Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Unsupervised rank newbie

Hey, guys.

I'm an adult who has never, ever been fishing. Nobody ever taught me to fish, and nobody is available (in person, anyway) to teach me to do so now. However, I was raised on a farm, I've been hunting (deer) a few times, and I'm comfortable with camping, hiking, and shooting--and butchering birds and mammals.

I need to learn to fish (in fresh water, mostly for bluegill, bass, and catfish, I'm told), and I need to learn it well enough to be able to teach other people.

Since (as far as I know) the weather isn't conducive to actually getting out on the lake right now, most of what I'll have to do is probably read books and websites. I could theoretically just do an Internet search on "Fishing," but I thought that maybe some of you folks could point me in a slightly more profitable direction.

Blitzkrieg*,
Barak

*Blitzkrieg: tanks in advance.

Hello, very interesting topic. I would have to think on this one for awhile. I have been fishing since around age 4 so it is just a "natural" thing to do. I will say that I started Fly Fishing about 10 years ago. Since I didn't no anyone that used a fly rod, I would read everything about the subject that I could. Then I just purchased a flyrod and taught myself. Of course this is MUCH different than your situation. I already knew how to fish, where to find fish, how to play fish. I just learned a different style of fishing. You most probably should find someone that is an angler and let them lead you.

" I can teach anyone to fish, as long as I am not married to that person."

I did not learn to fish until I was 28. A hunting partner kept inviting me to go with him and I always declined. I thought fishing was a boring thing though I loved hunting. Finally I broke down and went catfishing with the guy. I had a blast. It was the first time I had really caught fish. I liked it and continued to go with him and learned everything he could teach me.

You need to find someone to teach you how to fish. I don't think you will learn how to find catachable fish on your own. Bait presentation can be subtle and its best to learn that by watching someone who knows what he is doing.

Problem is how to get invited. Most experienced fishermen have little paitence with a rookie. A sure fire way is to find a good fishing hole, private lake, or farm pond and invite an experienced fisherman to go with you in his boat. Tell the guy you don't have a clue what to do, then listen and watch.

The other option is to hire a fishing guide. Be sure to tell them you are new to fishing. Those guys will show you how to catch fish and they will put you on catchable fish. It is money well spent. Listen, watch, ask questions, and learn. The guide will work hard to help you catch fish and have a good time.

I learned everything I know about catching fish by going fishing with good fishermen and watching what they were doing. I would never have learned a darn thing by going alone.

I believe you have to know quite a bit about fishing before you could learn anything by reading about it. You need a base of knowledge to understand the difference between twiching a bait and jerking a bait.

I learned how to find fish and work the baits by watching others. I learned how to cast by practicing in the yard until I could drop the plug into a coffee can. Bait casting reels take the most practice to learn but give you the most control over your casting once you have it mastered.

I took a fly fishing class one summer and learned to cast those things. It was fun and added a new method to my madness.

For starters with your bluegill, catfish, and bass, get yourself a spinning reel and rod with 10 -12 pound line. Use live bait, minnows, worms, (meal worms for the bulegills) and some type of cheese / stink bait for the catfish. Spinning tackle is easy to learn to use and works much better than the Zebco type spin casting reels.

Good luck and have fun doing it.

I agree that hiring a guide to learn from is money well spent. Don't worry about not knowing anything about the sport. I do guide work in the summers and personally enjoy teaching people who have no experence. send me a pm and i can hook you up with some good guides in the S. Illinois and W Kentuckey area if you want to take a weekend off and come down for a good time.

Barak,
Hard to believe you don't know how to fish, but since I've always known since a child and around others that also knew it, I could see how it happens. If you were a little closer I would take you fishing in a New York second and teach you enough so you would be able to go bye yourself. Go to your local tackle store and hang out a little and get to know some of the locals and maybe even consider joining a Bass Club, Trout Club or some kind of a fishing club. I'm sure the most would delight in teaching you the basics. Got to remember though, that everday spent fishing isn't counted againist you life. Also remember to take a kid fishing and pass on the knowledge. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />