How to Fish

Have a fishing license. Visit the website of your local Fish and Wildlife Service or Department of Natural Resources where you plan to fish and find information about fishing permits. Usually, you will be charged a fee for this. You will need a local fishing license and usually you can do it online, however in some areas you will need to go to the office to work in person.

• Usually, you can get a short-term license to fish if you don’t want to use a long-term license and lose a lot of money. However, if you live locally, it will be more cost-effective to purchase a long-term license.
• In many areas, children under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license. You should check your local laws for better understanding.
• Most areas will designate a number of free fishing days that anyone with or without a license can fish. However, usually, you still need approval from the competent authority.

Prepare fishing rods and fishing pipes. Going to the sporting goods store can be an intimidating experience, but you don’t have to spend too much on a fishing rod and reel. You should discuss with the staff at the counter for advice on the type of fishing rod and other items that are suitable for your budget.

• Usually, a medium length fishing rod will be suitable for beginners. Choose a fishing rod that is approximately your height and weighted to match the strength of your arm. In terms of flexibility, you’ll probably need a slightly “flexible” (i.e. not too stiff) rod to get started. For new anglers, these rods are less likely to break the line and – while they aren’t strong enough to tackle large fish – are fairly sturdy for catching medium fish.
• The two basic types of reels are the horizontal reel, which is designed to wind the line vertically when you hold the rod, and the vertical reel, which is designed to wind the line perpendicular to the rod. Standing machines are quite popular for beginners, and are available in open and closed versions. The closing type is usually operated with a push of a button and is very suitable for beginners.
  

  

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Prepare the appropriate fishing line and hooks. The smaller the hook and line, the more likely the fish will bite the hook. Fishing line and rod should be well matched – if you have a stiff rod, you will need a fairly strong line. If you have a more flexible rod, use the thinnest string you have. The smaller the line, the more fish you can catch.

• The hook should be suitable for the type of fish you intend to catch. The #1 blade works quite well, but sizes 8 through 5/0 are suitable for only a few species of fish. Ask your local supply store for hook sizing systems (e.g. 6,4,2,1,1/0, 2/0) as well as the best gear for fishing.
• Tying the hook with a knot for small hooks and lines is a rather complicated move and requires ingenuity to master. Ask the shop owner or fishing buddies to guide you.

Choose the right bait. Artificial lures like Power Bait have a similar taste and appearance to live bait, and eye-catching and elaborately crafted plastic lures are available in specialty stores. However, fish often eat insects and aquatic species, so you can choose to use live bait to fish if you want a more authentic experience.

• You can make your own or buy live bait at your local fishing shop. Many anglers collect worms in the lawn after a rain or late night with a flashlight. You can find grasshoppers along the stream, or try using nets and breadcrumbs or fish traps to catch minnows. Put the fish in a bucket full of water and keep them alive as long as possible.
• Every angler will have a favorite lure, but traditional lures are hard to beat. May be mentioned as:
• Worm
• Salmon roe
• Grasshopper
• Shrimp
• Liver
• Smoked salt pork
• Cheese

Prepare equipment to store fish. If you want to keep the fish, you will need a fish cage to keep the fish in the water, or a bucket of fish so you can continue fishing. You can use a net to keep the fish alive before removing the fish from the line.

• If fishing on a boat, bring the necessary equipment on the water. You will need a life jacket, and a boating license if the boat has an engine capacity exceeding 15 hp.
• If fishing on the shore, you need to bring a lawn chair and some boots to keep your feet dry.

Tie the hook on the fishing line. In the case of fly fishing, proper knotting is part of the sport. However, new anglers should learn how to tie a simple clinch knot for a better start. Here’s how to tie the clinch knot:

• Thread the end of the line through the hook, then wrap the fishing line 4-6 times, and do the same on the fishing line.
  

  

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• Thread the end of the line through the loop and pull tight. You can dab some saliva on the fishing line to lubricate it and make sure the line is tight.
  

  

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Attach weights and floats. If fishing in areas with fast-moving water, such as a river or stream, it is best to attach a weight (lead net) to the line and about 30 cm from the bait. This way, the bait will be kept one to several centimeters above the surface of the water—right where the fish is likely to hunt.

