How do I start fishing?

[Santaaa]

Daiwa is your friend. I know ugly stik is highly recommended by all the people I know but trust me Daiwa is more bang for your buck. I just got one over the summer a 5' 6" combo 6-14lb test line. The reel got destroyed by a 2 foot catfish I think it ruined the bearings or something. I got a new reel but the pole is great. I got mine for $20 but I have seen the combos for $15. Go to Dick's sporting goods. Look for a cheap Daiwa combo. The reel may bust quick if you dig into big fish like me but then again if you start small it will work alright. Nice reel up until the catfish broke it but it was worth destroying that reel to land that monster catfish. 2 feet is big in PA. My best was 2 and 1/2 feet long. I landed it on an ugly stick as my Johnson was ruined the night before so I had to borrow my brothers pole which was a bit hard to cast back in the trees. I like to use 12 lb test line with my Daiwa not to heavy but not to light either. Start with an open face reel. They may be a little harder to learn to use but not by much. Closed face reels are a pain when they break. When they break just buy a whole new set up. Invest in an open face. They are much better. To cast is really simple. hold the line to your pole with your pointer finger. then open the bale ( the metal thing that wraps around the spool. Looks like metal wire) then swing to side or over head and bring forward and let go of the fishing line when it hits the water close the bale manually do NOT start winding as that can ruin the reel. Even though some say you can I would just be old fashioned if I were you. The drag is on top of the open face reel. loosen the drag by turning the knob on top of the spool. loosen it until you can pull the line out without opening the bale. Tighten the drag until you can barely pull the line out without opening the bale. that is exactly where you want the drag to be and I mean pull really hard on the line. Don't be afraid to break the line. Once you get the drag set go fishing. If you hook into a big fish "pump" the rod. In other words pull the rod tip up and back and then wind the line in quickly to keep the line tight as you lower the rod and keep doing this until you get the fish in. Small fish may fly through the air if you pump the rod so only use on fish that feel really big. IF a fish breaks your line rig up and have another go chances are it is is still there contrary to popular belief. Remember if it breaks your line the drag was not set right so try to set your drag again. Just slightly less tight. There is nothing better than hearing your reel scream like a banshee and pumping that rod and landing a monster fish. If you plan to catch and release smash the barb down with pliers on the hook. The barb is the point of the hook and if you remove it then it will come out easier and less damage is done to the fish. If you plan to keep it leave the barb because it does not matter. A good set of needle nose pliers or hook removal pliers or even that red stick works great. You all know what I am talking about the hook remover that has the larger ball on one end and a smaller one on the other end. Pain to figure out how it works. Slide the stick along the line on to the hook and just twist and it will pop right out. I had to use mine for some of the catfish I was releasing as well they have a nasty bite. Nothing that will make you bleed but it sure hurts like heck. It crushes your fingers so I used the plastic rod hook remover to get the hooks out kept my fingers pain free and got the hook out quickly.
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