So how to fish? You just require a fishing rod, a fishing reel, some bait, and plenty of patience! Depending on where you love in the UK will likely determine the type of angling you’ll be getting up to. There’s coarse fishing which can be done in rivers, lakes and in the sea, and there’s game fishing which requires landing bigger fish, often as a competition. It’s better to take up the kind of angling that doesn’t demand you driving far – better to have a river or lake nearby that you can hop to at a moment’s notice – as the fantastic thing about angling is the fact it’s a place you can go to get away from it all and slow down.

Coarse fishing is a term used for angling types of fresh water fish that aren’t game fish. It’s especially popular in the United Kingdom and Europe. The kinds of fish you can find on the end of your line when coarse fishing include dace, pike, roach, bream and tench amongst many others. When coarse fishing, you will want a normal rod, a reel, possibly an angling tripod (to balance the fishing rod), some fishing groundbait, some fishing keepnets and fishing landing nets.

Game fishing is a kind of recreational fishing, pinpointing large fish renowned for their sporting qualities, like marlin. Having said all that, game fishing can also include salmon and trout.

Fishing tackle is an essential component of fishing. Fishing tackle is put on to entice fish to the hidden hook. Normally, nightcrawlers, insects, and smaller fish have been used for this function. People have also begun plastic tackle and, more recently, electronic lures, to draw in fish. Reports show that natural tackle like worms are more accepted by the fish and thus more effective.

Fishing is particularly popular in the warmer months when the temperature is warmer and the days longer, and night fishing isn’t so freezing cold. Angling can be as inexpensive as you want it to be. Just get a a rod, a fishing reel, some bait, a fishing license, and you have a new hobby.

1. Be prepared. Have camera, film, flash and batteries with you at all times.
2. Make sure that your fishing buddy knows how to use the camera, too. Practice on shore before you land the big one!
3. Always use a flash to eliminate shadows and intensify colour and contrast. Some cameras have a fill flash setting, find out if that includes your camera.
4. Shoot with the sun at your back, turning the boat if necessary.
5. Zoom in as close as possible, eliminating most background.
6. Take photos with both horizontal and vertical orientations. This makes for better choice in how you use the pictures including scrapbooks.
7. Remove / exclude distracting items – e.g. beverage cans, sunglasses, etc.
8. Keep the “horizon” level and include some background other than water.
9. Photograph special catches and the fishing action as it plays out.
10. Take the photos immediately. Do not keep fish in a livewell or on a stringer.
11. Avoid stringer shots and photos where the angler is holding the fish closer to the camera (distorting its actual size).
12. Avoid bloody fish photos. Give the fish a quick rinse just before shooting. This will improve colour and add some shimmer to the fish.
13. Leave the lure in the fish’s mouth (but not live bait).
14. Take “live release” photos at boatside.
15. Consider getting an inexpensive digital camera, just in case it ends up in the water.
16. Using a digital camera? Make sure it is 3 megapixels or better.
17. If you are going on a multi-day trip remember to take extra batteries. If you are using a digital camera it is a good idea to have two or more memory cards.
18. Swap memory cards at the end of each day so that at least one card is on dry land at all times. This ensures you always have some pictures of your trip regardless of what happens to the camera out on the water.
19. Record the length / weight / date / lake on the back of the photo. Some digital cameras have a video or audio option. You can use this to record this information and transcribe it later.
20. Kids fishing or doing shore lunch? Take lots of photos.

Photos will help you tell the story of your fishing trip. With that in mind remember to take pictures before and after you start fishing. These pictures can be used to bookend your awesome action shots.

Online since 1998 by long-time OFM field editor, Bill Rivers, the Ontario Fisherman is now taking on a new look, but remains committed to showcasing “the best of Ontario sportfishing”. Some of the most popular features are reviews of Fly-in Fishing Lodges.

Follow this link for more Ontario Fishing Information.