For a newcomer to angling, deciding where to fish can be a daunting prospect. There are lots of good guides out there, but being bombarded with so much information can leave you none the wiser. So how do you find the best venue for you?

Here are some tips to get you started:

Size of the Fish

Firstly, you should decide what size of fish it is that you want to catch. There is no point in joining an expensive syndicate fishing lake with only a handful of large fish in it if you are after smaller specimens. Similarly, if you want to catch larger fish, it is no good fishing a pond which is full of tiddlers. Unfortunately, money is nearly always an issue and if it is in short supply then you should join a club with several waters or fishing day ticket waters.

Location

The location is key to making the right decision. It can take quite a number of trips to a fishery to get to know it well and where the fish are most in abundance, so there is no point joining a water miles away from home. It may not matter so much if you are envisaging fishing for long sessions, but for a few hours after work, you need somewhere you can get to easily and quickly.

Visit as many fisheries as you can. Walk round them and look at the access to the swims. Speak to the owner, if possible, and other anglers to try and get a feel for the place and ask about any rules the fishery may have which are relevant to you. You should be asking yourself questions such as:

? Is the water overcrowded with too many other anglers?
? Is it easy to get my tackle to the swims?
? Can I park near the fishery?