Thinking of having a go at this fishing lark!

[SteveLG]

Hi

I was bored over the weekend and foolishly started watching the old John Wilsons Go Fishing episodes. I'm now finding myself looking at fishing tackle online and debating on having a crack.

I've fished before, quite a lot really looking back. I used to fish with my dad from being probably about 12 to 18 year old, mainly on the local couple of lodges / fisheries. Beer drinking took priority at this point and I stopped fishing, for no reason in particular, probably the hangovers.

I then had another go at fishing a few years later, I think from being about 23 to 26 years old. Did some pole fishing this time round. It was at this time I split with the long term girlfriend and things went west for a couple of years - never got back into fishing after this.

It has now been about 16 years since I last went fishing - on Sunday I had a look at what little tackle I had left. Very little has survived. The tackle, being mixed in with my dads stuff which has since been flogged on the car boot, lost in the house move, thown out and simply "disappeared".

What I have left is a battered plastic Diawa seat box, ground bait tray and both clip on side trays still present and general rubbish from the last time I fished! One landing net with extending carbon handle. The landing net still has the price sticker still on it... A rod bag (in excellent condition) with a usable umbrella still inside. One 10 foot match rod that I bought with my first ever wage when I was 15. A quiver tip, a cheap fly rod, a travel spinning rod and my old pole (Browning Black Magic II) which I thought was damaged, however, I gave it a quick once over last night and it looks fine. I'm going to have another nosey at it tonight in the day light and make sure. Even the old elastic still looks usable.

That's it. Oh a couple of bags of hooks and that disolving string I bought when I was a kid and never used as I didn't want to waste it.

Everything else has gone and whats left looks pretty dated if I'm honest.

This is turning into a wall of text, I'll try to keep it a bit briefer.

What I am really wanting to know -

I don't like the idea of hooking live bait anymore, be it maggot / worm or anything, don't know why as it never used to bother me but this time round it looks like it is going to be good old sweetcorn, bread, luncheon meat and - these new fangled pellet things I've seen used on Youtube. Do these pellets work? and will I have a good fishing experience using them. I'm planning on fishing the Local commercial fisheries that are near where I live.

Second question, seat box. I know I still have the old Diawa but I always wanted one of them "expensive" seat boxes with the moon lander legs and built in rod rest & trays etc. These days I'm sort of in the postition of being able to afford one, so I may treat myself. Got my eye on either a Preston OnBox 5D or a Diawa Tournament 500. I've budgeted around £400 for this (give or take). Anyone any experience of these boxes or something similar? - Most importantly though, will they fit easily into the boot of a Mk7 Ford Fiesta without messing around putting the seats down.

I'm planning on resusing the old Black Magic II pole as there doesn't apper to be anything wrong with it. I'll either try and track down a reel off someone or pick up a cheap one (£40 ish) so I can use the rods - basically I want to get up and running for less than 500 quid - do you think this is going to be possible, especially with the seatbox, or am I likely to run way over budget (as I usually do!). I'm thinking some new floats, weights, catapult, rod rests, pole roller. Not bothered about a keep net, never did like using them.

You think I can get up and running on this budget - with a resonable chance of catching some fish?

Cheers

Steve.

 

[john r stockburn]

and someone will be along soon to offer their advice

 

[mikench]

That's a novel way of getting into a new hobby! Remind me not to watch old vids of Dukes of Hazard as lawd knows where that could lead!:wh

Welcome to the forum.! I cannot comment on Pole fishing or using a commode, sorry fishing seat, as I have never done it but there will be a few experts along to give guidance!

 

[S-Kippy]

£500 is more than enough to get you up and running....and yes those pellet things do work. On any half decent commercial you ought to catch...certainly enough to get you going.

Before I shelled out on any gear ( unless I had a mate who could offer some advice) I'd have a wander round a couple of commercials and have a look at what people are doing and what gear they are using....and ask loads of questions. You are bound to find somebody who knows what theyre doing and is happy to help. Think of it as an investment and youll probably save yourself a few quid along the way by NOT buying stuff you dont need or which is not suitable.

