Best Fishing Tips And Tricks For Beginners (A Complete Guide)

The warm and damp months of summer are a temptation for all those fishing enthusiasts. All it requires are some modifications to your tackle and gear and you are ready from dusk till dawn. Fishing is one of the renowned comforting and leisurely hobbies you can actively participate in.

You can enjoy it either alone or as a social activity. Though it’s a popular competitive sport that involves an excellent level of skill and technique. Still, many people are confused when it comes to fishing perhaps from where to begin. Remember, certain knowledge is required to succeed.

With diverse varieties of fish available to catch, learning how to do fishing effectively seems to be an overwhelming task. Whether you are a proficient angler or simply want to take up this task in your free time, we have compiled the best fishing tips and tricks to guide you throughout this journey.

Remember, having high-quality fishing gear will progress your fishing performance though it’s not always a key to good casting. To perform this activity, your technique will reflect your success.

Fishing Gear – The Basics

1 – Extra Line

Whether your line is entangled or you have got a bite from a monster fish, your fishing line is more likely to break. It’s a good idea to own an additional line in your tackle box.

The line you carry along primarily depends on where you are doing fishing or what types of fish you are looking forward to. If you are fishing in rough and tough conditions, you should preferably get a durable fishing line. On the other hand, fishing in a crystal clear lake will prefer a thin and clear line.

Your line selection depends on the fish you want to catch. For instance, 30lb line is good for cats, big bass, carp, and tilapia while a 12lb test line makes a great choice for bass fishing. Usually, the fluorocarbon line sinks quickly than other types of lines. It can be best used when you are fishing near the bottom of the water.

2 – Hooks

Equip your tackle box with different hooks so you are ready for any kind of fish. You may want to opt for J-hook or French hook. Hooks are available in various sizes so you can choose one according to the requirements and playing style. Small hooks are challenging for the fish to identify. The dimensions of your bait primarily determine the appropriate hook size.

3 – Bobbers

Bobbers or floaters assist you against the bites of fish. As soon the fish bites, the bobber sinks and you get ready to reel your catch again. Most people prefer red and white round plastic bobbers. They make a good option but you need to clip them to the line and secure it.

However, the round bobbers to some extent limit how deep you can cast a line. For this, you may want to opt for a slip bobber that allows you to glide it up and down. Though they may take time to rig, many anglers feel that this extra effort is worth it particularly for deepwater fishing.

4 – Sinker

A hook and worm are very lightweight to sink deeply. Therefore, you need to connect a sinker to your fishing rig and maintain balance. Typically, sinkers are made of lead, brass, steel, tungsten, and bismuth. Choose as per your requirements.

5 – Plastic Worms

If you are fond of live bait, you will love to have plastic worms in your tackle box particularly if you are bass fishing. Plastic worms are commonly available in diverse colors and sizes. These worms have long tails and are the easiest to use.

6 – A Couple Of Lures

Your hook and worm should be enough for your fishing needs. At times, you may want to get complex lures to take your game to another level. There are several types of lures available on the market such as minnow imitations, spinners, and spoons.

Every lure type is specially designed to attract fish. For instance, the minnow imitations are lures that appear to be small swimming minnows. These lures attract many medium to large-sized fish to chomp on minnows.

Spinners have a blade connected to create a spinning action and appeal to all those delicious fish. You can use this lure as per your personal preference. Keep on experimenting to find out what goes best for your tackle box.

7 – Needle Nose Pliers

Needle nose pliers are frequently required to take the hooks out of the fish once you catch them. They make a useful addition to your fishing gear.

8 – First Aid Kit

All being well, you may not encounter any medical emergencies while fishing. Though small injuries frequently happen such as getting a hook trapped in your thumb. Under these circumstances, you need to have a compact first aid kit.

It doesn’t need to be an advanced kit. Simply compile together basic things such as some bandages, Neosporin, and waterproof medical tape. Your kit should be enough to take care of your most fishing-related wounds.

9 – Sunscreen

During fishing, remember you are in the sun all day long. To prevent yourself from any skin condition, carrying a sunscreen is a good idea. You may not remember putting in on while leaving your home. Just keep it in your gearbox and you will be reminded every time you open the box.

10 – Line Cutter

At times, you may encounter a snag that will interrupt your fishing activity. Though a pocket knife can do this job done effectively, nail clippers make a great choice to cut your line. It’s quick and efficient.

11 – Fishing Rods

Choose a rod depending on the type of fish you intend to catch. For example, long poles are appropriate for panfish, short poles are preferred for heavy cats and carp while the 5-7ft pole is a good option for bass and tilapia.

Related article: How To Set Up A Fishing Pole?

Know The Legal Limits

Your fishing license is among the most crucial requirements before you head over to the waters. Make sure you are fully aware of the legal limitations in your area. Owning a fishing license is quick and effectively contributes to conservation efforts.

In most countries, you will also have an option to buy a license online or at retail establishments. Fishing law refers to the federal and state legislation concerning the protection of scarce species and their habitats.

