BEGINNERS GUIDE TO COARSE FISHING DDAS JUNIORS Everything you need to know to get started DDAS JUNIORS INTRODUCTION • Basic information to help you start fishing • Choosing the right tackle • Advice on starter set up • How to decide what bait to use and how to look after it Welcome to the Dorchester and District Angling Society’s beginners guide to coarse fishing. Throughout this booklet I will cover some of the basic information that will help new starters on their way to fishing more independently. We will look at what to buy for your first rods and reels, how to choose and set up your equipment, which bait to use and how to look after it. As you spend more time fishing, you will meet more experienced anglers most of whom will be more than happy to to pass on their experience to younger anglers. They will all have their own ways of doing different things and it will be up to you to decide what works best for you. This booklet is no different. It is just a collection of tips and thoughts gathered over the years. I hope that it will be of help to you as you start your own fishing journey. Graham Howard Junior Secretary Dorchester & District Angling Society CONTENTS Section 1 Why do we fish? Section 2 Rods and Reels Fishing Section 3 Floats is not Section 4 Weights and Split Shot just a Section 5 Feeders sport. Section 6 Hooks Section 7 Knots It is a Section 8 Hookbait, Feed & Groundbait way of Section 9 Vital Accessories life. Section 10 Fish species & Fish Anatomy Section 11 Guide to Pole fishing Contact Details WHY DO WE FISH? If you are new to DDAS juniors then the others There are so many reasons to go fishing. The will tell you that one of our unwritten rules is fresh air and the love of the outdoors. To be DON’T RUN! Running can cause tripping and close to nature and experience things that would accidents. Fishing tackle can get very expensive not see otherwise. Maybe you like to be out too and if you’re running and tread on a rod or fishing with mates or meeting different people. pole section, you won’t be very popular. Some anglers like to be alone with their fishing In the sunshine, you might wear sunglasses. This and actively seek solitude away from others. is a good thing because your eyes are protected Maybe it’s a thrill to be competing in matches or against flying hooks, floats, weights etc. maybe it doesn’t matter if you catch anything or Sunglasses are not always needed in poor light not. We all have one thing in common. The love conditions, so wearing a hat is the next best of the sport. Most anglers can remember their thing. A peaked cap can help protect your fav first fish. It’s a special one and there will never be and help you concentrate better too. We all get another. For some it comes early, before school caught up in trees and bushes from time to time age. For others it comes later through friends or and it’s really frustrating. But the worst thing you family. Once you have been fishing a caught the can do is pull it free in a temper. Doing that is a bug, usually you’re an angler for life. There is a recipe for a trip to a hospital. If you can always, therapy in fishing too. Angling has been and I mean always, get an adult to help you. scientifically proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and help ADHD. To calm a troubled soul and RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN YOU GO FISHING mend broken minds. Mental illness like Rules are there for all of us to follow and there’s depression and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress nothing clever about not doing so. As juniors, Disorder) have shown to be greatly eased during the first rule will not affect you until you turn 13. and after fishing. Whatever your reason for Rod licences are not needed before you turn 13. going, one of them has to be for the enjoyment From 13 to 16 you will need a rod licence, of it. It has to be fun. available from Post Offices or from the For me, the greatest part of fishing is the social Environment Agency online, but they are side. Once you are an angler, you become one of absolutely free. Over 16 and you’ll have to pay a club of millions of people. All with one thing in as an adult, £30. Please follow the licence rules, common. Fishing. The people you meet on the unless you have a spare £2500 for your trip to lakes and rivers, may become friends and some court. will become friends for life. Fisheries and clubs have their own rules which you must make sure you are familiar with before HEALTH AND SAFETY WHEN FISHING. you go fishing. Particularly if it’s a venue you’ve For fishing to be fun, it has to be safe. There are not been to before. Club rules are laid out for things you can do to make fishing safe for you you in the club book and must be followed at all and for others. Obviously you will be fishing near times. water. Water doesn’t have to be deep to be dangerous, particularly when it’s cold. Be ANGLING AND THE ENVIRONMENT mindful of where the waters edge is at all times, As an angler you have a responsibility for even when your mind is on other things. The yourself, the safety of those around you, the fish water itself can be harmful with diseases like you catch and for the environment in which you ‘Weils disease’ which comes from rats, and are fishing. We can all play our part by picking there’s usually plenty of those! Weils disease can any litter you may find, even if it isn’t yours. be prevented by washing or cleaning your hands Don’t forget, litter isn’t always left or dropped. It before you eat anything. can blow away easily on windy days. Removing If you have to use medication, then make sure rubbish that you see, not only makes for you have it with you or that you have taken it pleasant surroundings, but gives wildlife a safe before you leave. Things like epilepsy and habitat in which to live. The worst litter to leave diabetes can be disastrous next to water. Always behind for so many reasons is fishing litter. tell someone where you are going. You need to Nothing will damage angling more than make sure that someone knows where you are thoughtlessly discarded line, weights and, worst just in case. still, hooks. Pick it up and take it home. The same goes for unwanted bait. Take it home when you can. SECTION TWO RODS & REELS • Selecting the right rod • What to look for in a reel • How to care for rods and load reels EIGHT STEPS TO CASTING - Before we look at rods and reels, let’s look at the technique of casting. To start with, try to get it out of your mind that you need to cast a hundred metres or to that island or that tree. Spend some time doing lazy, soft casts that will help you practice your casting style. After all, if you cast a long way, you will spend more time reeling in than actually casting. People new to angling tend rush at it and end up breaking line or even rods. Take your time, slow down and think about what you are doing. These eight steps to casting will help you to form a check list in your head that you will run through each time you cast out. 1 2 3 4 1. CHECK THE DROP - The distance between the weight and your rod tip should be about half a rod length 2. CHECK THE LINE - Give the line a pull to make it is free running and not jammed. This prevents breakages. 3. GATHER THE LINE - Pick up the line with your finger. 4. OPEN THE BAIL ARM - Open the bail arm with your free hand. 5 6 7 8 5. CHECK BEHIND YOU! - It is important that you cast safely. Make sure you have a clear space to cast in. 6. POSITION THE ROD - Move the rod into the ‘two o’clock’ position with you free hand at the bottom of the handle. 7. TAKE AIM - Use your left hand to guide the direction of the cast and allow the weight to settle behind you. 8. CAST OUT - Push with your reel hand and pull with your handle hand. Practicing line release is key to a good cast. PATIENCE - With all styles of casting, take your time in the beginning, be patient because the rewards in the long run will be much better than if you rush at it. I would rather take the time to get my casting accurate, than thrashing around just trying to get my bait ROD READY - The rod is is ready to cast at ROD LOADED/RELEASE - The rod is now in to the water. roughly the 1 to 2 o’clock position depending bent or ‘loaded’ and the cast has started. on the power you need to each your chosen Pushing with the reel hand and pulling with fishing area. the other. When you release the line will depend on how far you need to cast.