to you, check out Chapter 5.
What Do You Need to Fish?
Commercial fishermen — those fishing to gather fish or shellfish for food — often use devices like nets, traps, or long lines with multiple hooks to take fish. This book deals with sportfishing, which is fishing with a rod and reel. So, just as you need a few clubs to golf, you need a rod and reel to fish in the traditional sportfishing manner.
Beyond the rod and reel, your needs are few. You need a hook to snare the fish’s mouth, and a line to get that hook from the rod to the water. You can keep your fishing simple. But, just as a golfer probably acquires more than a couple of clubs, anglers tend to gather the equipment that makes the pursuit of their favorite fish more successful and pleasurable.
The important thing to remember is that fishing does not have to be an expensive hobby. Unlike golf, you don't always have to pay to fish in this country (after you have the required license). However, if you are someone who likes to fish with nice equipment and the latest technology, well, all that awaits you, too. Anglers with deep pockets and a matching desire can fish from large, spacious boats boasting cutting-edge electronics and an arsenal of rods and reels.
One of your first choices when you begin fishing is to decide what kind of gear you intend to use. The four basic kinds are spincast, spinning, baitcasting, and flycasting. Figure 1-2 shows the four kinds of rods and reels, and Chapter 7 covers them in much more detail.
© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
FIGURE 1-2: Spincast (a), spinning (b), baitcast (c), and flycasting (d) gear.
Picking up fishing essentials
Basically, to begin fishing, you need a rod and reel spooled with line and a handful of terminal tackle — things like sinkers and hooks (covered completely in Chapter 9). Even someone who possesses one hook can probably find a garden worm somewhere and catch a fish.
Most likely, you’ll want some kind of tackle carrier to carry your terminal tackle, and other lures (artificial, synthetic baits) and flies. This could be as simple as a plastic tackle box or a fishing vest with pockets.
The right clothes will keep you comfortable and safe, as well. Anglers fishing from boats or near rapid current should always wear a life jacket. Waterproof footwear may not be a necessity, but it’s pretty close, at times. Sunglasses and a billed hat make life easier while fishing. Figure 1-3 shows two anglers who are pretty much ready for any piscatorial challenge. Chapter 2 tells you much more about how to dress for fishing success.
© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
FIGURE 1-3: Two anglers, well equipped for most fishing trips.
Adding to your angling arsenal
Cabelas, the giant outdoor retail store, has been selling fishing tackle for nearly 50 years. Bass Pro Shops is nearly that old, and now those two companies have merged. There are countless local bait shops, and stores like Walmart, Dick’s, and Academy stock a whole section with fishing equipment. The advantage to shopping retail is that you should find knowledgeable salespeople there to help you. But, of course, fishing equipment can be purchased online as well. In addition to Amazon, there are sites dedicated to offering premium gear at low prices. These might be specialized. For example, Catfish Connection’s website (www.catfishconnection.com) offers gear for catfish and crappie only. Companies like Zebco allow you to purchase their products directly from their websites. At www.zebo.com, you’ll find helpful articles and checklists, as well as a chance to buy rods, reels, or combos (a paired rod and reel).
There’s no shortage of gear out there. As you get deeper into fishing, you’ll see the need to acquire other pieces of equipment. Anglers who want to start catching bigger game will need heavier line and a rod and reel built to handle it. A well-crafted fishing rod can be a thing of beauty, so light and supple it feels like an extension of the hand. There’s nothing wrong with desiring better gear.
So, while you should start with the basics, feel free to add to that pile of fishing tackle in the corner of your garage. Part of the fun of fishing is seeing how the latest gear can make you a more successful angler.
How Do You Fish?
Fish bite an object because they think it’s something to eat, or they strike out of some instinct to do so — they’re afraid, or protecting themselves or their young, for example. Fishing, then, requires that you offer something with a hook or hooks on the end of your line in hopes of getting a fish to bite it. You can do this by presenting livebait that the fish are used to eating — casting a hooked minnow into a school of crappies, for example. Or you may turn to trickery — using a fly tied to look like a grasshopper to hook a rainbow trout, or using the flash of a wobbling spoon to trigger an attack from a tarpon.
Whatever you choose for the end of your line, presentation matters. Presentation refers to the methods you use to put your offering in front of the fish. You might cast and retrieve a crankbait past a largemouth bass, or use a river rig to anchor a chunk of cutbait upstream from a feeding channel catfish. Basically, you want to present a bait or lure in a way that looks natural to the fish, and the right presentation should allow you to hook the fish after it strikes.
Casting around: Basic and fly
Because fish are sometimes found some distance from shore, you need to get your bait or lure to them — and this involves the art of casting. Casting requires you to use your rod and reel to propel your offering to the target. When using spincast, spinning, or baitcasting equipment, casting requires you to use the flex of the rod to launch the lure outward, and the weight of the lure pulls the line off your reel. When flycasting, you use the (often longer) rod to flex the rod to cast the line, and the (often lighter) fly goes with it.
Like any sport that requires you to do something with your body, casting calls for a certain amount of dexterity and coordination. However, even beginners can learn how to cast effectively. The casting motion (typically involving a swinging, overhead movement) is a simple, natural one. And not every fishing situation calls for perfect casts; many fish are found near shore or around piers or docks, and they require only short, simple casts. To find out how to cast using any of the four kinds of gear, check out Chapter 16.
Finding freshwater fish
