The basic fishing products

Matching the right rod and reel to the lure or fishing technique, and knowing what line type and size works best sounds complicated, but it’s actually basic common sense and logic. If you match these fishing products properly you can cast faster and better and even the more experienced angler can be more comfortable fishing, more accurate at casting and make your time on the water more enjoyable.

Let’s look at the fishing products and tackle that you might need to get started.

If you are new to fishing, all you really need is an inexpensive Spincast Rod and Reel Combo Set and some worms. Oh, and a Fishing License!

This paper is merely a suggestion of items that one would appreciate to have while during a fishing expedition. There are some items that you may want now, like extra hooks. Unless money is not an object, I would purchase individual items throughout time as you discover fishing is what you really enjoy.

If you have already visited the Fishing Section at your favorite store, I bet you were a bit overwhelmed by all the packages of hooks, fishing line, packages of weird looking critters and such and so on.

Many novice anglers feel a little overwhelmed their first time walking downs the bait and tackle isles. There is generally much to choose from and it is hard to determine what it is that you actually need for your first trip to the pond or lake.

The numerous catchy promises that the product descriptions offer can make it even more confusing and if you are on a tight budget it makes the decision that much harder.  In all reality, some of the real flashy things are sometimes designed to catch the fisherman’s eye, not the fish.

Let’s Start With What Kind of Fishing Pole to Get

The bare essentials you will need would be a fishing rod and reel with 10lb test line.

You can get a fairly cheap fishing rod and reel at Walmart or other large volume superstores. A Shakespeare fishing rod and reel or a Zebco rod and reel package, either which will run you around 25€ – 35€ for a basic rod. This will probably be the largest investment of this fishing trip. Some reels already come with the line prespooled which may save you a little extra cash.

The next tiny little expense would be the hooks. I recommend either some small eagle claw hooks, or you can buy a spindle with a variety of sizes in it. Bobbers, which look like a red and white ball with a little neck on it, would be you’re only other requirement.

As your knowledge and skills improve, so will your choice of tackle change to adapt to the ability that comes with experience.

If you’re helping to get a new angler started, just keep it simple in the beginning and make it fun with the simple tackle mentioned above.

                                             

Let’s build our arsenal!

Throughout the rest of this paper you can learn about the equipment used to catch fish; from rods and reels to doughballs and stinkbait.

Though fishing can become complicated with fancy lures, expensive reels, shiny boats, water-depth finders, and all sorts of other gadgets, all you really need to fish is a pole, some line, a sinker, a bobber, a hook, and some bait (all referred to as tackle).

This paper and the tackle referred throughout this paper is more geared toward basic freshwater fishing. This type of fishing doesn’t require a tackle box the size of a suitcase, nor do you need a degree in Ichthyology.

What are a rod and reel, line, and bobber you ask? Just be patient, were getting ready to discuss all of that in a minute!

So, let’s organize what we need for a simple and successful fishing trip.

The Basic Old Fashioned Cane Pole and Line

The simplest fishing tackle is a pole with fishing line attached to the end. It is used with a float and hook or lure. This gear is simple yet very effective for fish in shallow water. The pole can be made of cane, bamboo or a straight piece of tree branch. Even a stick with fishing line wrapped around it can be used! You do not use a reel with a pole.

Cut a piece of fishing line as long as the pole. Tie the line to the tip of the pole and a hook to the other end of the line. A small sinker, called a «split shot», is squeezed onto the line above the hook. The sinker makes it easier to swing the bait out into the water and keeps the bait under the water surface. You may also want to use a bobber or float. By moving the bobber up or down the line, you can change the depth of your bait in the water.

With a pole and line you can fish the area near the bank, where many fish often live.

Rods and Reels

Other types of fishing tackle use reels to store large amounts of line which are attached to a rod. They let you cast your bait or lure farther. They also help you retrieve lure correctly, fish in deeper water, and battle larger fish more easily.

Fishing rods are named for the reel (or lack of reel) that holds the fishing line. Each type of fishing reel has an appropriate fishing rod that goes with it.

Fishing Rod

A Fishing Rod is a light, long, and slender pole. It is where the Fishing Line and Fishing Reel are attached. The purpose of a Fishing Rod is for you to place the Fishing Lure or Fishing Bait at a farther distance from where you are. Likewise, the fish you are after might break your Fishing Line if you do not have the right Fishing Rod.

