Absolute beginner

[dave in france]

Hi

I'm 32 and I got my first fishing rod for christmas (i fancied a new hobby). I've never been fishing in my life and honestly I don't know where to start. I'm not really attracted to freshwater fishing and live about an hour from the coast, so i was planning to head there tomorrow...

My rod is a "Seacor travel pilk boat" 2.4m and my reel is a "daiwa Opus 5000' . I've got a few accessories, but not that much - some no. 1 hooks, 12g - 50g lead weights, 120g pear shaped weights, some jelly 'minnow' 28g hooks, some leaders with flashers and luminous beads and a 10kg line.

So my first question(s) - what else do i need to have any chance of catching something? I reckon my rod is a bit short, but it'll have to do. I think i probably need a float of some sort but I've no idea which. I also don't know about the line - it seems a little bit heavy duty. And I've no idea how to attach all these elements together.

I know i need to get a book about all this, but for this weekend I'd just like a few basics...

Thanks

Dave

[FISHTEK]

I'm totally in the same position as you mate! There is alot of good tips on You Tube. There are DVD's on Fresh Water fishing for beginners, that maybe of some help as a general guide to start off. I'm going on holiday this week with a first time attempt at shore fishing at the same time. Maybe a good idea to get some advise from a tackle shop and of course read many books, magazines. Everyone has to start somewhere! My main concern is getting to know the art of casting.

Fishtek

[dave in france]

Thanks for the reply Fishtek. I intend to ask in a tackle shop next time i have a chance. I went to the coast yesterday just to practise, and I found casting relatively simple. At one point I somehow managed to get lots of line wrapped round the spindle INSIDE the reel. I had to take the whole thing apart whilst balancing on the rocks!

this site is very good for explaining the basics: http://www.takemefishing.org/

Of course I didn't catch anything, but that wasn't the point of going this time.

I'd like to hear any tips for not losing all one's lures on the rocks - I had to break my line three times.

[Spahill]

To be honest gents, if there isn't anyone you know locally, who can take you under their wing, then you won't go far wrong by getting copies of Sea Angler opr another magazine I found it very usefull when I was starting out. As i had a coarse fishing background i knew the basics though.

Dave it sounds like you are using a boat rod, reel & line to lure fish from the shore, hence rod a bit short line too thick & doesn't cast too well. Also line retrieve might be too slow on reel so your lures keep sinking too far???

very basic list for different sorts of fishing
Rods
Boat 6-9 ft
spinning (lure) 9-12ft
beach(casters) 12ft +

reels
Boat - large multipliers (winches)
Spinning - fixed spool (small).
Beach - small multiplier or large fixed spool

Line
Boat - 30-50lb mono for wrecking
Spinning - braid (my preference 20-30lb)
Beach - 12-20lb mono (with shock leader 10lb per oz weight)

obviously these are not exclusive.
Good luck with your fishing - hope the hobby becomes an obsession. :)

[dave in france]

thanks for the tips spahill.

i think my rod IS too short, but as I can't afford another one for the moment, I'll take that as motivation to improve my casting and my detection of gullies into which to cast. I might try some pier fishing too...

I was thinking about getting some poppers and trying to get things just under the surface - what do you think?

[Spahill]

Subscription to a sea angler mag when there is a longer rod on offer....
doubt if you will improve your casting technique using a boat rod, might damage it (the technique) by trying to give it too much oomph.
Piers sound like a better idea.
Not a great difference between a pier & a boat, except you can sometimes see a Pingu on a Pier.
Poppers - your rod may be a bitt to stiff to cast them out far enough.