My daughter, aged eight, has decided she wants to fish and I know as much about it as she does, i.e. nothing. We will be fishing off the beach in an estuary set back a little way from the Pacific, and apparently it is mostly flathead there.
So, I've bought a light rod which says it is suitable for 3-10kg. I also got a starter pack for flathead, containing long shank hooks, sinkers and swivels.
First, the line. Presumably you just thread it through all the holes? Then what do you do? Sorry but I really have no idea ... Any help would be really appreciated! I tried asking in the shop but it was like a hypermarket where nobody knew any more about fishing than I did. Thank you so much in advance!
(What I would do if we ever actually caught anything I can't imagine!!)Total clueless beginner here!! Could someone talk me through preparing a fishing rod right from the start?
Let me answer your last comment first--catch and release.
Is the reel attached to the pole? If it is, that is your first step.
Second thing to do is run the line up through all of the eyelets.
Now comes the tricky part. Are you using worms? If so, you need to tie the swivel onto the end of your line. Do you have extra line? If not, cut about ten pieces of line (about 7 inches long) off your reel line and set off to the side before you tie on your swivel.
After you tie your swivel onto the end of the line, use one piece of line to attach your sinker (tie one end onto the swivel and the other end onto the sinker).
Then you need to attach your hook--use another piece of line and attach one end to the swivel and the other end to the hook. Try to make both pieces about the same length--four inches should do nicely.
I hope this is understandable, without pictures it is hard to explain. Make sure your knots are very tight, a fish will untie them in a second while he is fighting to get off.
Now take your worm and slide him onto the hook (or if you are using chunks of meat just slide them on). When you put the worm on, start about quarter inch from the head and slide him on until just his tail is hanging off. They also have some smelly stuff that you can put onto the bait so the catfish can find them.
Throw the line out into the water and let the sinker hit the bottom. Oh yeah, you may want to put a bobber on since you are beginners. You just put that on your line so that it sits on top of the water when the sinker is at the bottom. Give the line a little slack, if you don't have slack the fish will feel the hook and take off.
I can also give you some other advice: go down to the water and find a nice fisherman and ask him for help--better yet, have your daughter do it and he will not be able to resist. Or find a small bait shop by the water with friendly people that will help you.
If you can't find someone to help, just try what I told you and with practice and some changes hopefully you will be able to catch some fish.
One more thing--why catfish?? Starting with something smaller will be a lot easier and maybe even more fun.
Just remember, I fish in Michigan so it may be way different than how they fish where you are from.Total clueless beginner here!! Could someone talk me through preparing a fishing rod right from the start?
Oh and I was advised to use prawns for bait.
Report Abuse Dear totally clueless,
If the rod and reel you bought does n ot have line on it you can take it back to where you bought it and they should put the line on the reel. But yes after you run the line through all the ';holes';, from the top to the bottom you want to attach the line to the reel. A simple square knot around the spool ( the part the line winds up on) should be OK for your needs. The keep a little tension on the line and reel it in until it is almost full (about 1/8-1/4 from the edge of the spool).
Learn how to tie a clinch knot...... http://www.killroys.com/knots/clinch.htm and heres an article on flathead fishing http://ezinearticles.com/?Fishing-for-Fl鈥?/a> good luck oh and one more thing.....are you prepared if you do catch a fish...get yourself some nice pliers maybe a net...go out and teach that girl to fish.....maybe practice before you head out with her?
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