Ub Fishan independent guide to sport and recreational fishing

An independent fishing guide. We do not sell tackle or run competitions. Check bag limits, closed seasons and permitted waters in the fishing rules for your region.

Beginners

How to start fishing

This is the main article of the section: how to start fishing on your own without spending too much. By the end you will know which rules apply in your region, have chosen a simple method and the tackle for it, found a suitable spot and prepared for a safe trip. The legal details below describe Russia; if you fish elsewhere, check your local rules and licence requirements. We do not recommend specific shops, brands or waters, only the order of steps and where to check the current rules.

Plan your first fishing trip as a walk with a rod. If a fish bites, great; if not, you have still learned something.

— Editor's note

Before you start

  • The fishing rules for your area (in Russia, those of your fishery basin)
  • An idea of which waters are nearby and how to reach them
  • A small budget for simple tackle and consumables
  • Clothing for the weather and comfortable footwear
  • A charged phone and the local emergency number (112 in Russia) saved

  1. Learn the rules

    In Russia, recreational fishing is governed by Federal Law No. 475-FZ, while specific bag limits, closed seasons and restricted zones are set by the fishing rules for your basin, which also list prohibited fishing gear. In other countries the rules and licensing differ, so check with your local authority.

    Before spring fishing, check spawning-season bans especially carefully: they are set by the local rules.

  2. Choose a simple method

    A float rod is the best way to start: it is inexpensive, easy to understand and teaches you to see the bite. Spinning and feeder fishing can come later.

    If there is a river with a current nearby, start with a float from the bank in a quiet backwater.

  3. Put together basic tackle

    A rod, line, a few floats, weights and hooks in different sizes. Do not buy a lot at once: experience will show you what you really need.

    Bring spare hooks and line: snags and break-offs are inevitable on your first trips.

  4. Find a spot

    Choose a publicly accessible water with easy and safe access, or a commercial fishery if you want a more predictable result. Do not fish where the rules prohibit it.

    At a commercial fishery, find out its conditions in advance: what you may catch and how much you may keep.

  5. Check the weather

    Wind, rain and cold change the fishing. In a thunderstorm, pack up: carbon fibre rods conduct electricity.

    If a storm is forecast for the afternoon, plan a short morning session.

  6. Prepare for safety

    In a boat, wear a life jacket. On ice, carry an ice chisel, a rescue rope and ice picks; EMERCOM of Russia guidance gives the safe ice thickness as at least 7 cm for one person and at least 12 cm for a group.

    If you are unsure of the ice near the bank, do not go out: it is often thinner there, especially near reeds and where streams flow in.

  7. Fish and observe

    Watch the float, try different depths and spots, and strike calmly. Write down what worked and what did not.

    If there are no bites for a long time, change the depth or move a few metres.

  8. Handle your catch with care

    Decide in advance what you will keep and what you will release. Fish may be released unless the fishing rules say otherwise: wet hands, quick unhooking and minimal time out of the water.

    Bring a disgorger: it makes unhooking quicker and gentler.

Common mistakes

  • Not checking the fishing rules and getting caught out by a closed season
  • Buying lots of expensive tackle at once before knowing which method you enjoy
  • Going onto the ice without checking its thickness and without ice picks
  • Fishing from a boat without a life jacket
  • Carrying on fishing as a thunderstorm approaches
  • Leaving litter, line and hooks on the bank

Alternatives

  • If you have no tackle of your own, ask an angler you know to take you along the first time
  • If you want a more predictable result, start at a commercial fishery and find out its conditions in advance
  • If you are interested in the sport, read up on how competitions work and go to a tournament as a spectator
  • In winter, start with a short trip onto safe ice together with experienced anglers

Checklist before you head to the water

  • The fishing rules for your area have been checked
  • A method has been chosen and basic tackle put together
  • A spot has been chosen with safe access to the water
  • The weather forecast has been checked, with a plan in case of a storm
  • A life jacket for the boat, or an ice chisel, rope and ice picks for the ice, are packed
  • Family know where you are going, your phone is charged and the emergency number is to hand
  • Tackle and gear

    Rods, reels, terminal tackle and safety gear: what each is for and how to choose without rankings.

  • Disciplines and styles

    Summer and winter angling disciplines and the main styles of recreational fishing.

  • FAQ

    Answers to common questions about fishing rules, safety on ice and water, tackle and your catch.

Sources

  • Federal Law No. 475-FZ On Recreational Fishing
  • Fishing Rules for fishery basins (Ministry of Agriculture of Russia)
  • Federal Agency for Fishery of Russia (Rosrybolovstvo)
  • EMERCOM of Russia: guidance on safety on ice and water

Bag limits, closed seasons and permitted waters are set by the fishing rules for each area, and competition procedures by the rules of the sport and each event's regulations. The Russian rules described here apply in Russia; elsewhere, check your local fishing rules and licence requirements before you go.