Starting fishing

[Defcon5]

Calling all fishermen!

I used to fish when I was a lot younger but havent been for about 15 years.

One of the guys fom work has recently started going and Im off with him on friday! Just borowwing some kit but I think I may start going again.

What are good cheap brands nowadays? I just like float/feeder fishing, not bothered by poles.

I think Ill scour gumtree/car boots/ebay for some bargains.

Anyone else into fishing?

[Happy82]

I fancy getting back into this again, used to love it as a kid

I think I'll be going crabbing in West Bay during the Summer ( Reminds me of when I was 6 and asked my school teacher if you could catch crabs in France )

[dickymint]

Fished most of my life. But in all honesty I don't get course fishing at all (I am assuming that's what you're doing). If I can't eat it I don't want to fish for it.

I'm lucky to live next to the river Usk, my rod is always set up ready to go. Nothing better than fancying trout for supper and nipping out for an hour.

[spikeyhead]

Aldi had some beginners kits in last week, including boxes of floats etc

[Odie]

decathlon have loads of kit and beginner sets, always suprised by how cheap the stuff is, not sure of the quality but it looks well made to me, ive never tried it myself.

[Defcon5]

Thats the thing - plenty of beginner type stuff around, but its mainly tat and Im trying to avoid that.

[bluntededdie]

If you want cheaper end of the market you should try some Ron Thompson gear.They do a range of waggler/feeder rods for not much money and always get decent reviews.

http://tackleoutlet.co.uk/index.php?main_page=prod...

I have had a Ron Thompson zensorflex pike rod for the last 6 years and after all the abuse its took the rod is still in great condition even though its a spare rod these days.Have a few fellow anglers who use they feeder rods for bait collection and they swear by them.

Course fishing aint my area of expertise but I hope that helps and if you have any more questions feel free to drop me a wee PM.

[cerbfan]

There are loads of good brands out there but if you stick to Shimano for reels, rods and a pole you could not go wrong. If you go and buy a couple of fishing magazines there are always a load of offers and deals in there.

Also fishing may have changed a lot since you last went especially if you want to go and fish the heavily stocked commercial waters, these are stocked generally with reasonable sized Carp to around 10lb so with a pole you will need a power top two and decent strength elastic. Rods should be medium to heavy feeder rods if you try the popular method feeder method (you won't need a sensitive tip to spot bites on the method).

Best advice would be to buy a few magazines and if you have Sky try and catch some fishing programs good ones being Great/Greater Rod Race and Fishing Guru's which are normally on Discovery Home and Leisure.

[blindswelledrat]

I would look on ebay for complete kits.
Last I looked you could get a half-decent complete set of tackle for less than you could get the very basics in value-brand goods.
Enjoy

[Defcon5]

Im planning on just getting a quivertip, on the thinking that I can use that for feeder and float, wheres a float rod can only be used for floats?

[dickymint]

Best all round rod in my opinion is a Fly rod.

[spikeyhead]

dickymint said:

Best all round rod in my opinion is a Fly rod.

Some would argue that it's either dynamite or a net, however I believe both to be a little unsporting.

[Megaflow]

Defcon5 said:

Im planning on just getting a quivertip, on the thinking that I can use that for feeder and float, wheres a float rod can only be used for floats?

Years ago, I talking about ~20 years ago, you could buy a rod that took a screw in quivertip, and with the tip removed, it could be used for float fishing as well.

These days 'feeder' rods seem to have taken over, these are a rod with a selection of push in tips to suit the size of feeder and fish in use. These tips tend to be too soft for float fishing and the rod can't be used without the tips.

[blindswelledrat]

Megaflow said:

Defcon5 said:

Im planning on just getting a quivertip, on the thinking that I can use that for feeder and float, wheres a float rod can only be used for floats?

Years ago, I talking about ~20 years ago, you could buy a rod that took a screw in quivertip, and with the tip removed, it could be used for float fishing as well.

These days 'feeder' rods seem to have taken over, these are a rod with a selection of push in tips to suit the size of feeder and fish in use. These tips tend to be too soft for float fishing and the rod can't be used without the tips.

Agree generally, but I've used a couple of my feeder rods with a float and they still cope okay. You might miss slightly more bites but it still works as such.
When you fish regularly you get into the habit of having dozens of rods with very specific uses that you feel are 'essential' to you. BUt then I remember as a kid having a little 6 foot rod that cost me a fiver and a small plastic box with a few floats and things in and using that rod for everything and still catching.
I would suggest that as a begginer you would not notice the difference between a float/feeder road as far as catching fish on a float.

[dickymint]

I have to say it again. With a stiff action fly rod you can catch almost any fish and use any method. Fly reel, spinning reel, centre pin reel, multiplier reel - all can be used. Float, feeder, trotting, spinning, worming, live-bait, boilies. Anything really apart from Beach casting!

[blindswelledrat]

dickymint said:

I have to say it again. With a stiff action fly rod you can catch almost any fish and use any method. Fly reel, spinning reel, centre pin reel, multiplier reel - all can be used. Float, feeder, trotting, spinning, worming, live-bait, boilies. Anything really apart from Beach casting!

True, but where feeder fishing is concerned, it has no advantage over a float road that I can see. Neither are particularly well suited to that hence him wanting to use a feeder rod as an all-rounder.

[disco1]

I have no interest in wading through a freezing river, sitting on edge of carp pond or being blown stupid on a south wales beach in mid Feb but I do like to watch the old Rex Hunt programs and even the new Robson Green stuff. The thought of lure fishing in warmer climes is much more appealing. Even so that when I go the the Dominican Rep in 3 weeks I'm going to take a telescopic rod and a load of spinners/lures/poppers and fish off the rocks for something to do whilst I drink!!

No smelly bait, 30 degs, turquoise seas, waiter service, shorts and a tan.

That's fishing!!

[blindswelledrat]

disco1 said:

I have no interest in wading through a freezing river, sitting on edge of carp pond or being blown stupid on a south wales beach in mid Feb

I don't either.
But sitting on a hot summers day by a river in beautiful English coutryside with no sounds but the skylarks, cows and running water takes a lot of beating.

[dickymint]

blindswelledrat said:

disco1 said:

I have no interest in wading through a freezing river, sitting on edge of carp pond or being blown stupid on a south wales beach in mid Feb

I don't either.
But sitting on a hot summers day by a river in beautiful English coutryside with no sounds but the skylarks, cows and running water takes a lot of beating.

Same here (albeit Welsh countryside). I fish very "light" no bag, no net. Just fly rod already set-up, waders already on, couple of flies and a few spare leaders.

2 minute walk to the river. I stalk my fish - I walk up the one bank over a bridge and down the other side. If i don't see a rise my line doesn't get wet! I have a ready supply of cold bottled Bud stashed under water in a few spots Couple of pints of Cider in my local on the way home then it's gut the trout and straight in the pan. Can't be bad eh?

[theshrew]

I used to fish lots when i was a kid. I was out with the dogs yesterday near where i used to fish and decided to take a longer walk and have a bit of a mooch. Its changed a lot since i was last there nobody fishing either. Is it closed season now ?