Exploring the Thrills of Coarse Fishing: A Guide to Techniques

Coarse fishing is the most common type of fishing in England. It involves catching fish in freshwater, like rivers, canals, and lakes, and returning them to the water. Many of us live near a freshwater spot where we can fish once we have a fishing licence and the owner's permission or a ticket. Here are some tips on how to get started with coarse fishing.

Ask Your Local Tackle Shop

Your local tackle shop can advise you on what gear to use to start coarse fishing. While some experienced anglers may spend hundreds of pounds on equipment, a basic setup can be bought for about £25. Keep things simple at first, and try to get a friend or family member who fishes to show you the ropes. Using pellets for coarse fishing can be incredibly effective due to their versatility and attractiveness to various fish species. Coarse pellets come in a range of sizes and flavors, making them suitable for different fishing conditions and target species. Their high nutritional content and easy digestibility appeal to fish, enhancing their feeding activity. Anglers can use them as loose feed to attract fish to the area or as bait on the hook, offering a reliable and efficient option for both novice and experienced fishermen.

Join a Fishing Club

Joining a local fishing club is a great way to learn how to fish and access nearby fishing spots. Many clubs organise fishing sessions for new or young anglers. If you're interested in competitive match fishing, where you might win prizes, your local club can help you get started. 

Fishing Licenses 

If you're over 13, you need a fishing licence to fish in rivers, canals, lakes, pools, and streams in England. You can get your licence from the Environment Agency at www.gov.uk/fishing-licences/when-you-need-a-licence.

Coarse Fish Species

There are around 25 species of coarse fish commonly fished for in the UK. Popular targets include carp, catfish, barbel, pike, perch, roach, tench, rudd, bream, dace, chub, eels and zander. When coarse fishing, remember that almost all venues require you to return the fish to the water. If you want to catch fish to eat, consider sea fishing or game fishing.

Coarse Fishing Techniques – The Basics

The main techniques used in coarse fishing are pole and whip fishing, lure fishing, float fishing, and ledgering. Each method uses different rods, reels, and tackle. The info below gives an idea of how to start fishing or explains the types of fishing you might have seen others doing. 

Pole and Whip Fishing

Poles and whips are lightweight carbon fibre rods up to 16 metres long. Instead of a reel, your line attaches to a short piece of elastic at the tip of the pole/whip. Whips are shorter and simpler to use, making them a great way to start coarse fishing. This method allows you to place your bait accurately, causing less disturbance to the fish and giving you better control over the line.

Lure Fishing

Lure fishing uses a lure pulled through the water to mimic a small fish, worm, or other creature that fish eat or attack. It's an easy and straightforward technique to get into. You don't need much time or gear to start, just a short lure fishing rod, a small reel, and a few soft-rubber lures and hooks.

Float Fishing

This technique uses a float made of cork, wood, or plastic attached to the line above the baited hook. When a fish bites, the float moves, signalling you've got a catch.

Ledgering

Ledgering uses a weight to sink the bait to the bottom of the water. A fish bite is indicated by twitching on the rod tip or an electronic bite alarm. A swimfeeder can replace the weight on the line; it's a small container of bait that attracts fish.

Essential Kit

Besides basic tackle, you'll need a landing net and a disgorger or forceps to remove hooks from fish. Wearing sunglasses or other eye protection is a good idea, and polarised sunglasses can help you see the fish better. A hat, waterproof jacket, and weatherproof shoes are also recommended. If you're fishing for predator fish like pike, perch, eels, and zander, use a wire trace to attach your hook to prevent fish with sharp teeth from biting through the line.