Son wants to go fishing, ive never been. tips required!
Discussion
JFReturns said:
As an alternative to all this girly puddle chucking advice 
why not try sea fishing? Late autumn and early winter is the best time IMO, you might get lucky and catch a cod for dinner 
Its not me its for my son (9) anything too harsh/difficult will put him off. I think its a great hobby for him to take up so want to make it simple for him, if he wants to move on to sea fishing afterwards then that would be great. why not try sea fishing? Late autumn and early winter is the best time IMO, you might get lucky and catch a cod for dinner callmedave said:
another silly question, do you get the same fish in lakes as you do in the sea? (seriously i know nothing about fishing!)
how does one go 'trout fishing' for example? does it depend on bait/lures used?
No, lakes will generally be fresh water and the sea is salt water, different fish live in each environment.how does one go 'trout fishing' for example? does it depend on bait/lures used?
For trout fishing you'll need to find somewhere that trout are, same with any fish, you just need to go to where they are and you should catch them. You will also use different techniques for different fish. Predators for example (Pike, Perch etc) are normally caught with lures or live/ dead bait whereas others will be caught using traditional hook and maggot type arrangements.
You could do a lot worse than have a chat with some of the anglers at the lake you mention in your first post. They're likely to tell you pretty much all you need to know about what's being caught where & how.
As said, for general coarse fishing you can't go wrong with maggots as they'll catch everything!
If the water has carp in it they will usually take floating baits & Pedigree Chum Mixer or Baker's 'Meaty Meal' dry work very well. Throw a few free samples out & when the fish start to take them introduce the one with the hook - I either freeline them (no float or weight) or if I need distance a bubble float. Much more exciting than watching a float or ledgering! Bread crust works well too. Only issue with floating baits can be waterfowl.
Totally Awesome Fishing do some very entertaining and informative videos about a range of fishing methods which can be found on youtube & I freely admit to pinching quite a few of his ideas!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTXGCQjF6tQ (Graeme Pullen is the chap who caught a 400+lb Porbeagle shark from his 17' boat a couple of years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQlCpk9n0I8)
As said, for general coarse fishing you can't go wrong with maggots as they'll catch everything!
If the water has carp in it they will usually take floating baits & Pedigree Chum Mixer or Baker's 'Meaty Meal' dry work very well. Throw a few free samples out & when the fish start to take them introduce the one with the hook - I either freeline them (no float or weight) or if I need distance a bubble float. Much more exciting than watching a float or ledgering! Bread crust works well too. Only issue with floating baits can be waterfowl.
Totally Awesome Fishing do some very entertaining and informative videos about a range of fishing methods which can be found on youtube & I freely admit to pinching quite a few of his ideas!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTXGCQjF6tQ (Graeme Pullen is the chap who caught a 400+lb Porbeagle shark from his 17' boat a couple of years ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQlCpk9n0I8)
Edited by paintman on Wednesday 2nd November 11:26
battered said:
callmedave said:
) I planned to go around March time in the new year so that it is warmer,
Coarse fishing close season 15 Mar to 15 June. They need time off to spawn.Trout season starts April 1st (iirc).
callmedave said:
another silly question, do you get the same fish in lakes as you do in the sea? (seriously i know nothing about fishing!)
Sorry that made me laugh 
: you do know that you don't get cod or haddock swimming in the Thames or your local duck pond... Anyway, I think it's fair to say that most anglers learnt from a father, uncle or friend's dad. In my case I had a few mates who's dads fished and I learnt a lot from them. Also as has been said, read books - (Does Mr Crabtree still exist?)
A lot has been said, but one point, your lad will undoubtedly get in a tangle and it can be very frustrating so he will need a lot of patience, just about everything to do with fishing involves patience! He will get snagged up in weeds, bushes, trees and just about anything nearby. For that reason I wouldn't bother with "hook-to-line" (or whatever the other chap called them) just get some barbless hooks and teach him how to do a half-blood knot.
If he's 9 yrs old a 12' rod may be too long for him to manage but I'm sure the chap at the fishing rod will chat about that. Don't bother with a keep net, they're never big enough and often do the fish more harm than just sliding them back into the water. Do get a landing net, much better than danging a fish on the end of the line.
