient tool for removing the hook and you should buy one. However, I understand that the budget is tight for a first time angler and making another purchase is a tall order. So if you do not have a pair of pliers, the best method to remove a hook from a fish is to rotate the hook so the barb gets close to the surface, then push down on the hook until the barb pops back through where the hook entered. The hook should now be in the fish’s mouth, so gently rotate the hook once more so it clears the entrance of the mouth.

Avoid Filleting Fish for Now

Your newly caught Panfish is fantastic tablefare. Regardless of their size, Panfish like Sunfish, Bluegills, Crappie and Perch taste excellent when deep fried. This is my preference but they are also great on the grill or in a pan. However, keeping fish requires a tedious filet job on some very small slices. I recommend avoiding this intermediate skill during your first few trips. I highly encourage you to release your catch.

Releasing a Fish

Purchase your Fishing License Before you Fish

Gahhh the dreaded paperwork….. So most States require anglers to purchase a fishing license. There are some exceptions for children in a certain age range. This is a cost that you cannot avoid, even if you plan on going out just a trip or two. The fines and penalties for fishing without a license are typically harsh and can result in the confiscation of all your recently purchased gear. Also from an insider’s viewpoint, this is not one of those things the experienced participants skimp on.

Google your States DNR to Print your License

All seasoned anglers buy their fishing licenses annually and are very diligent with the process. The proceeds go to stocking public bodies of water and managing the ecosystems we share. Buying your license is one of those things that everyone does and is expected of doing so. You will not be in the know if you avoid this as you are technically a poacher when fishing without a license. Google your State’s fishing license requirements and purchase what is necessary ahead of time, most States will enable you to buy yours online and print a temporary license the same day.

My Favorite Fishing for Beginners Tip

The greatest fishing tip I can give is to fish with friends. Whether that’s with your family or a friend from work, you will learn how to fish quicker and catch more fish. Regardless your friend’s experience, you will either improve your skills through teaching, or you will learn a thing or two as they show you up. I was skeptical of this maxim when I heard it over a beer in an ice fishing shack on Leech Lake. The old timer who shared it convinced me otherwise, stating “it’s simple math, at the very least you have 2x the chance of catching something now that your buddy has a line in the water.” I recommend this glass half full approach to fishing.

About Ed Hitchcock

Ed is a passionate fishing educator and owner of Tailored Tackle. He loves to talk tackle and help folks learn to fish for the first time or for a new species. Ed loves to fish the Pacific Northwest with his wife Sydney and our office manager Walter (golden retreiver). Walt really runs the show.

Fishing 101: Basics For Beginners Complete Guide

If you’re debating whether or not to jump into the sport of fishing, you have come to the right place. Here are going to cover fishing 101, which is a complete guide on fishing for beginners.

Here’s the thing:

We could write thousands of pages on the subject of fishing, and that wouldn’t even put a dent into the amount of information that is available regarding the sport.

I know what you’re thinking.

It can be daunting for someone looking to start fishing with no prior experience. Guess what? I wrote this article with you in mind.

We will cover the basics of what fishing is, the gear needed, and some tips to get you out on the water catching fish as quickly as possible.

​Once you get the hang of fishing, you can move on to even more challenging fish. Check out our Trout guide here.

Disclosure: S ome of the links in this article are affiliate links, where I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Fishing 101

Before we dive into the topic, let’s cover fishing basics. Fishing for beginners is all about learning the fundamentals, and then getting out and doing it.

Fishing is the process of presenting bait, live or artificial, to fish and attempting to goad the fish into taking the bait.

We use a hook that is set by the angler, which allows us to take the fish out of the water.

The amount of game fish is incredible, and you have a lot of choices as to methods to catch them.

In our fishing tips section, we address some of the better species of fish that beginners should go after to get their feet wet.

Depending on the species of fish, the tackle and the tactics needed to catch them can change pretty drastically.

You will find the most hardcore anglers with dozens of different rod and reel combinations that they use for specific types of fish or even the same species at different times of the year!

Don’t worry about all of those decisions, though. You might think that you need a fishing for dummies guide, but that’s simply not you because you are here studying. That’s an awesome thing, and we definitely have tons of great info for you.

As you gain experience, you will figure out what type of fishing you enjoy and can start digging deeper into specific fishing strategies and philosophies.

Basic Fishing Gear

To get yourself onto the water and catching fish there are pieces of equipment that are necessary and others that will just make life easier.

Fishing equipment can range from very affordable to very high-end products, and you often get what you pay for.

