Where Do New Anglers Begin?
By Kathy Magers
A visitor from Chicago wrote to ask where to begin learning to fish. He and his wife have an 8-year-old son they would also like to teach to fish. He asked, “What is the best way to get started? Should we just purchase some rod/reels and go to a lake? Or join some organization and learn how to properly fish with experienced people?
I felt my reply might be of help to others “in the same boat” (pardon the pun) so I cut and pasted it here. If any of you have additional questions, please feel free to leave me a message here on the site. I will answer questions as soon as possible.) I would suggest you go to a tackle store - independently owned smaller shops are usually run by experienced fishing families who can give you one-on-one help over some big box stores who's clerk's may be less experienced. Larger outdoor stores like Academy Sports (my sponsor) , Bass Pro Shops, and Cabela's have highly experienced help in each department.
IN larger "box stores" some sales clerks are not familiar with fishing and are unable to help with how-to questions. But at the outdoor stores, you can ask "which rod, which reel, which bait /lures?" And they can tell you... Fortunately - most companies make starter combo sets, pre-packaged rods and reels for all ages - which omits the guesswork on your part. Explain that you're learning the sport so you don't want the cheapest equipment but then again, you won't want the most expensive, either.
Get a good, reputable name brand - like Zebco, All Star or Berkley, etc. I worked with Zebco for many years, know their products and like them. Good investment. Good rule of thumb once you decide if you like fishing – is to always buy the best you can afford… as quality is well worth the investment.
Store clerks being local, can often suggest nearby places you might go fishing. These might range from a local lake or river to a farmer's pond (get permission first of course.) I'd also suggest going to a "fishing barge" - which is a floating room with a hole cut in the floor center with a railing around it. They are usually baited out to draw fish - and also heated and / or air conditioned year round.
Some are fancy and have TV --- but you and your family can fish out of the weather elements and catch some fun fish..... Fishing barges usually rent rods and reels and sell bait....So with this option, you wouldn’t even need to buy equipment. Just bring along things like folding chairs to sit in --- a stringer to put your fish on - a minnow bucket to put your bait in --- and a camera, of course!
Educate yourself and other family members by reading the "outdoor sports" section of your local paper - the fishing section, especially where there are normally great how-to articles on various species - especially those that might be the most active at the current time. You can learn to catch winter crappie, summer catfish, or year-round bream - even a trophy bass can show up on your hook.
But your #1 best way to learn to fish is to hire a guide. Explain that you will be learning and teaching your son or daughter- and ask for their help. Many people like tackle store owners, and marina operators have a list of guides and can set you up with the "best" guides suited to teaching and working with kids.
Most guides furnish everything - rods, included - which would give you the opportunity to try them out - then ask the guide for his suggestions on which brands, action, etc. to buy. A guide costs more, sure - but it makes a wonderful "gift" for the person who has everything, especially a child who has never been fishing. Hiring a guide guarantees fish will be caught by everyone.
If you are going out in a boat for the first time, especially if you are not familiar with being around water or swimming - always wear a life jacket. Wear it tightly zipped or fastened because loose ones come off easily and do no good. Become familiar with your local boating laws with regards to children. In Texas - any child under 13 must wear a life jacket anytime the boat is not anchored or tied at dock.
Guides make the new experience of fishing fun and educational, both. In only one trip - you will learn as much as it would normally take you two years to learn on your own. Hint: Bring a small pocket tape recorder and when you ask an important question - tape the answer --- then play it back when you get home - and you'll always have great information available. It's easy to forget exactly what a guide said a year or more ago.
In case you forget tips between fishing trips.You can also go to my website (http://www.kathymagers.com/ ) and click on Kids & Teens - then search the archived articles for "Taking Kids Fishing." There are many good tips for kids there.
