Please help a novice angler!?

Question

Hello from Somerset (UK)!

I am a complete newbie when it comes to fishing, and I do not have any friends who fish so everything I learn is from magazines and books.

I have a bare minimum of equipment which I think may be sub-standard and quite old; it has been scrounged from car boot sales and salvaged from the bargain bins of discount camping shops!

Basically I want to try my hand at fishing in a stocked lake near me. I have a free day tomorrow and so I thought I might head over there with a packed lunch and enjoy the 'summer' by the lakeside. Any fish I catch would be an unexpected bonus. I'd really like to know if the kit I have is adequate and meets the requirements of the fishery. Here's a link to their website:

http://www.viaductfishery.com/

I have a telescopic rod by 'Shakespeare' (about 8-9 ft) and a reel that looks very dated; it's small and is basically a narrow spool with a handle. I have several lures with three-pronged hooks, and a pre-rigged float with a small hook attached. For bait I have a can of sweetcorn.

Would this be sufficient for fishing such a lake? Obviously I am not after monster carp, just smaller species that can indicate what it is actually like to fish. I'm just worried that A) my kit won't meet the fishery rules and B) everyone else there will think I'm a bit of a moron for having such basic, old kit. Here is a picture of the reel I have:

http://a1bassfishinginfo.com/2009/05/fly-fishing-reels-know-your-facts/

Obviously I am a complete novice but I really just want to get going, and I can barely afford the £8 fee to get in the fishery so I'm really doing this on a super-tight budget!

Do fishery staff tend to be wandering around to check kit and make sure nobody's misbehaving, or are you just left quietly to your own devices in stocked lakes? I just want some quiet time without embarrassment.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Don't be embarassed at being a novice. Everyone has to start somewhere and my bet is that, if you ask for advice, the staff there will fall over themselves to give it. Remember it's in their interests to ensure that you have a good and successful day as much as it is in yours. That way you'll go back. You'll also find that the other anglers are likely to be keen to help out. Angling is a very friendly sport.



So far as your gear is concerned, your rod and reel are not ideal, but they'll do. You will find most people using longer rods - either "feeder" or "float" rods, and fixed spool reels. Most people start off float fishing but then change to feeders later. It's not that they're any harder to use, it's just that most people get increasingly addicted to carp fishing once they've caught a few and feeder fishing works well with carp.



Forget the lures and treble hooks completely. I love lure fishing, but it's an absolute no-no on commercial sites.



Your bait is fine. Sweetcorn works about as well anything on commercial fisheries and half the people there will be using it.



I realise that you're on a tight budget, but there are a couple of things I would recommend you spend a little money on at the site's shop. First of all, there are some big carp in there, so I recommend 8lb main line. 100 yards is all you'll need. Buy yourself a pre-weighted carp waggler float (the shop will show you how to mount it) some split shot and a pack of barbless pre-tied hooks. Size 12 or 14 would be about right. The total bill won't be much more than £10. You'll then have a setup that can cope with most of what comes your way. If you do hook into a big carp hang on though. They don't half pull back!



The site will have a few rules. They'll be clearly displayed. Just spend a moment or two looking at them and make sure you follow them. After that I doubt that anyone will check up on you.



One last point though, make sure you have an Environment Agency rod licence. If you are on a tight budget you can buy a day licence for £3.50 on line from their website. Don't spoil your day by getting nicked and taken to court! Here's the link



http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/fishing/31497.aspx



I hope you have a great day. Wish I was there with you!

Answer 2

First let me disclaim. My "angling" experience is in the USA, though fishing should be roughly the same throughout the world.



I went to their website and you have 3 main problems. You are allowed to fish only with barbless hooks, size 8 maximum, so your lures are out of bounds.



Then you are limited to fishing line no heavier than 12 pound breaking strain, 12 pound test line, we say in the USA. This is pretty weak. If your old reel doesn't say the test strength, and it probably doesn't, you will have to have it evaluated at a pro shop and buy the correct test strength. Geting it on the reel is a separate problem for the novice so have the shop put it on.



Then for bait, you are allowed to fish only with halibut or trout pellets, coarse or carp varieties, which they may sell at their shop pictured in the homepage, though I haven't seen it mentioned.



