Hey all,
I've been fishing for a few months now, starting out with a fixed rod, learning from my uncle and dad. Since then, I've done a lot of research, reading books on the different types of fishing (float, bottom, spinning), but I still haven't decided which discipline to focus on. To get a feel for the different styles, I bought an entry-level rod from Decathlon (Caperlan brand) with a kit that includes different rigs to try out. I know it’s not ideal—a jack of all trades setup isn’t great—but since it only cost me €35, I thought it was a decent investment to help me figure out which direction to go.
So far, I've gone fishing twice with this rod. The first time was in the sea (I lost my bottom rig after getting snagged), and the second was at a lake where I tried spinning. I lost a jighead, but that wasn’t a big deal. Both times I came home empty-handed.
However, before buying this rod, I went to a private lake with some friends, rented a rod, and—despite knowing absolutely nothing—I somehow managed to catch a pretty big catfish (pic related). Fast forward to yesterday: I returned to that same lake, now armed with more knowledge (baiting, fish types, etc.), but I lost two bottom fishing weights and a float. The worst part? The rig I made myself (which I stayed up until 2:30 AM to finish) broke off on the first cast.
I thought I was tying the improved clinch knot correctly, but every time I cast, the knot snapped at the swivel (I use a swivel and snap to switch between fishing styles—again, I know it's not ideal). It's been pretty disheartening because I was really looking forward to trying the bottom rig I made, only to lose it instantly.
I’ve been sinking quite a bit of money into various bits of gear (swivels, lures, etc.), and I’m not in the best financial situation. I know it's common to have a rough start, but it feels like I keep running into bad luck (though I’m sure my inexperience plays a big part).
What would you recommend? Should I take a break? I know everyone struggles at the beginning, but I’m feeling pretty discouraged right now.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
TL;DR:
I've been fishing for a few months with a basic Decathlon rod to try out different styles (float, bottom, spinning). I’ve lost rigs and caught nothing so far, despite learning a lot and practicing. My knots keep breaking, especially on the swivel, and it's demoralizing since I'm investing time and money without much success. Any advice? Should I take a break or keep going?
Posted by FrankFrancis333
3 Comments
Something is up with your knots. They shouldn’t be routinely breaking. Try a palomar knot. Its as easy as it gets and is very reliable. Wet the line before you pull it tight. I use spit. Pull on the knots hard. Don’t get a hook in your hand when you pull it. You shouldn’t be able to break the knot, at least not without the line digging in to your skin enough to really hurt.
Fish sunrise or sunset if you can. It improves your odds greatly. Don’t be afraid to start before the sun is up or stay till after its down. They bite in the dark too. Unfortunatly that’s also when the mosquitos bite, lol.
Try to enjoy just being outdoors. Take in the scenery, the sounds, the air, the critters. You don’t want your enjoyment to hinge upon catching something because even when you get good at it, you’ll have bad days.
Palomar knot friend, there is a reason why its revered by most.
You will still lose lures and tackle on snags, but if tied correctly the knot itself should not come undone under normal stress conditions.
I’ve lost a ton of lures early this summer as well due to janky knots, and awful casts. But once I started using The ol Palomar, and the double Palomar on my more expensive lures Ive had 0 issues and all the confidence.
Did u buy a kit that had a prespooled reel? If so, change that line immediately. I think the decathlon stuff is actually pretty good quality except the prespooled reels in those kits. It’s terrible and I’ve had the exact same issues with it.
Regardless if that’s the case, don’t stop. We all have bumps and hiccups along the way. Keep trying, learning, and it will start to click!
Tight lines (just not the one from decathlon!)