Help please!

Please can someone explain the difference to me between coarse, game
(sea is obvious!) and what I would call just ordinary "river" fishing!

I used to fish many years ago in the sea from the harbour and in the local
river when I was younger (about 15-20 years ago).

I want to start again, nothing really serious - but I have been spending a
lot
of time in France recently and there is an abundance of public lakes that
appear to be full of fish just waiting to be hooked! (anyone know if I need
a licence in France?)

I'm not looking to catch anything that big, probably 8-12in max. I just
want
to do it for a bit of relaxation to start with.

Can someone suggest what sort of kit I need, and approximately how much
it will cost to get up and running for a part-time "hobbyist". What is the
difference between the poles and the telescopic rods? Any new fangled
stuff that would be good? Should I go for bait, or lures? etc.etc.!

Sorry if this seems rather simplistic. but I just need some basic info to
get
me started again!

Any good websites of (well priced) angling supplies?

Thanks

Matt.

Matthew Maddock wrote:
:: Please can someone explain the difference to me between coarse,
:: game (sea is obvious!) and what I would call just ordinary "river"
:: fishing!
::
Game fishing is where you eat what you catch, salmon, trout etc, course
fishing is everything that you put back into the water, whether it's a
river, canal, pond or lake.

:: I used to fish many years ago in the sea from the harbour and in
:: the local river when I was younger (about 15-20 years ago).
::
:: I want to start again, nothing really serious - but I have been
:: spending a lot
:: of time in France recently and there is an abundance of public
:: lakes that appear to be full of fish just waiting to be hooked!
:: (anyone know if I need a licence in France?)
::
Yes you do, you can get them from French tackle shops...
http://www.barginginfrance.com/rdffaqs.htm

:: I'm not looking to catch anything that big, probably 8-12in max.
:: I just want
:: to do it for a bit of relaxation to start with.
::
:: Can someone suggest what sort of kit I need, and approximately how
:: much
:: it will cost to get up and running for a part-time "hobbyist".

If you just want to catch smallish fish, then a feeder rod would be suitable
for this country, although in France you can't get maggots...you'd be as
well buying a float rod and a few floats to begin with, along with a
smallish reel, you'll need 4-6 lb line and hooks from size 12 to size 20,
get eyed ones as spades can be tricky to tie on unless someone shows you
how.

:: What is the difference between the poles and the telescopic rods?

Telescopic rods are OK for taking on holiday etc, they are quite sturdy and
are cheap too, if you can get one of these and are looking to save space,
then a telescopic would be about right.
Don't bother with poles as they are expensive and brittle, not a good
combination for a beginner!...also they require a lot of getting used to -
they are perfect for match fishermen who are racing against the clock, to
anyone else they have advantages and disadvantages...

:: Any new fangled stuff that would be good? Should I go for bait,
:: or lures? etc.etc.!
::
You don't really want lures unless you are targetting predators such as
trout, salmon and pike...the smaller predators like chubb and perch will go
for worms and other bugs.

:: Sorry if this seems rather simplistic. but I just need some basic
:: info to get
:: me started again!
::
:: Any good websites of (well priced) angling supplies?
::
It depends on what you want...there must be a tackle shop near to you?
Online dealers include bennets of sheffield :
https://www.bosfish.co.uk/f_index.html
north west angling centre
http://www.nwac.co.uk/
and quite a few others, some are not cheap though...

Phil L wrote:
:: It depends on what you want...there must be a tackle shop near to

Your IP address says you are from Staple Hill?

Scott Tackle ( Bristol ),
42 Soundwill Road
Staple Hill
Bristol , Avon
BS16 4QP
0117 9567371
These would be your best bet to start with.

Phil,

Thanks for that, a great help clearing a few things up.

Now....onto persuading my other half that I also need
a sailing dinghy to fish from :-)

Cheers

Matt.

"Phil L" wrote in message
...
Phil L wrote:
:: It depends on what you want...there must be a tackle shop near to

Your IP address says you are from Staple Hill?

Scott Tackle ( Bristol ),
42 Soundwill Road
Staple Hill
Bristol , Avon
BS16 4QP
0117 9567371
These would be your best bet to start with.

Phil,

Thanks for that, a great help clearing a few things up.

Now....onto persuading my other half that I also need
a sailing dinghy to fish from :-)

Cheers

Matt.

"Phil L" wrote in message
...
Phil L wrote:
:: It depends on what you want...there must be a tackle shop near to

Your IP address says you are from Staple Hill?

Scott Tackle ( Bristol ),
42 Soundwill Road
Staple Hill
Bristol , Avon
BS16 4QP
0117 9567371
These would be your best bet to start with.

"Phil L" wrote in message
news
Matthew Maddock wrote:

If you just want to catch smallish fish, then a feeder rod would be
suitable
for this country, although in France you can't get maggots...you'd be as

No maggots in France!!!!!!!! Just leave a dead rabbit in the shade for a
week and you will have all the maggots you need.

R

Roger Dewhurst wrote:
:: "Phil L" wrote in message
:: news ::: Matthew Maddock wrote:
:::
::: If you just want to catch smallish fish, then a feeder rod would
::: be suitable for this country, although in France you can't get
::: maggots...you'd be as
::
:: No maggots in France!!!!!!!! Just leave a dead rabbit in the
:: shade for a week and you will have all the maggots you need.
::
:: R

Briliant idea, unless you're only going for a few days!
They don't have commercial maggot farms like we do in the UK, we can buy
maggots by the pint at any time of the year from any tackle shop...in France
they are expensive and you only get about eight, if you are lucky enough to
find anywhere that sells them.

"Roger Dewhurst" wrote in message
...

"Phil L" wrote in message
news
Matthew Maddock wrote:

If you just want to catch smallish fish, then a feeder rod would be
suitable
for this country, although in France you can't get maggots...you'd be as

You can get maggots in France, at least where I spent a fortnight in August
you could (Argentat on the Dordogne). They are called pinkies and look
similar in size to our own pinkies. They are multicoloured and come in
small bags at about 2 euros a bag. Four bags is just about a pint, so
that's approx 8 euros a pint.

"Roger Dewhurst" wrote in message
...

"Phil L" wrote in message
news
Matthew Maddock wrote:

If you just want to catch smallish fish, then a feeder rod would be
suitable
for this country, although in France you can't get maggots...you'd be as

You can get maggots in France, at least where I spent a fortnight in August
you could (Argentat on the Dordogne). They are called pinkies and look
similar in size to our own pinkies. They are multicoloured and come in
small bags at about 2 euros a bag. Four bags is just about a pint, so
that's approx 8 euros a pint.

"Roger Dewhurst" wrote in message
...

"Phil L" wrote in message
news
Matthew Maddock wrote:

If you just want to catch smallish fish, then a feeder rod would be
suitable
for this country, although in France you can't get maggots...you'd be as

No maggots in France!!!!!!!! Just leave a dead rabbit in the shade for a
week and you will have all the maggots you need.

R

I missed the original post, but "No maggots in France"? There are, I know
this because I take them there, well somebody from where I work will. We
supply all Benelux countries.