Fishing reel
A mid sized fixed spool reel will set you up nicely. It will cope with heavy lure work, pier fishing
Casting with a fixed spool reel is quite easy and requires a lot less skill than a multiplier for basic casts.
£30 – £40 should buy you a nice reel, if looked after should last you a few good seasons.
A soft through action, meaning as it sounds a rod that flexes easily and gently without snapping back straight, taking the curve from the tip gradually down towards the butt would be a good option. A rod of this make up will not fight you back and will allow for initial mistakes in casting and playing fish.
10 to 12 foot would be sound. Shorter makes rock and pier fishing hard, longer makes it very ungainly and hard to use for the beginner.
You need to think what type of fishing you are going to do most often. A lighter casting weight will suite the pier / estuary angler, if casting distance is more important then consider a heavier casting weight. A casting weight of 1- 3 ozs is considered light 3 – 6 is moderate 4 – 8 is heavy.
You will hear a lot about braid and new hi-tech fishing lines which out fish standard mono filament. Don’t worry and stick to good old fashioned mono. It’s far more forgiving than many of the new lines on the market and until you become confident at what you are doing stick to the old favourite.
Rigs and end gear
When you have decided on the location you are going to fish and your target species take advice from you local tackle dealer and get good quality rigs, weights and other end gear. As you get into the sport more you can start making your own equipment.
FLOAT FISHING:
What is float fishing?
Float fishing is where you use a floating indicator to help catch fish. This indicator is called a float. Floats have a bright tip that allows you to see it easily. The float is attached to your fishing line. It acts as a visual indicator between your rod and hook bait. When a fish picks up your hook and swims away, the float is pulled beneath the water. When you see the float disappear, you know that you have a fish.
You can use floats to fish the whole depth of the water. I.e.; from the surface right down to the bottom. This lets you put your hook bait right where the fish are. Professional Match fishermen like Bob Nudd are able to keep catching fish, even when the fish have moved up or down in the water.
Floats come in different shapes and sizes. Choosing the right float depends on the type of fishing you want to do. You can use floats on many different types of venues. I.e. From deep or shallow lakes, to fast or slow rivers.
