New really new to fishing and I've been bitten by it and I'm also tired of catching nothing so I'm looking for new things to fish for. Any help would be great.

Depends on how much money you want to spend, where you're fishing, and how big of kitties you intend to catch. The main thing here is the cost when it comes to the rod and reel (hooks and weights can be had for under $5). Need more info.

Well I have the rod and reel so far just looking for the hook,weight, different baits to use.

Smitty Where you plan to fish make a big difference! Need a little more info and I'll help you out. Lake , river, bank, boat?

on the bank at a pond

Worms, Punch bait (Sure Shot)possiby cut-bait (From the pound, also liver

What kind of rod and reel and how big of a pond? Bottom structure? Weeds present? This can all influence weight sizes, hook sizes, bait sizes, etc. I.e. you don't want to be throwing a 3 oz. pyramid weight with a 6/0 hook with a 10" gizzard shad on a Zebco 33 in a 1/2 acre pond strewn with rip rap across the bottom and weeds growing 20 ft. from shore.

Consider Calaveras Lake. It is only about 15 miles from Converse and it has real good fishing from the bank. Fish the point to the left of the launch with shad rigged carolina style on one rod and a live Tilapia rigged carolina style on the other. (One is for catfish--the other for Reds). Talk to the people around you who fish like you do. You can learn more that way than any other.
Jess

thanks everyone for the ibfo so far I know it was a vage question sorry.

Smitty, all you need is some pinch on split shot weights, some Kahle style hooks (circle hooks are better but hard to get used to not jerking everytime you get a bite) probably 2-0. I would get a few egg sinkers too, probably 1/2 ounce or so and a few swivels, not the ones with the clips, but just swivels. This will allow you to fish with shad or whatever dead or live bait you have. If you want to fish with prepared baits like punch baits or even chicken livers, get some #4 or #6 treble hooks. Unless I absolutely have to, I will not use weights heavier than a small splitshot. Carolina rigging works good for longer distance casts from the bank.

Get some floaters if you want to fish the prepared baits. I use the ones made in Buda. I don't recall the name, but they are round and bright orange. Some have some lead on the bottom to keep the float upright and assist in casting. This will keep your bait off the bottom and out of the brush piles.

If you have the rod and reel already, you are probably 5 dollars or so away from having all the tackle you need (gee, I am glad my wife doesn't read this).

All the advise given above is right on for catfishing 101. I would second the recommendation of fishing Calaveras. This is the easiest lake to learn to catfish on there is, and if you can get a small cast net, and practice using it, you will have all the bait you need in a short time to load the stringer any time of the year.

Keeping it simple is the key. You already have the rod and reel! For a beginner I would recommend a bombproof, 7' medium action Shakespear Ugly Stik rod from Academy, and mount a push button Zebco Rhino reel on it, with anywhere from 12 to 14 pound line, and a good solid rod holder if fishing from the bank. A more advanced angler might sub the push button reel for a 6500 Abu Garcia Ambassadeur level wind casting reel, loaded with 20# line. I've seen rod holders that are super effective and cheap made with a piece of 2" plastic pve pipe approx. 3 1/2 feet long, cut at an angle on the end that is then driven into the soft mud along the shore. You can find plenty of rod holders like these on the trash heap near any construction site.

Another great bait this time of year that is free is grasshoppers. Great bait if you know how to deal with the chiggers.

The one tip I would give that will be better than anything you read here, is get out to the lake and observe. Ask questions! Talk to the people at the concession stand about best bait, and what everyone is catching them on, and where! They will tell you because they want your business.

Also stop and observe those who are already fishing, and ask them how they are doing, and take note of their gear and what they are doing and mimic them. If they are drinking beer, and have a distinct fishy odor about them, they probably are old pro's so listen to what they have to say.

Hope these tips help! Let us know how you do!

Grasshoppers - how do you bait/fish with them?

Are you letting them struggle on the surface or pulling them down with a split shot?

My daughter caught a 22-lb blue catfish with a $12 POS from Wal-Mart. It wasn't that bad of a rod/reel combo, as the spinnig reel and rod was a Pinnacle. The reel had a 5:1 gear ratio. The reel alone was worth the $12. Anyhoot, I spooled the reel with 10-lb test line and Carolina-rigged it. I thread the line through a 1-oz. egg shaped weight, put a red bead next then tie to a swivel. I tie a 12-24" leader on the swivel with a single hook tied at the other end. We bait the rods with ghost minnows (Inland Silversides) or gizzard shad from the lake. Set the rod in a cork screw rod holder that you simply stick in the ground. Sit down, turn on the radio, pop the top on a cold one and wait for the rod to start bumping.