Fishing Is Fun and Easy To Learn

With spin casting or spinning tackle, you can put the bait or lure where the fish are. You can cast greater distances with more accuracy, work fishing lures effectively, fish in deeper water, and handle larger fish more easily with this tackle.

Spin casting outfits use a rod with a pistol like grip and a reel that's mounted on top of the rod's handle.Line is released using a push button on the reel.

Spinning gear uses a rod with a straight handle and a reel that's mounted under the handle. Line is released using your index finger.

For most beginners, spin casting and spinning are two fishing methods that can be learned quickly. Both spin cast and spinning tackle are available in packages that contain a rod matched with a reel that is already spooled with fishing line. Buy the best equipment that you can afford-all will work well, but look for better quality pieces with more features.

Step 1 - Double 4 inches of line and pass the loop formed through the eye of the fishing hook.

Step 2 - Let the hook hang loose. Tie an overhand knot in doubled line. Don't twist or tighten line.

Step 3 - Pull the loop far enough to pass it completely over the hook.

Step 4 - Wet the line. Hold the hook carefully, and pull the loose end with the standing line slowly to tighten the knot. Clip the loose end.

Step 1 - Pass line through the hook eye and, with the tag end, make 5 turns around the standing line. Insert the loose end of the line between eye and first loop formed. Bring the end through the large second loop formed.

Step 2 -Wet the line and tighten the knot slowly while holding the loose end of the line end between thumb and index finger so the knot is partly closed before it's secured against the eye. Clip the loose end of the line.

A spincasting reel has a button that you push with your thumb to release the line. (Fig. 4)

Step 1 - Grasp the rod's pistol grip with one hand. Push the reel's thumb button down and hold it in.

Step 2 - Face the target area with body turned at a slight angle, about a quarter turn. Aim the rod tip toward the target, about level with your eyes.

Step 3 - Swiftly and smoothly, bend your arm at the elbow, raising your hand with the rod until it almost reaches eye level. When the rod is almost straight up and down, it will be bent back by the weight of the practice plug. As the rod bends, move your forearm forward with a slight wrist movement.

Step 4 - When the rod reaches eye level, release the thumb button.

How did you do?
If the plug landed close in front of you, you released the thumb button too late. If the plug went more or less straight up, you released the thumb button too soon.

With a spinning reel, you use your finger to release the line. (Fig. 5)

Step 1 - Grasp the rod's handle, placing the reel "stem" that attaches the reel to the rod between your middle fingers. Place your thumb on top of the handle and extend your forefinger to touch the spool cover. With the other hand, rotate the reel spool until the line roller is directly beneath your extended index finger. Pick up line in front of the roller with your index finger and open the reel's bail with your other hand.

Step 2 - Face the target area with body turned at a slight angle-about a quarter turn. The arm holding the rod handle should be closest to the target. Aim the rod tip toward the target at about eye level.

Step 3 - Swiftly and smoothly, using just one motion, bend your casting arm at the elbow and raise your forearm so that your hand is almost at eye level.

Step 4 - When the rod is almost straight up and down, it will be bent by the weight of the practice plug. As the rod bends, move your forearm forward with a slight wrist movement.

Step 5 - When the rod reaches eye level, straighten your forefinger to release the line.

How did you do?
If the plug landed close in front of you, you straightened out your index finger to release the line too late. If the plug went more or less straight up or behind you, you straightened your index finger too soon.

A good angler respects our natural resources and wants to conserve them for others to enjoy. Always carry out what you brought in- never leave behind plastic containers or packaging. Fishing line is very dangerous to birds and other wildlife, tangling around legs or the mouth. Bring old or tangled fishing line to a fishing tackle store to recycle it.

Catch and Release
Fish should never be wasted. If you catch a fish that is under the legal or minimum size or that you do not want to keep, release it quickly. If possible, keep the fish in the water and handle it carefully, pushing the hook back through the lip. If the fish has swallowed the hook, do not tear the hook out. Simply cut the line as close to the mouth as possible. You can revive a fish by gently moving it back and forth in the water so that water runs through its gills. When it begins to struggle and can swim normally, let it go.

Look for a weedy or rocky area where the water is several feet deep. Avoid shallow water that doesn't offer fish a hiding place. Look for areas where the bottom changes in some way- from sand to gravel or from sand to mud. Stay quiet and avoid disturbing the water or you may scare fish away.

Next, bait your hook or tie on a lure. If you use a worm, thread the worm from one end. Once stuck on, it will slide around easily. If you find fish stealing too much bait without getting caught, try using a smaller worm or switch to a smaller hook. If you use a minnow, hook the bait through both lips.

Swing the bait or lure as far from shore as you can and watch the bobber. Small panfish will nibble at the bait, causing a slight movement and a small circle of ripples around the bobber. When a fish has the bait, it will probably try to swim away, pulling the bobber under the water. When a fish bites, raise the tip of the rod quickly to set the hook and reel your catch in. Steer the fish away from thick weeds or submerged branches.

Panfish, such as bluegill or perch, bite almost any time of day. If you have no action after 10 or 15 minutes, move to another likely spot and try again. For other types of fish, such as trout or bass, you may want to fish early in the morning or in the late afternoon.