With this article, fishing for beginners just became as easy as reciting the English alphabet. It’s basically as straightforward as that. So, if you want to fish expertly even with your eyes closed, you’re at the right place.
Hundreds of millions of Americans enjoy fishing. When I was growing up, I remember that I spent literally half of my entire holidays on fishing trips. Trust my father, his father, and his mother to ensure that their grandchild was a better fisherman than they were.
But why do we enjoy fishing so much? I can’t answer that very clearly because the purposes behind a fishing trip are subjective. However, I can emphatically state that the days I spent fishing were my happiest growing up. So, to me, it’s an excellent way to bond and spend quality time with other members of your family.
Fishing For Beginners: Essential Tools To Have
Fishing comes naturally to some of us, while some have to toil hard before making catches. Whichever category you fall into, I doubt you’d do well without having the essential fishing tools, to begin with. And, come on, this is basic knowledge— you can’t expect to fish without having the necessary gear. So, let’s take a look at the essential tools you should have as a beginner in fishing.
Fishing License
Every state has its specific fishing laws and protocols, which you must follow. You can know more about your state’s fishing policies by visiting the official website or consulting the local office in charge of fishing. Mind you, getting a fishing license is typically a simple and affordable process.
Fishing Rod & Reels
If you read ten lists on fishing for beginners, having a rod and reels would come up right after a license in at least 7. The precaution here is to choose a rod that you feel comfortable using. Avoid one that will stress your palms or cause unnecessary inconveniences. For reels, meanwhile, I suggest that you get closed-faced options as they are easier to use than the open-faced options, which are generally used by experts. If you’re buying for an adult, get a spinning rod and reel while you should get a rod and reel combination for kids.
Weights & Hooks
Weights and hooks have obvious uses, don’t they? The former is used to sink the bait deep into the water, where fish can easily find it, while the latter (as the name sounds) hooks the fish when it takes the bait. So, you see, both are inseparable. As a beginner, I advise opting for a combo kit, as you can find weights and hooks of various sizes and forms in it. Typically, starters shoot for small-sized fish, so you should use a hook between 6 – 10 if you want to continue the tradition. Otherwise, you can use hooks slightly larger in size.
Bait
Again, this is an obvious tool. Without a bait, you’re not getting any fish. Think of it: these guys are chilling in their spacious, gorgeous habitat, so what could you possibly have over them? Your bait, baby!
Live baits are the most effective as they attract fish the most and, luckily, you can get them in tackle shops and good stores. Nightcrawlers, minnows, and crickets are common examples of live bait to use. In the absence of live baits, you can make do with artificial baits, which are usually soft and plastic. You may have a hard time catching fish with these baits, however.
Fishing Line
Your fishing line is the string you attach to your rod and reel into the water with bait at its end. Without your fishing line, you could as well just feed the fishes freely, because you are not catching a thing— except you’re using a net, of course (which, by the way, I doubt you’d be able to as a beginner). I suggest that you go for a fishing line that’s made from a single filament as it is less expensive and easier to use. Also, when selecting your first fishing line, choose one that can carry 8 pounds conveniently. You can check the label to be sure.
Additional Tools To Carry As A Beginner in Fishing
You can always make do without the tools which we’ll look at below, but would carrying them cause any hurt? NO. In fact, having some of these additional gear with you can make your fishing much easier and more enjoyable. Let’s see these tools.
- Clippers: Clippers are primarily to clip (cut) your fishing line. You can alternatively do this with a knife, which is a tool a prepper should carry all the time.
- Split Shots: these are little metal clips that add some weight to the fishing line to see that it works appropriately in water.
- Plastic Bobbers: for a beginner who’s never been on a fishing trip, then a plastic bobber may be absolutely essential. These plastics are small in size and help you to know when the fish starts taking the bait. They are also inexpensive, so getting them will help you a lot.
- Pliers: Pliers will help you to take out the hook from your catch. Some think this is very important as it is the easiest way to do so.
- Bucket, preferably, made from metal: A bucket will be your safe house for the fishes you catch. Furthermore, it will serve as a seat when waiting — which is the reason I suggest a metallic one.
- A Tackle Box: This is mainly to keep your gear organized. Although this isn’t a necessity by any chance, it will be of help to you. With a box that shows you where your tools are, you can easily set up your fishing process.
- Miscellaneous items, including ice chest, bug repellant, sunscreen, sunshades, sunhats, scale, food, and snacks to eat during the day, gloves, fishing shoes, rain gear, and fishing waders.
Takeaways On Fishing For Beginners
Fishing for beginners isn’t as hard as you think. It is exactly the same things you’ve seen people do on screen or beside you. So, do not worry about failing at it. Of course, it may take some time for you to become an expert, but you’ll definitely go home with five full baskets of fish someday.