By Evans KC

To the inexperienced eye, a fishing pole, is a fishing pole, is a fishing pole! But to the experienced fisherman a pole is the 1st item in the list of things you must get right to catch a fish. There are heavy duty salt water poles that are made for catching something huge out of the ocean. And if salt water fishing is what you have in mind then the monster pole is exactly what you need. A person might think that the salt water pole is the way to go with all types of fishing. The bigger the pole the bigger the fish, type thinking. But as heavy as those salt water poles are, it takes a big fish to even know you have something on your fishing line. Also the boats you go out on to fish the sea have pole holders to help you hold and control your pole. Those poles are too heavy and awkward to use for fresh water fishing. Fishing in any of the fresh water rivers, lakes, or beaver ponds you can go with a lighter fishing rod. In most stores you find poles marked medium, light, and extra light. The lighter the pole, the smaller the fish you will feel on the end of the rod. That’s called the action of a pole. Now that means feel the fish bite the bait, not the size of fish the pole can catch. But if you go too light you run the risk of breaking your pole when trying to bring in a fish.

If you do go with a lighter pole ( an extra light is my favorite due to its action ) you can beef it up a bit by going with fishing line heavy enough to handle the size of fish your expecting to catch. I fish beaver ponds and mountain lakes mostly that’s why an extra light works for me. If your fishing in the south for a big ‘ol catfish then you will do better with a medium action pole. Then there is also a fly pole which can be used in fresh water fishing except for trolling or fishing for something like catfish ( they’re bottom feeders, you use a fly pole for on top of the water feeders like rainbow trout ). Once you figure out where you want to fish and pick the pole best for you, then you decide on the weight of the fishing line. From this point on your supplies that you need depend on where your going to fish and the enviromental conditions. I recommend trying to put together a well stocked tackle box that cover the needs for several types of fishing and different conditions.

You will need extra fishing line, hooks of different sizes, sinkers, bobbers, an assortment of flies, salmon eggs, and other bait. A small but sharp knife, a pair of scissors, a stringer to put the fish you catch on, and a fish scale. For the Rookie I would recommend a beginners book to explain some of the basics about light, water clarity and some of the other things. Another thing I always do when preparing to fish in a new area, is to talk to the natives. Ask the gal at the counter of the fishing tackle store what the fish are biting on and where are the hot spots. With time and practice you will develop your own technique and figure out which pole, line, and bait work best for you. There is only one thing left….Don’t forget to buy a fishing license! Oh and have FUN!!

By Malabika Mukherjee

Be it a warm summer morning or a cold wintry afternoon, you can never fail to see a fishing line or two while passing a lake or a stream. Fishing is a habit close to addiction for those who have the flair and skill for it. Ask any seasoned angler what it takes to land up with a good catch and he’ll promptly tell you that it is sheer instinct and logic mixed with basic common sense. With a lot of practice and experience, you get to know which rod and reel is best suited with which line and in what kind of rig. Matching all the fishing tools properly goes a long way in making a fishing experience both enjoyable and productive.

Now let us go through the checklist of fishing equipment for the benefit of beginners. The list includes the following basic tools:

1. Fishing rod
2. Hook
3. Line
4. Reel
5. Float/bobber
6. Sinker
7. Lure

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the best combination of the above-mentioned equipment for good fishing experience, let us discuss briefly the different varieties of each tool available in the market.

Fishing rod:

In modern times, a fishing rod is manufactured to allow the angler to feel the bite of fish. The rod shaft is termed as blank. The blank is usually made of graphite, fiberglass, or other material depending upon its actions. The action of these blanks can be light, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy. The actions of the tip of the blank are called regular, light, and extra light. When the guides and handles have been assembled onto the blank, we get a complete fishing rod. Depending on the type of fish you are out to catch, you can choose a rod based on its blank. Most of the new graphite rods are light in weight and are balanced at the reel seat (i.e., when you set the rod handle on your finger with the reel attached, the rod should balance equally from tip to the end of the handle). The guides (or eyes) fitted on the rod help in transmitting signals to the rod so that the angler can feel the fish biting on the bait. The guides should be clean and in prim condition to allow optimum performance of the rod.

