How To Get Started Fishing | Ultimate Guide For Beginners

Has it ever occurred to you why millions of people around the world go fishing so often? Why do so many people spend hours out there to get a fish? Whereas sometimes there is a possibility that they might end up catching nothing. I mean it can’t be just about catching a fish. You can go to any market and get whatever fish you like in an instant. So what makes it so special? Well, fishing is a sport that you can do at any age whether you’re an adult or a child. It’s more than just catching a fish though, it’s about having a good time with your friends and family.

Fishing may seem a bit complicated at first but there’s no reason to be overwhelmed. You need to learn to fish in the easiest way possible. Here is some basic stuff that will put you on the right track.

How To Get Started Fishing?

License

First thing first, a fishing license. No matter which state you are in, you need to have a permit for fishing. But there is no reason to get worried because it’s very easy and inexpensive to get a license for fishing. You can get your license online or from your favorite fishing shop. Each state has different pricing but a day license will approximately cost around $15 to $30. For a non-resident, the cost would be a bit higher.

In my opinion, you should always go for an annual license. You can go fishing at any time of the year. Moreover, you don’t have to go through the hassle of getting a license every time you want to go fishing. Besides, an annual license will not cost you more than $150.

Perfect Fishing Spot

When you are new to this, a local lake or pond could be the safest option to look for, see which ones are on public land. You can use google maps or several apps to help you find your perfect spot for fishing. 

In the lake, you may find species like bluegill, panfish, and crappie. Whereas the river is fished for trout species, salmon, and others. Make sure to abide by all the rules and regulations of the fishing spot. So you don’t have to face any problems with the authorities.

Spinning Rod And Reel Combo

There are so many fishing gears available that will make your fishing experience easier. But let’s start with the most basic yet essential one, the spinning rod, and reel combo. With this combo you don’t have to buy rods and reels separately thus it’s easy to set up. 

This gear is suitable for both bait and lures fishing and it’s helpful to prey and hooks the fish efficiently. Make sure to choose a fishing rod that you’re comfortable holding. Luckily most reels have swappable reel handles.

Bait And Lures

Get ready for your next step which is baiting and luring. There are so many baits and lures to choose from but for starters, you should go for live bait like worms. If not, then there are other baits you can use like scented substances or PowerBait.

After getting familiar with baits you can try lures which is another great option. It’s a small baitfish that catches the fish’s attention even more. You can use bobbers which are like small balls that go down as soon as any fish touches the lures, thus you can get a heads up.

Build A Tackle Box

If you have just started fishing then a tackle box would help you a lot. All your fishing gear will be organized. It depends on what you wanna carry in your tackle bag. There are no rules but there are some basic things that your tackle bag should have. 

Some live bait, lures, bobbers, extra fishing lines, different sizes of hooks, needle nose pliers to get the lure out from the fish’s mouth, sinkers to attach some extra weight to the hooks and worm, a first aid kit, sunscreen. 

Casting

With this skill, you can throw your bait close to where the fishes are. Even the most experienced anglers face problems with casting. Let’s see how it’s done more simplistically.

For starters, you can manually turn the bell, and make sure it’s going up. You can hold the rod and reel the way you feel most comfortable. To get this thing ready for casting, barely lay the line on your index finger. Engage the bill with your other hand. Surprisingly many experienced anglers make the mistake of grabbing the whole line. Which makes the bait, not land where it’s supposed to.

You need to locate your target and there are a few ways you can do that. The three primary ways are overhand cast, roll cast, and side cast. Now load the rod back and cast toward your target. After that flip back your bail and start reeling once your bait touches the water.

Hooking A Fish

In general, terms, hooking a fish means securing the hook on a fish’s mouth. One of the most essential and difficult parts of setting the hook is timing and what kind of hooks you’re using. Setting the hook too early makes the bait jolt and makes the lure away from the bait. On the other hand, when you set the hook too late the fish spits or swallows the hook. For beginners, bobbers can help in these situations. As soon as the bobber sinks, position your rod tip up and pull it with a little bit of pressure.

While using a ‘j’ hook, when it’s inside the fish’s mouth you have to shake the line and pull it hard. But with circle hooks it’s different. You need to let your rod tip bend way over and then pull it hard. But how much force you give depends on many factors. Like the size and sharpness of the hook, length of the rod, size of the fish, and many more.

Landing Your First Fish

After hooking the fish when it’s closer to the shore that’s when a rubber net becomes helpful. If the fish is not that far away you can grab it but it’s not ideal as the fish could be slippery.

After catching a fish you need to decide if you wanna release the fish or keep it in a freezer. In case of catch and release you don’t wanna keep it away from water that much longer.

Tying Knots

There are several skills you need to learn or master. But for beginners learning the common fishing knots will be helpful. Clinch knot is used very often. It’s simple, take the line through the eye of the hook, and twist it around in standing five times. Come through the original eye of the hook, and tighten it.

Another is a Palomar knot. For this, you double the line over and fit it through the hook. Then make a basic knot but don’t tighten it all the way. Because you have to put the hook through the loop of the tag that you have on the left side. Lastly, tighten everything down.

Etiquette

Fishing is a great fun activity but there is some basic etiquette that you should have. Always be respectful towards other anglers and the environment. If the place is packed try to be a bit more considerate toward other anglers.

Conclusion

Although fishing is a beginner-friendly activity, you may not master it overnight. But when you’ll land your first fish, it’s gonna be a rewarding feeling. Like any other outdoor activity, you need to be persistent in perfecting your fishing skills. 

It’s a great way to release your stress and spend some quality time with your loved ones. We hope the basics mentioned in this content will get you started on the right foot.