Check The Weather

Make sure to dispose of any mess and get all your equipment as soon as you finished. It will help you keep the environment free of hazardous materials resulting in enjoyable and clean fishing activity. It’s important to pay considerable attention to the water habitat.

By thoroughly evaluating the area, you can modify your gear and technique to maximize your potential. Whether you have started fishing recently or has been performing this activity for years, be aware of the surroundings.

General Fishing Techniques (Fishing 101)

Bass Fishing Tips

• Prefer using beat-up worms particularly in shallow water to attract the big Bass.
• You may want to use spinnerbait with a red or pink head along with a crankbait featuring red hooks. The red color can manipulate the fish think the bait is injured and they are more likely to bite it.
• As soon as you cast, stop halfway as an alternative to following throughout. This will appeal to the lure to hit the surface of the water. It’s an effective technique to grab under docks and other types of fish.
• Sharp your hooks before every fishing trip. It will hardly take a minute. Typically, Bass have boney jaws and therefore a sharp hook will help in catching the fish more quickly.
• Compromise some distance between your cast and fish. It’s better they find your bait instead of the boat.
• In the spring season, a bass typically hangs out in spawning beds. Focus on shallow areas guarded against the wind where they are likely to protect their eggs. Consequently, they will want to bite the lure to fulfill their hunger.
• Bass eating various baits primarily depends on the season. In the initial months of the year, they might be attracted to peach-colored patterns. In the summer and fall season, you can go for the chrome or silver baits.
• Remember bass is an ornery fish. You need to keep tapping at it to bite your hook. Bass commonly positions themselves in cover. Present the lure at various angles and probably you will get a successful catch.

Fly Fishing Tips

Fish are sensitive to noise and vibration. One smart tactic is to walk around slowly and quietly. Keep in mind that still water or noise can scare the fish. You may get excited, but make sure not to show it to your prey since they have strong sense organs.

Related Post: What Is Fly Fishing?

Use your eyes to figure out what insects are present in or on the water. If you find any abundant bug on the river, it is more likely that your trout is eating. Though it may not always the case since they are selective when choosing certain insects particularly in the emerging fly.

Keep in mind that the size of the fly is crucial and at least two-thirds of the nutrition of Trout is under the water instead of over it. Make sure you are familiar with nymphs’ larvae and crustaceans under the surface to assist you in deciding on fly selection.

What’s next? The standard leader length is 9 inches. With improving fishing techniques, certain situations may require long leaders especially when you are fishing dry flies on still water. Probably you will need a 12-20 feet leader.

On the other hand, a short leader makes a practical choice when you prefer casting heavy flies. Keep on experimenting with your leader length to get more proficient in the fishing game.

On large rivers and still water, many people frequently make a mistake to cast over fish in the thrill of making a long cast. Many fish can be easily caught with the short cast. Also, it’s more convenient to set the hook.

You should definitely avoid being broken. Many anglers frequently complain about this and subsequently, they should know the reason behind it. Most anglers use a stiff rod to play with the fish. It requires a lot of practice particularly at a 45-degree angle or somewhat lesser. A fly rod is more of a spring and shock absorber to play with fish.

Try your best to keep a low profile particularly on high banks with the skyline behind you. Deep fish can see you more than the ones close to the surface. Fish have incredible vision and this unique ability makes them find food and distinguish predators. We recommend you to blend into the surroundings instead of wearing bright and vibrant outfits.

Stay safe! Wear sunglasses and a hat to guard your eyes. High-quality polarized sunglasses further help in spotting fish and underwater structure. Be careful with wading. Also, use a wading belt that is more likely to save your life one day.

Ice Fishing Tips

Vertical or Horizontal:

Your ice gig is as important as its color. Most fishermen are familiar with a tear-dropped shaped jig that suspends vertically in the water such as Teardrop jig. If fish stop biting vertical jigs, you can opt for the one that droops horizontally such as Jig Bobber Fry. Many crappies and perch bite better on a horizontal jig.

Line Twist:

Most anglers prefer moving their jig up and down. However, fish get familiar with this certain kind of presentation. For a change, you can hold the line between your index finger and thumb. Subsequently, twist the line between your fingers.

This will result in the jig to rotate in the water while keeping the same depth. Also, move the jig around the border of the hole without any up and down movement. Fish respond to this technique more frequently, particularly in shallow water.

Bait to Plastic:

Give a break to the live bait and opt for exclusive plastic lures. Bluegills and other panfish will be attracted to the live bait. If this happens, choose a tiny 1/80 round head jig using a sliver of plastic secured on it. These plastic jigs make an excellent choice to search for jigs and perform well in clear water.

Bounce the Bottom:

An effective strategy to add some more jumbo perch to your bucket is to let the jig bounce off the bottom of the lake. Perch feed is primarily within some inches of the bottom. It let the jig bounce off the bottom and attracts fish from a distance. The trick works great for bluegills.

At times, it is good to let the jig to hit the bottom. You can use a spring bobber for this approach. As soon the fish takes the bait, it will rise with the jig and allow the spring bobber to go up.

