This guide covers the gear you need, the basics of casting and rigging, and how to take your first trip.
Fishing combines casting, rigging, patience, and time outdoors. People take it up as a hobby, a job, a solo retreat, or a trip with family and friends.
Benefits of Fishing
People start fishing for reasons that include:
- Stress Relief
- Health Benefits
- Recreation
- Social Bonding
- Fishing for Food
- Boost the Economy
- Self Fulfillment
Fishing Requirements/Gear
1. Fishing Rod & Reel: To attach the rod to the reel.
2. Fishing Line: To attach the fishing line to the reel, rod, hook, sinker, etc..
3. Hooks: To attach bait to it so when fish attempt to eat the bait, the hook gets the fish's mouth.
4. Bait: To attract fish into eating your bait and fall for the hook.
5. Bobbers: To indicate if a fish has taken your bait.
6. Sinkers: Weight used in conjunction with a hook to increase its rate of sink and/or casting distance.
7. Swivels: Allows the line to untwist during line retrieval, preventing undesirable tangling.
8. Fishing Cooler: A way to keep the fish you catch fresh (you can get a bucket with ice instead).
What to buy/get: fishing license, a fishing rod and reel, 4- to 12- pound-test monofilament fishing line, a package of fishing weights, fish hooks number 6–10 size, a plastic or cork bobber, and a selection of live bait or fishing lures.
Attract Fish To Your Bait
1. Attach bits of bread, chicken, fish, corn, cheese, hot dogs, or raw bacon to your hook.
2. Make a lure using smelly food.
3. Fish with turkey livers.
4. Use bright colors to attract fish (you need something smelly as well).
Fishing Climate/Environment
Time and location affect your chances of catching fish. Fish often feed more actively in the early morning and late evening, so those periods can be useful starting points.
Best Weather for fishing: Cloudy Days – Light Rain
Best Temperature for fishing: 70 to 73 °F (21 to 22 °C)
Best Season for fishing: Summer – Spring
Best Time for fishing: Early morning – Late evening
Best Water for fishing:Saltwater – Freshwater (saltwater is better)
Tips
- Fillet your fish after you catch them: If you don't fillet your fish: first, it's a horrible thing to do; second, it will ruin the quality of the fish's meat; the meat will taste quite bad.
- Practice casting your rod: Practice casting, keep your bait secure, and build skill through regular trips.
- Tackle box, simple gear: Get a tackle box to store your fishing gear. And remember to keep your fishing gear simple.
Warnings
- Don't mess with large fish: By "don't mess" I don't mean that you should not catch large fish; I'm saying that it can be quite dangerous to mess with some large fish species after you catch them if you're not that good at dealing with large fish.
- Get a fishing license: Fishing can be illegal and dangerous. You don't want to get arrested, and, yes, some people do get arrested because of illegal fishing. Make sure you know the species that you are not allowed to keep (or at least ask an authority if a rare fish you caught is allowed to keep or not).
Summary
Fishing takes practice and patience. Like most things in life, you'll become better at it with time and through practice.