• For new anglers, a large float visible from the shore will make fishing easier. The anglers will know the fish is snatching the bait when the fishing float is jerked and disappears under the water. However, you only need to tie a sufficient amount of fishing line (net lead) to balance with the size of the float to easily observe when the fish bites.

Hook the bait to the hook. In general, depending on the type of bait used, you need to hook the bait on the hook as many times as possible to get the bait to stick to the hook. Hold the hook firmly with your hand, then hook 1/3 of the bait from the tail and push it straight onto the hook. Bend the bait towards the hook and hook through 1/2 of the bait again. You should crochet at least two or three similar hoops.

• There’s no denying that hooking a worm through the hook three times is pretty gruesome, but you need to make sure the worm is firmly attached to the hook and can’t get out when you cast the rod.

Throw the fishing line. Most new anglers will throw the rope at arm’s length in a motion similar to throwing a pebble through the water. Move the fishing rod to the side and aim in the direction you want to cast the rod, then release the line in the intended direction.

• The casting of the line depends somewhat on the type of reel you are using, but things will be simpler if you own a reel with a control knob. When the button is pressed, the line will come out, and when the button is released, the line will stop. When you cast the lever, press the button and when orienting, release the button.

Calmly wait. Some anglers will start spinning the line slowly, tugging at the bait to give the fish the impression that the prey is still alive. Depending on your experience and bait, you can do this, or you can just sit back and wait. Experiment with different methods until the fish bites. However, do not retract the line immediately after you cast the rod.

• Fish will startle at loud noises and thrashing, so turn down the radio and keep the sound low. You get annoyed with anglers who are trying to catch fish nearby and will ruin your job
• You can tell if the fish is biting by touch, as well as by looking at the line or float, or by attaching a bell to the end of the rod. Make sure the line won’t sag as you move the rod slowly to try to catch the fish.
• If you wait for 10-15 minutes and the fish is still not biting, try tossing the rod somewhere else and keep waiting.

Go fishing. When you feel the line tug or start to be pulled down, you need to be “ready” to fish. To do this, simply jerk the rod (and fishing line) quickly and hard back and up. If the fish is caught on the fishing line, it will react immediately causing the line to move with the movement of the fish.

• Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the fish is biting or preening or just how you feel about the water. Practice will help you realize this.

Pull the fish in by pumping the rod and pulling the rod vertically while spinning the reel. You should not use a fishing line to pull fish, except for very small fish. Hold the line tight and use arm strength to pull the line towards you, then rewind the loose line.

• Loose fishing line will make the fish lose a lot. A loose line gives the fish a chance to “get off the hook.” Keep the line taut and hold the tip of the rod high to make sure the fish’s mouth stays in the hook.
• All modern reels have an adjustable brake but the nylon reel is hand-pulled for adjustment. If the nylon rope is stretched, the brake is starting to work. Large fish will get tired of struggling under constant pressure. You should try to use the fishing rod to control the fish to float in.

Use the net to pull the fish in. When the fish is completely exhausted and pulled in, bring the fish out of the water and have a companion take the fish out of the net, or carefully catch the fish yourself. Be wary of the fish’s sharp spines and hooks that can protrude from the fish’s mouth.

Measure fish. If you are looking to keep fish to eat, make sure they are large enough to keep and are not fish that need to be protected. Hold the fish by moving your hand from head to tail without hitting the fish’s fin. If you move your hand in the opposite direction, you will get bumped into the fish’s fin.

• You might consider bringing an identification guide with you if you plan to keep any fish, as well as checking through the DNR for species-specific size restrictions.

Remove the hook. Regardless of whether you keep or release the fish, gently pull the hook out as it was. There are many specialized tools designed to remove hooks, although pointed pliers work quite well in this case.

• You can also use sharp nose pliers to flatten the prongs on the hook for easier removal. Some experts recommend doing this before casting your line (especially when fishing for catfish) to make it easier to catch the fish. This is quite effective for octopus loops/hooks. These types of blades will make the fish quickly bite the hook without you having to spend too much effort.
  

  

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