When choosing handle length, think of your comfort level. If you are on high ground, then a 7-foot rod can be a good choice so that you can cast farther. However, if the ground is low, then a shorter rod will make it easier for you to flip, cast and spoon fish.

For bass fishing, light action rods are a definite no-no as it takes some effort to pull a bass out whereas for small bait-fish, you need an extra fast action blank tip to prevent the fish from making desperate movements. Hence it is clear that you must choose your rod based on your catch.

Hook:

Hooks are needed to allow the angler to use the bait and help the bait to stay on longer, thus increasing potential chance of a catch. Hooks can be chosen according to the size of the fish from juvenile to adulthood. Hooks come in a wide variety of colours, metal treatments and finishes. Some are better suited for salt-water applications while others perform well in freshwater. There are certain hooks that are invisible under certain light conditions whilst differences in water colour and distinct clarity may be the requirement for other types of hooks.

The most popular and widely used varieties of hooks are:

Octopus hook – Most common, it is an octopus-like strong tapered shank hook with a turned up tapered eye, wide open mouth and moderate depth throat. The curved-in point in this pattern is extremely sharp and penetrates readily. Mostly used for snappers.

Long shank hook – This has a kerbed parabolic bend, shallow bite, either a short curved-in point or a modified hollow point. This is used in case of fast-biting fish and ideal for kids to handle.

Circle hook pattern – This one commonly has an extra strong forged shaft with a wide circular or squared-off bend narrowing to an exaggerated re-entrant point. This has a deep penetration point. This is very popular amongst game fishers.

Ganging hook – This usually has the turned down, open eye Kendall Kirby pattern with a medium length flexibly formed wire shaft, in sizes ranging from 1/0 to 6/0. The open eye is intended to be used to combine two or three ganging hooks to form a ganged set depending on the size of bait. The ganging hook is ideal for whole baits like garfish and when the bait is being smashed against rocky terrain.

Southern and tuna hook – This is heavily forged with the rod tapering to a brazed ring and the circular bend with its knife edge point drawn inwards toward the rod. This type of hook, once lodged into the mouth of a fish is difficult to dislodge. This is popular with game fishers.

Line:

From the anciently used piece of cotton string, fishing lines have evolved to a much fancier version in the present day. Braided lines are still sometimes used in saltwater for big fish, but most anglers use monofilament lines called the new super lines. Monofilament comes in basically two types – a flexible, or limp, line that has some stretch, but seldom recoils or snaps when cast and left on the reel for a long time. The other is more abrasion resistant, less stretch and usually retains some memory and tends to hold a coil when it’s been on the reel for a while, thus increasing the chance of a backlash.

Braided line has a smaller diameter compared to monofilament for the same line size and is generally not taut. It is used for flipping (placing the bait quietly in a given spot using an underhand cast, without disturbing the water, while holding the rod with the other hand)and pitching (putting worms or jigs into cover at close distances using underhand pendulum motion) where high strength and good abrasion resistance is needed.

In case of bream fishing, a light-weight line of 4-8 pounds will suffice whereas with bass fishing, 6-12 pounds (or even 12-24 pounds) is required. Tying a good knot in the line to hold the hook is essential. The basic knots used by anglers are: Clinch, Palomar (simple knot for terminal tackle), Uni (also known as the Hangman’s knot) and Loop (can be easily tied at night with minimum effort).

Reel:

Reels have come a long way from the old direct drive, sleeve-bearing to the sophisticated ones found in modern times. They come in four basic types, the simplest of them being the closed-face spinning reel, which is operated by a push button and helps protect against getting tangled when you cast the rod. Next comes the open-face spinning reel which helps in casting the line a little further. The size of the reel depends upon the weight of fishing line. Another reel type is the bait-casting reel. These reels have some kind of a braking system, (either magnetic or centrifugal) to help slow the spool and control backlash problems. The more the number of ball or needle bearings in the reel, the more costly it turns out to be. The fourth type of reel is the fly-fishing reel. A fly reel is not cast, and is mainly a place to store the line and keep it free from tangles. Line is pulled from the reel, and the rod is waved overhead to work the line out.

