Have you ever been fishing with lures? Like in a lake?
It's a good idea to get a nice, attractive lure. One that looks like food. When you cast your lure into the water, you're supposed to let it sit there for a couple seconds.
So all the fish can notice it.
Then slowly start reeling it in. If you were smart with your lure purchase, you would have bought one that "spins" and sends out ripples underwater, further attracting fish.
Once you get a "bite," or a "nibble" freeze. Don't do anything.
You're trying to get the fish to "commit."
There are different strategies to get from a "nibble" to a "commit" from the fish. Some say freeze, and don't move.
Some say to slowly pull back, and make the fish follow you. You see, if the fish thinks the food (or what the poor fish thinks is food) is getting away he'll chase it more aggressively.
Anyhow, once the fish "commits" then pull back as hard as you can, "setting the hook."
See, hooks have these things called "barbs", so that when the metal digs into the fishes mouth (when he thought he was eating some kind of delicious food) the barbs go in, making it impossible to get loose.
This is when the fight begins.
And this is when you reel in your fish.
But don't get excited yet, because how you reel your fish in, how much it fights, and how much experience you have will all play a part in how likely you'll be able to "land" your fish.
Meaning you can take it home, kill it, gut it, and eat it.