Plants & Outdoors
Open now

Fishing Basics

Tie the knots, read the water, land your first fish.

3levels, ending in days on the water with friends
49 mina Step, on average
$55to start Level 1
FreeLevel 1, always

Learn fishing as a beginner

No boat needed. This beginner fishing course covers choosing simple gear and getting a license, tying the knots you'll use every trip, rigging a bobber, reading the water and catching your first fish, then catching a bass on a lure and planning a day on the water with a friend.

The path

  1. 1
    Level 1Free

    First Catch

    Your first fish and a bass on a lure

    15 Steps, about 49 minutes each. Anyone who's never fished or hasn't since they were a kid. No boat needed: everything is from the bank or a pier.

    1. Chapter 1: Gear and knots. Your license sorted, reel set up, knots and casting practiced, and your first rigs tied.
    2. Chapter 2: First trips. A spot found, your first fish caught and released, the water read, and a lure fished.
    3. Chapter 3: Level up. Fish species learned, a Texas rig fished for bass, a meal or a clean release, and a day out with a friend.
    1. 1
      License and local rules
      Your fishing license bought, and your state's basic rules and limits noted.

      In the United States and most other countries, you need a fishing license to fish in public waters. Licenses pay for fish stocking, habitat and wildlife conservation, so buying one is part of how fishing stays good.

      Each state sets its own rules through its wildlife agency. Rules cover who needs a license, which fish you can keep, how many per day (the bag limit), and their minimum size (the length limit). Some waters have special rules, like catch-and-release only.

      The detail beginners miss is free fishing days. Many states have a few days each year when anyone can fish without a license. They're a good way to try fishing before you buy.

      Here's an example. State wildlife agency site found. Freshwater annual license bought online and saved to a phone. Regulations guide downloaded. Notes: bluegill, 25 per day, no size limit. Largemouth bass, 5 per day, 12 inches minimum. Children under 16 don't need a license.

      Right is a license on your phone and a note of the basic limits for the fish you'll target. Rules change each year, so check the current guide. Fishing without a license or keeping fish over the limit can mean fines.

      Take Me Fishing
      Show your group
    2. 2
      Set up your reel
      Your spinning reel checked, line on, and the drag set correctly.
      Bass Pro Shops
    3. 3
      Tie two knots
      The improved clinch knot and palomar knot tied ten times each, fast and right.
      1Rod1ReelFishingAnimated Knots
    See all 15 Steps
    1. 4
      Casting practice
      Twenty accurate casts in a yard or park with a practice weight, landing near a target.
      Randall ShawTake Me Fishing
    2. 5
      Tie your rigs
      A bobber rig and a simple bottom rig tied, and your tackle box packed.
      Take Me Fishing
      Show your group
    3. 6
      Find your spot
      Two or three public fishing spots near you found, with notes on access and rules.
      Take Me Fishing
    4. 7
      Your first fish
      A trip with a bobber rig and live bait, and your first fish caught.
      Wired2Fish
    5. 8
      Handle and release
      Fish unhooked and released quickly and safely, with wet hands and minimal time out of water.
      Take Me Fishing
    6. 9
      Read the water
      A trip where you pick spots by structure, shade and time of day, and note what worked.
      Bass Pro Shops
    7. 10
      Fish a lure
      A trip using a lure instead of bait, casting and retrieving to cover water.
      Wired2Fish
      Show your group
    8. 11
      Know your fish
      The common fish in your area learned by sight, with their limits and best baits.
      Take Me Fishing
    9. 12
      Texas rig for bass
      A soft plastic worm rigged Texas style and fished slowly along cover.
      Wired2Fish
    10. 13
      Keep one, or release well
      Either a legal panfish kept, cleaned and cooked, or a full trip of good releases logged.
      Bass Pro Shops
    11. 14
      Dawn or dusk at a new spot
      A trip at sunrise or sunset to a spot you've never fished, using what you've learned.
      Bass Pro Shops
    12. 15
      A day out with a friend
      A fishing trip with a friend or family member, where you set them up and help them catch a fish.
      Take Me Fishing
      Show your group
  2. Level 2Unlocks after Level 1

    Bass Basics

    Topwater, crankbaits and seasonal patterns

  3. Level 3Unlocks after Level 2

    Beyond the Bank

    Kayak fishing and a fly rod

Where it ends: days on the water with friends

Questions about learning fishing

How long does it take to learn fishing?

Level 1 is 15 Steps of about 49 minutes each, around 12 hours in all, split into 3 chapters. Go at your own speed: one Step a day, or a whole chapter in a sitting.

What do I need to start fishing?

You'll need spinning rod and reel combo (6-7 ft, medium-light), spooled with 6-8 lb line, starter tackle: small hooks, split shot, bobbers, swivels and a few soft plastic worms and fishing license. Expect to spend about $55 to start Level 1.

Can a complete beginner learn fishing?

Anyone who's never fished or hasn't since they were a kid. No boat needed: everything is from the bank or a pier.

What will I have made by the end of Level 1?

Your first fish caught on a bobber rig, a bass on a lure, knots you can tie with your eyes closed, and a day on the water with a friend.

Is this fishing course free?

Yes. Level 1 of every hobby on Eras is free, and every Step links free lessons from great teachers online. Eras Plus is an optional subscription that opens the levels after it.

Free lessons in First Catch come from Take Me Fishing, Outdoor Alabama, Bass Pro Shops, 1Rod1ReelFishing, Animated Knots, Randall Shaw, Wired2Fish, US EPA. We link to their work and never copy it.

Cover photo by Nafsika G. on Unsplash