Float/bobber:

Floats are used by anglers for two distinct purposes – to insert the bait at the surface or a specific depth under the water level, and as a bait indicator showing whether the fish is at the bait or not, allowing the angler to know when to strike and set the hook. They can be used for both fresh-water as well as salt-water experiences. Floats come in a wide shapes and sizes with different levels of buoyancy.

Some commonly used varieties of floats include: bobby cork and casting float (used for casting large baits over greater distance. Provide minimum wind resistance and sits on water with stability. Used by land-based anglers and sport anglers); bubble float (clear plastic float used for freshwater fishing in clear, least turbulent water); pencil float (a centre spindle pierced through the center of a cork, this can be used as a fixed float at a predetermined depth or as a running float at an adjustable depth. Provides minimum resistance to the fish when biting at the bait, so angler can time the strike to set the hook); quill float (it is very long, narrow and incredibly light consisting of attachment clips and snaps. Being light, fish feels no resistance from surface while taking the bait and the angler can take time to strike to set the hook); cork and homemade float (cork being inexpensive, tough and featuring the flexibility to be cut into various shapes and sizes makes it ideal for using it to make homemade floats).

Sinker:

The primary utility of a sinker is to present and hold the bait or lure at a particular depth beneath the surface of water. The various types of sinkers are: ball, barrel, bean, split shot, snapper lead, tear drop, star, and spoon (used for ease of retrieve of fish).

The ball, barrel, and bean sinkers are mainly designed to allow a degree of movement. These types of sinkers can be used in all kinds of water, still or turbulent. Whether at the bottom of the water surface or at mid-water, a fish can move off with them without feeling the weight of the line.

Split shot sinkers are similar to ball sinkers, but mostly used in calm or least turbulent water. These sinkers can be used with different weighing configurations. Split shots can be used for catching small finicky fish feeding at particular depths with a lot of ease.

Snapper leads and tear drop sinkers are mainly used for deep-sea fishing with heavier lines. These provide the advantage of holding the bait vertically even in strong currents. They are also used as surf casting sinkers.

Star sinkers are primarily used for surf, beaches and estuary usage supporting moderate to heavy lines. These sinkers provide great horizontal stability to the baits due to their star- pyramid shape and heavy bodies. These can be used in strong currents.

Lure/flies:

Lures are colourful, artificial plastics or metal shapes used to attract the attention of the fish by simulating the look and movement of their natural prey, to fool them into believing these can be eaten, or even to challenge their territorial instincts. Lures are available in various shapes, sizes and colours catering to the various needs of an angler. The common lures are – minnow types (look like small fish with metal or plastic bib, Ideal for nearly all casting and trolling purposes), soft and scented plastics, metal lures and slices (heavy replicas of bait-fish, ideal for fishing off beaches and rocks), surface poppers (cigar-shaped, suitable for surf, trolling and estuary usage), skirted trolling lures (designed to be tough and used for salt water game-fishing), jigs (heavy-weight fast sinking lure meant for lifting and dropping the lure repeatedly by hand or by rod and wind action from the side of a boat or jetty. They are useful for catching tuna, mackerel and kingfish), squid jigs (squids used as baits for catching snapper or gummy sharks), celtas and insect spinners (for fresh-water fish like trout and red fin).

Flies are used for replicating natural behaviour of aquatic insects on which fish feed in water and with their subtle movement and placement, can be used to trick the fish to rush towards the bait or to challenge their natural territory. Different types of flies and aquatic insects have their habitats at different levels of water. Depending on which fish feeds on what type of insects, flies can be presented as live baits at that level of water column to bait that particular variety of fish. Flies can be categorized into wet fly, dry fly, Matuka and salt water fly collections depending on the surface they can be located at.

