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Getting Started In Fishing Saltwater - Chris Chobot
Congratulations and Welcome! If you’re reading this article it’s a safe
bet that you’ve decided to pursue the truly gratifying endeavor of
Saltwater Angling. You’ll be joining the ranks of many other anglers
who just like yourself were once new to the sport. Take heart! You’re
embarking on a very exciting path of discovery, and you have found the
perfect place to begin your journey. Here you will find everything you
need to make your time on the water more satisfying.
This article’s goal is not to teach you everything there is to know
about fishing. The best anglers NEVER stop learning and are the better
for it. Instead this article will walk you through the basic steps of
getting ready for and going on your first fishing expedition. You’ll
find much practical advice that will help you to avoid some common
pitfalls and have a successful outing. Here’s a list of the basic
topics covered in this article:
• Selecting Your Gear
o
Choosing a Rod
o
Choosing a Reel
o
Spooling Up
• Rigging
• What Lures Should You Have?
• Other Fishing Essentials
• Choosing Where To Go
• Preparing For Your Trip
• How To Fish 101
• Post Trip
So let’s get started!
Selecting Your Gear
Any task is much easier to complete, and perform well, if one has the
correct tools. Fishing is no different. Quality equipment (that does
not necessarily mean expensive) will go a long way towards a quality
experience on the water. So let’s begin where your digits end and get a
rod in your hands! The main factors to consider when choosing a rod are:
• Length
• Rating
The length of the rod will be determined by where you fish. Those
fishing from a boat generally opt for shorter rods (Less than 8 ft)
which are easier to maneuver in the confines of a boat. The surf
fisherman will generally go w/ a longer rod (8 to 11 ft) for added
casting distance. Rods are also rated as to how heavy an offering you
can throw. There are what we’ll call general purpose rods that will
have a wider range (say 1-5 ounces) and other “specialty rods” for lack
of a better term that will be rated for a smaller weight range on
either end of the spectrum (1/2 oz – 2 oz or 3 to 6 oz for example).
Just find a rod of length and rating to suit the type of angling you
THINK you’ll be doing. It pays to have a first rod that can throw a
WIDE RANGE of lures and/or bait since you are just beginning and may
want to try many types of lures.
Now let’s move on to the fishing reel. The reel will be selected to
match your rod. For that reason there will be a few important factors
to consider:
• Size / Weight
• Durability
The size & weight should “balance” well with your rod. Try
various reels on the rod and see which one feels best. Remember, you
may be wielding this rod for hours on end so it should feel comfortable
and not be so heavy that you’ll quickly tire out. Durability is
paramount. The saltwater environment is EXTREMELY HARSH and can quickly
take a toll on your gear. Make sure to choose a reel that is designed
to be fished in and around the saltwater and rocks.
Now you have your rod & reel combo it’s time to put line on the
reel. Seems like a simple task until you realize there are literally
thousands of choices of line. All these choices will basically be
divided in two groups: Braid and Monofilament (or Mono). Think of mono
as one long continuous strand and braid as multiple fibers literally
“braided” together for added strength. The debate of braid vs. mono is
heated but here are the basic advantages of each:
Braid
• Stronger at the same diameter
• You can fit more on your spool
• Dramatically improves casting distance
• Increases ability to “feel” lure and
set the hook
Mono
• Better shock absorption
• Better Abrasion Resistance (Important
in the Rocks)
• Much less expensive
• More manageable (less tangles)
Everyone should probably try both at one point or another, with that
said mono may be a better option for a true beginner. You’ll probably
make a few mistakes like snagging on the bottom or getting wrapped
around a lobster pot in the beginning. Using mono will be much less
expensive and allow you to really appreciate the difference when you do
eventually try fishing braid. Whichever line you do end up choosing
you’ll need to attach it to your spool via an “arbor knot” (try
googling this phrase for instructions) and reel it onto your spool. Pay
close attention to do this in a manner that avoids twisting the line.
If possible have a tackle shop spool your reel on a line winder for
best results.
Rigging
Now you’re ready to rig up. That basically means you’ll be attaching a
leader to your running line. A basic rig that will take you far goes as
follows:
• Line gets attached to your spool then
• A barrel swivel is attached to your line
• Then a piece of leader material is
attached to the barrel swivel
• And a snap or clip is attached to the
end of the leader
• Lures or hooks are then attached to the
snap or clip
You can also use specialized knots in place of the barrel swivel or
snap. Whole books have been written on the subject of rigging.
Basically the use of a leader allows you some luxuries while fishing
(like being able to grab the leader while landing a fish). A general
leader using 30-50 lb. Mono or fluorocarbon material with a barrel
swivel on one end and a snap or clip on the other is a great place to
start and a setup still employed by many experienced anglers.
