How to Start Fishing: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Everything you need for your first fishing trip: gear, licenses, where to go, and how to catch your first fish.
Read the guide →Free guides
Fishing guides
Rods, reels, line, knots, baits and beginner skills.
Essential Fishing Gear for Beginners
A no-nonsense checklist of the fishing gear beginners actually need, and what you can safely skip.
Read the guide →How to Tie the 5 Most Useful Fishing Knots
Step-by-step instructions for the improved clinch, Palomar, uni, double uni, and loop knots every angler should know.
Read the guide →How to Choose Your First Rod and Reel
Understand rod length, power, action, and reel sizes so you can pick a first setup that fits how you fish.
Read the guide →Best Baits and Lures for Beginners
Which live baits and artificial lures catch the most fish for beginners, and exactly how to fish each one.
Read the guide →How to Cast a Spinning Reel
Learn to cast a spinning reel accurately in minutes with step-by-step instructions, drills, and fixes for common problems.
Read the guide →Fishing Licenses and Regulations Explained
Who needs a fishing license, how to get one, and how to read seasons, size limits, and bag limits.
Read the guide →How to Find Fish: Reading the Water
Learn where fish hide in ponds, lakes, and rivers, and how weather, structure, and season affect where to cast.
Read the guide →Beginner's Guide to Bass Fishing
Where bass live, the best beginner lures and rigs, and how to hook and land largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Read the guide →Beginner's Guide to Trout Fishing
How to find and catch trout in streams and stocked lakes with simple spinning gear, baits, and lures.
Read the guide →Catch and Release: How to Handle Fish Safely
Best practices to land, handle, unhook, and release fish so they survive and swim away healthy.
Read the guide →Fishing Safety Tips for Beginners
Stay safe on the water with practical tips for weather, hooks, wading, boats, sun protection, and first aid.
Read the guide →Fishing Line for Beginners: Mono vs Fluorocarbon vs Braid
How to choose fishing line when you are just starting: what monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braid each do well, and which one to buy first.
Read the guide →Best Kids Fishing Pole Kits for Beginners
How to pick a first kids fishing pole kit: spincast vs spinning, rod length by age, what belongs in a starter set, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Best Beginner Fishing Rod and Reel Combos
How to pick a first adult beginner rod-and-reel combo: spinning vs spincast, length and power, budget paths, telescopic travel options, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Best Beginner Fishing Tackle Kits (What's Worth Buying)
What a beginner fishing tackle kit should actually include, which pieces you will use on trip one, what cheap kits get wrong, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Hooks, Sinkers, and Bobbers: Beginner Terminal Tackle
A plain-English beginner guide to hooks, sinkers, and bobbers: how hook sizes work, which sinkers to start with, how to set a bobber, lead-free options, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Soft Plastic Worms for Beginners (Senko, Wacky & Texas)
A plain-English beginner guide to soft plastic worms for bass: what a Senko-style stick bait is, how to rig it wacky or Texas style, which hook and weight sizes to start with, the few colors that cover most water, how to fish it slowly, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Spinnerbaits and Spinners for Beginners (Bass, Trout & Fall Fishing)
A plain-English beginner guide to spinnerbaits and inline spinners: how they differ, which blade shapes and weights to start with, when fall is prime time, how to retrieve them, how to stop line twist, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Best Coolers for Camping and Road Trips (Hard, Soft & 12V Electric)
A plain-English guide to picking a cooler for camping, tailgating, and road trips: hard vs soft vs 12V electric, what size you actually need, how to read ice-retention claims, packing tips that make ice last longer, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Best Tackle Boxes for Beginners (Trays, Hard Boxes & Bags Explained)
A plain-English guide to picking your first tackle box: hard box vs tackle bag vs backpack, what the Plano 3500, 3600 and 3700 tray sizes mean, how many trays you actually need, rust and waterproof features worth paying for, how to organize it, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Best Fishing Pliers for Beginners (Hook Removers, Braid Cutters & Lip Grips)
A plain-English beginner guide to fishing pliers: aluminum vs stainless steel, why built-in braid cutters matter, freshwater vs saltwater picks, how to unhook a fish safely, when a lip gripper or fishing scissors helps, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Best Fishing Landing Nets for Beginners (Telescoping, Rubber Mesh & Catch-and-Release)
A plain-English beginner guide to fishing landing nets: telescoping vs foldable handles, rubber mesh vs knotted nylon for catch-and-release, hoop size and bag depth for bass and trout, kayak-friendly nets, how to land a fish without knocking off slime, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Best Life Jackets for Fishing and Kayak Anglers (Foam vs Inflatable PFDs Explained)
A plain-English beginner guide to fishing life jackets and PFDs: foam vs inflatable, auto vs manual inflation, high-back kayak vests that clear your seat, pockets and tool tabs for anglers, how to read the U.S. Coast Guard approval label, how to get the right fit, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →Best Fishing Backpacks for Beginners (Tackle Backpacks, Sling Bags & Rod Holders)
A plain-English guide to fishing backpacks and tackle bags: backpack vs sling vs tackle bag, how many trays you really need, rod holders, waterproofing, comfort for long walks to the water, and which Amazon searches to compare before you buy.
Read the guide →