Angling starlet Dylan Egan reveals the basic elements to nail down in order to get your angling journey off to a flyer
THE first steps you take in any sport are always the toughest, and fishing is no different in that respect. But whereas in rugby or football a ball is more or less all you need to get going, it’s not quite so simple with fishing, and walking into the tackle shop to be faced by a mountain of gizmos, baits and contraptions can be quite daunting for some!
Once you’re kitted out, it’s then a case of working through the minefield of information that’s available. You only need to know the basics, but what are the basics?
What things are paramount to you catching a few fish on your first outing, and what can wait to be mastered another day?
We’ve all been there, and it wasn’t long ago that up-and-coming junior Dylan Egan and his dad Mark were faced with that scenario.
The West Midlands 11-year-old has a thirst for knowledge and was more than willing to listen to the advice of others from the outset.
At his age, he clearly isn’t the finished article and isn’t as well placed as most of our other contributors to educate you on the finer details. But what he is perfectly placed to help you understand are the essential skills that you need to concentrate on from day one.
“There is so much information around and I found that you only need to take on a small portion of it to get you off to a great start,” explained Dylan.
“Starting with a short pole is ideal as it’s quite simple to set up and less prone to tangles. It’s just as cheap to buy a short margin pole as it is to get a rod and reel. So, kit aside, I’ve narrowed it down to 10 ‘essentials’ that will hopefully give you a solid base to make your first session one to remember.”
1 START WITH SMALLER SPECIES
“There are dozens of different species in the UK, but I would advise you concentrate on the less powerful ones to start with.
“Hooking a carp is good fun, but once it charges off, you’ve got to try and get it in, and that can prove tricky when you’re inexperienced.
“Baits like maggots and casters are more likely to attract species such as roach, perch and bream. These will come in with relative ease, making sure you put plenty of fish in the net, and will still put a big smile on your face!”
2 BUY THE RIGHT FLOATS
“It’s important to speak to the venue that you are going to visit before you head to the tackle shop, so that you can find out what size and species of fish you’re likely to catch.
“What they tell you should have an impact on the type of floats that you buy. Silverfish such as roach and bream can be shy-biters, and you’ll need a slimline float with a thin bristle so that it goes und