Gear has come on so much I'd be inclined to sling everything out and start over...but thats just me !

 

[jon atkinson]

Welcome to the forum Steve. As with so many things fishing can be pretty much as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. I was in a similar position to yourself about 5 years ago, having kicked the habit for the best part of 20 years, I was 'encouraged' back into it by my wife who wanted me out of the house whilst she studied. Not being certain whether I was going to get back into the swing of it I was initially quite cautious about what I bought & looked to recycle as much of my old gear as possible, which covered a good deal of what I 'needed', on which basis your £500 budget should be plenty to start off, but be warned - once you start buying stuff, it's easy to get carried away - Christ knows what I've spent on 'none essentials' over the last 5 years mg:

I'm not a pole user, but I would be wary of using old elastic, or mono for that matter - it's not expensive & you'd be gutted to loose a good fish for such a low cost item. I had one of the old school Shakey seat boxes which was / is fine, but I have moved on to chairs which I am much happier with, but as I said I don't use a pole, which I guess is a factor.

Live baits are not essential - you will catch plenty on bread, corn, meat... & pellets - yes they do work. If you decide to go after perch / pike / zander you can always opt for lure fishing, but that would require more specific gear.

I agree with S-Kippy's advice about visiting a few commercials & asking questions (perhaps not if there's a match on?!); pretty much all fishermen I've met are friendly & offer advice freely & gladly - there's plenty of them on this forum too!

Tight lines...

 

[sagalout]

old vids of Dukes of Hazard as lawd knows where that could lead!:wh

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Daisy Duke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mikench]

My thoughts entirely!!!!:thumbs:

 

[sagalout]

Start with as little tackle as possible till you find out if you like it! Use your current box and pole, go to a commercial and fish sweetcorn on the shelf drop off and the margins. Don't spend any cash till you know! When you do neeeeeed to spend let me know coz I got some old tat, Imean top gear, I can sell you.

When I re-started after a 40 odd year break I bought a 10 quid whip and fished commercials with sweetcorn, so the total cost was whip £10, hooks £1, line £2, couple of cheap floats £3, tub of split shot £1, and a tin of sweetcorn.

I can't tell you how much it has cost me since just in case one day Mrs Lout looks on this forum.

 

[mikench]

It's millions!!:wink::moony:

 

[markcw]

Ditch the old hooks, re elasticate your pole, forget the preston box and the daiwa, the preston is a big box and heavy the daiwa not as heavy as the preston, Check out the Daiwa 75 around £170 , pole seat, footplate, front drawers, side drawer, 25mm dia legs, or have a look at the maver mxi boxes, most add on attatchments will fit, with or without adaptors, another box is the map h30. The reason I mentioned these boxes is that they are "H" frame meaning you can adjust the height of the box and keep the footplate low without adding or subtracting drawer units.

 

[sagalout]

That was a sarcastic thanks mike

 

[SteveLG]

I did write a proper post last night, however, the forum ate it.

As far as fishing goes, I already know I like it. I've been fishing literally hundreds of times, I'm not even sure why I stopped really.

I never took the weight of the box in to consideration! Definitely something to think about. Really I need to find a shop somewhere that sells these boxes so I can have a look at them in the flesh. Might have a look online later and see if I can find somewhere close by.

The plan is to go and have a wander round one of my near by fisheries on Saturday, got some stuff I need to sort out close by so it should work out well. Will go and have a look what people are using and have a chat with some folk.

Just need some warm sunny days now!

 

[markcw]

If you can, get down to ted carters at preston, they have a good range of seat boxes,
or go onto fishing republic website, that will give you an idea of the design,
if you can try and get a 2nd hand Boss box, they may be old but built to last,
A few on here have them, there are a few on ebay, gumtree, preloved etc,

 

[Molehill]

Most advice has already been given above, a couple of things come to mind. Regards the seat box, it won't catch you fish (though make a day comfortable), I would tend to budget down on this (you mentioned £400) or look for second hand - others have given suggestions.

