Let's Go Fishing: A Beginner's Guide to Casting a Line
- mmcmahon09
- May 29
- 2 min read
A great way to spend the day is to grab your fishing gear and head to a local body of water.
If you've never fished before, stepping inside a bait store for the first time might be overwhelming, with aisles and aisles of fishing gear, worms, lures, weights, different kinds of fishing line and different styles of rods and reels. There are so many options!
Check out this video to learn about the basics of fishing.
Basic fishing supplies
To start, all you need is some fishing line, a rod and a reel.
In your tackle box, you don't need much: a bobber, a sinker (aka weight), a small hook and some nail clippers. The nail clippers come in handy to snip off fishing line. You will also need some live bait.
Casting
You may want to use a casting weight to practice casting before you tie the sharp hook on your line. It also helps you learn the way your fishing reel works ahead of time.
A tip for beginners: Don't try to cast hard. You want a smooth motion. Practice making a gentle sweep with your rod.
Hook and worm
Practice tying the Palomar knot. It is strong and easy to learn. On your line, fasten a bobber a few feet above your hook. Then attach a weight to the line a few inches from your hook. Weave the hook through the worm.
Cast your pole into a body of water. Keep the line taught and wait patiently, watching the bobber for movement. Keep your pole pointed at the water. Once you see or feel a fish nibbling on your bait, set the hook by sweeping your pole upward or in a different direction. (If your pole is already up, you can't jerk it up.) Reel in steadily.
If you catch a fish, always handle the animal with wet hands or a wet rag for safety. Use pliers or your hands to finagle the hook from the mouth of the fish.
Remember to have patience. Enjoy the day, the weather and the sights and sounds of nature.
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