Look Down the Hole:

For a few more fish, try gaping down the hole and watch the fish approaching the bait. This technique will help you learn how fish respond to diverse baits and jigging techniques. Also, it’s a great way to take large bluegill and crappie. In this case, brightly colored jigs that suspend horizontally work best as they are visible at greater depths and in clear water.

Chum:

For an added benefit, try chumming. Take along a few additional wax worms or minnows and drop them down the hole. This will attract the fish to feed more aggressively.

Set the Rod Down:

While fishing with a spring bobber rod, one simple way to catch some more fish is to set the rod down and let the bait sit completely motionless. You can position the rod down on the ice or in the rod stand.

Cover the Hole:

In shallow water, enclose the hole with ice shavings to obstruct light penetration into the water. This tip is applicable to both clear and stained water. In stained water, you can use a flow in the dark jig.

Tips For Saltwater Fishing

Spinning Reel:

Saltwater fishing reels should be corrosion-resistant and sturdy. Spinning reels’ streamline casting since you can cast them from a major distance without being affected by the extreme weather conditions.

Select a spinning reel that you can easily carry around and it should at least hold 100 yards. Though remember to choose the appropriate material. We recommend you go for aluminum since it helps to regulate the line’s moving when carrying the big fish.

Rod:

Fiberglass and graphite rods are frequently used for saltwater fishing. Generally, graphite rods cost more than fiberglass as they are convenient to use, lightweight and last longer. No matter which rod you want to use, make sure to wipe and rinse it after use to prevent saltwater corrosion.

Line:

If you are a beginner, the monofilament line will work great for you. They are thin yet very durable. Though most monofilament lines wear over time so make sure to replace them every six months.

Fishing Hooks:

The finest hooks for saltwater fishing are built from stainless steel and high carbon steel. For the small fish mouth, the hook will be smaller. The most frequently used hook sizes range from 8 to 14.

You are more likely to find big fish in saltwater, though freshwater is more accessible. The small size makes it easy to find a catch. Both water bodies come with their benefits, but considering these tips will help you get the most out of your fishing experience.

Night Fishing Tips

Night fishing is primarily electric. Firstly, there is a zing of the line as you cast and next your fingers turn the reel crank and you see the bait pulsing through the water.

Summer night fishing is frequently seen where the daytime temperature regularly edges into three digits and the jet skis run rampant. As the weather heats up, big fish everywhere await the cover of darkness to feed. Achieving the big bite on bass after dark requires a fresh angling perspective.

Catching small and largemouths on a third-shift schedule need intimacy with the fish’s nocturnal haunts and habits, certain fishing gear, and ability to go through subtle changes in bottom composition and bank slope through your rod. Here the approach of three hardcore fishermen who prefer to fish by moonlight work effectively.

Tips For Fishing With Kids

Here we have compiled the top five tips to keep your kids engaged in fishing.

1. Begin with Appropriate Equipment: Your fishing rod shouldn’t be more than six inches longer than a kid’s height. Push-button reels are commonly available for beginners and make a good option for children.
2. Small Pond: Instead of using a boat, go for a small pond so your kids remain involved in the activity.
3. Guide them: Combating a fish of any size is surely a great achievement for children. Coach them extensively, though physically helping them as less as possible is a good strategy.
4. Outfit: If its hot outside, preferably pack a pair of pants and sweatshirts. Usually, it is cooler near water so even if the bugs bite, kids can easily cover-up.
5. Use Live Baits: Worms are great to catch fish as well as fun to play. Once they get proficient with live baits, they can start using lures with exposed hooks. They are easy to use and of course catch numbers.

Other Fishing Tips

Mark Up Your Soft Baits:

With permanent markers, you can add many practical baitfish patterns to your soft-plastic baits. Be creative and come up with a unique fish-attracting pattern.

Clip Your Trebles:

Keep the plugs swimming right and gain unhooking benefits of individual hooks by just clipping off the points on two of the prongs. Pliers are appropriate to cut most freshwater hooks while a bolt cutter works impressively for durable saltwater hooks.

Cut Down on Tangles:

The unwanted wind knot can be easily reduced or even prevent by manually tossing over the bail on your spinning reel after a cast. This will prevent the line from twisting.

Dress-Up Your Jigs:

Jigs are a classic bluefish, striped bass and cod lure that can be equipped with a bare hook, a colorful tube or a feathered hook. You can switch between the colors and style depending on the response of fish.

Hit on to Short Biters:

Short-biting fish such as sunfish and scup use their small mouths to get the dangling end of your bait and rip it from the hook. To prevent them from stealing your bait, you can use an Aberdeen hook with a long shaft and small gap and then secure the bait on the hook like a sock. This works for sea worms and nightcrawlers in freshwater.

Cripple Your Baitfish:

While ice fishing with live shiners, a frolicsome bait can be difficult for inactive cold-water predators to chase down. Keep it slow by clipping its tail fin with a scissor. This works for other situations as well.

Shave Your Swimmer’s Bill:

Create a fatal lure for shallow-water striped bass using a file to shave down the malleable bill on a swimming plug. Using a slow retrieve, the plug will stay on the water surface directing out a v-wake like big silverside.