Learn to Fish: The 3 Best Methods for Beginners & Novices

Do you finally want to learn how to fish, but don’t know where to start? No wonder. Especially as a beginner, you often stand there like a fish out of water in front of all the rods, reels, lines, and lures. The shelves in the tackle shop look like a maze. Which rod is the right one for beginners? Which method even gets fish on the line?

Here we’ll show you 3 super easy fishing methods from JAEGER that you can start using right away. You don’t need expensive pro gear or complicated knots. Keep reading and start your first catch today. Learning to fish is easier than you think — you just have to make the first cast.

Learning to fish – what do you really need as a beginner?

Many people think you need expensive pro sets right away to learn how to fish. That’s not true. As a beginner, a minimal kit is enough — as simple as a sandwich by the water.

• A fishing rod for beginners – ideally an all-round rod that is lightweight and comfortable to hold
• A matching reel – reliable and easy to use
• Line – strong enough for your target fish
• Hooks – in different sizes, depending on the bait and fish
• Bait – worms, corn, or small lures, depending on the fishing method

Like learning to ride a bike, you learn to fish with simple basics. Only once you’ve caught your first fish does an upgrade make sense.

Method 1: Bottom fishing

If you really want to learn how to fish, bottom fishing is the perfect place to start. This fishing method is as easy as pitching a tent. Once it’s set up properly, the rig does the rest.

In bottom fishing, your bait lies on the bottom of the water. You only need the following: 

• Weights, to keep the bait on the bottom

• Swivels, so your line doesn’t twist

• Leaders, as the link between the main line and the hook

• Hooks, baited with worms, corn, or dough

This method is ideal for beginner anglers because you don’t have to cast constantly. You cast once, put the rod down, and wait. That way, you can calmly watch the rod tip move slightly when a fish bites. With bottom fishing, you’ll often catch whitefish, carp, eels, and even perch. It’s especially motivating for beginners because the chance of success is high.

Method 2: Float fishing

Float fishing is the classic method for beginners. Hardly any method is as easy to learn and at the same time as exciting. You can see with your own eyes what’s happening under water. The float becomes your direct line to the fish.

With float fishing, your bait drifts at a certain depth in the water, held by the float on the surface. As soon as a fish takes the bait, the float twitches or disappears — the perfect moment to strike.

• Float, which floats on the surface and shows the bite

• Stops, to set the depth of your rig precisely

• Shot weights, to balance the float so it stands upright

• Hooks, baited with worms, corn, maggots, or trout dough

Who is float fishing suitable for?

This method is ideal for whitefish such as roach, bream, and tench. But trout and perch also like to bite when you fish with a float. You’ll be successful quickly with this technique, especially on smaller lakes, ponds, or calmer stretches of river.

Set your float depth precisely before you start fishing. That means adjusting the depth so your bait hovers just above the bottom or lies on the bottom. Only then will the fish find your bait exactly where they are also looking for food. Many beginner anglers love float fishing because it’s so versatile. You can sit comfortably on the bank, enjoy nature, and still be active when the float dips under.

Method 3: Spinning with small lures

If you prefer active fishing, spinning is exactly your thing. This method is as exciting as a game of hide-and-seek by the water — you’re looking for the fish, not the other way around.

When spinning, you retrieve lures through the water that imitate small prey fish. Especially perch and trout can hardly resist these triggers. Smaller predators like chub or asp also like to bite.

The best lures for spinning:

• Small spinners, which move through the water while spinning and create light reflections

• Soft plastic lures, which look like real prey fish and can be worked flexibly

• Jig heads, ideal for working close to the bottom and using light twitches to trigger predators

Spinning is perfect for beginners who love movement. You won’t stay in one spot for hours — instead, you walk along the bank and try different spots. Every cast is like another attempt to outsmart the predator.

In the Perch Go Kit from JAEGER, you’ll already find small ASTA lures that are ideal for perch. That way, you can start right away without having to put together every lure individually.

Which fishing rod is suitable for beginners?

Do you want to learn how to fish and are wondering which fishing rod is the right one for beginners? Good news: you don’t need an expensive pro setup. To start, an all-round rod with the following features is enough:

• Length: 2 to 2.70 meters – compact and versatile

• Casting weight: 5–20 g – covers most lure sizes

• Reel: A 2000–3000 size spinning reel – light, stable, and easy to use

Think of your fishing rod like a Swiss Army knife: lightweight, flexible, and suitable for almost any situation.

The Perch Go Kit – your perfect starter set

If you want to get started right away without spending hours putting individual parts together, the PERCH GO KIT 2 is the best choice. It’s the ultimate all-in-one solution for successful perch fishing, perfectly tuned for beginners and advanced anglers alike.

What makes the Perch Go Kit so special?

• Multilayer carbon all-round rod (204 cm, 5–15 g)
  Fast blank for crisp feedback and maximum precision. Extra light (108 g) and perfect for perch.

• G-2000 reel with stainless steel gearing
  Smooth-running and powerful (drag force 6.5 kg) – ideally matched for predators up to 6 kg.

• 8-strand braided line (100 m, 0.15 mm, 6.5 kg breaking strength)
  Already spooled up for immediate use.

• Pre-tied Carolina rig + ASTA Shrimp soft lure
  Just cast and catch — no complicated knots or rigs.

• Exclusive bonuses:
  ✓ JAEGER Perch Manual with knots, rig presentation & lure tips
  ✓ Durable rod sleeve for optimal protection on the go

With the Perch Go Kit, you’re not just ready to start — you’re fishing with a system, developed with Swiss Engineering to give you maximum efficiency and guaranteed catches.

5 quick tips for your fishing start

 

Your perfect beginner kit from JAEGER

JAEGER Fishing experiences