What would your advice be to new Anglers

bennygesserit · Apr 1, 2011

Having returned to fishing only 18 months ago I have benefited from lots of great advice on fishing forums that have improved my fishing immensely - such as use thinner high quality line, use an appropriate hook size , dot your float down.

What single piece of advice would you give to a new or returning angler to help them catch fish ?

Mine would be Unless you just want to be a lucky angler learn how to get the fish feeding and keep them in your swim, do that and you will catch many more fish

Ray Daywalker Clarke · Apr 1, 2011

What ever the weather keep fishing, there is not such a thing as perfect conditions, even though many think there is.

jonty 2 · Apr 1, 2011

A few bits really

Keep it simple

Don't listen to the hype from bait n tackle sellers

The only bit the fish is interested in is the bit on your hook NOT the latest all singing all dancing gear on the bank

Enjoy every session as though it were your last

michaels · Apr 1, 2011

keep method and presentation simple and don`t over compilcate .......

woody · Apr 1, 2011

jonty 2 said:
NOT the latest all singing all dancing gear on the bank

Hmmmm, not a tackle tart then?

Read, read, read and keep reading.

jonty 2 · Apr 1, 2011

Woody

Not found a fish yet who was bothered about the name on my rod

bennygesserit · Apr 1, 2011

I must admit the level of feeding and regularity of feeding is the thing I most struggle with , its difficult to find a definitive guide as of course there are so many factors involved.

But If I could get that right I reckon I would catch much more, when I first started I used hooks that were too big and probably attached to line that was too thick , sprayed bait everywhere ( even a cattied a bloke on the opposite bank once ) , didn't dot my float down etc etc , Now I have learnt some of the basics its keeping the fish in the swim that I have problems with

Wobbly Face (As Per Ed) · Apr 1, 2011

Basically, enjoy what you are doing, if it catches, keep doing it.

jonty 2 · Apr 1, 2011

Benny

Little and often as you can't take out what you've put in.

meaning
It's easier to overfeed and ruin a swim than it is to underfeed the swim

bennygesserit · Apr 1, 2011

Advice to new anglers

jonty 2 said:
Benny

Little and often as you can't take out what you've put in.

meaning
It's easier to overfeed and ruin a swim than it is to underfeed the swim

Yes my son says I feed too much - which probably comes from fishing Furnace Mill

Lord Paul of Sheffield · Apr 1, 2011

No such think as the "same day" - so adapt to the conditions

noknot · Apr 2, 2011

Don't start out as a Carp angler! Learn the noble art first, work from the bottom of the ladder and take one rung at a time, so don't try to run before you can walk!

Fin the Fish · Apr 2, 2011

Never underestimate what can be gained from keeping your eyes open and polaroids on, and never be afraid to up sticks and walk around the place looking for fish or features and trying new places.

Never take more tackle and bait than you need.

Chest waders are the best thing youll ever spend money on!

little oik · Apr 2, 2011

Never be afraid to ask for advice .No matter how silly the question you think might be.

Dave Slater · Apr 2, 2011

noknot said:
Don't start out as a Carp angler! Learn the noble art first, work from the bottom of the ladder and take one rung at a time, so don't try to run before you can walk!

Sound advice. Also probably best not to start on barbel. Just enjoy yourself then specialise later if you want to. Try stillwaters and rivers and find what you enjoy best. Unfortunately these days many anglers go into carp, barbel fishing etc. without learning the basics. They miss out on a lot. If you start on smaller fish and learn the basics then gradually build up to bigger fish you will soon become proficient and able to fish all styles for all species.

chav professor · Apr 2, 2011

observation - find your fish, then don't scare them (someone already mentioned the next one) keep it simple.

If you introduce the new angler to self hooking rigs and alarms - I give it 8 months before all their gears on ebay or sitting in a pile in the shed.

Tee-Cee · Apr 2, 2011

I'd also go with reading all you can on the subject and from that should come 'a thinking angler'.Its so important to know WHY you are going to fishing a certain way on the water in front of you and not because it was the latest offering from another source....

IMHO I suggest you could do a lot worse than join a club that has matches where you have to decide on a method by looking at the swim you've been given-you have to come up with something that will catch you fish just by studying the swim and to watch other great anglers around you..its such a great way to learn,even if you want to specialise later on!!

....finally,don't become a 'summer only' angler-try late autumn/early winter...its so good to tease out a fish when its cold and the river looks dead.....

Oh,and time spent on a water without the rods is a great way to study swims and chat to other fishermen....polaroids and a flask for 2/3 hours is all you need!

chav professor · Apr 2, 2011

Good point TeeCee, I learnt loads from Improve Your Course Fishing back in the day. It made me more likely to try something different or target a seasonal species etc.

Follow the guidence of others to a point and then find your own way

flightliner · Apr 2, 2011

Go fishing with an experienced partner-- but- as said earlier avoid the carp and barbel fraternity, save that for later-- much later.

bennygesserit · Apr 2, 2011

advice

lots of great advice there. Reading , observation and paying your dues , completely agree - If I do something I like to try and do it properly, but its that mysterious watercraft that I'm now stumbling over.
I have had some individual success - some nice perch , a few very nice wild tench but I really have a feeling I have been lucky rather than being able to keep a swim going by correct feeding, I can usually catch quite well at commercials , but its always the same method - 5 sections out find the shelf , band a pellet and feed little and often with a toss pot. The other way I fish is shallow with a whip and throw casters over the top - guarranteed roach and rudd.

So I basically have these 2 methods but if you put me in front of a large pool I would be clueless.

I think to take the next step I either need to learn to cast and feed more accurately or by a much longer pole - currently I have an 11.5 m Daiwa SR1.

Any advice for a less than new angler ?

What would your advice be to new Anglers

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