A Beginner’s Guide: How to Start Fishing

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Though the term sounds imposing (and you'll be hoping your gear does prove terminal to a dinner's worth of fillets), terminal tackle simply means the hooks, sinkers, bobbers and artificial lures that you'll be fastening to the end of your line before you cast in search of fish
Though the term sounds imposing (and you'll be hoping your gear does prove terminal to a dinner's worth of fillets), terminal tackle simply means the hooks, sinkers, bobbers and artificial lures that you'll be fastening to the end of your line before you cast in search of fish
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1. With the rod in your hand as shown, hook the line, above the reel, with your finger and pinch it against the rod handle. 2. Open the bail on the reel (the wire ring that keeps the line from coming out). Now, face in the direction you want to cast with the rod in front of you and the sinker (or lure, etc.) just inches below its tip. 3. Lift the rod sharply until the tip is just behind your head. The weight of the sinker will bow the rod and add to the power of the cast. 4. Snap the rod forward to just past vertical (about 1 o'clock on an imaginary watch face). As the sinker starts moving forward, release the line held by your index finger, and the line should uncoil smoothly from the reel.
1. With the rod in your hand as shown, hook the line, above the reel, with your finger and pinch it against the rod handle. 2. Open the bail on the reel (the wire ring that keeps the line from coming out). Now, face in the direction you want to cast with the rod in front of you and the sinker (or lure, etc.) just inches below its tip. 3. Lift the rod sharply until the tip is just behind your head. The weight of the sinker will bow the rod and add to the power of the cast. 4. Snap the rod forward to just past vertical (about 1 o'clock on an imaginary watch face). As the sinker starts moving forward, release the line held by your index finger, and the line should uncoil smoothly from the reel.
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The spinning reel put range and accuracy within any angler's grasp.
The spinning reel put range and accuracy within any angler's grasp.
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YELLOW PERCH Perca flavescens. Habitat: Ponds, lakes. Bait: Night crawlers, red worms, small minnows.
YELLOW PERCH Perca flavescens. Habitat: Ponds, lakes. Bait: Night crawlers, red worms, small minnows.
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BASS Micropterus species. Includes largemouth and smallmouth bass.Habitat: Ponds, lakes, rivers. Bait: Night crawlers, red worms, larger minnows, frogs, salamanders, mid-sized artificial lures.
BASS Micropterus species. Includes largemouth and smallmouth bass.Habitat: Ponds, lakes, rivers. Bait: Night crawlers, red worms, larger minnows, frogs, salamanders, mid-sized artificial lures.
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If, however, a while passes with your bobber doing little more than serving as an aircraft carrier for tired dragonflies, reel it in, check the bait to make sure you weren't dozing or distracted when a fish hit and try another spot on the pond.
If, however, a while passes with your bobber doing little more than serving as an aircraft carrier for tired dragonflies, reel it in, check the bait to make sure you weren't dozing or distracted when a fish hit and try another spot on the pond.
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SUNFISH Lepomis species. Includes the bluegill. Habitat: Ponds, lakes, rivers. Bait: Night crawlers, red worms, small minnows, crickets, small spinners, artificial flies.
SUNFISH Lepomis species. Includes the bluegill. Habitat: Ponds, lakes, rivers. Bait: Night crawlers, red worms, small minnows, crickets, small spinners, artificial flies.
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2. The Jitterbug is also worked slowly, but waddles its way across the surface. At times, you might simply
2. The Jitterbug is also worked slowly, but waddles its way across the surface. At times, you might simply "pop" the plug in by jerking the rod then waiting till any ripples fade. At other times, a steady retrieve works best.
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CATFISH Ictalurus species. Includes the bullheads.Habitat: Ponds, rivers, lakes.Bait: Night crawlers, red worms, minnows,
CATFISH Ictalurus species. Includes the bullheads.Habitat: Ponds, rivers, lakes.Bait: Night crawlers, red worms, minnows, "stink baits."
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TROUT Salmo species. Includes brown and rainbow trout.Habitat: Stocked ponds, rivers, streams. Bait: Red worms, small minnows, canned corn, salmon eggs, small artificial lures.
TROUT Salmo species. Includes brown and rainbow trout.Habitat: Stocked ponds, rivers, streams. Bait: Red worms, small minnows, canned corn, salmon eggs, small artificial lures.
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3. Spinners and spoons provide their own action. Vary the depth and speed of the retrieve, and also try letting them
3. Spinners and spoons provide their own action. Vary the depth and speed of the retrieve, and also try letting them "scallop" their way in, in a faster version of the plastic worm retrieve.
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1. The classic method of fishing a plastic worm is to walk it along the bottom by raising the rod tip then reeling as it's lowered. Work slowly; try to feel the surface that the worm crawls along.
1. The classic method of fishing a plastic worm is to walk it along the bottom by raising the rod tip then reeling as it's lowered. Work slowly; try to feel the surface that the worm crawls along.

In my young days, I spent far more time staring at red and white bobbers than watching TV when I was being taught how to start fishing. Well, not just bobbers. I also watched the tips of propped-up rods in the white glare of Coleman lamps while bottom-fishing at night. I stared at trolling rods bent with the rhythmic, wobbling pull of a Dardevle spoon. And I followed surface plugs dimpling the skin of evening-smoothed ponds. In short, I kept my eyes on just about anything that involved the pursuit of fish.

I was lucky to grow up guided by a grandfather who had long decades of outdoor living to call upon, and who seemingly couldn’t think of anything better to do with his free time than spend it on the water with a fish crazy kid and teach him how to start fishing. Most of what angling skills I have, I picked up more or less by osmosis. A lot of people haven’t had that kind of childhood, though, and–especially after moving to the country–find themselves hungry to learn the joys of open-air sport but unable to find a teacher.

There’s no way that anything I say will take the place of the patience and love of a grandfather, but here’s my best effort at passing on as much basic fishing information as I can call to foggy mind, without making it seem more complicated, or less magical, than it really is. Whether your aim is to catch a panful of small bream for a family meal, or to eventually pursue the more challenging course of trophy fishing, sit back, glass in hand and gleam in eye, and let’s talk fishing. (See the fishing diagrams and guide in the image gallery).

A Beginner’s Guide: How to Start Fishing

Gearing Up

  • Published on May 1, 1987
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