Fishing - Where to start?

orbit2012

orbit2012

orbit2012

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10 Nov 2011
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100
Location
Kent
I have a 5yr old who wants me to take him fishing... Only problem is I have never done it. i have often considered it but don't really know anyone who goes or much about it.

Can anyone recommend a good place to start - Sea fishing, lake etc? also some good sites to get gear and some tips?

Cheers
 
Best place would be to a local lake. Firstly may I ask you where you are in Kent and I will point you to a suitable place, as it's my fishing stamping ground.
 
Yeah, Horsham seems a good place to start. There's also Stones fishery in Sheerness. That has a good head of fish, although it gets a bit blowy.

As for tackle, I would just visit your nearest tackle shop. If you have to shop online, you can try http://www.fishingwarehouseshop.co.uk/

They are pretty cheap. And yes, you will both need EA licences if you are both fishing. You can pick them up from main post offices. Yours will be £27 for a season, but your son can get one for free as he's under 12.
 
Thanks for the info, I work just round the corner from Stones, wasn't ever aware they had a lake there!

Was going to look on Ebay for Rods, is there any particular ones to look for that are ideal for starters learning the ropes?
 
Pop into your local fishing tackle shop and ask them if they do lessons.
Its not an easy sport to do if you have had no experience.
Also, what type of fish do you want to go for, as Carp and Catfish need bigger stronger gear than for example Roach or Dace.

Only buy a float rod if you plan for small fish as it will snap if you hook a bigger 20lb+ fish (trust me I have had it happen)

You could safely buy a 12ft 2.5lb test curve rod and get the best of both worlds, small and bigger fish.

Also get a rod licence, you must have one
 
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If we're talking a 5 year old who's just starting, then big carp and catfish shouldn't even be considered. Best to start off with tiddlers.
 
Surely to start and at that age, sea fishing and spinning is the easiest option. Can be done from the rocks and doesnt matter too much about what rod etc you get.
 
id do as rob said and get yourself down to the local lake, 12' float rod for yourself and a 5'-6' rod for your lad.
about 35 years ago i was in the same position as your lad.. 6yo and wanted to fish, my dad bought me a 9' pier/boat rod and we fished off brighton/eastbourne pier several times but i found it a bit boring, i then got a 'young angler' float fishing starter pack from woolworths and started float fishing down the local pond and loved it
anyone remember the woolworth kids fishing kits?
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I have been looking on ebay for rods, yet to purchase though. We are going camping up in Norfolk late July so am thinking of getting a lesson booked while we are there. i did ask at my local tackle shop but they don't teach.
 
^^ we still need more info which you havnt confirmed! :), do you want to fish on the beach? pier? boat? lake? river? pond?. the tackle needed differs a lot!
what do you want to catch? and from where?
 
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Fishing is a sport where you can get a ton of info on fishing programs. I grew up doing it with friends and no one really taught us, we learnt through a mixture of trial and error and fishing programs. The type of fishing you do when you start off is pretty simple.

If its sea fishing, normally when you start, it is off a pier or something like that, where fish are found relatively close to you. With a lead and either a hook and bait or several hooks with silvery lures. Ask the local tackle shop when you go camping and they will be more than happy to guide you in the right direction when it comes to what bait and where. Beach fishing for a first timer would probably end in a disaster without heavy guidance because of the casting distances, and a five year old wont be able to beach fish(also beach casting requires more specialist equipment, like specific rods, reels and line)

If you go fresh water, a thin stick float like a waggler and a small hook (likely size 14/16) will be where you want to start. For this kind of fishing, any light tackle would do. A small real and flexible rod will be fine. Float fishing sets for beginners are incredibly easy and cheap to come by, while they wont be masterfully made like some of the match and tournament rods and reels out there, they wont hinder a first timer. I recommend watching youtube videos on how to float fish, its very easy to pick up.
 
Only just saw this thread and while I am late to the show this info might be on some use.

If you have never been fishing before then theres a couple of things worth a mention before you even start.

1) Check the weather. If its going to be blazing sunshine don't forget sun cream. You will burn to a crisp by the waters edge.
2) At least be able to swim to some degree in case you fall in!
3) You will need a rod license. I think it used to be that anyone under the age of 14 could fish without one but I've not been that old for a very long time now! You can walk into your local post office and get 1 or 8 day licenses or a yearly one. If you are just going for the day it might pay to start with a one day license. http://www.postoffice.co.uk/rod-fishing-licence
4) The pool or canal you choose to fish may require additional payment for a days fishing. This is typically anywhere from £1.50 to (the extreme) £10.00. I would advise finding a local commercial fishery for a couple of reasons. They are often stocked extremely well with all manner of coarse fish, big and small. The facility's are often very good with toilets on site and more often than not a café or shop you can buy snacks and drinks.

If you are completely new to fishing and have no tackle what so ever I would suggest getting what is called a whip. This is a telescopic carbon pole that ranges in length from 1 meter upto 10 meters. For somebody new to the sport a 3 meter whip is more than adequate. When using a whip there is no need for a reel as the line attaches to the tip of the whip with a connector. A rod and a reel can be quite confusing for a beginner as you have to learn to cast and also theres always the chance that the line on the reel will tangle, you could end up spending the day trying to unpick knots! :) With a whip however you simply swing the terminal tackle out in a underarm action and you are fishing. A whip is not really designed for big fish but instead its designed for catching lots of small fish. I think this is important when somebody goes fishing for the first time (catching lots of small fish) because you get used to handling the fish, unhooking the fish and also you wont get bored as the float is going under (hopefully) very often :)

Get yourself to a local tackle shop and have a chat with the people in there. More often than not they will be very helpful. Just explain you are testing the water and don't want to spend hundreds of pounds on gear and they should (if they are worth there weight) help you out. Its in their best interests to do so as its potentially another person(s) coming into the sport and another future regular customer.

Below is a simple guide to whip fishing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8epGyuBSP9c
 
Used to fish with my brother on a weekend after watching those John Wilson 'Go Fishing' programmes back in the day. Great fun, want to get back into it. Some good stuff in this thread!
 
Getting back into fishing has never been easier of cheaper!

Production cost of quality carbon rods is lower now than ever! You can grab fishing equipment for an incredibly low price online, whether it is carping gear, light silver fish fishing or beach gear. As to find out what type of gear you will need, head to your local tackle shop and have a talk with them to get started if you have never fished before. After that and a few googles, you will have all the info you need to help choosing what you need.

Tight lines guys!
 
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