Fishing Basics

The path

1. 1
   Level 1Free

   First Catch

   Your first fish and a bass on a lure

   15 Steps, about 49 minutes each. Anyone who's never fished or hasn't since they were a kid. No boat needed: everything is from the bank or a pier.

   1. Chapter 1: Gear and knots. Your license sorted, reel set up, knots and casting practiced, and your first rigs tied.
   2. Chapter 2: First trips. A spot found, your first fish caught and released, the water read, and a lure fished.
   3. Chapter 3: Level up. Fish species learned, a Texas rig fished for bass, a meal or a clean release, and a day out with a friend.

   1. 1
      License and local rules

      Your fishing license bought, and your state's basic rules and limits noted.

      Take Me Fishing
      Show your group
   2. 2
      Set up your reel

      Your spinning reel checked, line on, and the drag set correctly.

      Bass Pro Shops
   3. 3
      Tie two knots

      The improved clinch knot and palomar knot tied ten times each, fast and right.

      1Rod1ReelFishingAnimated Knots

   See all 15 Steps

   1. 4
      Casting practice

      Twenty accurate casts in a yard or park with a practice weight, landing near a target.

      Randall ShawTake Me Fishing
   2. 5
      Tie your rigs

      A bobber rig and a simple bottom rig tied, and your tackle box packed.

      Take Me Fishing
      Show your group
   3. 6
      Find your spot

      Two or three public fishing spots near you found, with notes on access and rules.

      Take Me Fishing
   4. 7
      Your first fish

      A trip with a bobber rig and live bait, and your first fish caught.

      Wired2Fish
   5. 8
      Handle and release

      Fish unhooked and released quickly and safely, with wet hands and minimal time out of water.

      Take Me Fishing
   6. 9
      Read the water

      A trip where you pick spots by structure, shade and time of day, and note what worked.

      Bass Pro Shops
   7. 10
      Fish a lure

      A trip using a lure instead of bait, casting and retrieving to cover water.

      Wired2Fish
      Show your group
   8. 11
      Know your fish

      The common fish in your area learned by sight, with their limits and best baits.

      Take Me Fishing
   9. 12
      Texas rig for bass

      A soft plastic worm rigged Texas style and fished slowly along cover.

      Wired2Fish
   10. 13
       Keep one, or release well

       Either a legal panfish kept, cleaned and cooked, or a full trip of good releases logged.

       Bass Pro Shops
   11. 14
       Dawn or dusk at a new spot

       A trip at sunrise or sunset to a spot you've never fished, using what you've learned.

       Bass Pro Shops
   12. 15
       A day out with a friend

       A fishing trip with a friend or family member, where you set them up and help them catch a fish.

       Take Me Fishing
       Show your group
2. Level 2Unlocks after Level 1

   Bass Basics

   Topwater, crankbaits and seasonal patterns

3. Level 3Unlocks after Level 2

   Beyond the Bank

   Kayak fishing and a fly rod

Where it ends: days on the water with friends

Free lessons in First Catch come from Take Me Fishing, Outdoor Alabama, Bass Pro Shops, 1Rod1ReelFishing, Animated Knots, Randall Shaw, Wired2Fish, US EPA. We link to their work and never copy it.