19 Lessons

Fishing

Gear, knots, water and a fish on the line.

Equipment

Rod, Reel and Line

The three parts that do all the work

Hooks, Sinkers, Floats and Your First Rig

Small parts, big difference

Passive Lines That Fish Without You

Set lines, hand lines and float lines, and the law that governs them

Traps and Pots

Funnels, escape gaps and the gear you must never lose

Nets and What They Cost

Cast, gill and seine nets, mesh size and hand repair

A Pond That Feeds You

Very small scale fish keeping, honestly costed

Knots

Three Knots That Hold

Improved clinch, Palomar and arbor knot

Bait

Natural Bait or Lures

Match what is on the hook to what the fish eats

Casting

Casting a Spinning Reel

Smooth beats strong every time

Reading Water

Reading Rivers and Lakes

Fish live where food, cover and comfort meet

Shore Fishing and Tides

Beaches, rocks, harbours and the timing that matters

Small Boat and Kayak Safety

Lifejacket, float plan, limits, cold water and capsize

Shellfish and Shore Gathering

Limpets, mussels, clams, razor clams, percebes and the rules that keep you alive

Eating From Fresh Water

Which species pay, crayfish, eels, parasites and pollution

Fish

Know Your Fish, Handle It Well

Identify, unhook and release without harm

Fish Safety In Depth

Histamine, ciguatera, parasites, mercury and what never to eat

Cleaning & Cooking

Cleaning and Gutting a Fish

From the bank to the kitchen in ten minutes

Cook It Simply, Fish Responsibly

Safe cooking, licences, seasons and size limits

Preserving a Catch Without a Freezer

Salt, brine, air drying, smoking and how bacalhau really works