STARTING OUT IN FISHING Doing it Right

Whether it’s cost of living pressures or an abundance of angling shows on TV & Youtube, the number of people looking at getting into fishing is increasing, but not everyone has a mentor or someone to show them the ropes. Max Fischer has some words of advice for anyone looking to start fishing and providing seafood for the family table.

Like many people, I probably spend too much time perusing the posts and pages of Facebook, particularly those centred around piscatorial pursuits. One common question among many I have noticed concerns selecting the right rod and reel to buy and where to go fishing with a view to actually catching something. Now this question is also posed by those who may already have a bit of angling experience, but are looking to broaden that experience by moving in a different direction to that which they are accustomed – let’s say a ‘baito’ looking to move to fishing artificials.

Reading through the numerous replies, it’s obvious not everyone has the same ideas, so how do you select the right outfit for YOU. Now I say YOU because what is the ideal outfit for me may not suit you at all.

For many, their first foray into the purchase is to visit a large supermarket-type tackle store. We all know the type. Fishing is a sideline to camping, 4x4, and other outdoors activities. They are usually minimally staffed and staff may not be well experienced in many types of angling. My suggestion to new players is to avoid stores like this. Sure, they can be a great place to secure bargains if you know what you are looking for, but for newbies to the sport there is little by way of time or expertise to help select the right outfit for you.

My advice here is to find your local tackle store, the one owned by a local that has been around for a long time. Adelaide has a few of them that have stood the test of time for a reason. These stores are staffed by fishermen who have a vast knowledge of the tackle in the store and varying levels of experience in all aspects of the sport. They know what questions to ask of you and can usually show you a plethora of suitable rods and reels to suit your budget. The days of snobby sales assistants reluctant to share any advice with a customer are LONG gone, and if you come up against a store like this, leave because it’s not the place for you.

The benefits of visiting and returning to your local store are many. Some of these are;

Personalised Service; Most good tackle stores will be manned by more than one person and by staff with a wealth of experience and knowledge. My local store has fisherman with a wide range of experience in tackle, but also piscatorial science. In sending friends and colleagues to my regular store they have come away feeling appreciated and listened to, purchasing tackle that better suits them and their needs. The sales staff took the time to put a number of outfits within a budget into the hands of the angler, explaining why this one or that may be better than the next. Weight, action, butt length etc. are all considerations. These things all play a role in personalising an outfit for YOU.

The thing that also stood out for me in regard to my colleague was that staff didn’t simply send him to the expensive gear. Sure, some items were shown and trialled that may have exceeded the budget, but it was with a view to saying “Hey, for a few dollars more, this is how much better this may feel to you.” There is an old saying that the poor man pays twice. That’s because many will buy on price alone. The outfit will feel cumbersome, not meet expectation, or simply be far from ideal. This will quickly see you lose interest and the outfit left in the corner of the shed to gather dust or, worse still you’ll be forced to go out and buy gear better suited to you and the task, and there is certainly no saving in having to do that!

Community Support; Your local tackle store is one that supports many other community organisations. They might donate prizes to the local sports club or support a local fishing competition. They may even offer discounts to members of the local fishing club. As well as these benefits, there is the added bonus that these stores employ local young people – kids with a passion for the sport providing employment opportunities within the industry.

Ongoing support & Information; This is something that your supermarket store is never going to provide for you. Get to know your local and the staff in it. Buy a handful of sinkers or hooks regularly. Get your bait and berley from that shop and have a bit of friendly banter whilst there. The staff will get to recognise you and appreciate your custom. From here they are usually helpful with any questions you might have. No one is going to give you their favourite GPS coordinates or favourite beach, but maybe you’re having trouble with a specific species or selecting suitable locations. As you become more familiar with the staff, the information that is passed on becomes a little better. So, you’ve found a store that made you feel welcome, comfortable, and appreciated. The next thing you want to do in the road to piscatorial success is locate a local angling club. Now many will scoff at this suggestion because they feel inadequate or not up to a standard to compete or fish alongside more accomplished anglers. Fear not. Sure, there are clubs that will not be suited to a beginner because they may be mostly competition focused, but there are also many clubs that are more focused on the social aspect of the sport and gaining experience collectively. Again, your local tackle store may be able to help here with some suggestions, other wise Google will no doubt have others. Most clubs I’ve been associated with offer the ability for visitors to attend meetings. This usually sees you sit in on a regular meeting and listen to results of previous trips or details of upcoming ones. It will also give you a chance to get a feel for the club and its members. Are they friendly and welcoming or distant and secretive? Clubs may even allow you to attend trips as a visitor, again allowing you to see the workings of the club and discover if it suits you.

The benefits of an angling club cannot be overstated. Attitude will dictate what level of assistance one gains here, but clubs are a great place to gain knowledge and experience from people who may have been doing it for a VERY long time. Attending outings allows you to watch and replicate what successful anglers do, their rigs, their baits, etc, so you see there is great value in joining a suitable club.