Finally – remember that youth who have fishing poles in their hands seldom have time to get into trouble. And also remember that what matters most, isn't the size or number of fish that you catch - but the memories you make. Good Fishing ----
By Kathy Magers
A visitor from Chicago wrote to ask where to begin learning to fish. He and his wife have an 8-year-old son they would also like to teach to fish. He asked, “What is the best way to get started? Should we just purchase some rod/reels and go to a lake? Or join some organization and learn how to properly fish with experienced people?
I felt my reply might be of help to others “in the same boat” (pardon the pun) so I cut and pasted it here. If any of you have additional questions, please feel free to leave me a message here on the site. I will answer questions as soon as possible.) I would suggest you go to a tackle store - independently owned smaller shops are usually run by experienced fishing families who can give you one-on-one help over some big box stores who's clerk's may be less experienced. Larger outdoor stores like Academy Sports (my sponsor) , Bass Pro Shops, and Cabela's have highly experienced help in each department.
IN larger "box stores" some sales clerks are not familiar with fishing and are unable to help with how-to questions. But at the outdoor stores, you can ask "which rod, which reel, which bait /lures?" And they can tell you... Fortunately - most companies make starter combo sets, pre-packaged rods and reels for all ages - which omits the guesswork on your part. Explain that you're learning the sport so you don't want the cheapest equipment but then again, you won't want the most expensive, either.
Get a good, reputable name brand - like Zebco, All Star or Berkley, etc. I worked with Zebco for many years, know their products and like them. Good investment. Good rule of thumb once you decide if you like fishing – is to always buy the best you can afford… as quality is well worth the investment.
Store clerks being local, can often suggest nearby places you might go fishing. These might range from a local lake or river to a farmer's pond (get permission first of course.) I'd also suggest going to a "fishing barge" - which is a floating room with a hole cut in the floor center with a railing around it. They are usually baited out to draw fish - and also heated and / or air conditioned year round.
Some are fancy and have TV --- but you and your family can fish out of the weather elements and catch some fun fish..... Fishing barges usually rent rods and reels and sell bait....So with this option, you wouldn’t even need to buy equipment. Just bring along things like folding chairs to sit in --- a stringer to put your fish on - a minnow bucket to put your bait in --- and a camera, of course!
Educate yourself and other family members by reading the "outdoor sports" section of your local paper - the fishing section, especially where there are normally great how-to articles on various species - especially those that might be the most active at the current time. You can learn to catch winter crappie, summer catfish, or year-round bream - even a trophy bass can show up on your hook.
But your #1 best way to learn to fish is to hire a guide. Explain that you will be learning and teaching your son or daughter- and ask for their help. Many people like tackle store owners, and marina operators have a list of guides and can set you up with the "best" guides suited to teaching and working with kids.
Most guides furnish everything - rods, included - which would give you the opportunity to try them out - then ask the guide for his suggestions on which brands, action, etc. to buy. A guide costs more, sure - but it makes a wonderful "gift" for the person who has everything, especially a child who has never been fishing. Hiring a guide guarantees fish will be caught by everyone.
If you are going out in a boat for the first time, especially if you are not familiar with being around water or swimming - always wear a life jacket. Wear it tightly zipped or fastened because loose ones come off easily and do no good. Become familiar with your local boating laws with regards to children. In Texas - any child under 13 must wear a life jacket anytime the boat is not anchored or tied at dock.
Guides make the new experience of fishing fun and educational, both. In only one trip - you will learn as much as it would normally take you two years to learn on your own. Hint: Bring a small pocket tape recorder and when you ask an important question - tape the answer --- then play it back when you get home - and you'll always have great information available. It's easy to forget exactly what a guide said a year or more ago.
In case you forget tips between fishing trips.You can also go to my website (http://www.kathymagers.com/ ) and click on Kids & Teens - then search the archived articles for "Taking Kids Fishing." There are many good tips for kids there.
Finally – remember that youth who have fishing poles in their hands seldom have time to get into trouble. And also remember that what matters most, isn't the size or number of fish that you catch - but the memories you make. Good Fishing ----
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