Depending on the fish species and type of fishing, the gear can vary.

In this section, we are going to provide several different models of each piece of gear that are capable of fishing for the widest range of fish species possible.

We want you to be able to catch a lot of different fish and decide for yourself what you enjoy the most.

From there, you can start to customize and specialize your fishing gear set. Let’s first take a look at the essential pieces.

Rods can vary in length from 5 to 15 feet. Rods usually come labeled by the type of action and power they have.

The action is simply where the rod flexes while power refers to the amount of pressure it takes to bend the rod.

These two characteristics play off of each other and result in some rods that are very sensitive and others that can better handle large, powerful fish.

Most of the time, rod manufacturers make it easier and just use the terms ultra-light to heavy to indicate what size of fish they are built for.

This is all you need to know for the beginner angler.

The two options that are great beginner rods that can handle lots of different fish species while not breaking the bank are the Shakespeare Ugly Stix GX2 and the St. Croix Triumph.

Reels

Your reel, along with your rod, will allow you to cast your lure or bait. The reel is also responsible for retrieving your line and lure.

Hopefully, with a fish on the end of it. There are three general types of reels available for purchase that will suit a beginner angler.

Spincast Reel (Closed Face)

For someone who has never been fishing before, these are good reels to learn to cast.

They have a button release system and are forgiving. That means you won’t be making a bird’s nest of tangles with your line.

The retrieval speeds are pretty slow for these rods, so they are not the best for aggressive game fish.

The best spincast reel that you can get is the Zebco Omega ZO3Pro.

Spinning Reel (Open Face)

This type of reel is cast using a simple flip bail to release the line from the spool. Once cast, the bail can be closed, locking the line and can then be retrieved.

These reels offer a little more casting distance and can handle a wider array of lures than a spin-caster.

They do require more practice to become proficient on compared to a spin-caster.

The best spinning reel under 100 is the Pflueger President.

Baitcasting Reel

We list this type of reel to be thorough, but this is not the best reel for beginner anglers.

These reels are great once you get the hang of casting and can throw medium to heavy lures at far distances. These reels are definitely the most popular reels for hardcore bass fisherman.

Your fishing line is the link between you and the fish. When picking out the line, you need to have a rough idea about the size of fish you are going to be catching.

This is because line comes in different pound tests that can withstand a certain amount of pressure exerted on it before breaking. If you are not sure, 10-15 pound test will cover most fish without sacrificing line sensitivity.

There are three main types of fishing line that are available.

Monofilament

As the name implies, this type of line is made from a single strand of material.

Monofilament is good for beginners because of the low cost, compared to other lines. It is also more forgiving.

What we mean by this is that monofilament is able to stretch. If you handle a big fish incorrectly or snag it against a log along the lake bed you are less likely to break the line.

For a beginner, we would recommend sticking with monofilament. It’s pretty durable and is the cheapest of the three types of line.

Unless you get into some more technical fishing, the other two can wait.

Fluorocarbon

Fluorocarbon is generally used as a leader.

This means that only a few feet of the line is used and is attached to the end of monofilament or some other type of line.

Fluoro is great when fishing crystal clear water or line-weary fish as it is nearly invisible underwater.

It is also good if you need a very sensitive line to feel and manipulate your lure’s movements or feel structures beneath the water.

This type of line can be pretty expensive and is the hardest line to manage on the list.

Braided

Braided line is made from several strands of material that are woven together.

This is a super strong line with a small diameter that gives you some excellent sensitivity.

If you are fishing around a lot of submerged structures or weed beds, braided line is optimal.

One drawback is that this line is highly visible and should not be used for line wary fish. Otherwise, it’s great stuff.

Hooks

Hooks come in a huge selection of sizes, and the size of the hook depends on the size of fish you are planning on catching.

If you are looking to catch some panfish such as bluegill, and you have huge hooks, the fish are not going to be able to get their mouths around it.

This is obviously what you are using to entice the fish and hook them securely enough to reel them in.

Natural bait is a very popular method of enticing fish. Obviously, the real deal is going to be more efficient at tricking fish into biting the end of your line.

When deciding on a live bait, go with something the fish you are trying to catch would normally eat.

On lakes or rivers, this might be worms, minnows, or crickets. While fishing off the coast might be shrimp or small crabs.

Lures

The sheer number of artificial lures that are available is staggering and sometimes difficult to sort out the good from the useless.

That skill just comes with your experiences on the water.

Some lures are designed to imitate a source of food particular fish species normally eat. While others don’t resemble anything in particular, but look like something that the fish would want to chow down.

