Find practical fishing guides, considered tackle choices, and advice for your next session.
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Ordered from the most recently published.
Guide
19 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Getting Started
A practical guide for parents on taking children coarse fishing in England and Wales. Covers rod licences, day tickets, choosing family friendly venues, simple tackle, safety and basic fish care.
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15 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Rods & Reels
Short ready-elasticated margin poles (5-6 m) suit most UK stillwaters; simple whips are preferable for canals. Check rod licence, landing net and unhooking mat before you fish.
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14 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Fish Care & Rules
Explains the two legal weight thresholds for lead attached to a fishing line in England and Wales, what is exempt, reasons for the restrictions and which non-lead alternatives to choose.
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13 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Techniques & Rigs
No casting, no reel: pole fishing is direct and beginner friendly. This guide covers whips versus longer poles, licences, essential kit and how to set up and fish on canals and commercial stillwaters.
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12 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Getting Started
Practical guidance for river coarse fishing in England: understand the close season (15 March to 15 June), obtain a rod licence and permission, pick accessible water and start with simple float or feeder methods.
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11 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Techniques & Rigs
Winter coarse fishing is quieter and more demanding; short two to four hour sessions on mild, settled days with small baits, fine rigs and minimal feeding often produce the best results.
Read storyTackle
10 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Bankside Equipment
Practical guide to choosing a fishing chair for day sessions, covering weight, stability, adjustable legs, mud feet, padding and when to invest in a recliner or accessories.
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7 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Bait and Terminal Tackle
Clear, practical guidance on using maggots and worms for UK coarse fishing, covering bait choice, hooking, feeding, storage and rules to keep your sessions productive.
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7 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Fish Care & Rules
A clear guide to the coarse fishing close season in England and Wales: key dates, which waters are affected, stillwater exceptions, canal rules, and enforcement advice.
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5 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Getting Started
A practical primer on canal fishing for beginners: what licences and permits you need, basic tackle and bait, simple tactics and what to expect on your first session.
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3 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Bankside Equipment
For a simple coarse setup choose a mid-sized carryall (30 to 45 litres) with a wipe-clean base, solid zips and a padded strap. A wide opening keeps fish-care kit and tackle easily reachable.
Read storyTackle
3 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Rods & Reels
A 3000–4000 fixed-spool reel in the £50–£90 range is the ideal start for UK feeder anglers. Match reel size to rod length and distance for comfort and consistent casts.
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3 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Techniques & Rigs
Bankside checklist to stop missing bites float fishing: dot the float down, plumb depth, move the bottom shot closer, match hook size, control line drag and time your strike.
Read storyGuide
3 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Techniques & Rigs
Clear, practical guidance on selecting coarse fishing line. Learn when to use mono, braid or fluorocarbon, ideal diameters for float and feeder rigs, and how to check and dispose of old line.
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3 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Techniques & Rigs
A practical beginner's guide to method feeder fishing covering rigs, loading feeders, accurate casting, bite detection and safe fish handling to build a producing swim.
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3 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Techniques & Rigs
Step-by-step stillwater guide to how to set up a float fishing rod. Covers waggler components, shotting, finding depth, casting tips and quick fixes for first sessions.
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1 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Techniques & Rigs
A short post-session routine protects rods, reels, line and soft kit, prevents corrosion and helps stop spread of invasive species. Check, clean and dry gear and dry soft items for at least 24 hours.
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1 Oct 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Getting Started
Practical tips for carp fishing on a day ticket: pick a runs water, pack a simple rig, follow fishery rules and handle carp carefully to make your first session a success.
Read storyTackle
28 Sept 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Bait and Terminal Tackle
A concise guide to bait and terminal tackle for beginners: maggots, sweetcorn, bread, hooks, floats, non-toxic shot, legal rules in England and Wales and a practical shopping list for a first stillwater trip.
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28 Sept 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Techniques & Rigs
On UK commercial lakes, float fishing suits near-bank, calm pegs and active sessions; feeder fishing is better for range, depth and windy or choppy conditions.
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28 Sept 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Bait and Terminal Tackle
Clear guidance on what a method feeder kit includes, the three kit types, recommended products and how to choose feeder weights and moulds for UK commercial waters.
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28 Sept 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Rods & Reels
Practical guidance to choose the best float rod for beginners in the UK. Focus on 12 ft rods, through action, light to medium power and sensible budgets for a confident first purchase.
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28 Sept 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Rods & Reels
Choose a 2500 or 3000 match reel with 6-8 lb mono as the best float fishing reel for beginners. It keeps balance, suits UK stillwaters and fits a modest budget.
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27 Sept 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Getting Started
A practical guide for your first visit to a commercial fishery covering licences, day tickets, basic gear, peg etiquette and safe fish handling to help you feel ready.
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27 Sept 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Fish Care & Rules
Step-by-step guidance on how to unhook coarse fish safely: prepare a knotless net, wet hands, use forceps or a disgorger for deep hooks, and support fish until it swims away.
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27 Sept 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Getting Started
A practical coarse fishing kit checklist for beginners: arrange a rod licence and permission, then get a rod and reel, net, unhooking kit, basic tackle and bait. Most extras can wait.
Read storyTackle
27 Sept 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Rods & Reels
Practical advice on choosing a beginner coarse fishing kit for canals and stillwaters. Learn core essentials, what to avoid in cheap bundles and what to buy before your first session.
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27 Sept 2026
By Lake & Lines Editorial Team
Getting Started
A concise starter guide to coarse fishing for beginners in England and Wales. Covers licences, day tickets, essential kit, bait and step by step first lake session advice.
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