Learn How To Fish
Tackle & Basic Setups
You don't need expensive equipment to start shore fishing. Learn the basic rod and reel setups used by the original ShoreFishing.net guide.
Start With The Basics
You do not need to buy the most expensive gear available to start fishing.
The original ShoreFishing.net guide recommends starting with a moderately priced rod and reel and upgrading as you become more involved with shore fishing.
Start fishing first. You can always add more specialized equipment as you gain experience.
01
Spin-Casting
A spin-casting reel is probably the easiest to master and works well for beginners.
The reel is mounted on top of the rod. The rod will typically have a pistol-style grip and relatively small line guides.
The original guide recommends a medium-action rod for beginners.
02
Spinning
A spinning reel is mounted underneath the rod and has a long, straight handle.
The line guides are larger than those on a spin-casting rod and increase noticeably in size as they move toward the handle.
The original guide also recommends a medium-action rod for beginners.
Compare
Two Basic Choices
Spin-Casting
- Reel sits on top of the rod
- Pistol-style grip
- Smaller line guides
- Simple release-button casting
- Medium action is recommended for beginners
Spinning
- Reel sits underneath the rod
- Long, straight handle
- Larger line guides
- Line is controlled with the index finger
- Medium action is recommended for beginners
03
What About Other Reels?
The original ShoreFishing.net beginner guide concentrates on spin-casting and spinning equipment.
Baitcasting reels require additional instruction and were deliberately left outside the scope of that original beginner section.
Fly fishing was also treated as a separate set of instructions and techniques.
Your First Setup
For someone just starting shore fishing, the original advice is straightforward: choose a moderately priced rod and reel, learn to cast, and spend time fishing.
The original ShoreFishing.net philosophy was that getting to the water and learning is more important than owning expensive equipment.