Lures can be very versatile. Specific lures are designed to be retrieved at different depths in the water or sit on the surface.

They are also designed to make specific motions to entice fish.

Going into detail on the various lures is beyond the scope of this article, but local fishing shops and fisherman are a good source to point you in the direction of the lures you will need.

Some of the more popular types of lures include poppers, spinners, spoons, crankbaits, and soft jigs.

There are probably a few dozen more we could rattle off. What’s important is that you understand there are options.

Each option has the place and time it should and shouldn’t be used.

Now that we have the essential gear down, let’s look at several other pieces of equipment that, while not needed to catch fish, can make fishing a lot easier.

Tackle Bag Or Box

This is a great piece of gear to keep all of your hooks, lures, line, and sinkers organized and in a central location.

There are several options that provide durability and years of fishing use.

The two items we have listed are high-quality tackle storage systems that will be able to store most, if not all, of the gear you might need out on the water.

Fishing Pliers

A good pair of needle nose pliers will make removing hooks and lures from fish much quicker and simpler.

It will also limit the amount of time fish are out of the water. If you plan on catching and releasing the fish, this is important.

Pliers designed specifically for fishing, such as our listed item, are multifunctional tools.

For a lot of fishing in smaller bodies of water, a net might not be necessary.

However, when you land a wall hanger, a net can be an invaluable tool to have on hand.

Nets come in a variety of sizes, and you should select your net based on the size of fish you think you will most likely be catching.

With these items, you have an excellent fishing starter kit that will allow you go out to any body of water and start catching fish. You can even put together a mini kit for survival situations.

Now that you have your gear in order, it’s time to start thinking about catching fish.

How To Start Fishing

Get Legal

Before you head out to the lake or river, you need to be sure you are legal to fish. Individual states require a general fishing license and specialized stamps for some types of fish.

There are quite a few other regulations that you need to be aware of when fishing such as:

Practice

This isn’t just advice for beginner fisherman; it is equally true for anyone who wants to log some time on the water.

Trying to learn to cast while also trying to catch fish will end in frustration and disappointment.

By spending a few hours in the yard casting to a tire or some other target, you will get more familiar with your gear and be more confident once you are casting to the real thing.

Casting is not the only thing you should be practicing. Fishing requires a lot of knot tying.

Knots

From attaching the line to your reel, attaching leaders, or tying on lures and hooks to your line, tying knots is a fundamental part of fishing.

Being able to tie strong knots, and doing it quickly, saves you a lot of time messing with gear and gives you more time catching fish.

Some of the more common knots that are used in fishing are:

Find Water

After you have your gear and license and spent some time practicing your cast, the next step is to find some water that holds fish.

Lakes, farm ponds, tail waters, mountain streams, and coastal waters all hold fish worthy of chasing and catching.

Most bodies of waters in the United States have public access points, so gaining access should not be much of a problem.

Asking for permission from landowners that border water can also lead to unique and often less fished areas.

Fishing Tips For Beginners

What To Fish?

A question that gets asked by a lot of novice anglers is: what is the best fish for beginners? Honestly, a beginner angler can handle most fish.

I think what the real question is what type of fish is the less technical.

It’s not that there are fish you just can’t catch, but some fish require a little more expertise to catch consistently, and some require a lot more specialized gear to do so.

For a brand new angler looking to land some fish, here are the best fish for beginners:

Regardless of where you are in the US, there is going to be water around you that holds these best starter fish in abundance.

They usually do not have any fishing season, and with the type of gear we listed, you can catch all of them.

Once you know what type of fish you want to catch, you should seek out local bait and tackle shops in the area and pick their brains.

Local knowledge is unbeatable regarding insights on where the fish are, when they are feeding, and what they are feeding on.

Where Are The Fish?

When on the water, there are certain natural structures you should fish around.

These structures offer some protection and cover for the fish and are also areas where their natural prey localize.

When fishing a lake, whether on the bank or in a boat, look for overhanging trees and drowned logs.

Other great alternatives are boulder formations, steep drop offs, and weed beds. These are always hot spots for fish!

In rivers or other bodies of water with fast moving current, it is important to look for respites from the current. This includes large boulders or logs that will break the current.

Also look for seams in the current. This means areas where a slower current is next to a faster current. Fish like to feed in these areas and casting along these seams will land you more fish.

Where faster moving water turns into slower, deeper pools are also great places to look for fish, especially up along the banks of the pool.

What Time To Fish?