Finally for the beginner, the affordable and least complicated combination of fishing equipment would be a Zebco 33 rod and reel package. It comes with a 10-pound line meant for most small and medium sized fish. The other basic tackle that’ll be required are – size #6 or #8 live bait hooks, a couple of crappie rigs, a few 1/4-ounce and 3/8-ounce bell sinkers, a small cork or float. For a less messy experience, you could stock up the following artificial tackles – a package of 1/0 offset worm hooks, some 3/16-ounce bullet worm weights and a package of 4-inch watermelon and pumpkinseed Venom worms called Slammers, one or two 1/8-ounce shad pattern spinner baits and a couple of 1/4-ounce chrome/blue back lipless crank baits. For crappie, perch and sand bass, you need a few small white and bright yellowish-green jig hooks with the same color small grubs (short plastic worms). These tools will not be too expensive, but will be enough for the basic tackle to lure a wide variety of species.

Getting the right combination of equipment and choice of bait comes with practice and experience, and as you try your luck with a variety of fish in different weather conditions and seasons, you can soon master this skill. Until then happy fishing!

By Milos Pesic

Like the hunter with his gun, or the pugilist with his glove, fishing has its tackle. A best friend, a prized possession, the relationship is much like Tiger Woods and his True Temper Dynamic Gold Driver. A reciprocated coexistence with both ends benefiting each other’s facility: Woods with his precision swing and the trusty driver converting the force to several yards.

The angler with his skill is expressed on the tip of the line. Some are good in presenting the bait, fine tuned jiggling and mooching. Others are good in choosing appropriate decoys, lure, color and scent combination that is irresistible to a certain fish. Other’s smell the fishes a hundred yards distant, paying even the minutest details in underwater growth and crevices.

The salmon angler is expressed with his salmon fishing tackle. Not just any tackles, it must be intended for the specific game. A stout graphite construction rod will be too stiff for the soft jiggling intended for the river trout, and the fly tackle intended for blue water fishes might be too stiff for the soft and deft touch intended for the Chinook.

So get your salmon fishing tackle. Remember, salmons require specific salmon fishing tackles to trick them into biting. Not an all around tackle for every situation but a salmon fishing tackle optimal for a specific fishing art.

Here are some good ideas for any salmon fishing tackles.

Fly Fishing Tackles

While landing a tarpon on a fly requires above human skill and dexterity, landing a Chinook on a fly CAN be done. In fact it has been done a countless time. Use a double handed rod is the best and it should have a relatively long rod around 10 feet. And this rod should have ample power especially in the butt section to effectively handle even a 10 pound freaking Chinook. Compensate choosing your salmon fishing tackle with your strength, or you may risk losing lifting strength. Remember, the longer the rod, the heavier will it be on landing a salmon.

The Airflo SLS Fly Rod Special at GFS: www.gofishingshop.co.uk is a mean 10ft fly rod that should be swift enough to deliver the snag but robust to handle a King salmon on the line, provided the line won’t snap.

The Winston LT Fly Rod is also one salmon fishing tackle that comes highly recommended. Soft tips are so essential for deft handling and Winston LT Fly Rod is prevalent with them. Care to take a look? It’s available at: www.tcoflyfishing.com

Salmons are among the fish species that have remarkably sensitive sense of smell, so throwing them just about anything won’t work at all. Use a strong smelling cured salmon roe is one of the best baiting technique. Since salmon roe can be quite a rare find, you can substitute them with smelt or minnows.

By Milos Pesic
Getting ready for the big day? Are you so eager for the day’s catch? Who would, it’s the phase of the summer run and salmons are heading en masse towards that water basin a few miles away. You may make it through the day with a Chinook in tow or a couple of Cohos. That would be a pleasant way to end the day.

But don’t be so eager that you start your adventure with half the equipment you should use. Nothing sucks as having a short supply on roe, or having no spare lines in case your dry fly needs drying. Check this salmon fishing gear list and see what’s to bring and what’s not.

Fishing Rods

It’s almost impossible to miss bringing your tackle. But if in case it’s true, then you really deserve a space with those fishes. In any case, rods require a bit of preplanning. Decide what salmon species you are going to take. If you are averse to taking those gargantuan Chinooks and seeks comfort on smaller trout, then you could go for light freshwater rods. If you wish to annoy those tackle breaker Chinooks, increase your chances with larger rods, such as Shakespeare Bigwater Powerod.