Agree with all the rest of the comments, it's usually cold and wet so with a young lad pick your time to go.
+1 for sea fishing for his first trip. If you don't catch anything at least he has had a boat trip and the odds of nobody catching anything are slim on a boat over a wreck with sonar! It's far more fun than sat by a stagnant lake for 5 hours in the hope of catching a crap little fish that you can't eat. Mackerel fishing is the best fun ever hauling the stupid things up 5 at a time.
This makes sense, I remember a couple of trips as a little lad, we had a great time. You can of course cook what you've caught, which is an education. 9 yr old boys especially will be unfazed by gutting the things, it's just another rufty tufty learning-to-be-a-man experience for him.
RichB said:
callmedave said:
another silly question, do you get the same fish in lakes as you do in the sea? (seriously i know nothing about fishing!)
Sorry that made me laugh : you do know that you don't get cod or Boat fishing at sea is quite good if you don't know what you're doing - most of the skill involved is the skipper's, you just do as you are told. I don't find it particularly satisfying for that reason, and if you don't live near the sea it's an expensive thing to do regularly, but catching something edible is nice.
This may be of interest to the OP;
http://www.anglingtrust.net/landing.asp?section=11...
This may be of interest to the OP;
http://www.anglingtrust.net/landing.asp?section=11...
OP, I was in a similar position to you about 4 months ago.
I was vaguely interested in doing a bit of fishing as a family activity before we went up to Scotland, but knew nothing about it. After a magical day under bright blue skies next to the clear waters of a loch where we all pulled out plenty of nice plump mackerel (which later provided tea) we're all hooked, (pardon the pun).
That was a day spent spinning -which is fairly straight forward, but I'm buying lugworm on my way home tonight for another expedition to catch a few winter species from the shore of a local estuary. The bottom line is that it's been brilliant to find something which we all enjoy and gets us out of the house in an age of iPads and YouTube. Hasn't cost too much either, £150-£200 spread over recent months has got us all the kit we need for summer spinning and autumn/winter sea fishing
The key for me was having a brother-in-law who fishes regularly, he took me out a couple of times and was able to show the basics whilst helping with a few tackle purchases. Once you've been shown how to get line on a reel, tie a couple of knots, attach a rig, bait a hook, cast, disgorge a fish etc. the rest is just having a go. There's loads on forums and YouTube to help you along too.
The other thing I love is that it's a hobby where it doesn't really matter if you fail or "blank". Because where I fish it's just great to be out on the coast. Last Sunday I took a stove, rustled up some sausage sandwiches for everyone in between casts/baiting. I caught nothing but one of our party got a lovely Flounder.
And after telling my wife she was wasting her time spinning into an estuary at the end of October, she and the kids duly pulled out 3 mackerel. Everyone was happy; great morning.
Have a go OP!
I was vaguely interested in doing a bit of fishing as a family activity before we went up to Scotland, but knew nothing about it. After a magical day under bright blue skies next to the clear waters of a loch where we all pulled out plenty of nice plump mackerel (which later provided tea) we're all hooked, (pardon the pun).
That was a day spent spinning -which is fairly straight forward, but I'm buying lugworm on my way home tonight for another expedition to catch a few winter species from the shore of a local estuary. The bottom line is that it's been brilliant to find something which we all enjoy and gets us out of the house in an age of iPads and YouTube. Hasn't cost too much either, £150-£200 spread over recent months has got us all the kit we need for summer spinning and autumn/winter sea fishing
The key for me was having a brother-in-law who fishes regularly, he took me out a couple of times and was able to show the basics whilst helping with a few tackle purchases. Once you've been shown how to get line on a reel, tie a couple of knots, attach a rig, bait a hook, cast, disgorge a fish etc. the rest is just having a go. There's loads on forums and YouTube to help you along too.
The other thing I love is that it's a hobby where it doesn't really matter if you fail or "blank". Because where I fish it's just great to be out on the coast. Last Sunday I took a stove, rustled up some sausage sandwiches for everyone in between casts/baiting. I caught nothing but one of our party got a lovely Flounder.
And after telling my wife she was wasting her time spinning into an estuary at the end of October, she and the kids duly pulled out 3 mackerel. Everyone was happy; great morning.
