You have just decided to head out onto your very first fishing trip and have high hopes of returning home with plenty of fish for the freezer. However, if fishing is something that you want to take seriously, there are a few rules you must abide by before you start reeling them in:

• Fishing License: You can purchase a fishing license easily at almost any retail store or fly shop that sells fishing gear to the public. There are some instances in which you can even obtain a fishing license online depending on the rules of the state you reside in. Usually, fishing licenses will begin to go on sale in the month of December, so get ready to make your purchase.

• Yearly Pass: So now you have your fishing license but you discover that you need to get a yearly pass to apply to your boat and vehicle at your favorite fishing hole. At any fishing destination worth tossing your lure into, there will usually be a fee of some sort. You can save money by purchasing your pass rather early on in the season.

• Track your Trips: It is always a good idea to note all of the details in a book or journal of your experiences while fishing. You will want to note the time of day, how the weather was, where it was that you were fishing and in what part of the lake, temperature of the water and any other details that you might consider useful information to have when fishing in the same location later.

• Get Proof: One thing that anglers always let slip their mind is to have a camera on hand to prove that you have caught that unbelievable trophy fish. Whether you bring with you a disposable or digital camera, make sure that you protect it from water at all times by placing it in a water resistant case or bag.

• Always Study your Craft: Whenever you are not able to be out on the water, you have the opportunity to study up on your favorite species of fish as well as their habits and behavior. There are also plenty of books that guide you through creating your own flies so that you don’t need to purchase the more expensive ones from a tackle shop. Whenever you aren’t fishing, you can still immerse yourself in thoughts of your next upcoming trip.