Welcome to the How to Fish Guide
This website is designed for two different kinds of anglers. First are those folks that do not know that much about fishing. If you are new to the sport you can use this site to figure out what equipment you need, how to use basic fishing gear, where to fish, how to find out about licenses and regulations, and what to do when you get a bite and actually catch a fish. If this is what you are after jump further down this page to begin to learn about how to fish.
The second type of angler this site is designed for is someone who is familiar with fishing in one setting but wants to try something new. Here you can learn about different fishing methods, fishing in different habitats, and how to catch different species of fish.
The How to Fish Guide's focus, helping people learn how to fish, also means there are a lot of resources here for anyone that goes fishing.
Experienced fishermen and fisherwomen may find this website helpful by navigating to a topic or subject they need to know more about. You can also find links to other fishing resources.
Whatever your experience level and regardless of your reason for visiting, we hope that you have fun fishing!
Learning How to Fish - An Introduction
Fishing is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, have some fun, and catch a tasty meal. Many people first learned to fish by having an experienced angler take them fishing. I was introduced to the sport when my father took my brothers and I trout fishing. Unfortunately not every person that would like to try fishing knows someone that can teach them the basics. Regardless of how much help a fisherman was given everyone had to start from the beginning – as a beginner. This website can't replace a personal teacher but it can provide you with some solid help, guidance, and information.
The first thing you should know is that getting some gear together, finding a place to fish, and actually catching fish are all things you can accomplish on your own. The fundamentals of fishing are not complicated. The nuances, on the other hand, are endless. And sometimes the fish just do not bite. It seems everyone who has gone fishing more than once has ideas and advice to offer anyone who will listen. That is Ok and talking about fishing can be just as much fun as being out on the water. Regardless of what you do or do not know about fishing when you get started, through experience you can become an accomplished angler. You can improve your skills with each fishing trip you take, each piece of new equipment you try, and any new knowledge you acquire.
Fishing has many positives aspects to it. In some ways it can help you become more virtuous. For instance patience is a must if you want to become a good angler. It can take considerable time to catch a fish and some day you will not catch any at all. Even so, fishing is usually time well spent. Being outdoors helps relieve stress and provides a nice break from the grind of day-to-day life. Taking a recreational fishing trip can be like a mini vacation - even if it is just a trip of a few hours. For me, going fishing clears my mind and refreshes my spirit.
Another positive aspect of fishing is that it is open to almost anyone. You can be young or old, use fancy custom made equipment or have inexpensive tackle you bought from Wal-Mart, and fish from the shore or from a boat. If you have children, fishing can be a fun family activity. Fishing with kids can also be challenging! On one hand your children may be impatient, and this is a sport that is all about waiting for the fish to bite. On the other hand the experiences you can share with your children and the thrill of seeing them catch fish can be well worth the effort you put into it.
How to navigate through the How to Fish Guide
How you answer a few basic questions will direct you in navigating through the How to Fish Guide. There are many paths through the guide and you will not need to see every page. For example if you live in Nebraska and want to fish locally, you probably want to find out about fishing in fresh water and do not need to know about surf fishing at the beach.
The guide is designed to walk you through what you need to find out in a stepwise process. Once you know where you want to fish, it is easier to figure out what kind of fishing you will do, and this narrows down what type of fishing tackle you need to learn about and consider purchasing. Wherever you are starting from you can go through the guide in whatever order makes the most sense to you. You will always have an option to click back to this homepage or to go the index.
There are a number of places for you to dive into the guide from here. You can either choose a particular type of place to fish, pick a particular type of fish you would like to catch, or choose from the few options I have dubbed “an easy way to begin fishing.”
Choose a place to fish.
Some people become interested in fishing, in part, because they have visited a particular place where they have seen people fishing. Others want to fish and know there are local places where they want to start. The choices here provide links that can take you to a page with more detail about each type of fishing location. I am referring to a particular type of water to fish (stream, pond, etc.) as opposed to a specific body of water like Lake Allatoona in GA.
Freshwater Fishing - You can go the Freshwater Fishing page or a particular body of freshwater:
Ponds
Lakes
Streams
Rivers
Salt Water Fishing Go to the Salt Water Fishing page or a particular type of Salt Water Fishing
Surf Fishing
Fishing on a Boat
Party Boat/Charter Boat Fishing
Brackish Water Fishing - Learn about Fishing in Bays
Fish for a Particular Species of Fish
Bass – the classic southeastern sport fish
Striped Bass – can be tough without a boat
Sunfish – probably one of the best bets for a beginning angler to catch his first fish
Walleye and Pike – the classic northern, cold-water lake fish
Catfish – varying in size from small to very large
Pick an Easy to Get Started Method of Learning How to Fish
Fishing in a lake from the shore – Sit and wait fishing with a bobber and bait. You can begin with some relatively inexpensive equipment, don’t need a boat or any special equipment, and you might even catch a fish!
Surf Fishing from the beach – Requires heavier tackle, which requires paying a higher cost than lake fishing to get started. Your success can also be quite variable. Some days you do not get a bite. At the other end of the spectrum, you can have productive days that can deliver some real surprises.
Pond fishing with the kids – This can be a great way to teach your children how to fish. Fishing at a pond can make things easier to manage for you and if there are panfish around, there is often a good chance you child will be able to catch one.
Party Boat Fishing on the Ocean - Try your hand at fishing without any hassle. You pay to go out on a party boat for a half day or full day and you can use the provided equipment and bait. Depending on the boat and how crowded it is, you are also likely to be able to get some help and be shown how to do things like baiting your hook, casting, and landing a fish.