Lighter rods don’t mean light challenges however. In fact, fly fishing is the most challenging fishing method. For fly rods, I would suggest the Pflueger Trion Fly Rod. Made of graphite it is considerably light but sturdy. Aluminum coatings and hardware protect the metal workings and top grade cork grips would reduce the chances of the rod slipping off your fingers in case the fish decides to play rough.

Reels

There are reels that assist for mooching, and there are reels that aids in landing an insurgent salmon. Power assisted reels like the Dendoh Tanacom Bull will tow your catch to you or tow the angler to the fish. It’s that strong. And it has several readouts that make this baby a capable reel. But sometimes what you need is delicate touch and deft control. Fly fishing requires that type of control. Then the Tica Fishmaster Reel, with its precision drag system should be the best reel for you.

Fishing Lines

Fishing lines are the ones that dictate a successful catch. Getting a stouter line isn’t the wisest choice, the visibility of the line makes the salmon timid even to sniff at your bait. A line like Canjun Advantage Line is the best example of lines for higher play. When Cajun Red Line starts to sink three feet to the water, it becomes invisible. How about that for the most realistic jigging?

The best part of fishing is that no one regulates your stuff. So try to bring the salmon fishing gear that meet certain demands. A strong rod, powered reel, sturdy line for the 50 pound game, a lightweight agile tackle for the smaller game or the higher play.

By Milos Pesic
Lures, graphite rods, and a dazzling array of flies, are you sure you’re having the best salmon fishing equipment? Salmons are a picky lot and making them bit is a tricky business. Having the appropriate lure for a certain condition is considered fair salmon fishing practice.

How about encountering a 50 pound King salmon with only an 8 foot light tackle? You’d be cursing your breath for that little oversight on your part. Even your wife will be cursing you to death; I would if I’m accompanying you.

So don’t ever bring curtailed equipment. Of course you can still battle that 50 pound salmon to submission with the 8 foot rod, and if you land the Chinook successfully you deserve the president patting your back. Heck, I would fly to your destination if you just let me know. But chances are, Joe, it would be a losing battle.

Are you heading for salmon fishing with the best equipment? Here’s a salmon fishing equipment checklist if you need one.

Remember, best doesn’t spell out as most expensive. It is a matter of a salmon fishing equipment doing as it should: fishing rods that don’t slip, lines that don’t break, and lures that even minnows are fooled.

Lures, Baits and Flies

Angling, when schematically done is mostly: locate game, prepare tackle, and fish. Using the appropriate lures always guarantees a bite. The only tricky part is brewing the right stuff. Cured salmon roe is considered by many to be the most irresistible treat but it comes with a price. They aren’t reusable of course. While flies can be a promising salmon fishing equipment, adding ‘scents’ can amplify its ‘attractiveness’ to the salmon.

Fishing Rods

Salmon fishing rods must have a mixture of characteristic: it must be flexible to handle the freaking aerial displays of silver salmon but and it must robust enough to handle the rock-like pull of a Chinook, all the while still fairly maneuverable to provide a decent jiggle. Of course you can bring several choices to meet several situations. Graphite steel provides the best flexibility while retaining some lightness and strength. Bamboo rods are also a popular choice and cheaper besides.

Reels

In the past, traditional reels are of simple construction. Its construct has no drag at all; anglers have to ‘palm’ the revolving rim to slow the rotation and the fish. New reel designs now allow ‘drag’ mechanism that would reduce line feeding in an event the fish decides to bolt away from the angler. Power assisted reels are often useful in landing heavier fish, or if the angler don’t have enough muscle strength to subdue a frenzied fish –most especially useful on big game fish like the tuna or tarpon.

Lines

Using the appropriate line always dictate a successful catch. Think of landing a Chinook? These fishes are often coy in nipping bait and would bolt at the slightest provocation. Using a less visible line like the Canjun Advantage Line will make your game unable to smell you. Silvers are more voracious feeder, sometimes it doesn’t matter if you are using a stouter line.

Milos Pesic is an avid fisherman and owner of popular and comprehensive Salmon Fishing information site. For more articles and resources on Salmon Fishing related topics, Salmon Fishing equipment, tips and trips, visit his site at:

=>http://salmon-fishing.need-to-know.net