Give yourself the gift of a lifetime – catch your first fish
Most people who catch their first fish are very surprised by the feelings awakening in them when the line suddenly comes alive. For that is exactly what happens. The line comes alive, and it sends impulses directly to the brain. Which parts of the brain that get activated is beside the point, because it works. Your brain will never be the same again. And most people want to experience the magical sensation of being connected to something that’s alive.
So if you want to give yourself a gift, you should try to catch a fish. And if you’re already familiar with the wild rush of angling, you can maybe pass it on to someone who hasn’t tried it yet?
Getting started with angling can seem a bit complicated. But don’t be discouraged by all the technical terms, gear, and methods. Basically, all you need is a rod, a line, and a hook.
As for everything else, the quickest way to go from dreaming about your first fish to the magical feeling is by knowing someone who can help you. So before you run out to your nearest tackle shop to buy the basics, try to find out if anyone in your network has a fishing rod you can take for a spin.
Quick start angling
With more than 7,000 kilometers of coastline in Denmark, this kind of fishing is perfect for the novice angler.
It’s difficult to play soccer in flip flops. It’s also difficult to fish with the wrong gear. So be sure to swing by the local tackle shop for guidance on the right gear. And yes, they need to make money on your buying gear, but they’re also interested in your getting the proper equipment for the type of fishing you dream about. A fishing kit consisting of a rod and reel with line is often easy and cheap to buy, but what then? Something needs to be at the end of the line. This is where the experts in the shop can help you. The same goes for the fishing kit itself. Investing a little extra in a proper fishing kit from the get-go will often pay dividends in the long run. That investment can then be exchanged for the joy of catching fish after fish without worrying so much about whether the gear will hold.
Bombarda float and spinning reel
Fishing rods
Many different fishing rods exist, but as a novice, you should go for an all-round rod that can be used for a bit of everything. Fishing rods are measured in meters or feet. A nine-foot spinning rod that has a casting weight of up to 30 grams happens to be a great candidate for an all-round rod, which can be used for everything from perch to sea trout. Besides regular spinning rods, as most people attribute to angling, specialist rods for all sorts of fishing situations naturally exist. Kind of like the golfer who has different clubs.
The fishing reel and line
An ordinary fishing reel for spin fishing is available in many different price ranges, so be sure to choose a sensible reel that covers your needs. If you plan on fishing a lot, it makes sense to throw in a little extra money so you can get a reel that you can use for a long time.
But it’s not the reel alone that decides whether you’ll get a tangle-free fishing trip. You’ll also need fishing line on the reel. That line shouldn’t be too thick and rigid, because that would greatly increase the risk of entanglement. Again, seek council at the tackle shop. Even though it costs a little more, investing in good fishing line is definitely worth it. Who wants to face a massive line entanglement after two casts? Fishing line can either be made from synthetic materials that are thin and durable: so-called super lines or braided lines. They are more expensive than the alternative which is monofilament line. The latter is the classic, semi-transparent line. Both line types have their pros and cons. Fishing line is measured in millimeters, and a braided line of 0.15-0.17 millimeters or a monofilament line of 0.30 millimeters are appropriate for many forms of fishing.
Terminal tackle
Terminal tackle is an entire universe in itself. We have spinners, spoonbait, wobblers, floats, flies, line-thru, jigs, bombarda, etc. The different types of terminal tackle fit the different styles of fishing. As every angler has experienced, you build up your tackle box little by little as you explore new types of fishing. Terminal tackle also needs to fit your rod. This means that a spinning rod classified with a casting weight of 10-30 grams is suitable for casting terminal tackle weighing 10-30 grams.
The recommendation of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) regarding gentle treatment and release of fish.
For many novice anglers, it’s a frightful joy getting the catch ashore or onto the deck of the tour boat.
Because now comes the serious part: The fish needs to be killed – quickly. Hit the fish hard on the head with something heavy. That will kill it. It may seem a bit violent, but it’s something you need to come to terms with as an angler if you want to bring a fish home for the dinner table.
But of course you don’t have to kill the fish in order to fish. Then you just have to realize that you can’t fish for just anything. For instance, if you fish for herring, garfish, or mackerel, you fish to catch food. Because they’re usually too frail to survive being released.
Conversely: If you fish for roach or perch, you can easily catch them without harming them needlessly. Just remember one thing: A fish shouldn’t be out of water too long, so try to remove the hook while it’s still in the water. Dehooking and handling the fish is easier if you have a net. With a net, it’s possible to let the fish remain in the surface of the water while you take care of the more difficult stuff. Thus a net is a good investment if you wish to practice catch and release.
Read more about minimum size limits, closed seasons, and angler ethics.
Many species of fish live in Denmark, and they all have their challenges. Anglers fish to catch them, but anglers are also those who take best care of the fish. Around the country, anglers put in thousands of hours of volunteer work to aid the fish stocks.
Before you get started on fishing, you should familiarize yourself with the prevailing rules and minimum size limits that apply to the type of fishing that you’ve set your sights on.
Before you begin, it’s good to know a little about the following:
Fishing is not always easy, and all novice anglers will experience finding themselves in a situation that can spoil the otherwise pleasant atmosphere on a fishing trip. Below, you’ll see a list of situations you as a novice angler can expect. Situations many will experience until they hone their fishing skills somewhat.
Flip the bail arm with your hand right when the lure lands on the water, and reel in immediately. Always keep the line to the lure tight, and make sure the line gets on the spool correctly.
When you’re at a new fishing spot, always start by reeling in quickly, until you get a feel for the depth. Always reel faster, and lift the rod tip, when the lure is close to you in order to avoid getting stuck on rocks and seaweed.
Keep the line tight, and maintain good contact to your terminal tackle when you reel in. If you get few bites, lift the rod while reeling in rapidly. Always fish with a tight brake, and then loosen it during the fight if necessary. You need to be able to draw line from the spool by pulling the line.
Know your fishing knots, and test them out at home before you begin fishing. Besides the knots, it’s also important that you don’t get stuck in seaweed, rocks, and such at the bottom. If you often hit the bottom, you’re fishing too slowly or with too heavy terminal tackle.
Nothing is worse than getting wet and cold on a fishing trip. Remember to dress appropriately and to bring a good waterproof fishing jacket or rain coat. If you fish in waders, it’s important that you don’t wade in deep from the start. Begin in shallow water, and get used to moving around the water wearing waders. It can be difficult keeping your balance if you walk on slippery rocks, so take it easy at first.
Put and take fishing can be a good entryway and start to your fishing career! Explore our exciting universe here:
Well, that’s a great idea! Because it happens to be the associations that manage the vast amount of volunteer work which for instance helps the sea trout in the rivers. And if you want to learn to fish in a river or a lake, that work is in many places essential.
All across Denmark, associations take care of the rivers and lakes. Once you join an association, you can also get assistance in order to reach the next steps of your fishing adventure. The association often has volunteers attached who help novice anglers settle in, and the association also arranges trips and activities, so you can get started right away.
If you want to fish in salt water, in fishing lakes, or in national fishing waters, you don’t need to join a local fishing association. Instead, you can join the Danish Association for Sport Fishing which represents the Danish anglers and a wide array of the Danish sport fishing associations. At the same time, you support the efforts to improve angling and increase the number of wild fish in Danish waters.
Find your sport fishing association
