In regard to links throughout this Site, you may see a word that is underlined but NOT highlighted blue like a link, It IS a link and these are words that can be found in our Dictionary. In case  you're unfamiliar with some of the fishing lingo. search engine by freefind Home Sitemap What is Fishing and Why Go Kids & Fishing The VERY Basics of How To Fish Basics of How To Fish (more detailed) Basic Equipment Needed for Fishing Supplementary Tackle About Fishing Rods Purchase Fishing Rods About Fishing Reels Purchase Fishing Reels About Fishing Line Purchase Fishing Line About Fishing Hooks How To  Bait a Hook Bait Presentation Buy Fishing Hooks About Fishing Bait Buy Bait About Lures Buy Lures About Bobbers and Floats Purchase Bobbers About Swivels Purchase Swivels Kids N Fishing Types of Fish Fishing Rules and Regulations Safety & Fishing Fishing Terminology The FUNdamentals of Fishing Store at Amazon.com Other Websites made by Jon Anderson (Web Master of this site) FUNdamentals of Camping FUNdamentals of Baseball (learn how to hit, pitch, field, etc. How to Coach, Parent info, Official Rules) This Is Indiana

Safety and Fishing   Something over looked by many fisherman Fishing isn't a dangerous sport, however you should prepare to keep safe and comfortable in the outdoors. It is possible to get caught unexpectedly in bad weather, encounter insects, spend too much time in the sun, or get caught on a fish hook. Kids are adventurous, rambunctious, curious and fun loving. The result is that they naturally love the outdoors, but also have greater exposure to the dangers of the wilderness than the average adult. Most kids don't have the patience for fishing that many seasoned adult anglers possess. But with a little planning, preparation and patience on the adult's part, a fishing trip with kids can be safe and fun. Safety must be the number one concern an adult has for children who are learning to fish and to enjoy the outdoors.  It is important to try to foresee the potential dangers and plan for them. Sun exposure, boating, water currents, slippery rocks, insect bites, snakebites, wild animals, fishhooks, poisonous plants, cliffs and weather are some of the dangers that provide adventure to the child and gray hairs to the parent. Some areas even have traffic dangers that might not be too obvious, especially on or near mountain roads with blind curves. Sunscreen, good sunglasses,  life vests (when boating or if poor swimmers are fishing on a dock or near swift current), buddy systems (everyone travels in pairs or groups), safe insect repellent, emergency whistles, proper food handling and storage, adequate amounts of food and water, proper clothing, proper instruction, soap, a first aid kit and a watchful eye are all necessary to help keep an adventurous outing from ending in injury or tragedy. Checking with the rangers or other authorities in the area where you'll be fishing can provide priceless, but free, information about local dangers and how to avoid them. The adult must know how to identify and avoid dangers in order to help a child avoid them.   The adult must also know how to provide first aid in case prevention doesn't work and the child is injured or exposed to poisonous plants.  A very useful item for snakebites and insect bites is a syringe-style snakebite kit. These kits have a syringe-like suction device that draws poison out of the same hole that a snake or insect injected the poison through, without any cutting. They are quite effective and some have been documented to remove up to 75% of a poisonous snake's venom if used within the first minute after a bite. Stinging nettles can be treated using wet sand to scrub off the invisible stinging hairs, followed by wet moss packed on the area for cooling and soothing relief. Poison oak and poison ivy reactions can be prevented by immediately washing the area with soap and water and by spraying on a cheap aerosol anti-perspirant (deodorant alone doesn't have the right ingredients). Juice crushed or boiled out of elderberry leaves and dabbed on the skin is the best medicine available to relieve poison oak or poison ivy after the reaction has already started, but the area should still be washed first with soap and water to remove the poisonous oil.   With all of the safety and first aid products and information available, the most important thing for an adult to do is to be a good example of outdoor and fishing safety.   Watching one's step, wearing one's lifejacket in a boat, looking behind before making a cast, observing wildlife from a safe distance, wearing proper clothing, and other good examples all leave an impression on a child who is learning about the outdoors.   HOOKS When baiting hooks, keep a firm grip on the bait. The movements of slippery worms or minnows can cause serious hook injuries. Handle lures having clusters of double or treble hooks with special care.  