- An inexpensive and rugged reel to start with is the spincast outfit.
You can pick up a good one (around $10) at any tackle or discount store, or
have your parents purchase one online.
- Practice your casting skills. Use an open area with no trees or
power lines. Practice plugs are best suited for practicing.
Place a target on the ground about 25 feet in front of you. Extend
your arm with the rod pointed at the target, bend your arm back until the
rod is at the 1 o'clock position, then snap your arm forward while releasing
the button at the same time.
- The best lures. Most fish will bite a lure that looks like a
minnow, crayfish (crawdad), or other living prey. Spinnerbaits,
crankbaits, and plastic worms work best for bass. Trout, pike and
saltwater fish will hit shiny metal lures. Use a tackle box or a
utility box to hold your lures. Remember the hooks are sharp.
- Normally fish hide around cover. Cover can be anything from weeds,
trees, logs, and rocks. Don't be afraid to cast into this good stuff.
Most strikes will occur on the drop, when the lure passes by the cover, or
bumps into the cover. You may lose a few lures when fishing cover but
you'll catch more fish.
- Vary the retrieve speed to make the lure look more realistic.
- When a fish strikes you need to set the hook. The second you feel
a tap on the line lower the rod tip, reel up the slack and sharply jerk the
rod upward.
- Fishing heavy cover, where the bigger fish normally live, use a plastic
worm or a "jig and pig" (leadhead jig with a pork frog trailer). Cast
into the thickest area of the cover, let the lure drop, then shake the rod
tip gently to coax a bite.
- Topwater lures are the most exciting to fish. These lures float on
the surface. When fishing with a topwater, cast near the cover, let it
set for several seconds, then twitch the rod tip so the lure works on the
surface. When done correctly you will experience a KA-SPLOOSH - the
surface explodes as the fish bites your lure.
- When fishing is tough or slow, try using a smaller lure. A 4-inch
worm is a good choice. Rig the worm on a 1/0 hook with a BB-size
split-shot weight attached to the line about 18 inches above the hook.
Cast the lure out and wait for it to settle on the bottom. Work or
reel it very slow. The weight will bounce on the bottom, causing the
worm to dart in different directions.
- After you master the spincast outfit, try a more precise spinning or
baitcaster. Spinning reels are ideal for clear water using 4 to 10
pound test line. The baitcaster is best for big, strong fish.
Use line with a 12 to 30 pound test.
- Fishing is more fun when you share it with a friend or parent.
Show a beginner how you learned to cast, tie knots, and select lures.
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