The best time to be on the water depends on the season and subsequent water temperature.

The water temperature has a huge impact on fish metabolism. In the warmer months, the highest fish activity is during the early morning and evening hours.

Night fishing is also a common trend during these months as the water cools to a more comfortable level for the fish.

It is possible to catch fish through all hours of the day, but keying in on when the fish are most active will result in more fish caught.

During colder weather when the water temperature begins to drop below 40° F, waiting until midday offers the most fish activity.

More shallow flats are also a good place to fish during this time.

Mud bottoms of lakes also retain a lot more heat so getting a lure down to those depths can give you a better chance of hooking a fish.

What Lure To Use?

Picking what lure you will use depends on how the fish are behaving as well as a lot of other environmental factors.

We mentioned in the last tip that water temperature could affect where the fish are.

This, in turn, will affect what type of lure to use as well or how much weight to put on with your live bait to get it to the correct depth.

With artificial lures, there can be a lot of tying them on and off until you find the lure that the fish are willing to bite.

A way to minimize this time is to nail down what exactly the fish are eating and where in the water column the feeding is happening.

This is where local knowledge can be invaluable.

If you know these factors, you can pick a lure that imitates the prey and can be fished at the proper depth.

That way you will spend a lot more time reeling in fish instead of digging through your tackle bag.

How Long To Fish?

It’s easy to find a good spot on the water and want to camp out there for a few hours.

This is completely fine if you just want to throw some live bait and relax with friends and family.

If you are serious about catching fish, you need to maximize the amount of water you cover.

This includes different areas as well as different depths in the water. That doesn’t mean one cast and move on, but you shouldn’t be casting to the same spot for ten minutes.

The more areas you fish, the more chances of getting on some willing takers.

Ending Thoughts

Watching videos online or outdoor fishing shows is not a realistic expectation to have when starting out fishing.

Fishing can become frustrating at times, especially when the fish are not cooperating. Beginner fishing can be hard to get into initially, but if you give it time, its very rewarding and fun!

It’s important to remember that this is the case for even the most seasoned fisherman. Remember that persistence is the key.

There is always a lot to improve on regarding your fishing techniques. Work on some specialized casts and play around with lure types and retrieval speeds.

Hopefully, as you go along this journey, you will realize that fishing is an extremely enjoyable sport.

There is never an end to learning about fishing, even for those with years of experience. Each trip on the water can teach us something new.

We have covered the fishing basics, basic fishing gear, and how to start fishing and hope that this provides clear instructions and tips to get you fishing and catching consistently.

How to Cook Fish

Fish is finding its way onto more tables than ever before. Everywhere you look, people are singing the praises of seafood. It cooks quickly and is very versatile, not to mention delicious and nutritious. Nowadays, nearly everybody recognizes that fish are a good source of protein and rich in healthy oils. Despite this growing popularity and glowing press reviews, most fish is still eaten out. Many cooks are simply reluctant to try cooking fish at home, and they are unsure about how to buy the right type and handle it properly. This article will give you the facts, and the confidence, you need to start making fish a more regular part of your
home cooking repertoire.

There are so many ways to prepare fish and so many different varieties that you could probably eat a different fish dish every day of the year and not even make a dent. Traditional preparations
are always popular, but with growing interest in global cuisines, more ethnic fish recipes are entering the mainstream. Surprisingly, few of them are complicated or difficult.

It’s important not to overcook fish, as this makes the meat tough and destroys flavor. Fish is done cooking when the flesh turns opaque and begins to flake easily when tested with a fork. Cooking times vary with each fish and cut. The following are typical cooking times:

If you simply master a few basic preparation steps and easy cooking techniques, you can cook just about any fish recipe on the planet. Before you delve into each technique, however, take a look at the chart on the next page that provides some helpful information on all types of fish.

Fish Cooking Chart

One of the factors that potential cooks find so intimidating about buying fish is the sheer number of varieties available. To help you manage the options and narrow your selection, we’ve provided you with this handy chart:

Now that you have all of this great information at your fingertips, it’s time to learn about going out and purchasing fish for your next meal. Find tips in the next section.

How to Buy Fish

The first step in becoming a seafood aficionado is buying the right type of fish for your recipe. The seafood counter at your local supermarket can be a little intimidating, but here is a quick guide for choosing the perfect fish.

There are literally hundreds of species of fish readily available today. From this vast variety there are bound to be types sure to please any taste.

