Millions of people enjoy fishing every year. It’s the perfect way to spend time outdoors appreciating nature. Plan to visit your local sporting goods or fishing tackle store before your fishing trip to get everything you need. To help you get started, here’s a beginner’s guide to fishing.
What You’ll Need
Before heading out to your local waterway, be sure to obtain a state fishing license. Purchase, or borrow, a fishing rod and a reel. You’ll need fishing line as well as weights, hooks, sinkers, a bobber, a knife, pliers and live bait or fishing lures. You’ll also need a cooler to store the fish that you catch.
Where to Go
Check your area for fishing spots. If you live on the coast, then saltwater fishing is readily available, but ask around for popular sites. These areas likely contain a good amount of fish. If you live in a landlocked area, then stop in at your local fishing shop for advice on where to go. They can probably direct you to a nearby creek or lake. You may want to rent a small boat with a trolling motor. As you become more comfortable with the sport, you’ll start to appreciate the quiet time that you spend out on the lake at dawn. The best time to fish is at dawn or dusk because this is when fish generally eat.
Getting a Rod and Reel
For a first fishing trip, get a medium length rod, one that’s flexible. While there are a lot of rods on the market, you don’t need to worry about rod nuances until you’ve decided that you want to invest a good amount of your time fishing. If you’re buying a rod, then purchase one that comes with a reel and a small tackle box.
Ready the Bait
With bait, the options include live, dead and fake. If you feel squeamish about bait, start with fake before moving onto dead or live. However, live and dead bait usually attract more fish. If you intend to use live bait, then be prepared to keep it alive for a bit. Because of this, you’ll need some type of storage for them in addition to a water cycling system to keep air pumping into the water. If you’re fishing on a creek or a lake using worms for bait, then you’ll need a storage container with dirt. Bait shops often sell them in small foam dirt-filled containers, but be sure to check before the day of your fishing trip.
Prepare Your Tackle
Get your line ready with your bait, a sinker and a bobber. A sinker will give your fishing line more inertia in the water, preventing your hook and bait from just hanging out on the surface where the fish won’t see it. The bobber will let you see your line and when you get a bite. You’ll also need to bait the hook. When doing so, make sure that it’s secure.
Casting Out
Cast out from the boat or the shore, sending your fishing line and gear into the water. Once it’s there, prepare yourself to wait. While thrilling, catching your first fish may take time. With patience and the right line setup, it’s sure to happen.
Author Bio: Paige Jirsa
I work with Top10.Today, a shopping comparison site, where we strive to help consumers find the best quality and priced products.