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Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of fishing. In this post, Beginner Fishing Tips, I aim to give you the tools to begin your fishing journey. As the saying goes ‘ Give someone a fish, feed them for a day, teach them to fish, and feed them for a lifetime.
Words to live by. In my post, you will learn some basic skills and technics to get you started.
There is so much to learn when you are first introduced to fishing, more than I can put into one post. Therefore I have taken the liberty of breaking my knowledge up into two.
Follow the link here at Beginner Fishing Tips (Part 2) to find the second part of my post.
No one is born with the knowledge to fish, everyone had to learn at some time. A few Must Know Tips For Those New To Fishing are essential if you want to catch fish.
When you first start fishing, it can and will be a very exciting experience. Maybe you have tried fishing before, but never caught much, or perhaps you have never tried. We all have to start somewhere, and once you start, you won’t want to stop.
The great thing about fishing is it doesn’t matter how old or what your capabilities are, anyone, can do it. There are so many places that you where can go fishing. So it doesn’t matter where you live, as long there is water, you can fish it.
Getting The Right Gear
No matter how old you are, 5 or 105, you should always start small. There is no need to go out and buy expensive gear just yet (plenty of time for that later) To start, you need something small and easy to handle. Most people will start with a hand line or a small spinning combo.
Hand lines are great because they are small, easy to carry and give you a great feel for the fish biting. On the downside, they have fairly limited use, wharf/pier/jetty, or boat. They can be used in different areas, but require you to cast, and that is a skill that will take a little while to learn.
If you are not sure where you will be fishing, most people will opt for a small spinning combo. These have many uses and can be quite light. By getting something Telescopic, you also get the benefit of them being easy to transport. They can take a little while to learn, so I recommend getting both.
Getting a Fishing Kit to start is a great idea. These contain everything you need, so you don’t have to get items separately. Check out some Fishing Kits here at 7 Of The Best Complete Fishing Tackle Kits.
Where to Go Fishing
A good starting place would be a small jetty or wharf/pier. These are great fish attractants, and you will always find a lot of fish here. Moreover, they can be fished anytime, day or night. You also have a chance to hook something quite big. Follow the link at How To Catch More Fish Form Jetty/Pier Or Wharf for a comprehensive guide to this type of fishing.
These are also a great place to use hand lines or spinning outfits as you don’t need to cast, being able to just drop your line straight down. Another great advantage of fishing here is all the people you will meet. Talk to them, use their knowledge, and your fishing will improve dramatically. You can ask about rigs, bait, and species you can target.
Learn Some Knots
Besides the equipment, one of the most important things you need to know is some basic knots. Arguably, your knots are the most important part of your fishing knowledge. You can have the best gear in the world, but if you don’t know how to tie your hook on, you are going to lose a lot of fish, or possibly not catch any at all. You only need to know a few simple knots well to catch good fish, then you can look into more advanced options.
Improved Clinch Knot To start, you want to make sure your hook is secure, as that is what’s holding the fish. There are many options for the monoline to hook, but one of the most widely used would be the Improved Clinch Knot. It will take a bit of practice to get good at, but is a very strong knot and will never come undone if tied correctly.
Palomar Knot – Another great one is the Palomar Knot. A great round knot that can be used not only for hooks, but swivels, snaps, and, even lures when you are ready to step up to lure fishing. Practice these two knots until you are very good and fast at tying them.
For more knots and how to tie them, please check out my other post at The Best Fishing Knots And How To Tie Them.
For those just starting, a Fishing Knot Tying Tool can be a great help. They are also really good for low light situations, cold, shaky hands, or if your eyesight isn’t the best.
Learn some Rigs
From the knots, we move onto the rigs. Once again, there are many options. The two that I am going to talk about here are the Running and the Paternoster rig.
Running Rig – Quite a simple rig with a few variations. Can be used with or without a swivel, with the sinker running right down to the hook, or stopped at any distance with the use of a swivel. Depending on the circumstance, you might want the hook and bait to float right up with the current, or stay near the bottom. Great off the beach or rocks.
Paternoster Rig – This also has a few variations, great for keeping your hook off the bottom, and can have multiple hooks attached. Having the sinker on the bottom minimizes the chances of getting a snag and presents the bait in a place the fish can see it. Used mostly from a boat, can also be used from a pier or jetty
For more rigs and when to use them, please check out my other post at The Best Fishing Rigs For Whatever Fish You Want.
Putting It All Together
Now you have all the tools you need to start, and with a few more tips, tricks, and techniques, you will not have a problem getting out there and catching fish. As your skills increase, so can your equipment, the rigs you use, and the knots you can try. Fishing is a great pastime, something you can enjoy for the rest of your life and pass on to your children. The Family that fishes together, stays together.
I hope you enjoyed reading my post, and have found the information you were looking for. Remember to check out my other post for people just starting at Beginner’s Guide For Fishing to get the second part of this post. If you enjoyed this post, please check out some of my others at getreelfishin.com. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the section below, and I will get back to you as soon as possible. As Always
Tight Lines
Tony, creator of Get Reel Fishin