© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

FIGURE 1-3: Two anglers, well equipped for most fishing trips.

      Adding to your angling arsenal

      Cabelas, the giant outdoor retail store, has been selling fishing tackle for nearly 50 years. Bass Pro Shops is nearly that old, and now those two companies have merged. There are countless local bait shops, and stores like Walmart, Dick’s, and Academy stock a whole section with fishing equipment. The advantage to shopping retail is that you should find knowledgeable salespeople there to help you. But, of course, fishing equipment can be purchased online as well. In addition to Amazon, there are sites dedicated to offering premium gear at low prices. These might be specialized. For example, Catfish Connection’s website (www.catfishconnection.com) offers gear for catfish and crappie only. Companies like Zebco allow you to purchase their products directly from their websites. At www.zebo.com, you’ll find helpful articles and checklists, as well as a chance to buy rods, reels, or combos (a paired rod and reel).

      There’s no shortage of gear out there. As you get deeper into fishing, you’ll see the need to acquire other pieces of equipment. Anglers who want to start catching bigger game will need heavier line and a rod and reel built to handle it. A well-crafted fishing rod can be a thing of beauty, so light and supple it feels like an extension of the hand. There’s nothing wrong with desiring better gear.

      So, while you should start with the basics, feel free to add to that pile of fishing tackle in the corner of your garage. Part of the fun of fishing is seeing how the latest gear can make you a more successful angler.

How Do You Fish?

      Fish bite an object because they think it’s something to eat, or they strike out of some instinct to do so — they’re afraid, or protecting themselves or their young, for example. Fishing, then, requires that you offer something with a hook or hooks on the end of your line in hopes of getting a fish to bite it. You can do this by presenting livebait that the fish are used to eating — casting a hooked minnow into a school of crappies, for example. Or you may turn to trickery — using a fly tied to look like a grasshopper to hook a rainbow trout, or using the flash of a wobbling spoon to trigger an attack from a tarpon.

      Whatever you choose for the end of your line, presentation matters. Presentation refers to the methods you use to put your offering in front of the fish. You might cast and retrieve a crankbait past a largemouth bass, or use a river rig to anchor a chunk of cutbait upstream from a feeding channel catfish. Basically, you want to present a bait or lure in a way that looks natural to the fish, and the right presentation should allow you to hook the fish after it strikes.

      Casting around: Basic and fly

      Because fish are sometimes found some distance from shore, you need to get your bait or lure to them — and this involves the art of casting. Casting requires you to use your rod and reel to propel your offering to the target. When using spincast, spinning, or baitcasting equipment, casting requires you to use the flex of the rod to launch the lure outward, and the weight of the lure pulls the line off your reel. When flycasting, you use the (often longer) rod to flex the rod to cast the line, and the (often lighter) fly goes with it.

      Like any sport that requires you to do something with your body, casting calls for a certain amount of dexterity and coordination. However, even beginners can learn how to cast effectively. The casting motion (typically involving a swinging, overhead movement) is a simple, natural one. And not every fishing situation calls for perfect casts; many fish are found near shore or around piers or docks, and they require only short, simple casts. To find out how to cast using any of the four kinds of gear, check out Chapter 16.

      Finding freshwater fish

      Before you can catch a fish, you have to find the fish. That means figuring out where the fish are within a body of water. Understanding structure and cover helps you do that:

      Knowing that fish are often found near cover and structure helps you figure out how to fish for them. When you know where fish are, you can decide how best to approach them. Should you use a topwater lure, drawing a savage surface strike? Or maybe you should present your bait with a bottom rig, waiting for the fish to find and take it.

      Different species of fish respond to different presentations, and with experience and the help of this book, you’ll improve at both finding the fish and then getting them to bite.

      FINDING A FISHING MENTOR

      Many of us were lucky enough to have a parent or grandparent to teach us how to cast for fish, and more importantly, to make the time to take us fishing. But if that’s not the case for you, don’t despair. There are plenty of ways to learn how to fish, and many people willing to show you a few shortcuts. I suggest finding someone who fishes for the fish you would like to pursue, and does so in a way that matches your personality. Watch others at boat ramps and bait shops. Search YouTube for your favorite fish or your fishing location. You could seek out social media fishing forums. Ask questions first to get to know someone, and then see if they extend an offer to take you fishing. Most are happy to share their excitement for the sport. Another option, albeit a costlier one, is to hire a local guide. Following the instructions and corrections of a guide for a day is a great way to learn about fishing from an expert. As always, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

      Basic techniques for saltwater fishing

      Most presentations involve either stillfishing — where a bait or sometimes a lure is cast out and largely left alone until a