Your first put-and-take trip

The first time at the water is much more fun if you are a little prepared. You need no expensive tackle or years of experience — just the right things in the bag and a simple plan for how you start. Here is the checklist and the plan for your first put-and-take trip.

Pack right — checklist

• Rod with reel, line and leader, ready leaders and hooks.
• A few baits: powerbait for bait fishing or a couple of lures for spinning.
• Net, forceps and something to kill the fish with — easy to forget, but important.
• Fishing permit (or a check of where you buy it), see fishing permits.
• Clothes for the weather, sun protection, a snack and a bag or cool box for the catch.

Two accessories that last for years

Here it pays to choose quality once instead of buying again:

• Hot coffee all day – Stanley Classic flask 1.0 L (4.6★). The tough classic that keeps the coffee hot from dawn to dusk. See price on Amazon
• Order in the tackle – Plano tackle box (4.7★). A compact box that keeps lures, hooks and leaders sorted. See price on Amazon

On the bank — get started right

When you arrive, do three things before you cast. Buy the permit and read the water’s rules, so you know the bag limit and allowed methods. Look over the water for a while, see reading the water, and look for rises, inlets and edges. Rig up in peace. Rushing the first casts usually only gives tangles.

A simple plan for the day

Start where something seems to be happening, not straight out at random. If you bait-fish, let the bait sit and watch the rod tip. If you spin, search the water at different depths and distances and vary the speed. If you get nothing in a spot after a while, move rather than stand still. Dawn and dusk are usually best, but freshly stocked fish can take at any time.

When it takes

Keep a steady pressure, let the drag work on the runs and net the fish calmly, see playing and landing. If you are keeping it, kill it at once and keep it cold. Then it is just to enjoy — and avoid the most common beginner mistakes. If you want the whole picture, read the beginner’s guide. If the first outing is on ice instead, see the first ice-fishing trip.