The type of fish is an important factor when it comes time for preparation and cooking. For
easy reference to types of fish, their availability, and preferred cooking methods, we’ve created a handy Fish Cooking Chart for your reference. Due to the wide variety of fish, this chart only covers the fish that are readily available at supermarkets and retail fish markets.

Whole fish of both types are sold with the head, tail, fins, and scales intact and must be gutted and scaled before cooking. Dressed fish are gutted and scaled with the head, tails, and fins intact. Pan-dressed fish are dressed and have the head and tail cut off so that the fish fits into a skillet. If fresh whole fish is readily available, you not only benefit economically but also receive the highest quality in freshness and taste. The skin acts as a protective covering and keeps the fish more flavorful and juicy.

Whole fish is usually the cheapest, freshest fish you can buy, but it
also requires a great deal of preparation.

Fillets are boneless pieces or sections of any kind of fish; they may or may not be skinless.

Fillets come deboned and are ready to cook.

Steaks are the cross sections from large round fish; they vary from 3/4 to 1 inch in thickness. Steaks contain part of the backbone and often the outside edge is covered with skin.

Steaks are a cross-section or slice of a large round fish.

Purchasing Fish

It is important to know what to look for when purchasing fresh fish. One can find fresh fish at most large supermarkets or at a retail fish market. An independent retail fish market usually buys its fish on a daily basis, whereas chain stores order in large quantities and usually do not receive daily shipments.

When buying whole fish, first look at the eyes. A fresh fish has bright, clear, and protruding eyes rather than dull, hazy, sunken ones. The skin should be moist and shiny, the gills red or pink, and the flesh firm and elastic. The odor is also a sure sign of freshness. A fresh fish has a fresh, slightly oceanlike, mild odor. If there is a distinct fishy, sour smell, do not buy it.

When purchasing fillets and steaks, look for cuts with moist flesh that is free from discoloration
and skin that is shiny and resilient. Again, if the fillet or steak has an off odor, do not buy it.

When purchasing frozen fish, the package
should still have its original shape with the wrapper intact. There should be no ice crystals, visible blood, or discoloration on the skin and flesh. Select frozen fish packages from below the load line of the freezer case and do not allow them to thaw on the way home from the store.

When storing fish, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. If possible, set the package on ice and store in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Be sure melting ice drains away from the fish. If the flesh comes in contact with moisture, it may become discolored and dried out. Fresh fish should be used within 1 to 2 days.

To freeze fish, wrap it tightly with freezer paper or heavy-duty plastic wrap, or place in a freezer-weight plastic storage bag. Label the package with the type, cut, and weight of the fish and the date. Freeze lean fish up to 6 months and fatty fish up to 3 months. To maintain the texture and quality during thawing, place the package in a dish and thaw the fish overnight in the refrigerator. Drain the fish and pat it dry with paper towels before using.

Now that you have selected the right fish, it’s time to start cooking. In the next section, we will show you how to fillet your fish.

In most modern markets, you can get the fish department to prepare the fish just about any way you want it. But you should still know the basic techniques for filleting and skinning a whole fish, just in case you have the need.

Traditionally, fish are classified as either a round fish or a flat fish. Round fish, those with rounder, larger bellies and an eye on each side of their heads, have a backbone along their upper bodies, with a fillet located on each side. Round fish include cod, trout, bass, snapper, salmon, pike, haddock, hake, and whiting.

A flat fish has an oval-shaped, flat, and narrow body. As a flat fish matures, its swimming style becomes horizontal rather than vertical and its eyes move to one side of the head. Flat fish include sole, flounder, and halibut.

Filleting a fish begins with a long incision down the fish’s backbone. Carefully cut away the skin using a sawing motion. Once you’ve got the filleting technique down, you’re ready to start cookin’! See the next section for tips on pan frying fish. Источники информации: http://wiki.fishingplanet.com/Basic_fishing_tips http://tailoredtackle.com/how-to-fish-fishing-for-beginners/ http://www.trekwarrior.com/fishing-101-basics-for-beginners/ http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/how-to-cook-fish.htm ← How to basic face How to basic reverse → Вам также понравится Красное вино с чесноком для чего рецепт 22.01.202308.03.2023 admin 0 Кости яблока чем полезны 21.01.202307.03.2023 admin 0 Как понять что у грудничка кривошея симптомы 21.01.202321.02.2023 admin 0 Добавить комментарий Отменить ответ Ваш адрес email не будет опубликован. Обязательные поля помечены * Комментарий * Имя * Email * Сохранить моё имя, email и адрес сайта в этом браузере для последующих моих комментариев.