I don't know how much you would pay for test line in Britain, but here it's quite cheap. The bait should be inexpensive and probably is available at their shop.You can also pick up the hooks there for a good price and definitely let them tie the first one on for you and show you how it's done. You will need a minimum of three hooks. More is better.



You didn't mention a cork or bobber which you will need also.



I'm quite sure they enforce these rules seriously. They say so, and after all they are, well, British.



The good news is the guys in the on-site fish shop will probably give you a lot of help and advice. They are undoubtedly accostemed to novices. Fishermen are helpful in general and these guys want you to enjoy your day!



Good luck and happy angling!



I'm adding this. Don't worry about your rod, if it's made for fly fishing. You can still make it work for this day. It very well may have a 12 pound test line already, so all you need is hooks, bait and possibly a cork or bobber, as I suggested, and I forgot to mention little lead weights. They are dirt cheap and you may not have to spend much to make a good day of it. Ask the guys at the fish shop in the stocked lake what's the best way to fish. They will let you know if you need a cork and weights.

Answer 3

Im assuming your fishing for trout being that its a stocked lake in the UK. If thats the case id just purchase a new reel because the one you have is for fly fishing only wont work properly with the your using it for. Id suggest a small spinning reel they tend to be fairly inexpensive, then again i dont know how much these things cost in the UK.



Id then go purchase 4lb test line and spool some new line on a reel. Also pick up some sinkers to weight down your line. As for lures and bait ...corn is a great bait to use some places here in the US dont allow it but i have used it in germany and trout just love it, see if there is any powerbait in the UK that works great for trout as well . Id just attach what ever bait you have onto a small hook and about 1-2ft in add some weight to the line. This is a simple but effective rig for novice fishermen. What also works are spinners such as mepps, rooster tails, ect which flash when reeled in tend to give you alot of action when fish is prominent.

Answer 4

you need to know what species of fish are in the lake the lures can be used for pike and perch if there are roach,rudd,bream or tench float fishing is your best option sweetcorn will work but can be over used by other angler's a tin of luncheon meat is worth taking and some bread in the warm sun some fish will be sitting mid water so fishing on the drop is a good way of catching what that involves is having little or no shot going down your line so the bait slowly fall's through the water you will need shot to hold your float in place you will also have to plumb the depth how many feet between float on bottom of the lake use heavy weight at hook until only the tip of float can be seen ps take a cap,sun glasses which will stop the glare of the lake causing killer migranes after sun cream is needed to to stop sun stroke its windy by the water and you don't always feel the sun till you get home

Answer 5

I do not know if they will "mess" with you, as i am not from the UK, so I am unsure of the rules and regulations.

However I can offer some advise.



Don't feel embarrassed that you are a novice, and just go out there and have a good time, that is why I like to fish. I like to have a relaxing day and to have a good time.



I also suggest that you talk to the guys is the tackle shop, they are usually pretty eager to help people. Ask them what the fish have been biting on the most and see if your tackle box has what it needs.



Just get out there and have fun!



Good luck!

Answer 6

hi there well i am 1 person here from the uk

first have u got a fresh water fishing licence if so great

regardless of what others say yes u can use a fly rod to catch carp it is great fun how ever if u want to take carp fihing more seriously then i reccomend u joina forum

like this 1



www.thinkingcarp.com

that will help u get all the info u need and help u meet ppl

Answer 7

first of all it sounds like you have i fly fishing rod and the reel is the same one i have its a rather nice one too but the way your trying to fish requires a casting rod they are only 4-6 feet tall and have a spinning reel a much easier way to fish if you want to learn to fly fish which is the most difficult type of sport fishing you should go to a local fly shop and ask for casting lessons and the different kinds of flies you should use (dry, wet, nymph, streamers) and try to get with someone to take you fishing that knows how

Answer 8

your funny, I am picturing you at the lake and I'm finding it humorous. It depends on what kind of fish your wanting as far as your bait goes, the corn is good for carp and crappie, also small sunfish like perch bite them also which you can in-return cut up and use as bait for bigger fish.



I would suggest taking some big night crawlers, catfish go after these. I prefer catfish. It is better to go fishing early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is starting to go down. The fish aren't as active when it's blistering hot.



If you going to a stocked lake, try to fish around a feeder, fish know that they will receive food when the feeders go off so they tend to linger around the feeders.



Hey, Good Luck, I didn't look at your reel but I'm sure it will be fine.