Complete beginner needing guidance

[FishingNovice]

Hi all, i am a complete beginner to fishing and just needing a bit of guidance to get me up and running. I recently got invited to go fishing with me uncle, i have always fancied fishing but didnt no whether id enjoy it or have a clue what im doing. Well ill tell you i didnt enjoy it, i loved it!! and now im completely hooked but the only problem is what im doing. I recently bought a rod and fixed spool reel, weights, hooks etc. I checked with my uncle and he said everything i got was correct. So the next day off i went to the beach to try my arm alone. I was the only one on the beach so i was chuffed about that as i didnt want to get embaressed when something went wrong. I set up my rod and when the tide was coming in i cast out, nothing went wrong and i realy enjoyed myself even if i didnt catch anything. Since then ive been a few times around different spots in my area and still loving chilling out with my rod. The problem(s) im having are :- *My knots keep coming undone when casting (loosing hooks, weights, swivels etc) *I cant tell if i have a bite when its windy(Will it be obvious when i get one?) *I keep reading about "Shock Leader"? This is probably a stupid question but what does this do? Do i need this? Is it for just making your rigs? I have been reading various websites and posts on hear trying to find out my problems, I have just bought some 60lb and some 30lb monofilement line to make rigs with as i have read somewhere they will help knots coming undone? This makes sense in my head as iv only been using a 12lb line for my rigs and have stuff flying off everywhere. Any feedback, tips and guidance would be greatly appreciated as i dont want to get fed up with fishing when im enjoyng it so much. (The term "All the gear and no idea" springs to mind ) Cheers

[robs]

Hi first off MOST important thing is shock leader. This is a length of line long enough to go round your reel spool about six times and go the length of your rod with a foot or two hanging beyond the tip ring. It's strength should be rated to your casting weight but at least 60lb bs, usually we say 10lb of bs for every ounce of casting weight. The shock leader will absorb the strain of casting and stop you cracking off, it is also there to help you land fish if there is a bit of a swell so you have stronger line for the last few yards of reeling in, I use tapered leaders which are thinner at one end to make joining them to your main line easier and thicker at the other end to join to your trace which should of course be at least 60lb bs. As for knots I use just the Uni or Grinner knot and the tucked blood knot, they will tie everything from hooks, swivels and connectors. I am not sure where you fish but I fish in the Southend are and Norfolk on holidays and my main line strength varies according to the beach. In Southend I use 15 to 18 bs main line because of snags but at Caister in Norfolk I often drop to 12lb as the beach is fairly clean, but I still use a shock leader for each beach. Use your 6olb line for traces and tie the snoods, or hook lengths, from the 30lb as this will give you that extra strength when landing fish.
I hope that all makes sense, if you need any advice you can always go to your local tackle shop, my local ones are always most helpful.
Good luck and may your rod always be bent.
Cheers, Robs

[Bungz]

id imagine a night sat infront of youtube and surfing for various tutorials will set you straight on knots :)

[slinkydog247]

alright matey
im pretty much in the same boat (or beach) as you but luckly for me ive had a couple of experienced friends come along ta hold me hand as such, ive found that im having the same trouble spotting bites, my rod bounces every time the wind even gently breezes past, i think alot of it is choice of rod, ive got a cheapo one atm but after seeing my friends rods ive decided to upgrade (still lookin) its a bit of a minefield thou i've heard storys of mates buying rods for top dollar and still wave about like mine, and then you got the other end of the spectrum where you end up with a broom handle rod never seeing a bite, ive posted on here bout what rods ta lookout for and had a couple of replys but from what i can tell it pays off to spend a bit on a rod, it can get bloody frustrating when they say the best fishing is in or after rough weather and you keep seeing phantom bites trust me lol ive heard a greys grxs is a good cheap ish rod for us noobs good luck and happy hunting
slinky

[dover squidy]

a knot to tie leader line is this one

http://www.animatedknots.com/albright/index.php

and for hooks and others

http://pleasurefishing.com/html/knots.htm

hope it helps

[scotty24]

hey yallll!!!

Are those knots comeing undone or are you snapping them as you cast? if your looking for a rod to cast 4-8oz take a look at the shakespeare salt mx 13ft useing that and keeping ur spider/lead buried in the sand with a tight line should get rid of alot of the movement from the wind. You will know when its a bite when that rod doubles over

[dovorian]

http://www.ukseafisherman.com/howtofish.html
Found this quite comprehensive guide.
J