Son wants to go fishing, ive never been. tips required!

Son wants to go fishing, ive never been. tips required!

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Discussion

RichB

51,602 posts

285 months

Sunday 11th December 2016
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waynedear said:
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
very good advice Wayne, one really needs a mentor from whom to learn.

AW111

9,674 posts

134 months

Sunday 11th December 2016
quotequote all
waynedear said:
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
I am not trying to start an argument, but am interested in your attitude.
I am on the other side of the world, but I love fishing (I have a boat, and mainly fish in salt water), and half the point for me is eating super-fresh fish. I just finished a meal of flathead, which was worth the 3:30 am alarm clock.

The only problem with boat fishing (apart from obtaining a boat) is seasickness. I have had to abort a few trips when passengers got qeasy.

OP - I hope you have success and your son enjoys it. I have been fishing for nearly 50 years now, and it still is one of the best ways to relax and get your head right away from everything. If the fish aren't biting, there's usually birds to watch, and it's a very peaceful hobby.

waynedear

2,179 posts

168 months

Sunday 11th December 2016
quotequote all
AW111 said:
I am not trying to start an argument, but am interested in your attitude.
I am on the other side of the world, but I love fishing (I have a boat, and mainly fish in salt water), and half the point for me is eating super-fresh fish. I just finished a meal of flathead, which was worth the 3:30 am alarm clock.

The only problem with boat fishing (apart from obtaining a boat) is seasickness. I have had to abort a few trips when passengers got qeasy.

OP - I hope you have success and your son enjoys it. I have been fishing for nearly 50 years now, and it still is one of the best ways to relax and get your head right away from everything. If the fish aren't biting, there's usually birds to watch, and it's a very peaceful hobby.
AW I have no issues at all about people catching fish and eating it, I remember a mate chasing me down a beach in the dark as he knew what I was going to do with the 8lb Cod I caught lol.
I fish my way, you fish yours, we both get pleasure and think we both enjoy it even when we do not catch.
I respect the fish I catch and nature in general, if I was catching to eat I would be the same smile

NRS

22,195 posts

202 months

Sunday 11th December 2016
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For me it would depend on sustainability - if it's sustainable then it's ok. If it's unsustainable then it would be a lot more of an issue - otherwise you just make it a lot worse in the future. That said, I've not really been in the situation where I have been fishing just for sport.

AW111

9,674 posts

134 months

Sunday 11th December 2016
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waynedear said:
AW I have no issues at all about people catching fish and eating it, I remember a mate chasing me down a beach in the dark as he knew what I was going to do with the 8lb Cod I caught lol.
I fish my way, you fish yours, we both get pleasure and think we both enjoy it even when we do not catch.
I respect the fish I catch and nature in general, if I was catching to eat I would be the same smile
thumbup

And fiery death to people keeping undersized fish!

callmedave

Original Poster:

2,686 posts

146 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
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Hi guys!

Had a fantastic weekend with the boy at our local pond.






We caught two others but so really small (palm sized) so didnt bother with pictures, no idea what type these are. Im quite impressed with his casting, he can aim it quite well.

He was really happy just waiting for a bite, and when we did catch one he handled it well, reeling it in and landing it.

due to a side wind we set our line up like this heavy weight--------hook on premade line-------small BB float Small BB---------rod

the big weight on the bottom stopped the float floating off.

We plan to go again after school on Friday for a few hours if weather allows.

Only thing was he was squimish over the maggots and would not touch them, he says he will try when we go next.

Thanks for all the help guys! smile


Bomma220

14,495 posts

126 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
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Marvellous stuff chap, glad to see you're both up and running.

I'm sure the lad will overcome his maggot aversion in time. Tinned sweetcorn is a good alternative bait, it sometimes pays to change to a different bait if you're not getting much action anyway.

Keep us posted and good luck!

callmedave

Original Poster:

2,686 posts

146 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
quotequote all
Saturday we used sweetcorn and caught one fish (the one he is holding)

Sundy we used maggots and got 4 in total, and a few bites that got away.

Lynchie999

3,426 posts

154 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
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nice work!

I always found Luncheon Meat (or SPAM) works well!

Matt_N

8,903 posts

203 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
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Been a good few years since I last went fishing, but the top one looks like a young Bream (or Skimmer as they are commonly called), was it a bit slimey with white snot on it?

Bottom two are carp, common or hybrid F1 by the looks of it.


callmedave

Original Poster:

2,686 posts

146 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
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Matt_N said:
Been a good few years since I last went fishing, but the top one looks like a young Bream (or Skimmer as they are commonly called), was it a bit slimey with white snot on it?

Bottom two are carp, common or hybrid F1 by the looks of it.
I remember it being very slimey, not sure about the white snot, but thanks for the ident, a friend thought it was a bream too.

We caught a small one with red tips to the fins too, (Perch?)

otolith

56,201 posts

205 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
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Was it silvery and slimy, or rough to the touch with stripes and sharp spikes on the dorsal fin?

callmedave

Original Poster:

2,686 posts

146 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
quotequote all
otolith said:
Was it silvery and slimy, or rough to the touch with stripes and sharp spikes on the dorsal fin?
thered finned one? a little rough and yeah the fins were spiky.


otolith

56,201 posts

205 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
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That would be a perch then, yes.

battered

4,088 posts

148 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
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Perch are distinctive, they are very pretty fish. Vertical black stripes on a green/silver background and red edged fins, so easy to spot. Also very plentiful and good eating if you wish. No problems with sustainability, most gravel pits and canals are running alive with them and you won't be catching anything compared to the pike and herons that are there every day.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

173 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
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battered said:
Perch are distinctive, they are very pretty fish. Vertical black stripes on a green/silver background and red edged fins, so easy to spot. Also very plentiful and good eating if you wish. No problems with sustainability, most gravel pits and canals are running alive with them and you won't be catching anything compared to the pike and herons that are there every day.
You don't eat fish out of Rivers and canals in England. Hardly sustainable, they have been plundered by Eastern Europeans. Idiot.

"It is an offence to take any fish away from a canal or reservoir under the 1968 Theft Act and Environment Agency Byelaws. The reporter should telephone the Environment Agency 0800 807060 immediately"

otolith

56,201 posts

205 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
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It is legal to take fish to eat with the written permission of the holder of the fishing rights. Generally speaking, this will be denied, in which case it is an offence to take any.

There are some legal restrictions on sizes and numbers you may take from rivers even with permission from the holder of the fishing rights.

Also, you may get lynched.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

173 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
quotequote all
otolith said:
It is legal to take fish to eat with the written permission of the holder of the fishing rights. Generally speaking, this will be denied, in which case it is an offence to take any.

There are some legal restrictions on sizes and numbers you may take from rivers even with permission from the holder of the fishing rights.

Also, you may get lynched.
Good luck getting permission from anyone in the UK to eat their fish. It's just a nono and like you say you will probably get lynched and fined if caught doing so.

It's an offence to take fish from anywhere else so please don't do it. The rivers and canals are already in a bad way. Not sure who would want to eat anything out of the canals anyway after what I regularly see floating around in it.

otolith

56,201 posts

205 months

Tuesday 7th March 2017
quotequote all
You could probably get permission from some game fishery owners - wasn't that long ago that the less enlightened ones culled anything that isn't a trout! But generally, no, not allowed.

I must admit, I have caught and eaten perch in Finland, from a low salinity area of the Baltic Sea. My host hot smoked them over some juniper twigs off the little island we were visiting (his family had a summerhouse there) and it still ranks amongst the finest meals of fish I have ever eaten. But here, no, they all go back.