Have you always wanted to take up fishing and get out into the great outdoors where you can enjoy nature while casting your line in the sparkling water? Well, now is a great time to start. Fishing is a sport that can be pursued all year round and you only need a few pieces of basic equipment to start.
So you’ve decided to take fishing up as a hobby or sport. You’ll love getting out into the great outdoors and taking in nature as you cast your line and wait for that bite or strike. If you’ve never fished before, you may have no idea how to start life as a fisherman. Much is learned by trial and error, but there are a few basic things you will need.
Equipment
You will need some basic equipment for your new pastime. It doesn’t have to be expensive or top of the line. Before you get into a lot of expensive fishing tackle, you will first want to determine if you enjoy the sport. Let’s take a look at some basic fishing tackle.
Rod and Reel
These can be purchased in a sporting good store or most department stores for between $20 and $30. Be sure the rod is a length you are comfortable with. Rod length will depend somewhat on your height, but will probably be between 5 and 6 feet in length. Children will need a shorter rod. A rod and reel can be purchased prepackaged in one unit. If you buy this type of package, the reel will already be spun with fishing line. You can also buy the rod and reel separately. A spinning reel is the best for beginners and its best if it is either fiber glass or graphite. These pools are light and make it easy for you to tell when you have a bite.
Fishing Tackle
You will also need bobbers (floats,) hooks and sinkers, which are weights that keep your line down to a specified depth. Both hooks and sinkers can be purchased prepackaged in variety packs in your local department store. These give you several different sizes of hooks and sinkers so you will be prepared should you need more than one size.
When you buy bobbers, buy smaller ones. When fish take the bait, bobbers offer resistance which the fish can feel. The less resistance it feels the better chance that the fish will take the bait. When your bobber goes under the water surface, you will know that a fish is nibbling at your hook.
If you’ve had some experience fishing, you might want to try lures, which are artificial bait. Smaller lures are attractive to a wide variety of fish species. It’s best to chose lures between ⅛ and ¼ ounce size. Use caution when buying lures. Some are made only to catch the cash in your pocketbook. If you need advice about lures, ask a family member or friend who is an experienced angler. Fishing lures can be very expensive and run from about $3.00 and above. It’s best to use live bait when you first begin fishing and give yourself a chance to learn about fish species, bait, lures and other more advanced fishing tackle.