4 articles
Freshwater, fly and saltwater fishing: tackle, techniques, regulations and where to go.
At the water’s edge, the first question isn’t always the one you’d expect. Before you pick a lure or a fly, you need to know whether you can fish this spot, on this particular day, and what you’re allowed to keep. This section often starts right there, then walks you through the rest: planning a trip, choosing tackle, and understanding how fish behave with the season, the time of day, and the weather.
On the regulations side, we explain fishing licenses, which are issued state by state, along with seasons, size and bag limits, protected species, and access to private water. On the technique side, bait, lure, fly, and carp fishing, plus saltwater fishing from the beach or a pier, each get their own guides, with the right gear and the basic rigs a beginner needs. You’ll also see how to match line, hook, and bait without buying out the tackle shop.
Simple habits matter as much as technique: wetting your hands before you handle a fish you plan to release, pinching down the barb when you practice catch and release, and packing out every bit of line. So does respect for nesting birds along the bank, for other anglers, and for everyone else who shares the water. Common mistakes get their turn too, like trusting last year’s dates, or a spot you found on a forum, without checking the local rules. To find your own spots, we show you how to read a map and a stream, instead of sending everyone to the same honey hole.
Our approach stays the same: practical guides, regulations quoted from official sources and dated, and a callout for each state or agency when the rules differ. When we compare gear, we work from the specs manufacturers publish and from criteria we explain, and a fishing trip described here is always told by the person who was there. This section is for first-timers and for anglers getting back into it after years away, for regulars curious about fly fishing or saltwater, and for anyone whose tackle box is already bursting at the seams.
FishingRules and regulations
Unlike in the United States, there is no state-by-state system in England: one national rod license from the Environment Agency covers England and Wales, from the age of 13. It costs from £7.30 for a day, and the fine for fishing without one reaches £2,500. You also need permission from whoever controls the water, and a season that is open.
Arnaud Couderc··11 min
Why a hook’s number rises as its size falls, what one maker’s dimensions show, and which sizes state agencies suggest for each fish and bait.
Arnaud Couderc··8 min
What the number on a fly rod and line means, which weight suits trout, bass or steelhead, and how to pick a first outfit, with the AFFTA table in grains.
Arnaud Couderc··8 min
Improved clinch, Palomar, uni, double uni, and a simple loop: the five fishing knots to know, when to use them and how to tie them, with step-by-step diagrams.
Arnaud Couderc··7 min
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