Killing the fish

Question
Hi there!

I'm 'new' to fishing in that the last time I fished, I was 7 or 8, and more or less racing back to reel in the fish that my daddy had caught for me. Now that I'm older, I'm quite interested in taking up fishing again, but I'm not sure where to learn all the information I need. At the moment, I'm most interested in fishing for species I can take home and eat, and that are rather overpopulated (From my understanding, here in Ohio, that's mostly yellow perch and 'pan fish', which I believe are blue-gills?).

1) Where can I find some simple information about fishing, including what type of rod/reel and bait/lures to use? Fishing techniques, spots to fish, that sort of thing.

2) This may sound a bit odd, and googling for the information has led to discovering a lot of mockery on the subject, but I'm hoping there's a quick and 'humane' method of killing fish... I don't like the thought of the fish slowly dying or suffering. It's my belief that they have the right to a quick and as painless as possible death, just like any other animal. I've read things from putting vodka in it's mouth/on it's gills to yanking out the gills to whacking it on hard objects. My logic says a knife to the back of the skull region should sever the spinal cord, but I'm not that up on fish anatomy. What have you found to be the most humane and quickest death for a fish?

3) Because I'm a total 'girl' and get entirely too squeamish... how often do you wind up pulling hooks out of yourself? That's one of my biggest fears with starting up fishing, is accidentally embedding a hook in myself. >.<

Thank you so much for your time, and I'm aware that these questions probably seem very silly, but I'm serious and quite interested in the answers. So many people have been fishing since they were little, it's hard to find the information going into the hobby/sport as an adult.

Answer
Hi there Amanda!! Well I really hope I can help you, I'll try my best!!! Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner, been very busy!! Well that's great to here you want to get back into fishing, it's a very fun sport. Well if your looking for general information on perch/bluegill fishing a great place to start would be www.in-fisherman.com also they have a great DVD library that would help you out alot. Really for bluegill fishing, just to get started out, all you need is some small baitholder hooks, some light sinkers, and a light spincasting or spinning rod. Oh, and some bobbers. Get some trout worms, crickets, waxworms, etc, and your in business!!! Bluegill fishing is as easy as that, just cast to an area that looks 'fishy' and within 3 to 5 minutes, you'll start catching bluegills!!! The rod I would use for bluegill fishing #this is just my opinion, (it's all about what you can afford, and where your casting skills are) is a ultra-light spinning rod anywhere from 5'5 to 7 feet long. But if you can find a rod between 6 to 6'6 in length, I think you would do just fine with this. A light spinning reel that holds between 2 to 6 pound test would balance out great with a rod that light. As far as line goes, just some light monofilament anywhere in 2 to 6 pound test. I would suggest that you go with 6 pound test, until your skills improve, light line does break easy. Well I don't normally take fish home with me to eat, I'm more of a bass/muskie/pike guy, but I think the best way to dispatch a fish is to cut the head off  (I'm trying not to put this to gruesome for you) Just make a quick,clean cut through the spine and that should do it. Also I don't know if you know this, but you need to 'bleed' the fish too so you got better tasting fillets. I would suggest on watching some videos on-line or ordering the in-fisherman DVD on how to clean fish. Well getting a hook stuck in you is the name of the game, but as long as you're careful, and take your time unhooking your fish, you will be just fine. I, myself, haven't got stuck in years, just use the right tools and some common sense. Well I hope this helps out, hey don't be afraid to drop me another question if you need more help, that's what I'm here for. Until next time GOOD FISHIN!!!