Fishing methods – choose the right method for the fish

There are about a dozen core methods. Spinning is the most versatile, float and bottom fishing the easiest, fly fishing and trolling the most specialised.

By Filip Nyman · Updated 2026-10-21

The methods at a glance

Method	What it is	Best for	Typical gear	When to choose it
Spinning	Casting and retrieving artificial lures	Pike, perch, zander, trout, sea trout, salmon, asp, mackerel, garfish	1.8–2.7 m rod, spinning reel 1000–4000, braid + leader	Default method; covers water fast from shore and boat
Baitcasting	Lure fishing with a baitcaster on top of the rod	Pike, big perch, zander, bass	Casting rod 1.9–2.4 m, baitcaster, braid 0.15–0.30 mm	Heavier lures (20–150 g), precise casts, big pike baits
Float fishing (mete)	Bait suspended under a float	Roach, bream, tench, perch, carp, crucian carp, lake trout	3–4.5 m rod, line 0.14–0.20 mm, small hooks	Beginners, kids, shallow calm water, summer evenings
Bottom / ledger	Bait on the bottom held by a sinker or feeder	Bream, carp, cod, flounder, burbot, tench	Feeder or quiver-tip rod, running sinker	Deep or flowing water, night fishing, big fish
Feeder fishing	Ledgering with a feeder that releases groundbait	Bream, roach, ide, carp	3.3–3.9 m feeder rod with quiver tips	Building a swim and holding a shoal
Fly fishing	A weighted line carries an almost weightless fly	Trout, grayling, salmon, sea trout, char, also pike and perch	Fly rod AFTM #3–#10, fly reel, fly line + leader	Rivers, streams, coastal sea trout, hatches
Trolling	Dragging lures behind a moving boat	Salmon, sea trout, pike, zander, lake trout, char	Trolling rods, line-counter reels, downriggers, planer boards	Big lakes and the Baltic, finding fish over large areas
Vertical jigging	Working a jig or soft plastic under the boat	Zander, perch, cod, pollack, deep pike	Short stiff rod 1.8–2.1 m, braid, echo sounder	Autumn and winter, deep holes, fish on the sounder
Drop shot / finesse	Soft bait above a bottom weight, worked in place	Perch, zander, bass	Light rod, 0.06–0.10 mm braid, fluoro leader	Pressured or lethargic fish, cold water
Ice fishing	Jigging or bait fishing through the ice	Perch, pike (tip-ups), char, whitefish, burbot, zander	30–70 cm ice rods, balance jigs, tip-ups	Winter, safe ice (about 10 cm clear ice to walk)
Sea fishing from boat	Bottom fishing and jigging offshore	Cod, ling, pollack, coalfish, haddock, halibut	Boat rod 20–50 lb, multiplier, heavy pirks	West coast, Norway
Coastal / surf	Casting from the shore into the sea	Sea trout, garfish, mackerel, flounder, cod	2.7–3.3 m rod, 10–40 g lures, or surf rod for bait	Baltic and west coast, spring and autumn
Carp / specimen	Static rigs with bite alarms over prebaited spots	Carp, tench, bream	3.6 m 2.75–3.5 lb rods, big pit reels, hair rigs	Long sessions for big fish

Rule of thumb: artificial lures for predators, natural bait for cyprinids and bottom feeders, fly for salmonids in moving water.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best fishing method for beginners?

Float fishing is the easiest and works for roach, perch and bream. For predators, spinning with a medium rod is the most versatile choice.

What is the difference between spinning and baitcasting?

Spinning uses a fixed-spool reel under the rod and is easy to learn. Baitcasting uses a reel on top of the rod and suits heavier lures and precise casts but needs practice to avoid backlash.