Secondly, when you do go into a large tackle emporium, you will be overwhelmed by the vast range and complexity of gear and have no idea at all what the majority of it is for - everything claiming to be "specialist and essential". You may have to take a step back and remember that the good old tried and tested methods you used 30 years ago will still catch you fish on commercials, and that is most probably the place to start.

A float, hook and bait well presented at the correct depth will still catch. Same as a basic running ledger and bait attached to hook, or simple floating crust.

I'm not advocating being a traditionalist, but there is something to be said for starting where you left off (but with new modern tackle) and working up in complexity of rigs and methods etc. as you gain experience.

 

[nottskev]

Good point from Molehill about second hand seatboxes. You will find that these are heavily fetishised items these days. Like cars. And like cars, a lot of blokes spend a fortune, pimp and accessorise them, then change them, suffering the depreciation. The second owner, as often with cars, gets the best value, and there are loads of low-mileage seatboxes out there.

For an eye-opener, try the Octbox Fan Club Facebook page

 

[SteveLG]

I appreciate what your saying regarding the seat box - however, this is a want, rather than a need - huge difference!. It is all about the comfort these days, I'm also considering picking up a nice carp fishing chair too. Something that I can also use to sit in the garden with ... drinking. Anything has to be better than that £5 Asda chair I'm using at the moment, you know - the ones with the beer holder in the arm.

A second hand box is definately an option though!

Ted Carters at Preston is only half an hours drive away so I might have a drive over at the weekend. There is also Fishing Republic in Manchester which might be worth a look.

I'm going to have a look at what other people are using and do a bit of window shopping before I make my purchase. There is no rush, will be a few weeks yet before the weather improves enough for me to want to sit outside all day anyway.

I'm also thinking the pole might be a bit adventurous to start out with. I think I'm going to pick up a cheap reel first and do my first few sessions with rod and reel as I am way more comfortable with those than I am with the pole. I can get away with using the old Diawa seat box to start with then too. I'll just need to pick up a couple of new rod rests, new landing net, unhooking mat, hooks, floats, disgorger and some weights and I should be good to go. Recon I could get the bare minimum for a few days fishing on the cheap.

That being said you just know a substantial amount of money is likely to be thrown at this over the summer months. Just need to know what to buy, a bit more research and current experience is required first though!

 

[mikench]

Buy well not cheap! Good tackle will repay itself over the years and always be a pleasure to use! I think a cheap reel is the last thing I would buy particularly as a good reel can be bought for £40! You get what you pay for however and just a few extra pounds will buy something you will enjoy!

 

[markcw]

Daiwa Ninja Reels are reputedly good as well as the Agility reels by Shakespeare, Or one of the baby baitrunners by Shimano, the 4000dl is brilliant,
Kev, what are your thoughts on the New 25 Octbox , ?

 

[SteveLG]

When I say "a cheap reel" I mean one for 50 or 60 quid rather than 200 ish - I don't mean one of them 5.99 jobbies!

I was looking on ebay last night and there are quite a few old Mitchell Match reels for sale (the one with the auto bail arm), can pick up a mint one for £50! My dad gave me his old one when I was a kid and I used it to death, always my go-to reel. Even after I picked up the Shimano, I continued to use the Mitchell as my main reel. Just not sure I want that 70's vibe anymore and performance wise I'm sure a new one would wipe the floor with it. However the Mitchell paired with the red rod and that seriously cheap 2lb line my dad bought on a bulk spool was a deadly combination.

I forgot to sort my gym kit out last night so it was all still in the bag wet this morning - no gym today. So, weather permitting I'm going to go and have a walk round the fishery near work instead. See how the old place is looking these days. It was a bit of a mess last time I walked round but that was a few years ago now. Hopefully it will have been sorted out a bit.

 

[mikench]

There is plenty of choice around £60 and a very good reel can be had! Feeder, match or freespool the choice is yours but remember you will want/need/ buy more than one!:wh