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Fishing Basics

Introduction

So, you are interested in fishing. This is a great place to start, especially if you've never fished before. Here you will find some general concepts and be introduced to some of the basics of freshwater fishing.

Learning to fish can be an intimidating task, especially with all of the equipment, types of fishing techniques, legislation, etc. Our objective is to make it simple for you to get started so your experience is a rewarding one. You may find yourself addicted before you know it, keeping your rod and tackle box in your trunk at all times. Just in case...

People fish from all walks of life all around the world. It is a sport that offers rewards that range from the excitement of landing a trophy fish, to the peace of mind and serenity that only the great outdoors can bring, but most of all, fishing is fun. Simply ask any of the millions of anglers in North America and they will tell you.

Making sure that you have the right tool for the right job is critical with whatever you are doing, and angling is no different. If you match your tackle to the fish you are looking to hook, you greatly increase your chance of being successful.

This is a good general rule, which applies not only to the tackle you choose, but also to boats, rods, reels, lines, etc. And, don't forget the sunscreen!

For valuable hints and tips on what kind of equipment and tackle is appropriate for different species, please visit the detailed sections on Freshwater Fish Species. You will find techniques and suggestions to help you land more fish.

To get fishing quickly, you will generally need the following items for freshwater fishing:

• A fishing rod and reel
• Monofilament fishing line (4 to 8 pound test)
• Fishing weights
• Hooks (number 6 to 10 in size)
• A good plastic or wood bobber or float
• Live bait or lures
• A fishing license
• A camera

Most sporting goods stores or fishing tackle shops should be able to set you up with everything that you need. Some will also be able to issue licenses. Ask for help selecting the equipment, especially if you are just starting out. Most shops will also carry the local state or provincial fishing handbooks, which generally cover the local legislation as well as being excellent guides for the local species and the catch limits, etc.

Rods and Reels

When selecting a fishing rod, there are several things that you should look for. Firstly, you should be able to hold the fishing rod comfortably in one hand. You can purchase many inexpensive combination packages, and rods and reels can be sold as a unit or separately with a good starter set available in the $30 range. You'll need to know what type of fish you'll be after as the weight of the fish relates to the strength of the line you use.

Hooks

There's a very large variety of every kind of hook imaginable available. A single hook for beginners is recommended from #6 to #10 (the higher the number the smaller the hook). As your angling skill increases, and you get more adept at reeling in fish while keeping tension on the line, you can consider making your hooks barbless by breaking off the barb on the end with pliers to make it easier to remove from the fish.

Weights and Sinkers

Like hooks, there are many different kinds but for the beginner, we recommend the split shot, which are inexpensive, easy to use and versatile. Purchase several sizes of removable split shot and squeeze them on with your pliers. Most sinkers have traditionally been made of lead, however, more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as bismuth and tin, are slowly becoming available.

Please visit our section on weights for additional details.

Bobbers and Floats

Bobbers or floats attach to your line and basically do two things: they keep your bait suspended at a particular level, and they jerk, dance or "bob" to indicate a bite. Small ball bobbers can be clipped on the line at the bottom and the top, and are easiest to use, as well as the longer stick floats.

Snap Swivels

Swivels basically do two things as well: they keep your line from twisting, particularly with lures that spin, and when tied to the end of your line, they allow you to easily switch hooks and lures. Our experience has been that the swivels that come attached to specific lures, do not swivel properly and we generally advise to add a snap swivel to all spinning lures.

Lures

When you walk into a tackle shop or a sporting goods store, you can literally look at aisle after aisle of fishing lures. To state that there is a wide range of artificial lures available is an understatement. There are so many different kinds, for every kind of fishing imaginable, that the beginner can easily be overwhelmed or pick the wrong one for the kind of fishing they intend to do.

There are basically four major categories of lures for freshwater fishing, and they are: plugs, spinners and spoons, jigs and finally soft plastics.