The Fishing Rod holds your Reel which in turn holds your line. A length of fishing line is threaded along a long, flexible rod or pole; one end terminates in a hook for catching the fish, while most of the rest of the line is wound around a reel at the base of the pole. The pulley-like arrangement of the reel allows the fish to be «reeled in» once caught.

Fishing Reel

Like any other Fishing equipment, Fishing Reels are very important in almost any Fishing adventure. A Fishing Reel is a frame like a spool which turns on an axis, for winding the Fishing Line. It is attached on the bottom part of some Fishing Rods and on the top of others. You can read more about that by visiting Our Reels Page.  Fishing Reels keep the excess Fishing Line on the spool, release line during Casting, and take back the line at a handle’s turn.

They are most often used in conjunction with a fishing rod, though some specialized reels are mounted directly to boat gunwales or transoms.

Fishing Reels come in different features, characteristics, and types. Sensibly enough, each Fishing Reel Type has its own application. Likewise, there are points to consider when buying one. The easiest ones to use are called spin-cast reels. Spinning reels are popular, but they are a bit harder to use.

By having the knowledge of information will help you a lot in choosing the Fishing Reel that is suitable to your Fishing needs.

Fishing Line

Fishing Line is another essential piece of equipment that plays a big role in Fishing. It is the cord connecting the Fish Hook to the Fishing Rod and Fishing Reel. Choosing the right kind of Fishing Line is as important as buying the appropriate Fishing Rod and Fishing Reel. The type of water where you will be fishing and the species which are probably living there must also be taken into consideration. Fishing Lines are commercially available in spools and vary in lengths, depending on how long you want your Fishing Line to be.

Like any other Fishing equipment, you need to consider a lot of things when it comes to choosing the appropriate Fishing Lines. They vary in characteristics, types, and applications for different Fishing situations.

Fishing Hooks

A fish hook is the device which goes at the end of your line that actually catches fish either by impaling them in the mouth or, more rarely, by snagging the body of the fish.

Fishing hooks come in all shapes and sizes. They are probably the most important part of your fishing equipment, but luckily they are not very expensive. It’s a good idea to have a small assortment of hooks for various fishing situations.

Rigs

Rig is a word used to talk about the way you tie together bait, lures, hook, swivels, leaders, sinkers, bobbers, flashers, dodgers, cheese doodles and anything else you can attach to a piece of fishing line.

A rig might be held by a rod, by hand, or attached to a boat or pier. Some rigs are designed to float near the surface of the water; others are designed to sink to the bottom. Some rigs, such as the yellow collywobbles, are designed for trolling. Many rigs are designed especially for catching a single species of fish.

Sinkers

Sinkers are lead weights used to cast light lures and to drop the bait quickly to the bottom of the lake or river bottom, where most fish swim. Used in together with bobbers, they hold the line at a given point.

Bobber

It could be called a float, bobber, cork, etc. Bobber fishing is one of the first methods we all learn when starting to fish. A sinker takes your bait to the desired depth in the water, and the bobber holds it at that level. It will allow you to adjust the depth of your hook wherever you want.

Bobbers let you know when you’ve got a nibble as it will begin to bob up and down or move around.

Swivels

Another piece of tackle called a swivel comes in handy if you are using bait (like a minnow) or a lure (like a spinner) that has a twisting or turning action that tends to get your line twisted. Tie a swivel between your bait and your line. This will allow the bait or lure to spin without getting the line all tangled up. Swivels are inexpensive and come in various sizes to match the hooks and lures you might be using.

Rigging Your Pole

With all the items mentioned above you can actually begin fishing. Simply tie the hook onto the end of the line, come up several inches and squeeze on your sinker, and put your bobber on above that. Put some bait on your hook and give it a toss into the waters.

Bait

Bait is what you put on the end of your line to attract the fish, something a fish would love to eat. Just like people, all fish are not attracted to the same foods. Some baits work better than others for certain types of fish.

Bait can be broken down into two major types:

• live or natural bait
• artificial bait and lures

Tackle box

Now that you know what to get, you’re going to need something to keep all this stuff in. That’s where a tackle box comes in handy. Most any durable box with a tight lid and a handle will do the job! It could be an old toolbox or sewing box. Most sporting stores and department stores sell tackle boxes in a variety of styles and sizes.

When considering what size tackle box you wish to buy, just remember, fishing is a lifelong pursuit. You will always be adding items to your fishing gear!

Got your fishing pole, tackle, even got a lunch . . .  ready to go fishing!

How about those things that are often forgotten that should be part of your fishing trip. These items won’t help you catch more fish, but they sure can make the fishing experience a whole lot more pleasant.