Stick, String, Hook, Worm

[sakon76]

I have this vague feeling that I'd like to learn how to fish again. I haven't done so since houseboating with my parents as an early teenager. But when I poke around on the internet, I find the official government sites--you need this license, and that license, and oh this one too for $ALotOfMoney--and varying sites about fishing locations which rhapsodize about what the government stocks when and where and you have to use this specific type of bait that I've never heard of, etc, but not really anything directed toward the beginner.

Stuff like: I know I need a pole with a line, and some type of hooky thing on the end. Is there a general ratio of length of pole to length of me, and is just pulling the older rods down out of my parents' rafters okay? What do these different weights and such mean? Bait is something to put on the hooky bit; do I really need something more than worms? For that matter, how do I tie the hook on? What is a bobber, and how do I fasten it on? Which licenses do I really need, and I know there must be limits on how many of what type people can catch in a day, so what are they? For that matter, what kind of fish am I allowed to catch versus having to toss back, how big do they have to be, in what months, and is there a basic visual guide to what they look like? Could I fish in random streams or only lakes? (The ocean is, for the moment, beyond the scope I'd want to explore.) I assume I'd need a cooler and ice to put the caught fish in; should I gut them as soon as I catch them, or wait until I get them home? And is there a fast, humane way of killing them once caught, or...?

Minecraft makes it all look so easy. RL less so.

Comments

[toothycat]

I used to go fishing with my mum when I was little, more or less here. I can't say I ever knew how one is *supposed* to do it though. We used a random generic rod - there were only a few kinds sold in the village shop. The hook has an eye, like a needle, and the line is tied through that. The bobber is a piece of brightly coloured wood or styrofoam or something else that floats; you tie it to the line some way up from the hook. It does two things: it holds the hook off the bottom and at the depth you want, and by watching for it dipping in the water you know a fish has taken the bait. If your hook, loaded with bait, isn't heavy enough, you might need a weight as well - these were sold as strips of lead, we would snap a little off and fold it around the line near the hook.

On pulling the fish out, we'd remove the hook (my mum would do that bit, I tried a couple of times but didn't have the strength to hold the fish still which made it hard to do it quickly), and put it in a bucket filled with water; we took it home in that, and prepared it immediately.

We used white bread for bait, and caught, I am told, roach, which we salted and dried - I remember washing it, leaving it completely covered in a vast amount of salt for two days in the fridge, then stringing it up near the ceiling and leaving it for a while, but I don't know if that was all that needed doing - I'd have to ask my mum for details.

I suspect my memories are to real fishing what taking photos with a compact camera is to the DSLR photography world ;) Good luck, let us know how you get on!

[linnet-melody.livejournal.com]

Different baits are used to catch different types of fish. For instance, if you were just catching perch -- common in my area -- you'd want worms or crickets, and a fairly normal nylon line for the pole. If, however, you wanted *catfish* you'd want an honest-to-god CHAIN staked to the ground, and a handful of raw meat (we used chicken bits) on a quarter-inch-diameter hook tossed out into the water and allowed to settle down to the bottom.

Length of pole to you is more of a question of leverage, or "how strong are your arms for hauling something in?" When finding a pole, find something that feels comfortable when you swish it around. These days, they're awfully strong, and usually the line will break if the fish is too heavy, and not the pole. Using your parents' poles is okay to learn with, you can find something that suits you once you figure out what you *don't* like about what you're using.

Re: licenses. Figure out where you plan on fishing, and what kind of fish gets stocked in that lake/stream. Ask the forestry service in your area. Some types of fish have seasons, and licenses only get passed out for a short time for that particular fish, due to spawning rates and to prevent over-fishing. This'll also help you decide what size line you need, as some fish can grow to quite a good size and need a heavier line to hold the weight.

Once the fish is caught, you can get the hook out quickly and put it in a bucket of lake/stream water to keep it kicking for a while. If you want to take them home before killing 'em, get one with a lid for transport. Humane killing: a small hammer or club-like object (called a "kosh") and a swift blow to the head.

[linnet-melody.livejournal.com]

A few oopsies:

Forestry service = fish and wildlife people.
Kosh = cosh. Because you, yanno, cosh 'em on the head.

[flamekaat.livejournal.com]

I watched in detail as my uncle kindly dispatched a catfish he brought my grandma and me to eat once. He beat it in the head quite firmly with a large blunt object, nailed it to a board through the head of the now dead but still nerve spazzy fish, because those whiskers they have CAN hurt you, and cut the guts from the fish then the meat from the head. He thus had a >= like portion with no guts inside and an opening slit where the belly once was that could then be easily scaled and cleaned then pin boned cause those will choke you and the catfish is legendary for bitty bones in profusion. Then we rinsed it after it was scaled and dipped it in corn bread and pan fried it done. All fishes should be pan fried if they come in a meaty portion and not little tiny slices cause corn meal fishy is awesome. IDK but I had luck with a line and chicken livers as bait also in an estuary along a river. Designated fishing spots sounds like Communism to me. Not during their season I get but my river is public access therefore i will FISH there and do so with gladness. Also license. Here in Nevada they have day fishing licenses. I see this as a good idea if you are not going to spend say 20 days in the fishing season out fishing. If you are going to hit something that high perhaps you should not waste money and should get the season pass. Its like buying in bulk only for permission to fish. The same question as always is: will you use it or enough of it to make it worth while?
/lecture