Spinning and Spin casting

For most beginners, Spin casting and spinning are two different methods that are easily and quickly learned. Both Spin casting as well as spinning tackle are generally available in packages where the rod is matched with the reel. For additional detail please refer to our detailed pages on spinning and Spin casting Again, ask for assistance when unsure.

The nice thing about these methods is that you can present the bait or the lure fairly accurately where the fish are. You can cast good distances with reasonable accuracy and work the bait and lures effectively, especially in deeper water. In addition, you can also accommodate larger fish on the end of your line relatively easily, due to the nature of the spinning and Spin casting equipment.

We generally encourage children who are starting to fish to begin with Spin casting equipment, since the Spin casting outfits generally use a rod with a grip similar to a pistol and top mounted reels which release line with the push of a button.

Spinning gear can be a little trickier to learn, however, is our favourite and most often used with the crew at Fishresource.com. It uses a relatively straight handle and bottom mounted reel that hangs off the rod. The line is released, not through the release of a button, but by your index finger.

Both spinning and Spin casting are excellent methods to for beginners that can be learned quickly and the equipment can be found at almost any tackle or sporting goods store.

Fishing Accessories

There is an almost endless list of fishing related accessories and almost endless space to store them. There are glove compartments in your car or truck, tackle boxes, storage areas on boats, pockets and pouches on fishing vests, and the list goes on. Tackle boxes store everything from lures, hooks, weights, swivels, scissors, pliers and wire cutters, etc. You may need live bait containers, such as minnow buckets or worm containers, fish chains (stringers) or coolers with ice to keep your catch fresh. Nets to land fish are always a good idea; rod and reel cases to ensure no damage when transporting, and of course first aid kits. Don't forget film for the camera! We could go on and on about accessories, because, at the end of the day, you can never have enough fishing stuff!

Fishing Safely

Often safety is a matter of common sense, and fishing safely is no different. The various sections of this site have safety hints, tips and reminders pertaining to each subject. Fishing safely, however, can refer to a broad range of subjects from putting on sun screen in advance of heading out on the water, to wearing a Coast Guard approved Personal Floatation Device (PFD). Please look for safety hints and tips on whichever page you are on.

The Environment and Catch and Release Fishing

At Fishresource.com we always encourage the respect of our natural resources and conservation to ensure that others and future generations will have the same to enjoy. We preach that "...the outdoors. It was not passed down to us from our parents, but loaned to us from our children..."

Always try to leave your fishing spot exactly as it was when you came to it - never leave behind food containers, plastic bags or garbage. Even fishing line can be very dangerous to wildlife, especially birds, and lead to the tangling of limbs, etc. Many fishing and tackle shops will accept old or tangled line for recycling. please bring it in to them or dispose of properly in the garbage.

Catch and Release Fishing: This is a term that is rapidly growing in popularity and one that we support greatly at Fishresource.com. It revolves around the belief that fish should never be wasted. If you catch a fish that is under the legal limit, for example, or that you do not wish to keep, release it quickly to give it the best chance of survival. We recommend that unless you would like to eat your catch, throw it back. You can keep it by taking a picture of it - taxidermists will now provide you with a to scale replica of your catch, that you can hang on your wall, by working with a picture - gone are the days where you have to physically bring in the fish!

Whenever possible, keep the fish in the water and avoid physically handling it and carefully backing out the hook through the lip. In the event that the fish has swallowed the hook or it is hooked in such a way that removal would be too damaging to the fish, cut the line as close to the lure or hook as possible, and release the fish.

If by chance you need to revive a fish from being out of water for too long, simply moving it very gently back and forth in the water will often do the trick. This provides the oxygen to the gills, much in the same way as we receive oxygen from taking air in and out of our lungs. When it begins to struggle or show signs of movement, let it go.

Please visit our section on Catch and Release for additional details.

Freshwater Fishing Basics

Search Fishresource.com Try searching Fishresource.com or search Google for additional information on freshwater fishing, North American freshwater fishing resorts, guides, camps and lodges and let us know if you have a link that we should add to this site by sending an email to: links@fishresource.com.

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