Top 10 Beginner Fishing Mistakes (and Easy Fixes)

Most new anglers miss fish for a handful of simple reasons. The good news is that none of them take much money to fix.

Here are ten common mistakes, what goes wrong with each, and an easy fix. They apply to ponds, lakes, and rivers, from shore or a small boat.

1. Skipping the license and the rules

Most states require a fishing license for adults. Rules on seasons, size limits, bag limits, and bait also change by state and sometimes by lake.

The fix is easy. Buy your license online or at a bait shop. Then read your state wildlife agency’s rules for the water you plan to fish. Many states put the rules online, and some have an app.

Kids often fish free up to a certain age, but that age varies by state. Check before you go.

2. Using line that’s too heavy or too old

Heavy line is thick and stiff. It’s hard to cast light baits on it, and fish can see it better in clear water.

Old line is its own problem. Sun and time make it weak and curly, and it breaks at the worst moment.

• For panfish and trout, 4 to 6 pound monofilament is plenty.
• For bass, 8 to 12 pound is a common range.
• Don’t overfill the spool. Stop about 1/8 inch below the rim, or line will jump off in loops.
• Replace line that coils, looks cloudy, or feels rough.

3. Hooks and bobbers that are too big

Bluegill and other panfish have small mouths. A big hook means lots of nibbles and no fish. A big bobber is just as bad, because fish feel it pull back and let go.

For panfish, try hooks in sizes 6 to 10. Hook sizes run backward, so a size 10 is smaller than a size 6. Use the smallest bobber that still holds up your bait and weight.

Check that hooks are sharp, too. Drag the point lightly across your thumbnail. A sharp hook catches. A dull one slides.

4. Tying weak knots

A lot of fish are lost at the knot, not the hook. Most bad knots come from rushing.

1. Learn one or two good knots, like the Palomar or the improved clinch.
2. Wet the knot with water or spit before you pull it tight. Dry line heats up and weakens.
3. Pull it snug with slow, steady pressure.
4. Test it with a firm tug before you cast. Better it breaks now than on a fish.

5. Setting the drag wrong

The drag lets a fish pull line off the reel instead of breaking it. Set it too tight and your line snaps. If it’s too loose, you can’t set the hook.

Set the drag before you start fishing. Pull line off the reel by hand. It should slip with a firm, steady pull, but not with a light tug.

When a fish is pulling drag, stop reeling. On a spinning reel, cranking while the drag slips just twists your line. Hold the rod up, let it bend, and reel when the fish stops running.

6. Casting into open water with no cover

Fish like places to hide and ambush food. Wide open water with a flat bottom often holds very little.

Look for weeds, docks, fallen trees, rocks, and spots where shallow water drops off into deeper water. Cast along the edges of that cover, not just into the middle of the lake. Shade matters on bright days.

Polarized sunglasses help a lot here. They cut the glare so you can see weeds, rocks, and drop-offs under the surface.

7. Fishing the wrong time of day

Midday in summer can be slow. Many fish move deeper or tuck into shade when the sun is high and the water is warm.

Early morning and the last couple of hours before dark are often better. Cloudy days can be good all day. In cold months, the warmest part of the afternoon is often the best time.

Keep simple notes on when and where you catch fish. Write down the time, the weather, and what they bit. Patterns show up faster than you’d think.

8. Staying in a dead spot too long

It’s easy to sit in one place for hours because it looks good. If nothing is biting, the fish may just not be there.

Our rule is to make ten or so good casts to a spot, then move a few steps down the bank. Keep moving until you get bites. Then slow down and fish that area carefully.

9. Missing the hookset

New anglers often jerk too soon, wait too long, or don’t set the hook at all.

With a bobber, wait until it goes under and stays under. Reel up the slack, then lift the rod firmly. You don’t need to swing hard. A quick, firm lift is enough with a sharp hook.

Circle hooks are different. Don’t jerk. Just reel steadily and let the hook slide to the corner of the fish’s mouth.

If you keep getting bites but can’t hook anything, your hook may be too big for the fish around you. Go down a size or two and try again.

10. Handling fish poorly before release

If you plan to let a fish go, how you handle it matters. Dry hands, squeezing, and long photo sessions can hurt it.

• Wet your hands before you touch the fish.
• Keep it in or close to the water when you can.
• Don’t squeeze its belly or touch its gills.
• Use pliers to back the hook out. If a hook is deep, cutting the line close to the hook is often better than digging for it.

If you plan to keep a few fish to eat, bring a cooler with ice. Fish taste better when they’re cooled down fast.

One last tip: pick one simple setup and stick with it until it feels easy. A small hook and a worm under a bobber is a great place to start.