No jargon. No expensive gear. No intimidation. Just a simple, guided path to your first catch and a badge to show for it.
Start My JourneyWe'll recommend panfish — the easiest, most willing biters on Earth. Don't worry about bass, walleye, or trout yet.
Rod, reel, line, hooks, bobber, weights, worms. That's it. Every component listed below with honest price tags.
Every state sells online. $15–$35. 5 minutes. Required even in community ponds (with exceptions we'll show you).
City park ponds, state-stocked community ponds, free-fishing piers. We'll find one within 15 minutes of your zip code.
On-trip text guide walks you through rig setup, cast, wait, hookset, landing, photo — step by step. Literally.
Log your first catch. Earn your First Catch badge. Share the moment. Welcome to fishing.
Panfish bite almost year-round, live in almost every pond and lake in America, and have no bag limit in most states. If you can put a worm in the water, you can catch a panfish.
Willing, everywhere
School up, easy limit
Smaller but constant
Pier & Great Lakes
Total: $54 at Walmart or Bass Pro. You're fully equipped.
1. Park and scout. Walk the shoreline for 2 minutes. Look for fish swirls, bubbles, visible fish near the surface. Pick a spot with a few weeds or a fallen log nearby.
2. Rig your line. Tie the hook on with a Palomar knot (we have a video). Clip a bobber 2 feet above the hook. Pinch on 1–2 split-shot 8 inches above the hook.
3. Bait the hook. Thread a 1-inch piece of worm on the hook, so the hook is hidden but the tip pokes out.
4. Cast. Gentle side-arm or underhand. Aim for near the weeds, 15–20 feet out. Don't worry if it splats.
5. Wait. Watch the bobber. That's it. It'll bob, tip sideways, or go under. When it goes under — set the hook!
6. Set the hook. Sharp flick of the rod tip upward. Not a yank. You'll feel the fish.
7. Reel it in. Steady pressure, keep the rod tip up. Panfish are small but scrappy. Enjoy this.
8. Land it. Wet your hand. Grip the fish gently. Use pliers to back the hook out.
9. Photo! 10 seconds, tops. Then back in the water, head first.
10. Log it. In the FT app. Your First Catch badge is waiting.
Log your first catch in the Fish Translator app to unlock your shareable First Catch achievement. We'll text it to you as a badge image you can post anywhere.
Log My First Catch