Basic Coarse Fishing Equipment

You used to go fishing, gave it up a long while ago, and now you want to start again? You’ve always wanted to go fishing but don’t know where to start? These are common situations for would-be or want-to-be anglers. In both cases, it’s easy to be coarse fishing on the banks of your local lake, canal or river within hours!

There has never been a better time to begin coarse fishing — the branch of the sport involving the capture of most freshwater fish other than members of the trout and salmon family. Good equipment is quite cheap, there are plenty of waters where you can catch fish, and there is no shortage of willing ‘teachers’.

You can set yourself up with basic kit and be fishing for less than £20. All you need is a cheap pole (one about four metres in length will do), some line, a few small hooks, weights and floats, a plastic disgorger and a quantity of bait - maggots perhaps - and you are in business. Of course, you can spend a lot more if you so wish on other types of tackle, but this simple kit will enable you to begin straight away. Your local tackle dealer should be able to advise you on where to go, preferably somewhere where there are lots of small, easy to catch fish.

Once you have experienced the thrill of seeing a float go under, felt a fish fight to the bank edge, taken pride in carefully unhooking your catch, and watched it swim away, unharmed, to grow larger, you will know why the sport is so popular. And you can only experience this only by trying angling.

At most commercial stillwater fisheries you will usually pay from between £2 and £6 for a day’s fishing. But the owner or bailiff will be only too happy to show you what to do and pass on tips about good baits and productive spots. At many such fisheries there will be a small cafe where you will meet and get to know other visiting anglers. Who knows — you may even strike up a friendship which lasts a life-time.

If you want more information, there is a huge choice of angling newspapers, magazines, books and videos? Do remember that every angler was a beginner once, and most will be willing to help you if you become stuck. Don't be afraid to ask for help!

COARSE FISH

Coarse fish include most types of freshwater fish other than members of the salmon and trout family. Generally, coarse fish are caught for sport only and then returned alive to the water to grow larger.

Some coarse are streamlined in shape, their bodies adapted to living in fast flowing water. They include: the large-mouthed chub, which has been caught to 8 lb and more and will take a huge variety of baits; and the torpedo-shaped barbel, which can reach double the weight of the chub and is renowned for its powerful fight when hooked.

Slow-flowing rivers and stillwaters are the more usual haunts of deep bodied fish, including: the rudd, charactensed by its upturned mouth which allows it to feed at the surface; and common carp, once rare but now present in many fisheries where they can grow to 30 or 40 lb and - in exceptional cases — more than 50 lb.

Some fish occur in most types of fresh water. For example, the first fish caught by many coarse anglers is the perch, a handsome species with distinctively striped flanks and spiked dorsal fin.

To Start You Will Need:-

Optional Items - which you will probably need later on:-

Use the ring off a "key ring" and attach a 4-6oz Sea-fishing weight to the bottom of your keepnet - this helps when throwing the net out and in keeping it extended and submerged.