 Begin with spincast equipment. Spincast reels are easy to use and are generally trouble free. Choose a fishing rod that is lightweight and flexible, yet rugged enough to survive hard use. A beginner's rod should bend freely when shaken. Select a premium grade fishing line. Beginning fishermen, especially kids, seem to catch the largest fish in the lake. Usually it's something nearly impossible to unhook, like a 50-pound catfish. A clear, flexible line, rated to break between 8 and 12 lbs., performs admirably. A 275-yard spool is plenty. Other items you'll need to complete a fish-catching system include bobbers (1-1/2" diameter), a few sinkers (1/8- to 1/2-oz. size), a package or two of hooks (sizes 6 to 10), some bait and a few cooperative fish. To rig your equipment, tie a sinker to the end of your line. Attach a snelled hook (a hook with a six-inch piece of line pre-attached) one foot above the sinker. If after a few minutes of fishing you haven't caught anything, move the bobber deeper at about one-foot intervals. Cast to different places, testing each new depth. If you still haven't caught anything after adjusting the bobber to six feet, remove it and try fishing on the bottom. When bottom fishing, hold the line between your fingers to feel bites. Or, keeping the line taut, prop your rod in a forked stick and watch for the rod tip to jiggle, indicating a bite. The size of fish you catch isn't important, and it's better to fish for abundant fish such as bluegills, crappies or bullheads. Catching 10 bullheads is more fun (and more nutritional) than catching one small bass. The best places to fish are small, uncrowded waters close to home. Try in the shallows, around docks, rocky spots, weedy shore lines, places where trees overhang the water or where submerged trees, brush or other shade is found. Contrary to the practice of many beginning anglers, fish are not found in trees or on telephone wires. Worms (nightcrawlers) and wigglers will catch an endless variety of fish and are available at most bait stores. Or send junior out near home to find grasshoppers, crickets or other small critters that scurry about where kids play. This provides good entertainment the day before you go fishing, too. Make your first few fishing trips short and interesting. Fish in places that have lots of fish and don't feel too bad when junior catches the biggest fish. It's always so. Thanks to Jim White, and beOutdoors.com for their permission to reprint this article. Please bear in mind That beOutdoors.com has a copyright on this material. |
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