Coarse fishing is advanced freshwater fishing, catching fish such as bream, roach, carp and tench. Coarse anglers can be found on canal and river banks and at public and private lakes with stocks of fish like these. Whilst a lot of the tackle and angling jargon can be quite daunting, it's worth persevering and talking to seasoned anglers to find out what the attractions are and to get some useful hints and tips.
1. The tackle shop
The best place to start is your local tackle shop. The staff there will have a really useful knowledge of all the equipment that a new coarse fisher may need, and they'll also be able to point you in the right direction of clubs or lakes that welcome beginners, or who may even hold beginners' sessions to help get you started.
2. The internet
The internet is a fantastic source of information, and you can find out pretty much everything you need to know about coarse fishing by spending a bit of time browsing websites. Whether you're looking at a dedicated coarse fishing site, you're reading information on lake, river or canal fishing, or following a blog that's posted by a keen angler, you'll be able to find the answer to pretty much any question you have. Use the web to gather information so that you're well prepared when you go to the tackle shop or book a day at a coarse fishing lake.
3. Magazines
There are plenty of magazines dedicated to coarse fishing and they are a great place to find out what's happening around the country. From tackle reviews to hints and tips for catching your dream fish, magazines are a great way of keeping in touch with the coarse fishing community.
Learn as much as you can about coarse fishing before you start, make sure you get the right equipment and ask for advice along the way, and you're bound to be hooked in no time!
A coarse fishing match is a great way to pit your angling skills against others. Most private fishing lakes hold matches on a regular basis, or allow clubs to book one or more of their lakes to hold a club match. Competition is tough and anglers use every bit of experience and knowledge they have in order to catch the biggest fish.
Coarse fishing matches are usually organised by the water's landowner, or an angling club, and they will often supply a steward or match organiser to ensure that rules are followed and all anglers are complying with restrictions on tackle and bait.
When a match is announced, there are usually more anglers who want to compete than there are spaces, so it's important to keep a look out for matches in your area and to book quickly. There will usually be a closing time for applications and you will be informed of the rules that apply to that particular match.
Spaces, or Pegs, for each match are usually drawn at random before the match starts so that no angler can guarantee which peg they are going to get. Once allocated a peg, the angler must fish from that spot for the entire match. Most match rules state that if the angler has to leave his or her peg, they reel the line in so that they are not leaving a line unattended.
You must make sure that you have read the rules properly so that you only bring the tackle and bait that are allowed. Rules are strictly enforced and anyone found abusing them will be disqualified from the match.
Fish are weighed by a steward as they are caught and the steward also supervises the fish's return to the lake. The angler who has caught the heaviest fish at the end of the allotted time period is the winner.
Coarse fishing matches are a great way to test your angling skills and to get to know other anglers. Give it a try at your local fishing water.
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