Fishing 101: For the Real Beginner

Once outfitted with a rod, reel, tackle, and bait, it's time to decide what species to target. New anglers are always amazed after landing their first fish, but catching lots of different kinds of fish on the first several outings is crucial! Panfish, including bluegills, crappies, and bass, are very common and will eagerly bite a worm fished under a bobber. Most importantly, panfish often appear in large schools, and the action can be fast and furious, making them a perfect target for beginners! Pound for pound, panfish are also terrific fighters, and larger fish will put a satisfying bend in a fishing rod. Combine these with the fact that panfish make delicious table fare, and you are set for a day (and sometimes night) of fun and food!

Rigging a fishing rod for panfish is as simple as it gets. When fishing water less than 6 feet deep, start by tying a #2 or #4 aberdeen or bait keeper hook on the line. There are several different knots to choose from, but the easiest and strongest for this style of fishing is the Palomar knot. After the hook is tied, use needle nose pliers to pinch a small 1/32 to 1/16 ounce split shot weight onto the line 4” above the hook. This tiny weight will sink the bait and ensure your bobber is upright to detect strikes. Finally, snap a ping pong ball-sized bobber or pencil/cigar-style float approximately 3 feet above the hook. Hook a juicy night crawler or red worm midway through the body a couple times to secure it, making sure there is plenty of wiggle on both sides of the hook. When fishing deeper water, a slip float is required to prevent tangles, and this short video explains how to rig it.

Casting a spincast or baitcast reel is a piece of cake. In one sweeping motion, swing the rod back and then forward, pushing the line release button during the forward stroke. When executed correctly, the line will glide through the rod guides with the bait landing in the water straight out with a satisfying “plop”. It's definitely worth the time to practice casting at home with a sinker tied to the line until proficient. Doing so will dramatically reduce tangles, missteps, and frustration when you’re actually on the water. Chad Ferguson with Catfish Edge and a Whisker Seeker Tackle ProStaffer has an excellent and quick introduction to casting techniques for baitcast reels here.

After the rod has been cast and the bait is in the water, anglers have to carefully watch the bobber. Very often panfish will taste or play with a worm before committing, and this will cause the float to bob around or get pulled around from side to side. However, to maximize hook ups, it’s critical that anglers let fish run with the bait and sink the bobber completely before pulling back sharply on the rod to “set” or hook the fish. Once a fish is hooked, reel them in gradually, keeping the line tight and letting the rod and the reel do most of the work. “Horsing” large fish in before they have a chance to tire out often results in breaking the line or losing the fish right at the bank. As a result, take your time and enjoy the fight, and you will dramatically increase the odds of a successful catch.

Where is the best place to find panfish? The Iowa Department of Natural Resources regularly stocks bluegills, bass, and catfish in small ponds, and they add crappies to the mix in ponds and lakes greater than 5 acres. To find places to fish near your home, open a web browser and navigate to the Iowa DNR fishing atlas. Click on a pin near your home and then click on “more info.” This will take you to a page with detailed information on the location, amenities, and species present at the lake. In addition, sometimes the most recent fishing report is available to help anglers know what’s biting and how to catch them!

After learning fishing basics from successful panfishing adventures, beginning anglers are ready to pursue bigger and harder fighting fish. Fortunately, catfish are often abundant at the same locations folks catch panfish, and catching catfish only requires moderate changes.

Catfish grow to huge proportions, and trophy fish over 10 pounds are common in small lakes and rivers. Catfish are well-known for savagely stripping line off reels and notoriously breaking the strongest fishing line. As a result, it's important that beginning anglers use heavier line when targeting catfish. To reduce the risk of losing fish, anglers should consider purchasing a dedicated catfishing rod and reel combination with 10-20 pound line and a 7’ or longer medium-heavy fishing rod. These setups provide greater control over large, hard-fighting fish, and allow anglers to put more pressure on fish without the risk of breaking off. Cost-sensitive anglers can also buy a separate reel with heavier line for their existing fishing rod or even have a local sporting goods store replace the line on their current reel.  

Fishing for catfish doesn't require special baits. In fact, anglers can fish for both panfish and catfish at the same time on separate rods with worms. Target panfish with worms suspended under a bobber, and lose the bobber and fish on the bottom with a sinker for catfish. To target trophy catfish and reduce the chances of catching rough fish (carp, bullheads, and drum) anglers can make cut bait from freshly caught bluegills, or really spice things up by using whole live bluegills. Both of these baits will ring the dinner bell for hungry catfish, and when they bite you had better be ready! Detailed information on the best catfish rigs to use for all types and sizes of catfish can be found here at www.whiskerseeker.com.

Fishing is an enormously popular and entertaining way for individuals and families to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. The cost to get started is very low compared to other pursuits, and folks can buy what they need and be on the water within a matter of hours. If you’re just starting out, remember that you only need the bare minimum- basic rod/reel, simple tackle, and natural bait to get started. Don’t get caught up in all the hype and feel like you need a tackle box full of all the latest jigs, crankbaits, and gadgets. Tie on a hook and bobber, cast out a line, unfold a lawn chair, and take it easy in the shade. If you’re lucky, it won’t take long for the bobber in the pond to go “...up down, up down, up down!”