Complete Beginner

[p7hut]

Morning all, after some advice on coarse fishing please.

To say I'm new to this would be an understatement, I bought the gear and paid for a licence yesterday (big thanks to Tony at Fishing Republic for what must have been a painful sale, having to explaining everything twice to someone new to fishing can't be nice), and the nearest I've come to fishing so far (ever) is practicing casting in the field behind the house last night.

I've bought a feeder set up and my next step is to actually go fishing... and that's where i'm having difficulty, finding somewhere to fish. Every bit of water, river, lake or pond seems to belong to a club. I've nothing against joining a club but i'd hoped to find an uncrowded bit of water first so I could practice without getting laughed at.

I drove to Boldon lake early this morning, there were a few people around so I asked someone if it belonged to a club or was free (Lakeside website says they couldn't renew their lease yet due to a legal issue) but just got grunted at like I was from another planet... I gave up and went back home.

This first step is a bit scary and not having any friends who fish doesn't help. If someone can point me in the direction of some local free water or a local friendly club where middle aged beginners don't get laughed at I would be grateful.

Any help will be gratefully taken on board.

Cheers lads
Paul

[pottsy]

Welcome to NESA Paul. You have come to the right place I am sure someone will give you some help and guidance shortly. Why not have a look through the threads and see if you can pick up some hints and tips from there. I am clueless on the freshwater side of fishing but have to say its looking more and more appealing everytime I blank from the shore.

Ali

[broony]

Which area do you live in mate, may help find somewhere local to you.

[drof46]

Get yersell up to Waskerley, Bonny Lad.

You can fish for trout with your coarse tackle, using garden worms as a bait AND on your 'Coarse License'

A Day ticket's only a tenner.

Drof

[willywetegg]

Hi Paul and welcome to NESA. Did the people who sold you your gear not give you any idea of places to fish in your area? I would have thought that they should know all of the places in your area. I am the same as Ali, I have never done any course fishing yet either so can't help on places around Hylton.

As for the bloke from Boldon Lake that just grunted at you, I'm afraid you will find one of them in many places, "I'm too good to help you" or "I can't be bothered with you" people, we have them in sea angling too. They are outnumbered though by good natured people that do want to help and pass on tips and information.

First I would try doing a google on exactly the type of fishing you want to do, you will be surprised what you find. Have a look to a few tackle shops in your area, they should be able to help with info. I have no doubt that some of the lads on here will be along soon with some good information for you, good luck with your fishing and don't forget to let us know how you get on when you get started.

Jim.

[Topfly]

Welcome to NESA Paul, tight lines..

[mick dunn]

Hello Paul and welcome to nesa. I am not a course angler. However i like to use worm and powerbait to fish up at the Derwent reservoir for trout. The fishing is not difficult at all. I have a nice fixed spool and 11 foot four piece rod for ledgering/spinning. Cost is £20a day if you fish from 7 morning all day till 7:30 pm at night. I am hoping to get up wed or more than likey thursday with my son for some bank fishing. I usually do this until teatime then use my fly rod. You are more than welcome to meet up some time for some company or advice if you want to try the derwent. Cannot guarantee any fish but its usually quite good day. PS If you have any kids you can bring two and they can fish free on your ticket with you. Total amount of fish is 8 that you can keep.

[mick dunn]

Drof i,m still coming up to Waskerly one of these days.
Mick.

[PRIMO MAN]

hi paul welcome to nesa. iam new to course fishing myself and i have been looking for waters to fish upto now i have found ALDIN GRANGE LAKES and theres one at sharpley waters which is £5 a day. im going upto aldingrange next week a they are very helpfull. There is some ponds at silksworth near the ski slope but i dont know who owns them.

allan

[treeboa]

Eden Meadows Coarse Lake Complex
Off B1280
near Trimdon Colliery
Trimdon


this place has 3 lakes, gets a bit crowded sometimes, specially weekends, the lower lake has a couple seriously big carp in it,plus other fish, the other two are setup a bit like canals if that makes sense, i have only ever fished the lower one , its a barbless hooks only place and he does check thats what you have, he has bait on site plus a small amount of gear

theres a lake a murton, was supposed to be getting sold but aint heard owt, mate of mine fished it ia bit last year, hes a carp only guy, he thinks the big carp have been removed

shotton colliery has a lake, think you buy day tickets in the village post office, ive not fished this one but looks ok when i walked around it

theres another one near weatly hill, now thats a cracking place, it is club owned, i have never failed to bag up there when i gave it a couple of try`s, unfortunatly when i was gonna sort my membership out i fell ill and lost the details of the membership guy, the chap to ask around the lake is adrian if i remember right, his main `pegs` are the first fishable ones as you get to the lake, its just before the roundabout on wingate lane, near the a181 and the b1278, have a shuftie on here wheatley hill - Google Maps, if that dont work look at weatly hill and follow the road down, use satelite view and you will see the lake in a load of trees

i believe theres a couple around castle eden but i never found those

free fishing your gonna be hard pressed to find

[p7hut]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

I did a bit more searching on the interweb and then I remembered the pond at Fatfield just up the Wear. I had a drive down and watched a couple of lads fishing. After a bit crack I found out the Washington Anglers club meets at Biddick club on Sunday mornings. Half hour later I was a paid up member and back on the lake for my first ever fishing.

Got myself set up, first cast... and I'm in the biggest tangle ever, forgot to push over the reel thingy. Knife out, set up again, second go and I'm fishing.

Now, the missus thinks it was an old boot but I would swear I got a bite. I was struggling to reel the line in and each time I let go of the reel it would wind out. I remembered what my pal had said, don't try to pull it in all at once, reel in a bit, let a bit out and tire the fish, so... I completely ignored that, got impatient and tried to reel it in in one go... the line snapped.

Some of you experienced heads may think it was just a lively leather boot but I swear it was a shark!

Spent about 3 hours on the pond, no fish, but enjoyed my first day.

Cheers
Paul

[oldessox]

We call them "Barny fish" lol. the one' s Barney hooks live at the bottom of the sea and refuse to come up to the boat , he swears they are fish but never lands one.
What you are doing will get you started fishing , but don't expect too much straight away , it takes a while to get the hang of things and start fishing with confidence. It's virtually impossible to teach someone to fish over the internet , but you can learn an aweful lot on here. Your best bet is to keep going fishing to the places you like and watch other anglers , if someone is catching regularly have a walk along and sit QUIETLY behind him and just watch what he is doing , don't expect to be able to go straight back to where you are fishing and do the same thing though , it may be he has a good swim and you are in a poor one .
There's a lot to learn lol. , but you will enjoy it , and that first fish

enjoy mate

Ray

[treeboa]

wait till you hook your first decent carp or tench then, its like having a pig on speed on your hook

as has been said it worth going, sitting off a bit and then asking questions, dont expect to catch every trip, though you will find that your catch rates are higher than average sea fishing, even in size ( unless you been extreemly lucky this past season)
tip for you, if you have a box then put your licience in a plastic bag and selotape it under the lid, if its with you you never get disturbed, if its not then the agency lads jump out the bushes wanting to check it

dont be a tackle tart, you dont need everything from the shop, dont lash out till your sure your going to keep with it, you wont get a fraction of what you have paid if you sell up cos ` its not for you`

[fishing bairn]

Welcome to NESA paul. unfortunatly i dont know a lot about corse fishing near your area

[stumps]

northumbria water...

Try the Northumbria Water web site or pop down to your local tackle shop and pick up one of their books for free. They have quite a few lakes for trout and one for coarse fishing just off the A69.