In order to catch a fish, you must first encourage the fish to eat your offering. As fish are more exposed to our presence it's essential we innovate technology and techniques as well as our fishing brains to keep up with them. As with most hobbies, it’s important to stay ahead of trends to avoid being left behind in the era of yesteryear.

Essentially, we see a lot of amateur or beginner fisherman trying their hand at fishing with old school, outdated methods. Although we really appreciate the help from Grandpa (and yes, his fishing stories from back in the day are mind blowing) we must concede that times have changed.

Before you head to the shed and dust off the old rod and reel, we highly recommend approaching your fishing ambitions with an open mind. Allow yourself to try new techniques and leave old school fishing as you know it in the past.

Taking at least 1 tip away from this article will instantly make you a better angler. Below are the top 5 angling mistakes by amateur anglers and the simple solutions to fix them.

1) Fishing Too Heavy:

Fishing too heavy covers three main aspects of your outfit. This includes:

• Line weight
• Sinker weight
• Oversized rods and reels

Line Weight:

Ask any reasonable angler “How heavy is your line?” 99% of the time they will give you a straight answer. On the flip side, if you ask a beginner angler “How heavy is your line?” they will probably look at you all confused.

Your line weight or line class is the rated strength of your line. 

Example: 15lb line will break when 15lbs of pressure is applied through a length of line.

The lighter your chosen line class, the more chance you will get bites and ultimately, more fish! Lighter line will be thinner in diameter compared to a heavier line.

The advantages of thinner lines are:

• 1. Harder for the fish to see
• 2. Create less drag and vibration in the water
• 3. Less drag in the air (i.e aids in casting further distances)

Not knowing the line class or the diameter of your line can put you at a disadvantage. Ultimately, you will not know how much pressure you can expect to apply to the line before it breaks.

Avoid purchasing reels pre-spooled with line. Purchase reels and line off the shelf separately as the line class and line diameter will be displayed on the packaging. 

If you are having trouble deciding which line class you should purchase, tell your local store which species you intend on targeting and they will find the right line for you.

Sinker Weight:

Although a heavier sinker can aid in casting distance, for majority of fishing applications, you will want to choose a lighter sinker than a heavier sinker.

When a fish tugs on your line it will feel the resistance of your sinker. 

The heavier your sinker; the more resistance, the more likely a fish will feel that resistance, and ultimately the more likely a fish will recognize something is not right. More often than not, it will spit your bait and swim away from danger.

If you fish with lighter sinkers, it’s less likely the fish will feel the resistance, and they will be more likely to bite for longer. Giving you more time to set the hook.

Oversized rods and reels:

In conjunction with lighter line classes; lighter rods and reels will all match together appropriately.

A correctly ‘balanced outfit’ consists of the three key elements to a fishing combo. Rod, reel and line.

If the fish you’re targeting are small in size, you wouldn’t use a huge reel intended for Marlin. Instead you would use a smaller outfit that’s more efficient and effective.

The disadvantage of rod and reel combos that are too heavy are:

• They add unnecessary weight
• They lack sensitivity
• They’re too stiff (don’t bend enough)
• They struggle to cast light rigs and lures long distance

Knowing the ins and outs of the above disadvantage list isn’t important for now. The important part is matching your gear appropriately.

All rods should have a line class rating found on the blank of the rod. (Example: 2-4kg, 3-6kg, 5-10kg)

This line class rating is often mistaken as the size of fish you can catch on that particular rod. This is not true.

A rods line class rating is the recommended line class you should use with that particular rod.

If your line is too light for the rod, you’re not using the rod to its full potential. If you fish with line that’s too heavy, you increase the risk of breaking your rod.

Getting the right advice from your local tackle store will take the guesswork out of choosing a balanced outfit and it avoids using the wrong gear for the job.

2) Lack of preparation

A lack of preparation can stem from a wide range of problems. From something as simple as attempting to fish with damaged line, to the instant classic of forgetting the bait.

The three most essential things you should prepare before fishing are:

• Ensure your fishing gear is in working condition (same goes for the boat!)
• Bring all equipment you’ll need for your day on the water
• Check the weather for the area you plan to fish.

Ensuring your fishing gear is in working condition:

Nothing is more frustrating than arriving at your chosen fishing spot to find out your gear has already failed you or requires a bit of maintenance before you can even wet a line.

A good habit is to give your fishing gear a little bit of TLC after a fishing session so it’s ready to use next time. Fishing gear maintenance doesn’t need to be time or energy consuming either. Often 5 minutes devoted to making sure your rod and reel is in good shape is all that’s required.

Perform the following:

• 1. Tighten the drag on your reel until it becomes fairly tight.
• 2. Lightly spray clean freshwater over the reel to remove any saltwater, mud, sand or other unwelcome sediments.
• 3. Allow your reel to drip-dry for a few minutes then wipe off any excess water with a towel.
• 4. Inspect your fishing rod’s guides for any chips or fractures within the inserts. A fractured insert will damage and cut your line as it moves through the guides.
• 5. Lightly spray your rods with freshwater to remove any saltwater, mud, sand or other unwelcome sediments.

If your rod or reel doesn’t operate normally after some quick maintenance, you can take your damaged gear to your local tackle shop for more advanced solutions.

Bring all equipment you’ll need for your day on the water:

Forgetting to bring the bait is the most common mistake on many fishing missions. Everyone has done it, but this doesn’t give you and excuse to make the same mistake twice.

The best way to ensure you remember to bring everything is by creating a checklist in the days prior. Creating the list on your smartphone, preferably in your notes is a good idea as this list can be saved and referred to for future fishing expeditions. 

It’s a good idea to check it twice; once as you gather your equipment, twice after you've pack it before transport.

