Beginner Advice

Alright, so I just got my hands on a ABU Garcia Vengeance combo, a Penn Battle combo, and a Ugly Stik Elite.

What tips and tricks do you guys have that you guys are willing to share to someone getting into fishing?

What type of bait and tackle should I be looking for? I'm assuming this will be dependent on what I want to fish?

What will my rod/reel combo allow me to do?

 

Try find a local group on facebook or something to tag along and learn.

Or if you rather be solo just go fishing and keep notes on what works and what doesn't. Just remember its called fishing not catching.

 

youtube your area/local bodies of water and add “fishing”

it’ll depend on your location and what species you are targeting.

 

Is your ABU Garcia Vengeance combo a baitcasting setup? Baitcasters are typically used for Bass fishing, but really can be used for anything freshwater. I use mine for Trout, Steelhead, and Salmon. The same for the Ugly Stik Elite. But really, if you use them in saltwater they'll be good to go as long as you rinse them with freshwater after use. Never used the Penn Battle combo.

 

By no means a pro but started out freshwater fishing ponds and rivers in KY….now in SE NC and do a fair amount of inshore saltwater fishing. Like mentioned before the baitcasters are popular for bass fishing but one issue is line capacity and can take some practice to cast em smoothly and accurately. The Penn Battle depending on size could be a very versatile setup. For the redfish, flounder, and speckled trout fishing that I’m mostly into now, a 2500-3000 size spinning reel is a good fit…for larger fish, throwing heavier weight or fishing near structure with the potential to lose a fish, best to always go up a bit in reel size and rod weight.
It’s safe to say that I’m on a first name basis with all the guys at my local tackle shop lol (both of em)!

 

Is this a cart before the horse sort if thing? I start with the fish I think I have a chance of catching. Then decide what test line, rod length and reel. Fishing from the boat usually gets a slightly shorter rod. Especially for my wife since I've gotten smacked up side of da head with a wet shiner more than once when she casts.

 

I don't know if there is a right or wrong way to get into fishing. My philosophy when I was a kid was to grab whatever rod, reel, and tackle you have and get out on the water. Now a days I decide on my gear and tackle based on the species of fish in my area. I've got 2 different setups. 1 for trout: spinners and trout magnet. 1 for steelhead and salmon: standard spinners, modified spinners (added a squid hoochie), floating Mad River worms, floating jigs, plunking spin and glos, plunking plugs.

 

This.

 

Where the troller was born…..

 

Wisconsin has Dept of Natural Resources website that we can search bodies of water and it will provide fishing tips.

Try looking online for something like that in your state.