Where to fish?

I hope someone can help with my quest!

I have a young son who is bursting to have a go at fishing. He is
particularly keen to eat anything that he might catch, so I thought sea
fishing would be just the job. However I am no angler and have no idea where
I should take him...

I am based in the Reading area, so the obvious venues are either Southsea or
Hayling Island. Are either of these suitable for a young lad with a rod,
reel, spinners and a few feathers? As the rod is quite short, casting miles
from the beach is not an option. What do the panel suggest, bearing in mind
the priority is to have fun (this is a potential hobby so I don't want to
put him off) and perhaps catch nothing more exotic than perhaps a mackerel?

Thanks for any suggestions,

Andy.

The question is not where to fish, but WHEN.

Where's there's water there'll be fish, as a rule, but they wont take the
bait if they arent feeding.

Harbours after rain ...bad.

Harbours at a change in tide or ebbing tide = good, because there's food
there floating out and the fish come to gobble it up.

With a short rod try the harbours and fish off walls and piers. Load the rod
with 4 - 8lb line I should think and use chopped mackeral as bait, mayby lug
or ragworm, maybe a lure. Fish aren;'t THAT bright and will either eat most
things or nothing.

In a harbour you can float fish with bait too, which works well.

Wherever you want to go, and as I said, if tyere's water there's fish, pop
into a local tackle shop and ask them for their advice. then buy something
from them!

My son started me off this way last year or so, we knew nothing at all about
fishing (still don't know that much) but it soon comes together and we catch
most times we go out. As you say, whether it's a tiny thing or a monster it
doesn't really matter - it's all fun with ones kids.

You'll get good advice here (better than from me too) it's just few and far
bewteen.

Enjoy, and let us know how you get on.

David
"Andy" wrote in message
...
I hope someone can help with my quest!

I have a young son who is bursting to have a go at fishing. He is
particularly keen to eat anything that he might catch, so I thought sea
fishing would be just the job. However I am no angler and have no idea
where I should take him...

I am based in the Reading area, so the obvious venues are either Southsea
or Hayling Island. Are either of these suitable for a young lad with a
rod, reel, spinners and a few feathers? As the rod is quite short, casting
miles from the beach is not an option. What do the panel suggest, bearing
in mind the priority is to have fun (this is a potential hobby so I don't
want to put him off) and perhaps catch nothing more exotic than perhaps a
mackerel?

Thanks for any suggestions,

Andy.

In article , Andy
wrote:
I hope someone can help with my quest!

I have a young son who is bursting to have a go at fishing. He is

How old is he?

particularly keen to eat anything that he might catch, so I thought sea

I am based in the Reading area, so the obvious venues are either Southsea or

Slightly OT but there is a good deal of excellent freshwater fishing in your
area - and one exciting (for a youngster) freshwater quarry is the signal
crayfish. Like a mini lobster it will swarm over a bit of rotten meat in a
dropnet after dark. The Kennet & Avon canal around Reading is swarming with
them. They were protected (by a quirk of law - the native crayfish is still
protected but there are none left near you.) until this year, you get a
licence (free I think, but you must carry it) from the Post Office. Drop
crayfish into fast boiling water, cook for 5 minutes, drain and serve with
dill sauce.

Hayling Island. Are either of these suitable for a young lad with a rod,
reel, spinners and a few feathers? As the rod is quite short, casting miles

Neither would be my first choice for a young angler - a teenager might
manage OK. When he has learned to cast a sliding float and trot down the
tide they would be good venues to try with a ragworm just tripping along the
bottom (in the harbour channels) for a winter flounder. If starting from
scratch he is not likely to be up to it this year.

If you're going that way then consider continuing onto the Isle of Wight
where there are several more suitable venues.

Hmmm. Mudeford (though not the first couple of trips), Hurst and Poole
would be better too. Anyone here know whether Brighton Marina would be
worthwile for a beginner? I've never fished it but it looked the biz.

You want access to a bit of deepish*, preferably clear water from a safe
shore vantage. A harbourside (with railings for the very young) or a rocky
shore. Ideally a west-country type venue.

