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Choosing the best fishing rod, spincast reel, fishing tackle, and bait will equip beginning anglers for success.
Fishing is a popular sport that nearly everyone can enjoy. Getting started with fishing requires only a few pieces of basic equipment and a little know-how. Fishing Rods and Reels The beginner angler can catch fish with low-cost equipment. The fishing rod should have a comfortable grip and feel well-balanced. The guides, circles of metal that hold the fishing line in place along the length of the rod, should be firmly attached in a straight line. Proper alignment can be determined by holding the rod up and sighting through the guides. The beginner will have success with a spincast reel. This type of reel has a push-button casting mechanism and fixed spool that eliminates the possibility of backlash, or tangling of the line on the reel caused by improper casting. A good rod and spincast reel are basic elements in any angler’s tackle collection. Spincast reels are available already filled with line. A medium weight monofilament, about 10 lb. test, will meet the needs of the novice angler. Catching Fish with Live BaitPopular live baits include red worms, night crawlers, crickets, mealworms, and minnows. Live bait is sold at bait stores, gas stations and convenience stores in the vicinity of lakes and rivers where fishing is allowed. The angler can gather worms before the fishing trip, and mealworms are easy to raise. Wild minnows are captured through a process called seining, which requires additional skill, making it more practical for the beginner to purchase this type of bait. Live, excess minnows should not be released into the water, as these may include non-native fish that can harm the ecosystem by competing with native species. Baiting the HookAlong with the rod and reel, tackle includes hooks, bobbers, and sinkers. The hook should be large enough to hold the bait and hook the mouth of the fish, but not so large that it overwhelms the size of the bait. In hook sizes, the larger the number, the smaller the hook. A worm or mealworm should be threaded onto the hook, with the point hidden inside the bait. The hook should be pushed through the thorax, or middle section, of a cricket, with the point protruding. The hook should be pushed through the head of a minnow, with the point protruding. This will not kill the bait immediately, allowing it to attract fish with its movement as well as its scent. More TackleThe bobber is a small, brightly-colored plastic float that is attached to the line. The bobber will alert the angler when a fish takes the bait. Sinkers are small, metal weights that are attached to the line above the hook. Sinkers weight the bait so that it sinks to the desired depth, usually just above the bottom or suspended in a bed of water plants. Fishing TechniqueThe angler should select a spot that allows safe access to the water. Fish feed most actively early in the morning and in the evening. A quiet approach increases the chances of success. Submerged trees or underwater plants are likely places to catch fish. After casting the bait into the water, the angler must wait quietly. There will be some bobber movement, but this does not mean a fish is hooked. The hooked fish will jerk the bobber under the water. When this happens, the angler should pull up sharply on the line, pointing the rod tip up and maintaining a taut line while reeling in the fish. Success!
The copyright of the article Learn How to Catch Fish in Freshwater Fishing is owned by Brenda Layman. Permission to republish Learn How to Catch Fish in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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