Choosing Lures
Now what will you be putting on the end of that leader? Walk into any
tackle shop and you could quickly become overwhelmed with the sheer
quantity of choices and opinions available on the subject. Here are a
few basic proven types that will get you started:
• Bucktail Jigs
• Casting Swimmers
• Needlefish
• Tins
• Soft Plastics
• Polaris Poppers
• Metal Lipped Swimmers (Danny Plugs)
• Pencil Poppers
• Plastic Swimmers
Now if you’ll be using bait you’ll need strong hooks and possibly
sinkers designed for the task. The Gamakatsu live bait hooks are a good
choice when fishing bait.
Other Fishing Essentials
Now if you were to take your new outfit out the door of the tackle shop
and go fishing you’d soon realize the need for other essential pieces
of gear. These items really are vital to the success of each trip. Some
essential “must-have” items include:
• Pliers w/ cutters (For cutting fishing
line and removing hooks from fish)
• Pliers Sheath & Lanyard (So
pliers will always be handy & within reach)
• Korkers or other Metal-Studded foot
wear (To keep you from slipping on rocks)
• A surf or boat bag (For keeping your
lures and equipment in)
• Waders or a wetsuit (To help you get
out to where the fish are)
• Wading Belt (To Hang Your Pliers from)
• Appropriate Water-Proof or Foul-Weather
Gear (Keep you dry and happy)
• Light(s) (For fishinng in low-light and
at night time)
• A Hook Hone or File (Dull hooks don’t
catch fish)
• A large bin of some sort to transport
all your gear.
While it is possible to go fishing w/o these items, your safety,
success and ultimately enjoyment of the time you spend on the water
will increase DRAMATICLY with each item. You’ll find a lot of
interesting info on these and other products in the SWE online store.
Choosing a spot
Congratulations! Now you are completely equipped and ready to go
fishing. So where do you go? Well there are many ways to determine
where your next trip will take you. One way is to begin by asking other
fishermen. But BE CAREFUL! Anglers are notorious for keeping their best
spots secret or being very vague. You do well to take advice w/ a grain
of salt. Soon you’ll be able to begin building a network of contacts
with which you can trade intel, but since you are new to fishing, and
don’t have much experience to offer to others just yet, you’ll do much
better by learning the type of water to look for and the best time to
fish it. This information is available in various books or by paying
for a local guide to take you fishing. Another good place to start is
at the tackle shop where you purchased your gear. These people want you
to catch fish as they know that will make you want to spend your hard
earned $$$.
Once you find info about the types of spots and situations that produce
(Points, deep water near shore, drop offs, reefs, outflows, etc.) There
are a few online tools that can really help. One is Google Earth which
is an amazing tool for finding new and interesting spots to fish.
Windows live local’s birds eye view is really INCREDIBLE if available
for your area. The NOAA online chart viewer is also a huge help with
determining water depth in a specific area. Don’t just chase, but
rather, make your own reports and feel the satisfaction of finding a
new spot on your own and watching it produce. Be mindful of the
influence of the tide. A spot may very well fish VERY differently
depending on the stage of the tide and/or the direction of the wind.
You’ll do very well if you keep a journal of conditions and results for
all your fishing trips as this historic data will be priceless in
planning future trips.
Preparing for your trip
Having chosen your spot make sure you’re fully prepared:
• Rods should be rigged and ready
• Additional leaders should be tied in
case yours breaks or get’s frayed
• All hooks should be sharpened and lures
arranged in an orderly manner
• Before leaving check & re-check
all gear is present and accounted for
• Finally, give your spouse/significant
other a kiss and whatever else you’ve gotten them (movie-rental,
flowers, jewelry, etc.) to make up for your absence.
A Few Fishing Tips
So you’ve got all your gear and you’re in your spot, now what?!
Well we won’t even attempt to outline the countless ways or methods you
can employ rather we’ll provide a list of a few guidelines to go by.
• Watch the water looking for current and
structure
• Cast to these areas
• Be mindful of snags and avoid them
• Use lures or bait that effectively fish
different depths of the water column
• Proceed w/ caution in unfamiliar spots
• If prospecting new water fan your casts
to cover as wide a range of spots as possible focusing on areas with
signs of good structure for fish.
• Keep moving, and keep engaged. Fish
will inevitably show when you sometimes least expect them.
• Look intently for patterns to develop
and keep learning.
These are just a few REALLY BASIC suggestions designed to encourage you
to go out there with some direction and purpose. Hopefully you can stay
engaged and not become discouraged quickly. Once you decide to return
home the fishing experience has not ended. One of the most productive
parts of your outing waits at home.
Productive Post Trip Habits
It’s good to look at your after trip habits as preparation for your
very next trip. Gear should be cared for. This means hosing your gear
down w/ fresh water and following manufacturer instructions for reel
care. Leaving your gear ready for the next use will allow you to pick
up and go at a moments notice. The other extremely useful habit is to
log your results along w/ the date, time, conditions and location(s) of
your outing. As you accumulate this data from various trips patterns
will emerge that will help you pick the most productive times and spots
to fish.
Well hopefully this little piece helps out some beginning anglers and
has made you excited about fishing. See you out there on the water!
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