How to Fish
Fishing is a great hobby and may look easy for the uninitiated, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, it may end up quite disastrous. Learn the basics of bait fishing and the joy of catching your own fish here.
What You’ll Need
Bait. Natural baits range from small fish to pieces of bread, anything that is organic and can actually be eaten by the fish.
Lures. Lures are what you call baits that are not natural or inorganic. They can take the shape of natural animals or they can be designed in such a way to make them more attractive to fish.
Fishing Rods. These are the long rods that you use to throw out a line and a hook to catch the fish. There are many types of fishing rods to choose from, depending on where you’re fishing and the size or the type of fish you are catching.
Fishing Hook. The hook is attached to the end of the fishing line to catch the fish by inserting itself in any of the fish’s body parts.
Reel. The reel is made up of four parts. The spool is the line which you use to throw your bait out. The brake is to slow down the fish once they’ve been hooked. The handle is used to retrieve the line and the bracket is used to connect the reel to the fishing rod. Again, the type of reel you will be using depends on the size of fish you intend to catch.
Fishing Net. A fishing net is crucial in landing yourself a fish, especially after its caught your bait.
Fishing License. In an ideal world, anyone could just go fly a reel and catch a fish. Conservation laws dictate that individuals who wish to fish in a certain area and specific types of fish must obtain a license to fish during open seasons. Make sure to check your locale on what you can and cannot do when it comes to fishing.
What to Do
Now that you’ve got everything you need, it’s down to the business of fishing. Make sure that your location has sure fish in it and that you’re wearing clothes and boots appropriate for the activity.
Ready Your Bait and Hooks. Smaller hooks are generally more effective in getting fish, and bait that you can find in their habitat more attractive to your prey. When choosing a hook, inform the tackleshops owner what fish you wish to catch. This is important because you will need hooks that will fit inside the fish’s mouth. When attaching the bait, make sure that the tip end of the hook is peeking out from the bait.
Weights or Bobber? For swift-moving water, using a weight will help anchor the bait in a static position to attract the fish. For more still waters, using a bobber, or a floating device, would be more appropriate.
Cast the Reel. Casting the reel is simply the act of throwing the line into the water. Make sure that the reel is not too slack or so long that you cannot control it. When casting a reel, you can do it like you are casting a spell, using a powerful flick of your wrist to send the bait out there.
Wait. It’s preferable that you be quiet while waiting, as not to scare the fish away. You should also keep your fishing rod steady and static.
Hook the Fish. Getting the feel of whether you’ve gotten a bite or not can be tricky, so it’s best you keep the fishing rod in your hands at all times. When you’re sure it’s a fish, slightly jerk up the fishing rod.
Reel in the Fish. While it’s very tempting to use brute force to reel the fish in, it takes more finesse than that. Using small, upwards and backwards jerking motions, reel the fish in. The speed of your reeling depends on how big the fish in, but the best is to keep your movements deliberate while steadily reeling. Keep the line tense but do not pull the fish in using the rod-harsh movements may tear out the hook right out of the fish and allow it to escape. The steady pumping motions of the rod will also make the fish more tired and lose strength to escape.
Net the Fish. Once the fish is within arm’s reach, quickly scoop it out of the water using your net. Fish are often lost by jumping back into the water in this crucial part of fishing.
Remove the Hook. Getting injured by fishing hooks is very dangerous and can expose you to infection, so remove the hook gently. You can use needle-nosed pliers to help you with this task. Don’t tear the hook out of the fish but slowly push it out from the direction it came from.
To be really good at fishing, it takes patience and practice. Each fisherman has their own method of catching fish, and you will develop one of your own, too.