Have a go OP!
callmedave said:
JFReturns said:
As an alternative to all this girly puddle chucking advice why not try sea fishing? Late autumn and early winter is the best time IMO, you might get lucky and catch a cod for dinner
Its not me its for my son (9) anything too harsh/difficult will put him off. I think its a great hobby for him to take up so want to make it simple for him, if he wants to move on to sea fishing afterwards then that would be great. why not try sea fishing? Late autumn and early winter is the best time IMO, you might get lucky and catch a cod for dinner Well done OP - if you get your lad into fishing and he enjoys it he will have a lifelong hobby and passion.
I took up fishing when I was about 6 - nobody i knew went, but my dad would take me to the local canal to sit and fish.
He did however let me dangle a slice of bacon attached to was was effectively a crane hook on bright orange string. I caught my first fish about 5 years later when I eventually taught myself from books what to do!
I'm still at it now - albeit not as regularly, but fishing has provided me with the most exciting times, the most wonderful views and some fantastic mates.
I took up fishing when I was about 6 - nobody i knew went, but my dad would take me to the local canal to sit and fish.
He did however let me dangle a slice of bacon attached to was was effectively a crane hook on bright orange string. I caught my first fish about 5 years later when I eventually taught myself from books what to do!
I'm still at it now - albeit not as regularly, but fishing has provided me with the most exciting times, the most wonderful views and some fantastic mates.
Sorry if this is a bit late or been covered.
If your in the local tackle shop, ask if any of the local angling clubs offer tuition days. They wont normally be at this time of year, but my local club has in the past hosted days with tackle/ bait supplied and professional coaches on hand.
Ask at his school if there is an angling club, I know of couple of teachers who do this for their schools.
If your in the local tackle shop, ask if any of the local angling clubs offer tuition days. They wont normally be at this time of year, but my local club has in the past hosted days with tackle/ bait supplied and professional coaches on hand.
Ask at his school if there is an angling club, I know of couple of teachers who do this for their schools.
Piers_K said:
Sorry if this is a bit late or been covered.
If your in the local tackle shop, ask if any of the local angling clubs offer tuition days. They wont normally be at this time of year, but my local club has in the past hosted days with tackle/ bait supplied and professional coaches on hand.
Ask at his school if there is an angling club, I know of couple of teachers who do this for their schools.
Thanks, This had not been previously mentioned, good idea.If your in the local tackle shop, ask if any of the local angling clubs offer tuition days. They wont normally be at this time of year, but my local club has in the past hosted days with tackle/ bait supplied and professional coaches on hand.
Ask at his school if there is an angling club, I know of couple of teachers who do this for their schools.
I was planning to pop into the tackle shop this afternoon so will ask. Thanks.
If you are anywhere within reasonable distance of Liverpool I will happily take both of you and show you what to do, personally I think that is the most valuable lesson in fishing.
My goals when fishing are obviously to catch but equally is to put the fish back safe and well, many times we have caught fish with other peoples badly tied end rigs still in their mouths.
You need to learn how to handle fish, how to unhook them and return them in good condition.
There is bound to be a fishing club local to you, many have junior sections and they will be happy to show you.
There are probably some commercial fisheries local to you, they would be the place to start and will give you info on technique and location for the weather conditions and time of year, they are also stuffed full of fish, keeping a youngster interested when nothing if happening is hard work as my dad found out, I got bored after an hour and started chucking rock in, it's a wonderful hobby.
It's old and corny but true 'take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints'
Happy to help with anything.
Wayne
My goals when fishing are obviously to catch but equally is to put the fish back safe and well, many times we have caught fish with other peoples badly tied end rigs still in their mouths.
You need to learn how to handle fish, how to unhook them and return them in good condition.
There is bound to be a fishing club local to you, many have junior sections and they will be happy to show you.
There are probably some commercial fisheries local to you, they would be the place to start and will give you info on technique and location for the weather conditions and time of year, they are also stuffed full of fish, keeping a youngster interested when nothing if happening is hard work as my dad found out, I got bored after an hour and started chucking rock in, it's a wonderful hobby.
It's old and corny but true 'take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints'
Happy to help with anything.
Wayne
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