Before You Set Off

Rod Reel & Line Set Up
Unless you have purchased a rod already set-up with reel & line, you will need to firstly purchase mainline. I have chosen for now 4lb Main Line. Take your reel and attach to a fully extended rod. With the Main Line feed it through the eyes on your rod working from the top of the rod down to the reel. Lift back the bale arm, make a loop in the line large & fit over the spool on the reel. Tighten this loop and trim off any excess line, return the bale arm back into position. To wind the line on to your reel ask a friend to hold the spool, with the line slightly taught, (little tip, place a pen through the spool, this helps the line come off more smoothly) whilst you slowly reel in the line onto the spool. Now all that is required it to attach a weight to the end of your line. Casting
OK here goes, lets assume you have NEVER held a fishing rod before, the first thing you will need to learn is to cast.
Do you have a large garden or QUIET open area near you? There is no need to pay to go on a lake to practise your casting. Having got your rod, reel and line, you will need to attach a small weight about 1oz.(NEVER put on a hook). Then away you go.

It is VITAL before you swing the rod behind you to ALWAYS look behind to double check there is no one standing there, or a bush you could snag on.

Pick a target feature in front of you at some distance and use this as your marker for direction not your distance. For the moment don't worry too much about how far you can cast, more important is to keep your cast in a straight line out in front of you. If you imagine a 180-degree arc, you are aiming for 90-degrees. This does not happen overnight and can take many months to fine tune, all you are doing at the moment is learning how the rod, line & weight react when you cast. After an hour or so you should feel confident to start fishing.

Container With The Following

Hook length x 3lb.
Packet of Eyed Barbless Hooks x size 16
Split Shot Weight Dispenser
Disgorger
Scissors
Can Opener (if tins of bait have no ring pull)
Floats
Catapult
Hook Bait

Tin of Sweetcorn
Tin of Plain Luncheon Meat
¼ loaf of white sliced bread
The above are cheaper from your local supermarket
Particle Bait To Fire Out 

The following is not essential, but useful:-
Bait Box for ½ pint Maggots Red & White
Small tub of worms & 4ml pellets

Clothing

Be sensible, check out the weather, even in the middle of summer, if your sitting in the shade (which could happen at some point during the day) it gets COLD. I always

say the best way to warm up is to catch fish. Why? Because you are moving. Sitting or standing for long periods in one-place stops your circulation and you will feel cold. So take that extra jumper/coat/socks/ hat, chances are you may need them. Likewise on hot sunny days take plenty of water and Sun Cream, it’s easy to get badly burnt from the sun & the reflection off the water.

I have not mentioned umbrellas yet, as they are a little expensive, but do protect you from the rain/sun and wind, again it’s possible to pick one up second hand if you feel you will need one. Word of caution, don’t try to cast whilst sitting underneath one, you’ll end up in an awful muddle!

Be sensible, check out the weather, even in the middle of summer, if your sitting in the shade (which could happen at some point during the day) it gets COLD. I always say the best way to warm up is to catch fish. Why? Because you are moving. Sitting or standing for long periods in one-place stops your circulation and you will feel cold. So take that extra jumper/coat/socks/ hat, chances are you may need them. Likewise on hot sunny days take plenty of water and Sun Cream, it’s easy to get badly burnt from the sun & the reflection off the water. I have not mentioned umbrellas yet, as they are a little expensive, but do protect you from the rain/sun and wind, again it’s possible to pick one up second hand if you feel you will need one. Word of caution, don’t try to cast whilst sitting underneath one, you’ll end up in an awful muddle!