When landing a fish, ease it out of the water into a net or onto the bank. Jerking a fish out of the water can result in wildly flying hooks, especially if the fish comes loose.   ON THE BANK OR SHORE Stay with your rod or pole. Protect curious children and animals from painful injuries by returning loose hooks and lures to your tackle box. Watch your backcasting clearance: avoid trees, bushes and especially people. Help prevent erosion: protect grass and shrubs near the water's edge. If you dig worms, go back away from the water to do so. Be sure to level the soil and replace the sod afterward.   WADING IN LAKES OR STREAMS requires special care. Watch your footing. Look out for drop-offs, deep holes, slippery rocks, soft mud and quicksand. Always test the footing ahead and keep most of your weight on the foot already on safe ground. Avoid wading through bank fishermen's lines.  Shoes should always be worn whether fishing on shore, in a boat, or wading in the water. Stray hooks, glass, sharp rocks, and other objects on shore and in the water could cut your bare feet. In a boat, shoes designed to keep your feet from slipping in a wet boat could help prevent you from taking an unexpected dip into the water. Watch the weather  In a storm, seek shelter on shore in a building or vehicle.      DON'T FORGET, ELECTRICITY LIKES WATER! Risks When Angling in Close Proximity to Overhead Electric Power Lines Anything wet can conduct electricity, even your boots! A wet fishing line wrapped around a power line can kill you. . . . the electricity can travel down the fishing line and through you.  On shore or in a boat, avoid overhead power lines.   Every year cases are reported of angling equipment contacting overhead electric power lines. Some have resulted in horrific burn injuries and even death. With the increasing development of fishing rods and poles, there is a risk of accidental contact with overhead electric power lines.  Remember: Overhead electric power lines are difficult to see at night and against a dark or light background. Lethal electric currents can pass through almost all fishing rods and poles. Overhead electric power lines are often uninsulated (bare) and can carry high voltages. Electricity can jump gaps. Overhead electric power lines on wood poles often look like telephone wires. Keep a careful look out for overhead electric power lines and keep away. Observe warning signs and instructions even in the car park or roadside. Unpack, set up and put away your rod or pole at the waters edge. Report any dangerous situation or near miss to the fishery owner or local electricity Don’t risk being injured LOOK UP AND LOOK BEHIND YOU Follow a few simple rules and stay safe   Fishing from a boat Fishing from rocky areas Be SunSmart If the Back Button Does Not Work, CLICK HERE It is important that people who fish follow all fishing rules and regulations. These rules help conserve fish populations and also help anglers be successful. Regulations may limit the size of, number of, and season that a type of fish may be caught, and may require a license to fish. In some cases, only “catch and release” fishing is allowed, which means the fish must be let go. Some bait is illegal in certain areas. Contact your state wildlife agency by visiting Our Rules and Regulations Page. If you have any hints, suggestions, techniques or anything that you would like to share or have me put onto this web page, please feel free to Email me Copyright © Jon's Images, Inc. All rights reserved This website is the composition of many hours of research. Information contained within this site has come from numerous sources such as websites, newspapers, books, and magazines. No animals were harmed in the making of this site.   Please direct website  comments or questions to webmaster DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ - By printing, downloading, or using you agree to our full terms. If you do not agree to the full terms, do not use the information. We are only publishers of this material, not authors. Information may have errors or be outdated. Some information is from historical sources or represents opinions of the author. It is for research purposes only. The information is "AS IS", "WITH ALL FAULTS". User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. You agree that we have no liability for any damages. We are not liable for any consequential, incidental, indirect, or special damages. You indemnify us for claims caused by you. Please be advised that the content of this site is a source of information only. The FUNdamentals of Fishing Website cannot take responsibility for animal welfare or actions taken as a result of information provided, and if in doubt you should seek the advice of a qualified physician or veterinarian. I do not suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it!