A good list to get you started is:

• Fishing rods
• Fishing reels
• Tackle box
• Bucket
• Bait
• Sun cream
• Rod holders
• Food
• Water
• Hats
• Fish measuring device
• Sunglasses
• Towel
• Bait rag

Feel free to copy and paste this list into your notes now, and modify it to suit your style(s) of fishing.

Check the weather for the area you plan to fish:

Weather conditions play a key role in fish behaviour. This topic can be quite controversial and is another argument in itself. The main weather variable that should be checked is the wind speed and wind direction.

The speed of the wind can determine how difficult fishing can be. If the wind is strong, line can blow around, tangle up and limit your casting distance. This is true if you’re fishing in an area that’s exposed to the wind.

To get away from a strong wind, try fishing with the wind at your back, or fish behind some sort of shelter. This will make your overall fishing experience more enjoyable and comfortable. Satellite image apps such as Google Earth are your friend for finding sheltered areas to fish.

We’re not saying weather should dictate whether you fish or not, but rather use the weather conditions to your advantage. Of course, there are times where storms and/or large swell can make fishing unsafe. In these dangerous conditions we encourage you to stay away from the water.

Essentially, checking the weather prior to fishing can help you determine where is a better place to fish, rather than fishing the same spot constantly which may not be as comfortable or as effective as another, given the weather conditions for that particular day. Don’t be afraid to explore!

(Images: Fish Ranger, Google Earth)

Bonus tip: If you tie your own fishing rigs, pre-make them at home and bring them fishing with you. This can save a lot of time re-rigging out in the field and it will increase your fishing time, as you will have a bait in the water for longer.

3) Incorrect Bait Presentation

An easy mistake to make. Presenting your bait on the hook correctly involves good hook point exposure and natural drift.

Good Hook Exposure:

When many anglers are introduced to fishing, they often try to hide the hook within the bait. Unfortunately, you will not catch anywhere near as many fish as you should. The idea of a hook is to penetrate a fish’s mouth in order to form a connection between you and the fish.

The most common reason for this is people are afraid the fish will see the hook. Most fish species don’t have particularly good eye sight. They rely on the smell, sound and vibration (movement) your bait or lure is emitting more so than eye sight.

We won’t completely rule out a fish’s vision as a reason they may or may not bite. More often than not, they simply will not care about the presence of a hook until it has pricked their mouth. By then you will have one on the end of your line!

Natural Drift:

This is a hard topic to name because the entire idea is so your bait does not spin unnaturally in current or as it sinks. If your bait is spinning, it won’t look natural and it'll give off an unnatural vibration.

The best way to rig many baits is streamline and parallel with the hook. 

‘Snotty baits’ such as cockles (pipi) or mussels are exempt from the natural drift rule however they should still be baited up with good hook exposure.

4) Slack Lines

I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying “Tight Lines!”. Originally this phrase refers to having a fish on the end of your line however it applies to most fishing scenarios 99% of the time. 

The following piece of advice is one you may not have heard before however putting this idea into practice will save a lot of common fishing headaches. It will answer the commonly asked question: how do you avoid fishing line tangles?

If your line is slack, it’s at the mercy of the elements and, you. When line is allowed to move freely, it can make all kinds of mess. Think about it this way, a dog on a lead can only cause trouble within the space it’s confined in. Once it’s off the lead, it’s free to move without limitation. And with enough time, it will eventually cause some mischief. Same principle can be applied to line management.

Regardless of the type of line you use, it’s important to keep your line tight or in control at all times. Slack line will form when:

• Your bait or lure hits the water at the end of your cast
• Your sinker or lure hits the bottom
• Following an attempt to set the hook
• Your rod is dead straight
• Your bail wire assembly or bail-arm is open whilst the line is unattended

Watching your line at these key times and tightening your line (also known as picking up slack) will reduce the number of tangles dramatically.

Bonus tip: Every 10 casts > cast as far as you can > immediately wind your line in through your fingers with semi-tight tension. What this will do is take out any slack line you’re working with and lay the fishing line on your reel’s spool tight without any overlapping loops, reducing the probability of potential tangles in the short term.

5) Seasons

Generally speaking, fishing is predominately a summer-time hobby. Fish have fins, and fins help them swim. This means they can go almost anywhere they want. The seasons and weather will often dictate where a fish will be most comfortable and where their food supply is going to be.

Some fish prefer warmer water temperatures, other prefer cooler. Some like to eat sardines, some prefer crabs. Knowing generally where a species of fish is going to be at a particular time of year is a vital element to catching them.

A good example is Australian Salmon. Around the Adelaide Metro area, you’re very unlikely to catch one in summer time. This is because they prefer cooler water temperatures and they feed primarily on sardines (pilchards) which also prefer cooler water temperatures.

Conversely, there are plenty here in winter time. In winter, water temperature obviously is cooler than in summer and pilchards migrate up the St Vincent Gulf in winter. Hence the Salmon follow and move to the Adelaide Metro coast and are caught regularly throughout winter.

To summarise, research your intended target species before fishing. This can save you from fishing for a particular species that may not be as readily available as another.

If your target species is not in season in the area you plan to fish, you should proceed to do the following:

• Research where your intended target species is found in the season you plan to fish
• Or, target a different species that’s in-season in your local area. This will also expand your fishing knowledge. (Knowledge is power!)

To find out what’s biting around South Australia now, please look at our weekly fishing report: https://tackleworldadelaide.com.au/social/fishing-report/

Or if you plan to fish in Adelaide, check out our land-based fishing guide: https://tackleworldadelaide.com.au/fishing-adelaide-land-based-a-guide-to-fishing-in-the-south-australian-capital/

If you take away and apply any of the tips you’ve read, we guarantee you will instantly be a better angler. If you have any further questions, navigate to our Contact page and ask us!