new to fishing

[tommy a]

Hey mate I actually live in Tutshill - overlooking Chepstow - maybe see you later in the summer when we arrange a get together !

[clive rubber hook]

Start small , get a good book read first then get gear you like.start with beach casting rod & reel, hooks shoock leader good mono line and flotation suit, its cold and a waiting game

[Ben]

i wouldnt get a floation suit now, wait till winter again, agree with everything else though
go for 1 of the fladen beach casters £13 i got mine for and it has lasted me about 2yrs now, replaced the tip once, save money for a decent reel, avoid shakespear, i have had 4 reels of theres and 3 have broken in normal use:@

[Pross]

i wouldnt get a floation suit now, wait till winter again, agree with everything else though

Surely better to get a floatation suit now as prices should be lower during warmer weather?

Get advice from your mate on good local tackle dealers, tell them what you want to fish for and where and they will normally give excellent advice on the best tackle set up. Think my first rod and reel were about £30 each and have lasted well, work out what fish you are after and then get advice on suitable rigs. Buy some ready made rigs to start and if you decide to make your own you can use them as a pattern. Have a look at Simon Torbay Fishing's site, has a very good beginners guide on there.

[Rob M]

I'd recommend a flotation suit myself (SAS 2! ), but it depends where you fish. If you end up fishing lots of piers/breakwaters/boats then yes, but if do your fishing on the beach a good set of waterproofs will suffice now the spring/summer is on its way. I personally recommend the Titan smock and use the Sundridge SAS 2 Salopettes as wet weather protection, works a treat.

As regards to rods/reels, I have a Penn Vendetta which cost about £75 (on offer) and a Leeda XL cost £49.99. I prefer the Leeda for casting, a brute of a rod! I'm afraid I'm an old fashioned multiplier type of guy, so am a bit blinkered to fixed spools, but if you can afford to stretch to it, you can't go wrong with a Penn 525 and a ABU 6500 CT Mag Elite

Rob