RE: freshwater fishing and basic

Question
QUESTION: Greeting,

Thank you for answering my questions,and thanks for the help.
I am Cygni, and live in NYC, Long Island.
I am only 16, but I love to fishing and don't know how to start.
My local pound, and lake (Hempstead Lake) have largemouth bass, bluegill, crayfish, catfish etc.
I think its freshwater.

First, I am a totally new beginner. I recently bought the "Shakespeare Ugly Stik 30th Anniversary Fishing Combos".
I don't know if is it the right rod for freshwater fishing.

Second, (this is a tough one) I have no idea how to knot or rig the lure or should i using the sinker.
I tried with and without the sinker, but the outcome didn't seems good.
Where should I put the sinker? at the end of the line or the middle?
Where should I put the lure? put together with the sinker?
I use artificial lure.
What other lure is recommended?

Do you have any recommend web site for beginning?
What other equipments would you recommend for fishing?

Thanks for your time.
I look forward to hear from you.

Cygni




ANSWER: Hi Cygni,

Welcome to the world of fishing!

First of all, a great website for beginning anglers is www.activeangler.com/articles/beginners/

But, let me weigh-in on some of your questions directly.

Your Ugly Stick combo should serve you well for your freshwater fishing.  You probably want 8 or 10 pound test on the reel.

For a person starting out, start out with the tried and proven lures.  For bass I'd recommend a #9 Floating Rapala, a #3 Mepps Spinner, a 1/4 ounce Johnson Silver Minnow spoon, and some type of surface lure like a Jitterbug.  These have been around forever and you cant go wrong starting out with these easy "cast and reel" lures.

You don't add any sinkers or weights to these lures or really any lures in general.

For bluegills I'd recommend a small float (about the size of a large olive) and a plain #8 hook tied to the end of the line.  Add a small split-shot weight about 8" above the hook.  Bait the hook with a small piece of nightcrawler, redworm, or my favorite, a waxworm.  Set the float a little less than the depth of the area you are fishing.

Catfish feed near the bottom for the most part.  They will eat all kinds of baits like a whole nightcrawler balled up on a bigger hook like a #1.  Fish that right on the bottom with a small weight placed about 18" up the line from the hook.  cast it out, let it settle to the bottom and wait for the catfish to find it.

As far as other equipment, I always have a good needlenose pliers or forceps with me for removing hooks.  

Learn how to tie a good simple but effective knot like a clinch knot and it will serve you well. Go to www.killroys.com/knots/clinch.htm for a good explanation of how to tie it

Good fishing!!!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much for the information and every explanation.

Another quick question:
The other day I was finishing at the lake.
I didn't use sinker or weights, but when I throw(cast), the landing distance of the lure is quite short which about 7ft to 10ft away from me.
If I put a sinker, it goes up to about 15ft away farther.
Oh, by the way I used Silver Minnow for lure.

Is it ok if the lure hit the bottom?
(I know its okay for catfish)
Will other fish see the lure?

Thanks again.
I look forward to hear from you shortly.

Cygni

PS:Sorry for typos and bad English  

Answer
I'm guessing that you have either a spinning or spincasting rod and reel.  I'm guessing that there is some type of tangle causing you to have the short casts.  You should be able to cast at least 75-150 feet with a spinning outfit.  That Johnson silver minnow should fly 100 feet or more.  Check for tangles.  

A lure can be allowed to sink near the bottom before reeling.  It depends how deep the water is.  If you are casting that Johnson Minnow over shallow weeds, you will want to start reeling as soon as it enters the water.  If you are fishing deeper water, say 8-10 feet, you will want to let the lure sink 5 or six seconds before you start reeling.  

Floating lures like a Rapala will dive when you start reeling.

Hope that helps