Know the difference between a casting spoon and a jig? Not confused when someone asks what spinnerbait is on the end of the line? Understand that a float and a bobber are the same thing?

Then this story probably isn't going to be of much help. But it might spark an interest in fishing in a son or a daughter or a neighbor, or it might encourage some couch potatoes out there to put down the remote and give fishing a try instead of watching a fishing show on television.

Fishing can be a relatively inexpensive way to relax in the outdoors and spend time with the family.

Lee Murray of Lock 3 Bait & Tackle in Cheswick suggests beginner fishermen go to a shop that specializes in fishing gear instead of the local department store for equipment. One reason is that the folks at the specialty shop, for the most part, know the basics of what you're going to need to catch a fish. Plus, the person behind the counter can probably give you a couple of tips on the best places in that area to land that first fish.

And some neighborhood specialty shops just might have a bargain or two on equipment.

A quick survey online revealed that a new spinning rod and reel combination could be had for $18. Add fishing line ($3), a hook kit ($12), bobbers ($2), needle-nose pliers for removing the hook and 1,001 other uses ($6) and a dozen worms for bait ($2) and the total investment is around $50.

There is one other important thing needed -- a fishing license.

The cost of a Pennsylvania license is $22.70 for residents ages 16-64. (There are special license fees for senior citizens, military personnel, etc. Check the Fish & Boat Commission Web site for the complete list of fees at www.fish.state.pa.us.) A license for a state resident 65 and older for a year is $11.70. A trout/salmon stamp for the license is $9.70 and it's a must for anyone fishing a lake or stream that has been stocked with trout. All of which means the licensing fee for most legal anglers is $32.40.

That brings the grand total for the beginner fisherman to less than $90. Most people these days spend that much on two trips to the gas station.

With Western Pennsylvania's variety of rivers, lakes and streams, it doesn't take much gasoline in the family wagon to reach a relatively good fishing spot. In fact, just about any safe stretch of riverbank will do.

But for the first-timer, it might be a wise idea to toss a line into a lake or find a pier or dock on a river.

"I'd say for the first timer, a stocked lake as opposed to a stream would be the way to go," said Jim DiBiase, a pro fishing guide with the Laurel Highland Guide Service in Fayette County. "If you go fishing in a stream for the first time, all you have is a small body of water that's in front of you, and you're probably uncertain of what's in it.

"If you go to a stocked lake, you can go to the [Pennsylvania] Fish and Boat Commission Web site and see the stocking times and what types of fish are being caught in that lake. It helps to have a little education going in."

Getting up early doesn't guarantee fishing success, but most experts agree the best times to go fishing are 6-10 a.m. and 7-10 p.m. Still, there's nothing wrong with spending a summer afternoon with a line in the water.

For fish that are most likely to be caught by newcomers, bait is easy to get. Try dough balls for carp and catfish. Worms are still a reliable bait for stocked trout and panfish including bluegills, and they're the most affordable bait since folks can go out in the back yard and dig up some. Too much work? Then find a local bait shop.

"Nightcrawlers or minnows are the easiest bait and attract a lot of different kinds of fish," said Mark Greene from 2nd Avenue Bait Shop in New Brighton. "And you can cut nightcrawlers into three pieces and use them, so they'll last a long time."

While streams such as Pine Creek and Montour Run in Allegheny County are fine places to fish, they might not be the best spot for the beginner. Lakes such as North Park Lake in Allegheny County, Keystone Park Lake in Derry, Twin Lakes Park in Westmoreland County and Brady's Run Park Lake in Beaver County offer nice settings and plenty of room.

The area's rivers offer a wider variety of fish species along with easy access. The North Shore of the Allegheny River, between PNC Park and Heinz Field, is a popular place and handicap accessible. Riverside Park on the Monongahela River on the South Side of Pittsburgh is also popular.

"The fishing has been pretty good right here by the dam," said Murray, a Russellton resident, of Lock 3 Bait & Tackle. "But I wouldn't advise any first-timers to try fishing there. What you want to look for is any spot where a stream comes into a river because there's more oxygen in the water."

DiBiase said it is a good idea to chat with local fishermen no matter where a beginner might decide to fish. "Talking to the local guys never hurts," he added. "You might even pick up a tip on where the best places are in that area."