[Darth Cod]

Hi guys,
Just started salt water fishing about 4 weeks ago and need a couple of things explained to me. I do most my fishing by myself as I've only recently moved to Dunfermline so don't know anybody here and none of my mates fish anyway. This leaves me trying to figure things out on my own which means I usually get things wrong!
I've got a 10ft spinning rod which casts 10-40g which I've been using for fishing lures and an 11ft bass rod which casts 1-3oz which I've been trying bait fishing with. I got a cheap reel thrown in with each rod when I bought them but was thinking of maybe buying a new one. I've looked around and the more I look the more puzzled I get. What is the difference between baitrunner, freespool and ordinary spinning reels? Reels always seem to be quoted with a certain strength/diameter of line, is that what should always be put on the spool?
Does anyone know where to get decent bait in or around the Dunfermline area? Are there any areas nearby where it is possible to dig my own?
What is a shock leader and when should I use one? What the hell is a "rotten bottom"?
I'm not even going to go into the wierd and wonderful world of rigs and what I should use. Until I've tried to suss out some of the terminology I can't even ask a decent question!

I know I sound thick and I'll quite happily admit it too but any help would be a big help.

Thanks

 

[harleymasters]

I read the title and thought you were talking about me for a minute.......


Shock Leader is the last bit of line that you put onto your reel. It'll be about twice the length of your rod that you put on and it's the stronger bit of line that you put on there so you can cast a lead out without breaking the main line, i.e. your main line will be (perhaps what the reel says) 350 yards of 10lb line but you wouldn't want to hard cast a 5oz lead with that as the line will snap straight away, you put a 50-60lb shock leader on the end of your main line and about 2x the length of your rod from there on so it takes the strain of the cast.

A rotton bottom can be put on the bottom of any rig you want. It goes between the rig body and the lead so that the lead can be broken off if it gets caught, i.e. the line gets snagged so you pull for a break but instead of losing everything all you lose is the lead as it's attached to your main rig body by a weaker little strand of line that you tie it on with, 'cause your roton bottom link is attached to the bottom of the rig body but has let the lead go. Your rig body is, say, 60lb but your line between the rotton bottom clip and the lead is much weaker than your main line so it's the first thing that snaps.

Use whatever line you want. If you're spinning I guess you'll be be using just the spinner as the weight. I don't know what you're targetting exactly but I'd go for 10-12lb main line (maybe even lighter) to be honest so it's lighter and travels through the air better, with a 30lb shock leader, unless you're targetting something big.

You'll get loads of answers on here mate. Everyone's keen to help. You'll also find peeps to fish no worries.


I'm knackered so if that doesn't make sense, I'm sorry. (Seemed like I was typing for ages.... zzzz zzzzz).

 

[Pennellug RagFlappa]

Know the feeling ..thats how I felt when I came back to sea fishing a few years ago.. Your in the right forum though. Suggest you try the search function within the this forum... in general you'll find the answers your looking for a lot quicker ..failing that try a few other sites that are set up just for the beginner - think I read every page on this site http://www.fishing-blog.co.uk/beginners-corner/ when I first started

Recommend you introduce yourself on your regions forum as soon as you can.. you'll (I hope) be pleasantly suprised at how quickly you get offers of help ..even invites to go fishing

Tight Lines

 

[BillyFISHING]

Just thought I would say nice to see the help again that is given on this Forum without the help from WSF a lot of us would not even come back to fishing.:fish:

 

[PuddleSplasher]

Is it possible to have a section or dedicated "sticky" post to provide answers with regards to phrases, letters, expressions etc. that are found within our modern sea fishing language?

Magazines have it!

Could this be an enhancement to the forum? If properly moderated then I see no reason why it could not happen or be regularly updated.

 

[Addy]

Welcome to club doofus, an organisation with an extremely large membership.

:wiggle:


At least we have the net nowadays.
You can read up on most stuff while sitting in your underpants with a coffee.

 

[Guest]

Is it possible to have a section or dedicated "sticky" post to provide answers with regards to phrases, letters, expressions etc. that are found within our modern sea fishing language?

Magazines have it!

Could this be an enhancement to the forum? If properly moderated then I see no reason why it could not happen or be regularly updated.

Funny you should ask.....looky here!

 

[smiley73]

You can read up on most stuff while sitting in your underpants with a coffee.

spooky, how did you know? :huh:


LOL!

It will all become clear very soon, welcome to the forums... al.

 

[Mackeminexile]

Hi Darth Cod and welcome to the forums. I'd class myself as an "experienced" fisherman but I still learn new stuff all the time, mainly now stiing in my pants by the keyboard with a coffee (I sense a new WSF social group coming on...)

Always remember there is no such thing as a dumb question, only dumb mistakes. We all started out somewhere and we all had to learn. Just ignore the selection of WUM's and keyboard warriors with their oh so witty posts, unfortunately you find them in all walks of life and WSF is no exception.

 

[gonecreelmad1]

hi dath cod im allan m8 iv just moved from dunfermline to just over the forth bridge there is some good fishing marks there mate also i no a lot of guys in dunfermline that would be happy for you to have a beer with them and stuff. one of my mates dad runs a wee club over there so i could put you in touch with him.....

anyway im no expert at sea fishing m8 but i no a lot of stuff now just by asking around on here for advice and stuff you learn more everyday m8...

if your interested m8 i can show you nice digging marks that have not been raped yet that come up with the goods ..

pm me mate and we can sort something out ok cheers allan..