I've always wanted to fish - what's the best way to start?

[Taverner]

I love fresh fish - and love the while idea of fishing - the meditation, the suddent excitement when something bites...

I'd love to learn the more advanced kinds of fishing like fly or angling, but gotta start at the basics.

Thing is I have no clue how. Where do I start?

[Van Helsing]

1. Buy a fishing pole and some bait.

:)

[Taverner]

2. Is it one of those things where

You can just go to a pier that has fishing and just...fish?

No matching the lure to the fish and environment?

[Van Helsing]

3. Depends upon where you're going fishing...

what type of fishing you're doing (freshwater, saltwater, fly, jigging, trolling, etc) and the environment and etc.

If it's just plain ol' freshwater fishing, then yes, all you need to do is buy a fishing pole and some bait (nightcrawlers) and go fishing right off the pier. It's that simple. :)

[frylock]

4. depends on where you're fishing, what species..

stuff like that. Freshwater or salt? Lakes or rivers? Wild or stocked environment?

[amazona]

24. you need a fishing license

Check with your state wildlife and fisheries. In some states, such as Louisiana, you can buy your license online.

The sports section of your daily paper should have fishing tips and information.

[Raven]

5. My 90 year old mother tied her own flies!

She learned to fish from her father as a girl. If you don't have a mentor, go on the internet and I think you will find many learning opportunities. I know that on Cape Cod they run a "fishing camp" every year. There is really an art to fishing...you need to understand the habits of the fish and what bait works...if you just throw a line in the water, you might get discouraged. Have fun!

[lazarus]

6. as others have said

it depends on where and what for.

If you really want to learn, and live near a large enough lake, there may be pros who do fishing tours, a guided thing that not only helps you catch fish (primarily bass and trout, in freshwater lakes and reservoirs) but, if you get a good one, can be sort of like taking free fishing lessons.

Another good idea: find a good independent bait and tackle store, and make friends. Tell them you want to learn, but don't have a clue.

A good one won't try to sell you thousands of dollars worth of stuff, they'll just get you started.

Biggest tip: Avoid shelling out for a baitcast real until you're comfortable with fishing. They're expensive, and can be difficult to master. I've got a couple, including a left handed reel that I love. (I'm not lefty, but I fish lefty. I dunno why, it just feels right.)

If you want to get into more detail, drop me an email or PM (both are open). My grandfathers were both great fisherman, and I picked up a few things along the years.

[Taverner]

9. Well I live in the bay area

And tho theres fish in the bay, most will agree it may not be the safest...but there are plenty of fisheries

[lazarus]

10. a couple of resources

here's a great one for learning bass fishing, I picked up some good tips here.

http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/beginner.html

And here's another one that you should find helpful.

http://www.activeangler.com/articles/beginners/

Also, again, I'd check the local area, especially near a lake or reservoir that has good fishing, and check with the bait shops for advice. Always ask at a bait/tackle shop near the place you're going fishing for any tips on time, what's biting these days, good locations.

These guys tend to give good info, because they want your return business. Pay them back by buying some bait or lures (you can always use more lures) before you head out.

[brainshrub]

7. By asking those questions, your making it to complicated.

Just go to the peir, put some bait on a hook and go at it.

[Twillig]

8. There are fishing guides *everywhere* for hire

They'll get you a good start fishing, they don't care if you're a newbie. They'll get you fish. You'll learn a thing or two.

Nothing better than a successful first outing.

[Buck Turgidson]

11. The internet is your friend

Pier fishing resources on the Web

[Bonhomme Richard]

12. Go to a local tacke shop (that's a fishing store).............

I'm sure they would be very happy to help you out and they will know locally what fish are biting and what bait to use.
Have fun.

[NewHampster]

13. My wife told me that if I go fishing again she'll leave me.

God, I'm going to miss her!

[AndyP]

17. hahaha <nt>

[catmandu57]

14. #1.

Before you buy any equipment, buy a fishing license, this is very, very important unless you have a large ammount of cash that you're foolish enough to part with.
Then find someone to buddy up with, finding the right fishing buddy is almost as important as finding the right spouse.
Have fun.

[MichaelHarris]

15. Only one kind of fishing

flyfishing. The sport of kings, besides golf. Someone said bait? Nooooo bait, flies only. Nothing better than being in a cool mountain stream with the early morning fog hanging low in the trees. The sights and sounds of trout slurping that days hatch. I'm getting myself excited.

"Unless one can enjoy himself fishing with the fly, even when his efforts are unrewarded, he loses much real pleasure. More than half the intense enjoyment of fly-fishing is derived from the beautiful surroundings, the satisfaction felt from being in the open air, the new lease of life secured thereby, and the many, many pleasant recollections of all one has seen, heard and done." - Charles F. Orvis

[rumguy]

19. I agree

Montana born fly-fisher here...

[MichaelHarris]

27. I fish

the Clark Fork in Montana all the time.

[rumguy]

28. sweet - I used to live in Missoula

I fished the Clark's Fork often...

[MichaelHarris]

31. this summer

is turning into a madhouse for. Weddings in Tx, family to see, and landscaping my nightmare of a yard. All I really wanna do is stay in the NW and fish. I do plan on squeezing in some bonefishin, and some monster bows on the San Juan in NM if I can. I live about 3 hours from the Clark Fork and would go every day if I could.

[Ernesto]

20. What if you don't live near "a cool moutain stream"?

I sold off my fly gear years ago.

[MichaelHarris]

26. that makes it tough

but almost every kind of fish will take a fly.

[Bunny]

16. How to fish:

1. Get pole
2. Get worms
3. Get six-pack
4. Go to nearest source of water
5. Put worm on hook
6. Put hook in water
7. Drink six-pack
8. Take pole out of water
9. Go home

Piece of cake!!!

[Ernesto]

18. Hi Taverner

I'm just south of Sac with my boat moored in the delta. Try Californiadelta.org There is a very friendly fishing forum @ the site. There are many bay areas anglers onboard and they will answer questions & give plenty of tips.... Don't get political though, I've gotten into many squabbles with the site's rednecks. Pretty much "good 'Merican sportsmen" types.

[Guy Fawkes]

21. Great idea....

A fisherman I know will get "Pensler" language tapes, then play them while he's fishing.

[rumguy]

22. My favorite game fish

The cutthroat trout.

[Shrek]

23. This book will help a lot

Got me started with a minimum of fuss and now I'm hooked!

[jmowreader]

25. You start by looking for a store with this sign

"Live Bait and Tackle."

Go in and tell the person behind the counter you have never fished before but would like to. They will sell you a rod and reel, some hooks, some sinkers, a fishing license and some worms. Worms are the easiest way to get started because they're most fishes' favorite food. They will also tell you how to hook all this stuff together.

They will then tell you where to go to catch some fish. A good bait dealer knows that if you don't catch any fish your first time out there won't be a second time out because fishing all day, then coming home with no fish, really sucks.

Make sure you have something cold to drink, some sandwiches and so on.

Then go have fun.

[HEyHEY]

29. Don't waste time spincasting if you wanna flyfish

there is no point because the two are different. you may as well learn fly straight off the bat. Go to a local flyshop and see if they give lessons.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

30. I went to a fishing/hunting equipment store

that was owned by this old guy who loved his work.

He helped my son and I pick out a couple of decent rods and reels, and showed us how to cast in the parking lot of the store.

I was sorry to learn that he died a few years ago. He really was a sweet guy.