Fishing Basics for Beginners

This is a step by step guide of how to get started as a fisherman. It includes all of the basic equipment you will need to get started as well as what you need to look for in a fishing spot.

The first step in fishing is making sure you have a proper fishing license. You will need to lookup the local laws regarding fishing in your area and make sure you are following them. Typically any sporting goods store can guide you in the right direction.

Once you have a fishing license, now you will need to get the right equipment. What you will need first is a rod and reel setup. You can purchase these as a combo at any sporting goods store or even at Walmart. A spinning combo (pictured above) is a great way to start and you can find one at a reasonable price.

The next step is to get the correct tackle. Many pre built combos will come with fishing line already on them, but if not, a spool of 10 lb line is a good start. Additionally, you will need hooks and potentially bobbers and weights. For hooks, go with something small to start (#9 or #10 pictured). I would also recommend getting some bobbers similar to those in the picture. This will get you the bare minimum needed to fish tackle wise.

The last step in equipment is bait. As a new fisherman, i recommend live bait. Your local sporting goods stores as well as bait shops and even gas stations will sell boxes of a dozen nightcrawlers. Go ahead and grab a box and you are ready to get fishing.

What you will need to do first is make sure your tackle is ready to catch fish. If your rod and reel did not already have line on it, the first step will be to fill it. What you will need to do is tie a knot around the center of the reel with the end of the line and then reel the line on until it hits the fill mark (for instructions on this visit my website). Don't be afraid to use the instructions that came with the setup that you bought.

Now that you have line on your pole, the next step is to tie on the hook and bobber. I recommend using a Palomar knot (for instructions on how to tie this knot visit my website). The bobber has two hooks that become available for use once you compress either side of the bobber. Go ahead and place the bobber about a foot above the hook you tied on. Once you've done so, your setup is ready to go.

Now that you have your setup ready, the next step is to find a place to fish. If you take nothing else from this post, always remember that google is your friend. Being in the U.S. military I am constantly moving around but google has never failed me when it comes to finding new fishing spots. You can even start by just going to google maps and looking for what kinds of bodies of water are near you and narrow your search down from there.

When searching for fishing spots, there are a few things you should be looking for. The first is any public parks and property in the area surrounding lakes. Parks will often offer shoreline and even docks for you to fish from. You should also be looking for forum posts from local fishermen. You are almost definitely not the first person to try and fish in whatever area you are in and there are likely people who have shared their successes and failures online to assist you. Take all of this information in and identify a spot or two you would like to try.

Now is time for the fun part: go out there and give it a go. When you get to your fishing spot, go ahead and throw a chunk of worm on your hook and flip it out there (for instructions on casting visit my website). As you fish, look for signs of bait in the water, water depth and any other factors you think may affect the fishing. Try moving your bobber up or down to fish different depths until you find something that is working.

Another thing to consider is time of day and time of year. The bite is usually best at dusk and dawn but that doesn't mean you can't catch fish in the middle of the day. Fish also often move to deeper water as temperatures drop but that doesn't mean you won't find fish hanging out in the shallows in the winter. Fishing is all about trial and error and you will grow as a fisherman throughout your experiences.

I hope this guide helps and please visit my paid website for additional fishing content to aide in your fishing endeavors.