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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Casting Basic Angler's Knots

Then tying any knot, wet the line with water to make it slippery. Always trim the excess line with scissors close to the knot. Trilene knot 1 Thread the line through the hook's eye Twice to form a double loop. 2. Working upwards from the loop, wrap the end of the line around the main line four or five times.

3.Thread the end of the line back through the double loop and pull tight. Improved clinch knot 1. Pull about 15 centimetres (6 inches' of line through the hook's eye 2, Hold the end of the lina against the main line and twist the hook around six times. 3. Thread the end of the line through the loop the hook and then back through the loop above lt* Hold the end of the line and the main line and pull them snugly against the eye of the hook.

Casting

The easiest way to cast is simply by throwing your line into the water. As you become a snore experienced angler, way want to learn various techniques for casting with different rods and reels. But as a beginner, you can start by learning two basic casts with a spinning reel. A qood way to remember the correct movements for casting is to picture a clock face. The important positions are 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock.

The overhead cast

Picture yourself standing directly in front of a giant clock, w.lth your side to the clock face. Above your head is the 12 o'clock position 1. Open the bail arm on the reel. and hook your ndex finger around the line. 2. Bring the rod back over your shoulder to point where the 2 would be on the clock (if you right-handed) where the 1 0 would be on I.he clock (if you are left-handed). Look at the photo on the left for a demonstration of how to do this.3 Pitch the rod forwards smoothly. When your rod gets to about the 1 0 o'clock position (for right-handers) or the 2 o'clock position (for left-handers', remove your index finger from the line. See photo on the right for an example.

The sidearm cast picture

yourself standlng in the m.lddle of a clock face, w.lth your :astinq arm at 12 o'clock. Your head would be pointing to the 3 on the clock.1 Open the bail arm on the reel. Hook Dour index finger around the line.2 Bring the rod back behind you to about the 2 o'clock position if you right-handed or the 1 0 o'clock position if you are left-handed.3 pitch the rod forwards imoothly. When your rod gets to about the 10 o'clock position (for right-handers) or the 2 o'clock position (for left-handers), remove your index finger from the line.

Fly casting

Fly casting uses a special type of rod, reel, line, and lures called flies. The angler retrieves the fly in a technique called stripping, in vvhich he or she pulls directly on the line with the fingers. Fish often strike during stripping.

Finding fish

The two most important keys to successful fishing knowing where the fish are and what the fish want. To work out these things, Experienced anglers look at a number of conditions such as weather, season, water temperature the kind of fish they are fishing for, and the natural food available to the fish. One of the first things to know about fish is that they like structures.

A structure is any type of underwater object that provides a good place for fish to hide and eat. A structure could be the hull of a sunken boat; a pile of logs, dead trees, or rocks; a weed bed; a dock or pier; or anything else that makes fish feel safe and secure. lf you can find a structure, you will probably find fish.

More ways to find fish

Another way to find fish is to watch for sians of tIle fish themselves. Ripples on the surface of the water, a large splash, or a disturbance of smaller fish, or bait fish, can all be signs that a big fish is active nearby. Also pay attention to fish-eatinq water birds. suIch as herons, egrets, pelicans, and terns. Such birds often gather to feed on ichools, or groups, of bait fish. Bigger fish do the same thing. So follow the birds to the bait fish and you might catch some fish.