The Beginners Fishing Guide
Fishing in Florida is considered one of the oldest activities that man has ever been engaged in. Humans have had to fish to feed because their lives depended on it. Today, while a lot of folks still fish as a means of livelihood, the majority of the over 40 million people who fish every year in the U.S according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service do so for fun, sport, and relaxation.
You can read about it here.
Though this activity is fun and exciting, it can also be exasperating if you do not know how to go about it. This article is targeted at the beginner who has absolutely no idea of how to go about it. We shall herein attempt to provide a brief guide that can set the beginner in the right direction.
Getting Started
So as someone new to catching fishes, how do you get started? First, let’s look at some different types of fishing. Some examples we have include:
Freshwater Type
It is estimated that about 40% of fishes can be found in fresh water. Freshwater refers to water bodies like streams, rivers, ponds or lakes. This type of fishing is ideal for beginners because it does not require a lot of gear and may also not require venturing into the water.
Some of the types of fishes you can get in freshwater include: trout, salmon, crappie, walleye, bass and catfish.
Seawater Type
Saltwater generally refers to seas or oceans. These bodies of water have a salinity level of approximately 3.5%. Fresh water fishes cannot survive in this kind of water neither can saltwater fishes survive in fresh water.
The variety of fish species that can be gotten here is very extensive. This type of fishing may require special equipment and be done with the help of an experienced hand.
Fly Fishing
This type can be carried out in either seawater or freshwater. What is required is a fly rod, a reel and your bait or flies.
There are a few techniques you will need to learn to be able to catch fishes this way.
Catch and Release
This is mainly a sporting activity where the fishes caught are released back into the water. Special care is usually taken when releasing the catch to minimize the harm that will be done to them. It will also require special kinds of hooks that will cause the least damage.
Shore Fishing
As the name implies, it simply refers to carrying out your activity from the shores. This can be at the shore of a saltwater or freshwater body.
Some others that we’ve not mentioned here include ice fishing and canoe fishing. Find more details here: https://hobbyhelp.com/fishing/.
Aside from knowing the different options mentioned above, you also need to know about the following:
Licensing
Before you set out on your expedition, you should note that most states have regulations that require that you be licensed before you can fish. Make sure you find out about this and get the required license before venturing out.
Gear
There are a whole lot of gear that can be used for this activity. Examples include: rods and reels, fishing lines, hooks, bobbers, baits, tackle box, nets, pliers, clippers and many others.
Needless to say, the kind of gear you will require will depend on the type of fishing you intend to do.
Important Skills
There are important skill sets you will need to acquire to help you get the best from this activity. Again, the particular set of skills will depend on how you intend to go about it.
Generally, some skills you will require for angling, fly fishing and trolling include:
- Learning how to spool a spinning reel.
- Attaching a bobber, split shot and hook.
- Casting.
- Reeling in the catch.
- Removing the hook.
These are just a few important skill sets you will require as a beginner.
Getting Practical Experience
This activity like any other is easier to learn and master when you have practical guidance. A simple way of achieving this is using services such as those provided by companies like NK Fishing.
These companies provide guided expeditions that allow you experience the real thing under different conditions and with others, including many experts. In this kind of condition, you are more likely to learn a whole more than you can by only reading online guides or watching guide videos.
If you are serious about taking your fishing to the next level, try out one of the many guided tours on offer. You will have loads of fun while learning a lot.