subject: What Is Coarse Fishing? [print this page] In the UK fishing is the most popular participant sport and based on numbers of fishing rod licences bought each year it is estimated that over 3 million people enjoy a spot of angling. It is, of course, a requirement that you hold a current rod licence to partake in coarse or game fishing.
So how did coarse fishing get its name? Many years ago the landed gentry decided that salmon and trout were the most palatable fish and regarded all other species as not as refined or coarse. The name has stuck since then and it looks like it began as a sport over 200 years ago; people have, however, caught fish to eat for much longer than that.
There is huge variety of coarse fish occurring in the UK. Here are the different species, where to find them and to how to entice them to take your hook
Species
Habitat
Bait
Barbel
Fast Rivers
Luncheon Meat, Worms, Bread
Bream
Lakes & Slow Rivers
Bread, Worms
Common Carp
Rivers, Lakes
Sweetcorn, Boillies, Anything
Chub
Rivers
Bread Crumbs, Worms
Crucian Carp
Rivers, Lakes
Corn, Bread Flake, Soaked Raisins
Dace
Fast Flowing Water
Bread
Eel
Large Lakes and Rivers
Dead Bait
Perch
Lakes, Slow Rivers
Worms. Lures, Bait Fish
Pike
All types of Water
Lures, Live Bait, Dead Bait
Roach
All types of Water
Maggots, Worms, Cereal, Seeds
Rudd
Lakes & Slow Rivers
Worms, Cereal, Seeds
Tench
Lakes & Slow Rivers
Bread, Worms
Zander
Lakes & Rivers
Lures, Live Bait, Dead Bait
Thinking about your basic coarse fishing gear youll need a rod and a reel suitable for coarse fishing
A reel holds a fair amount of fishing line, and, together with the rod, allows you to cast your lure or bait exactly where you want it to go. It also assists you to fight or "play" the fish. So what sorts of fishing reels are available?
Spinning Reels - the easiest of all reels to use, (perhaps the exception of the spincasting reel described below). Spinning reels come in all sizes from very light to large. A great advantage of spinning reels is that they can cast very light weights, something that other reels can't easily do. Most spinning reels also come with a spare spool so that line weights can be changed at the push of a button or by undoing a knob and replacing the spool. A really good reel for beginners as well as the experienced anglers.
Casting Reels there are two types of casting reel
Baitcasting Reel - low profile and round available. Baitcasting reels are quite tricky to use without practice. Great for very accurate positioning of you lure or bait. Difficult to cast very light weights. Great for heavier line and big fish or for rocky areas. The weight of the lure or bait is used to drag the line from the spool, whilst the thumb is used to control the line on a cast.
Casting or Conventional Reel - not unlike the round baitcaster, but normally used for dropping baits or lures from a boat or for trolling. Really needs a lot of practice to cast well with.
Spincasting Reels - like a spinning reel with a closed face and an eyelet at the front of the reel for the line. Normally a push button enables line release on a cast. Probably easier to use than a spinning reel and often chosen by a young first time angler. Normally mounted on top of the rod. The least expensive reel you are likely to find.
