A Helpful guide to your First Time Fishing
Why go fishing?
Fishing is a wonderful way to relax and enjoy the outdoors while learning a new skill. It’s also a great way to spend time with family and friends. Those who really enjoy the sport will eventually want to buy their own kit and practice their own techniques to draw out the fish, whether they go for the biggest carp or a rare breed like a Gudgeon or Rudd. Personal bests can be made and beaten, not to mention the fishery’s records or even the nationals if you get really good!
By having an interest in fishing, people also find themselves having an interest in conservation and taking care of the environment. The fishing ambience in general can be very relaxing when simply sitting in a peaceful location surrounded by singing birds, rustling trees and hearing fish jump. At Redwood Park one of our main goals after creating a top notch fishery, was to create a beautiful environment for fishermen and their friends & family to enjoy when they visit.
What do you need to get started?
Fishing Licence
Wherever you fish in the UK, on a river or fishery like Redwood Park, you will need a fishing licence unless you are under 12. There are concessions available for 12-16 year-olds and seniors (over 65). You can be fined up to £2,500 for fishing without a rod licence by the Environment Agency.
You can also purchase a 1-day licence. For fishing at Redwood Park you will only need the “non-migratory trout and coarse” fishing licence, which you can buy online, or by calling the Post Office or going into any post office to buy in person.
Learn more about getting a licence: https://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences/when-you-need-a-licence
Fishing Tackle
If you don’t already have access to fishing tackle from a friend or family member, the basic tackle mentioned below are a good starting place. You may be able to go to a tackle shop and find a starter kit also. You can also read this beginner’s guide to coarse fishing and many others you can find online.
Basic tackle:
- Fishing rod
- Fishing reel
- Fishing line
- Fishing floats
- Fishing hooks (at Redwood Park, only barbless hooks are permitted, with a maximum hook size of 12)
Shot - Landing net and pole
- Disgorger
Other items you may want after you have tried fishing a few times: plummet, scissors, chair, rod rest, tackle box, fishing umbrella, pole (and accompanying items), and the list goes on depending on how much you love the sport.
Fishing Bait:
There are many kinds of bait you can try from household canned goods (spam and sweetcorn) to those you’ll find at a regular tackle shop, such as maggots and casters.
What do I need to know?
For the first time you go fishing, you should go with an angler who can show you the ropes, e.g., how to set up your rod, hook your baits, strike a fish, remove the hook and release the fish successfully.
There are national and local rules when you are fresh-water fishing, aimed at protecting fish and fisheries. For example, we have many rules that pertain to fish protection on our rules page (such as only one rod being used at one time, no fish to be removed from site, returning the fish quickly and carefully to the lakes, etc.)
which lake to fish:
At Redwood Park Fishery, we offer 7 fishing lakes, each with its own unique features. Not all lakes are available every day, but you’ll find an announcement at the entrance about any scheduled matches.
The Moat Lake is always open for pleasure fishing and is a great choice for beginners, with its spacious family-friendly pegs and a wide variety of fish. However, all of our lakes offer excellent fishing opportunities, so feel free to explore different lakes and pegs. Just be sure to respect other anglers when moving around.
Lakes Map: