where to start with fisihng?

[Tom Thumb]

want to learn to fish for some tasty fish, freshwater as I don't live on the coast.

what basic equipment, what type of rod etc do I need to get started and are there any kits to get you started? and would I be able to use the same gear if I took a trip to the seaside?

[Mainer in Exile]

To get started, I'd get a basic 12' rod of about 1 1/2 lb test curve with a matching reel and a main line of about 6lb breaking strength. Get some good quality hooks - I like the Specimen hooks from Drennan, floats, and leads. Use 4lb breaking strength line as a hook length for freshwater, and some 2lb breaking strength for days when the fish are being finicky.

This would be a good, basic set-up to get started in freshwater, and is usable for light saltwater fishing as well.

http://www.fishingmagic.com/ has a series of articles posted for beginners.

[romany123]

Interesting thread
perhaps somebody can help me out. As a sailing man I spent most of my weekends on the boat which is moored it in an estuary. I am sure that there must be sea bass lurking about on the bottom. How do I catch them? I don't particularly want to use live bait.
I have had a fair bit of luck with mackerel while sailing out at sea, but then again they must be the easiest fish in the world to catch
I am really just a chuck it over the side and hope merchant, so the Kiss approach would be mt preferred method

Dave

[Mainer in Exile]

Catch sea bass pretty much the same way as mackeral, just use a bigger lure. I've never actually fished for the European sea bass, but they are related to, and have similar habits to the striped bass I fished for back in the homeland. We catch them on medium sized spoons, wobblers, and surface lures. Which to use depends on weather conditions - the warmer it is, the closer to the surface you fish and the quicker you retrieve the lure. In other words, a heavy spoon near the bottom in cold weather, a surface popper in warm weather.

[romany123]

Brilliant

Thanks for that I will give it a go

Dave

[Badger Bob]

For freshwater fish please check with the fishery what you are allowed to take. There has been a spate of eastern europeans taking carp that they regard as fair game but the fishery owner has paid several hundred pounds in order to have swim about tempting foolish anglers. Trout fisheries generally stock fish specifically for taking and some coarse fisheries will allow pike to be taken but generally not other species (roach, perch, bream tench etc.). The rising level of fear surrounding fish theft has led to a zero tolerance approach in many areas so better to be safe than sorry.

[MikeM]

as bob said, in general you are not allowed to take fish without the landowners or angling rights holders permission.
If it's a suitable isolated location you may get away with it, if it's an angling club or the like you may well have several very upset anglers on your case.

[oldfella]

To start Fishing

1 Dig worm up and impale on hook.

( Thats it I give up not only do they stick a hook through you they then dangle you in the water till you drown. AND not only that you have to buy a licence to do it.

[Tom Thumb]

Thanks for all the tips. will hopefully be getting a rod this weekend.

I am wary of taking anything that I'm not supposed to. One of the places near me you can get a season pass for £35 to fish and can get things like Zander. am I right in saying thats one of the things people are glad to get rid of? but can also be tasty in the right recipie?

[Mainer in Exile]

On zander: a very good fish to eat, one of the best in freshwater: in my opinion they are, along with perch, the best eating of all freshwater fish. They are highly prized here in Germany, but, from what I've heard, considered a pest in some waters in England. They are not native to England. There are anglers in England whose idea of fun is to catch as heavy a bag of fish as they possibly can, keep them in a net until they are done fishing, then return them to the water. The zander eats the fish these anglers are after, reducing their sport - therefore they see the zander as a pest.

To catch zander, you'll need to use fish as bait, or artificial lures. They can be caught with small to medium wobblers, spoons, spinners, or, best of all, soft plastic lures. Look for them on the edges of drop-offs, sunken wood, or underwater hills.

[Tom Thumb]

I don't understand people fishing and putting it back as fun. I want to eat it!
Yeh I've heard Zander is a pest so I figure people will be happy to be rid of it...

[MKG]

National legislation governing fishing has changed dramatically over the last decade. Local byelaws have followed suit, as have the specific regulations governing most fisheries. Most waters now have size restrictions and number restrictions in operation if they allow the taking of fish at all. A lot of waters now disallow completely the taking of pike, eels and zander. It's no good guessing, because it's a minefield full of expensive penalties (fines of up to £2500). The only way to be sure you're right is to check with the holder of the rights to any particular fishery (and then make sure that you hold all of the relevant licenses).

Legal freshwater fishing is a hobby - you're not going to be able to provide yourself with a continuous supply of cheap food unless you're at it full time.

[Tom Thumb]

Don't worry I am aware there are restrictions and will only do what I'm supposed to. I don't expect to get a constant supply either I would just like to go once in a while and make the odd seaside visit.

[MINESAPINT]

Are these what you are looking for:

[Tom Thumb]

Are these what you are looking for:

They would do nicely sir