Your first cast
What to bring, where to stand and what to do first, written for someone who has never held a rod.
In this page
Before you go
You need a rod licence to fish in fresh water in England and Wales if you are 13 or over. Buy it online before you leave — it takes a couple of minutes, and fishing without one is an offence. On top of that, almost every water needs its own day ticket or club membership. Check both.
What to bring the first time
A rod and reel, a float, a few shot, hooks, a pint of maggots, a landing net, an unhooking mat or a soft wet towel, and forceps. That is enough. Resist the tackle shop.
Where to stand
Walk the bank before you set up. Fish the water you can reach comfortably, near a feature — reeds, an overhanging tree, the edge of a lily bed. Stand back from the edge; your shadow and footfall travel further than you think.
The cast itself
Point the rod at the water, let about a rod’s length of line hang, take the line under your finger, open the bail arm, and bring the rod smoothly from vertical to about 45 degrees, releasing as you go. Smooth beats hard. A short accurate cast out-fishes a long wild one every time.
When you catch one
Wet your hands before touching the fish. Support it, keep it low over the mat or the water, unhook it with forceps, and put it back gently facing into any flow. If you want a photo, have the camera ready first — the fish is out of the water for as long as you fumble.
Log the next one
Every catch kept, conditions filled in for you.