Types of Fishing

7
May
2009

H&C's John Bailey is a fan of fly fishing

If you are not an a-fish-ionado, you might be forgiven for thinking that all fishing is the same. In fact, there are several different types. Read on to find out more.

Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is used to catch fish like trout and salmon, as well as pike, bass and carp.

In fly fishing, fish are caught by using very light artificial flies - made by tying hair, fur, feathers and other materials together - that are cast with a fly rod and a fly line.

Artificial flies can vary dramatically in size, weight, colour and shape. The flies are tied specifically to match local insects, baitfish, or other prey attractive to the target fish.

The fly lines are usually plastic-coated, which gives them enough weight to reach the intended target. The artificial flies are in proportion to the line, rod and reel in use - the heavier the fly, the larger the reel and rod.

To fish in cold waters, anglers wear waders (chest high boots) to wade out into deeper water. They also give good grip if you plan to try your hand at fishing on rocky riverbeds, which are often slimy.

Freshwater Fishing

Fresh water fishing is done in lakes, rivers and streams that have minute quantities of dissolved salts.

There are many fresh water fish species, but some of the most important ones are bass, catfish, pickerel, pike sunfish, trout, salmon, muskellunge, sturgeon and walleye.

If you are inexperienced, it's probably best to fish from the shore or a boat, rather than in an estuary or on rocks.

‘Coarse fishing’ is the term used to describe fishing in fresh water for any species other than salmon or trout.

Sea Fishing

As the name suggests, a lot of sea angling takes place from a boat, but it can also be done in estuaries, on piers and from rocks. Piers and jetties are ideal places for catching mackerel and codling. Mullet, flounder and dab are often found estuaries and harbours. The foam covered seas next to rocky headlands are home to conger eel, and beaches offer the chance to catch other fish, such as bass.

Big-game fishing, often referred to as offshore gamefishing or blue-water fishing is a form of recreational fishing, targeting large fish, such as tuna and marlin.

While there are many other types of fishing, these are three of the main types in the UK.