Feathers are not suitable for a beginner when shore fishing. They are
dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced and tend to tangle so freely
that much of the time is spent unravelling them. Small spinners, OK.
Middle sized floating plugs - also OK. For a beginner though the float is
by far the best introduction.

Cheerio,

*deepish water is -not- necessarily the best fishing. It is the easiest for
a beginner who will not have the skills to avoid scaring large fish in
shallow water.

--

Slightly OT but there is a good deal of excellent freshwater fishing in
your
area - and one exciting (for a youngster) freshwater quarry is the signal
crayfish. Like a mini lobster it will swarm over a bit of rotten meat in
a
dropnet after dark. The Kennet & Avon canal around Reading is swarming
with
them. They were protected (by a quirk of law - the native crayfish is
still
protected but there are none left near you.) until this year, you get a
licence (free I think, but you must carry it) from the Post Office. Drop
crayfish into fast boiling water, cook for 5 minutes, drain and serve with
dill sauce.

Nothing in dill sauce is OT Derek! I might go and try that.

Does one leave the net for hours whilst in the pub, or minutes?



David

In article , david
wrote:


Slightly OT but there is a good deal of excellent freshwater fishing in
your
area - and one exciting (for a youngster) freshwater quarry is the signal
crayfish. Like a mini lobster it will swarm over a bit of rotten meat in
a
dropnet after dark. The Kennet & Avon canal around Reading is swarming
with
them. They were protected (by a quirk of law - the native crayfish is
still
protected but there are none left near you.) until this year, you get a
licence (free I think, but you must carry it) from the Post Office. Drop
crayfish into fast boiling water, cook for 5 minutes, drain and serve with
dill sauce.

Nothing in dill sauce is OT Derek! I might go and try that.

Does one leave the net for hours whilst in the pub, or minutes?

At this time of year, two minutes. In really cold weather, 15.

It is another method that works far better after dark. You need a heavy rim
(wire or small bicycle wheel rim) so the net sits hard on the bottom and the
crayfish climb over it rather than crawling underneath. Three strings from
the rim to a cork (keeps them floating out of the way) and then a single
string to the bank. Another string across the middle with the -smelly- bait
tied in the centre. Wait quietly and listen to the night, then when ready
pull the net in a single smooth movement - jerks let the catch escape.

Have a large bucket ready for the catch.

Cheerio,

--

"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...
In article , david
wrote:


Slightly OT but there is a good deal of excellent freshwater fishing in
your
area - and one exciting (for a youngster) freshwater quarry is the
signal
crayfish. Like a mini lobster it will swarm over a bit of rotten meat
in
a
dropnet after dark. The Kennet & Avon canal around Reading is swarming
with
them. They were protected (by a quirk of law - the native crayfish is
still
protected but there are none left near you.) until this year, you get a
licence (free I think, but you must carry it) from the Post Office.
Drop
crayfish into fast boiling water, cook for 5 minutes, drain and serve
with
dill sauce.

Nothing in dill sauce is OT Derek! I might go and try that.

Does one leave the net for hours whilst in the pub, or minutes?

At this time of year, two minutes. In really cold weather, 15.

It is another method that works far better after dark. You need a heavy
rim
(wire or small bicycle wheel rim) so the net sits hard on the bottom and
the
crayfish climb over it rather than crawling underneath. Three strings
from
the rim to a cork (keeps them floating out of the way) and then a single
string to the bank. Another string across the middle with the -smelly-
bait
tied in the centre. Wait quietly and listen to the night, then when ready
pull the net in a single smooth movement - jerks let the catch escape.


What kind of 'smelly' bate do you suggest?

Have a large bucket ready for the catch.

Cheerio,

--

What kind of 'smelly' bate do you suggest?


I'd have thought old fish heads and some manky chicken? You want
juice...juice floats off downstream and attracts the blighters I suspect
(like a 'normal' fish).


Derek, thanks. That's a little treat for me and the boy next month!

Mmmm

david

In article , Andy
wrote:

What kind of 'smelly' bate do you suggest?

Rotting fish, rotting chicken guts, two day dead worms - if you want the
bait to last longer then get a dog-bone from the butcher, wrap it in plastic
and leave in the sun for a couple of days. I have heard of blue-cheese
scraps being used but I have never tried them.

Soft baits are best wrapped in some onion netting.

Cheerio,

--

"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...
In article , Andy
wrote:
I hope someone can help with my quest!

I have a young son who is bursting to have a go at fishing. He is

How old is he?


One is 5, the other is 7. I think the 5 year old will have difficulty with
the casting part, but should be fine with the rest. This is another reason
for looking for a place where any fish caught would be small!


particularly keen to eat anything that he might catch, so I thought sea

I am based in the Reading area, so the obvious venues are either Southsea
or

Slightly OT but there is a good deal of excellent freshwater fishing in
your
area - and one exciting (for a youngster) freshwater quarry is the signal
crayfish. Like a mini lobster it will swarm over a bit of rotten meat in
a
dropnet after dark. The Kennet & Avon canal around Reading is swarming
with
them. They were protected (by a quirk of law - the native crayfish is
still
protected but there are none left near you.) until this year, you get a
licence (free I think, but you must carry it) from the Post Office. Drop
crayfish into fast boiling water, cook for 5 minutes, drain and serve with
dill sauce.

This sound great for the kids. I actually live very close to the Kennet &
Avon canal so I would like to give this a try. How do you do this? The fact
the catch can be eaten is perfect - my kids have the idea that any fish
caught are for eating, hence my initial thoughts about sea angling.

Hayling Island. Are either of these suitable for a young lad with a rod,
reel, spinners and a few feathers? As the rod is quite short, casting
miles

Neither would be my first choice for a young angler - a teenager might
manage OK. When he has learned to cast a sliding float and trot down the
tide they would be good venues to try with a ragworm just tripping along
the
bottom (in the harbour channels) for a winter flounder. If starting from
scratch he is not likely to be up to it this year.

Point taken.


If you're going that way then consider continuing onto the Isle of Wight
where there are several more suitable venues.

Hmmm. Mudeford (though not the first couple of trips), Hurst and Poole
would be better too. Anyone here know whether Brighton Marina would be
worthwile for a beginner? I've never fished it but it looked the biz.

You want access to a bit of deepish*, preferably clear water from a safe
shore vantage. A harbourside (with railings for the very young) or a
rocky
shore. Ideally a west-country type venue.

Feathers are not suitable for a beginner when shore fishing. They are
dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced and tend to tangle so freely
that much of the time is spent unravelling them. Small spinners, OK.
Middle sized floating plugs - also OK. For a beginner though the float is
by far the best introduction.

Cheerio,

*deepish water is -not- necessarily the best fishing. It is the easiest
for
a beginner who will not have the skills to avoid scaring large fish in
shallow water.

--

In article , Andy
wrote:

"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...
In article , Andy
wrote:
I hope someone can help with my quest!

I have a young son who is bursting to have a go at fishing. He is

How old is he?


One is 5, the other is 7. I think the 5 year old will have difficulty with
the casting part, but should be fine with the rest. This is another reason
for looking for a place where any fish caught would be small!

Ah, rather younger than I thought.

The 5 year old will have an attention span around an hour, the elder maybe
twice as long. They will require considerable attention and I wouldn't take
them together until they have enough experience to manage the basics for
themselves - three or four sessions each in all probablility. You *could*
take them together if you have another, patient and preferably experienced
adult with you to take half the workload.

Another - slightly risky ploy would be to make a day out of a split treat
(Say you take #1 fishing while #2 goes to the pool with Mum then swap over
for the afternoon.)

re Crayfish

This sound great for the kids. I actually live very close to the Kennet &
Avon canal so I would like to give this a try. How do you do this? The fact

See other post.

the catch can be eaten is perfect - my kids have the idea that any fish
caught are for eating, hence my initial thoughts about sea angling.

With kids that age I would leave sea fishing until you are at a suitable
seaside venue for at least a weekend. Try to get in one or two -short-
sessions each per day a and they'll pick things up much faster.

Tbh I would prefer to start them on a small, really small, stream.
Otherwise a seaside pier -with railings- would let them dangle a small bait
down the side with a good chance of a few tiddlers.

They would have as much fun in rock pools with a hand net...

Cheerio,

--