The beginner angler has so much to choose from, but the good news is you can start simple and work your way up. Heading out to go fishing does not have to mean buying all the latest gear. A simple rod and reel combo, a few hooks, weights, and floats, or a handful of lures is all you need to catch your first fish. Lots of places will rent gear, too, so you don’t even need that. So, where to start?
Jump in a lake
OK. Not really. But you could call into a stocked lake and say hello. Most of the stocked lakes have fishing gear for hire, and fish willing to be caught, just for you. There is a good distribution of stocked or “put and take” fisheries across Ireland. Some have rainbow trout and others have coarse fish like bream, rudd, tench and carp. Some even have a mix of the two (or five, but who’s counting?).
We have a good listing of the stocked lakes around Ireland here: https://fishinginireland.info/trout/putandtake.htm
Hop aboard and try your luck
There are numerous charter boats at ports all the way from Louth to Wexford across the south coast to Kerry and all the way up to Donegal. Many organise short charters or evening trips that are perfect for small groups or individuals who want to give angling a go. Most of our charter skippers are cheery types, only too happy to advise and help a novice angler. The only catch here is that they are all based on the coast…
Find a charter boat: https://fishinginireland.info/angling-service-providers/charterboats/
Seek further guidance
Professional help is at hand for those who want to make the most of a learning experience. Angling guides and casting instructors are invaluable to beginner anglers. They help to take a lot of frustration out of the early days for the novice – fast-tracking the important fish catch part while giving plenty of tips and pointers on techniques and tactics. Everyone should take at least one day out with a guide or instructor…
And yes. We have an island-wide list of these guys and gals, too: https://fishinginireland.info/guides/index.htm
