Fishing is a great way to unwind, experience nature. For students new to catching – who may have grown up in large towns and cities, far from the coast or any water good for fishing – simply putting a rod, reel, bait and tackle together is a more intimidating prospect than simply walking onto a boat with a line in hand.
If you’re balancing fishing with a busy academic schedule, Lastminutewriting.com offers a fast essay writing service that can help you manage your coursework efficiently, giving you more time to enjoy your new hobby. Here is a basic guide for getting you started fishing and fish-catching, with some helpful hints to enhance your success.
The Bare Necessities: What You Really Need to Start Fishing
You don’t have to break the bank the first time out, with a basic rod-and-reel combo, some string, a few hooks, and a cast of lures or bait. Go for a 6- to 7-foot, medium-action spinning rod. Stick with the matching spinning reel and it is a good, all-round fishin’, starter kit.
As for line, an inexpensive 6 to 8-pound test monofilament is the good-all-around line for most freshwater conditions. A variety pack of hooks in different sizes will provide you with a complete assortment of sizes. A small pack of split-shot sinkers are useful as aids to get your bait down in the water. For lures, a few basic spinners, plastic worms, and maybe a couple of topwater plugs will get you off the ground.
Throw on a pair of needle-nose pliers to get hooks out, a small tackle box to keep it all tidy, and a pair of sunglasses (they’ll protect your eyes and keep you from looking at the sky, which is the best way to see down into the water). After that, get a fishing license – you’ll probably need one almost anywhere.
Choosing the Right Spot: Where to Fish as a Beginner
As you gather essential fishing gear and tips for your new hobby, remember that online research paper services can help you stay on top of your academic responsibilities, ensuring you have plenty of time to enjoy your fishing adventures. A good fishing location can go a long way in terms of your success and enjoyment. As a beginning fisher, start with those areas that are easy to access – public ponds, lakes and streams with very slow currents. Many towns and cities have city parks and lakes with designated fishing areas that are excellent places to try your hand. Not only are these often stocked with fish, but they offer conditions that are less challenging than many other waterways.
Look for structures – fallen trees, rocks, weed beds – where fish can congregate for protection and pick off smaller prey fish. Docks and piers can also provide good platforms from which to fish, especially if you don’t own a boat.
Time of day is important too. One of the best times is early morning and late evening, when water is cooler and many species are more active. But don’t be afraid to go fishing at other times – it can be a surprise when the fish bite.
Bait vs. Lures: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Use?
One of your first choices might be whether to use live bait or lures, and both have their positives, with experience probably finding you flipping back and forth depending on the circumstances.
Live bait such as worms, minnows, crickets (etc) certainly works. It’s the real thing – fish eat the real thing. It’s also the easiest option for a beginner to learn with: it’s really quite straightforward (it’s also often really pretty effective). Of course, live bait needs to stay alive, and that can be a pain.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, artificial lures are available in virtually infinite varieties and can be tuned to particular kinds of fish, are longer-lasting than live bait, and can be more rewarding as you learn to cast and reel them in. Soft plastic worms, spinners and crankbaits are all good ‘starter lures’.
Common types of bait and lures:
| Type | Pros | Cons | Best For |
| Live Worms | Very effective, easy to use | Need to be kept cool and moist | Panfish, bass, catfish |
| Minnows | Natural prey for many fish | Require special care to keep alive | Bass, walleye, pike |
| Soft Plastic Worms | Durable, can be used in many ways | Require some skill to use effectively | Bass, walleye |
| Spinners | Easy to use, attract fish with flash and vibration | Can be expensive, may snag easily | Bass, trout, pike |
| Crankbaits | Cover water quickly, mimic real prey | More expensive, need to be retrieved correctly | Bass, walleye, pike |
Basic Fishing Techniques: Getting Your Line in the Water
With your gear and your spot chosen, now you have to catch some fish. The most basic technique is simply to cast out and wait for a bite. This can be reliable if you’re using live bait, or lures that are meant to be fished slowly.
In order to cast, there are two places for your dominant hand; either hold the rod and unscrew that bail on your reel, hook your line with your index finger, then swing the rod back over your shoulder, then bring it forward again, letting go with your index finger when the rod is pointing where you want to cast. It takes some practice.
When your bait or lure is finally in the water, pay attention to your line. If it starts pulling weirdly or your rod tip starts bouncing, you might have a fish on your line. At this point, if one has found your hook, reel in any slack in the line and then raise your rod to set the hook. Then it’s left to you to crank in the fish while maintaining the tension on your line.
Reading the Water: Understanding Fish Behavior
The longer you fish, the more you’ll get a feel for fish behaviors, and this sense in combination with experience will help you ‘figure out’ where fish might be and what they might be taking at the time.
Fish tend to form in locations where they can feed and find sanctuary at a minimum cost of energy. In rivers and streams, look for calm pools below rapids or deep holes next to the bank. In lakes, focus on areas where the depth changes, like dropoffs or underwater humps.
The weather and water conditions also play a large role in the behavior of fish because on sunny, bright days they often move to deeper water or under cover, while on cloudy or overcast days they can be more active throughout the water column. Also, fish can become more active after a rain because food is washed into the water.
Staying Safe and Respecting the Environment
Fishing itself is a safe sport, but a few safety precautions are in order. If you’re fishing from a boat or in swift water, wear a life jacket. Handle hooks and fish with care (fish fins can cut, too). And sun protection is crucial; hat, sunscreen and those sunglasses we talked about earlier.
You need to, too, respect the habitat and follow the rules. Catch and release if you’re not going to eat your fish. Pack out your trash. Know the size and bag limits on the fish you’re taking, and use legal methods for taking them.
Conclusion: Patience is Key
Remember, fishing is as much about being outdoors and just enjoying the experience as it is about taking home dinner. Some days the action will be crazy hot, and other days you won’t catch a thing. That’s the world of sport. Stay patient, stay learning, and have fun. Before you know it, you’ll be an addict and turning others into fishing fanatics.