The Fishing Basics: Terminal Tackle Styles

Fishing is one of the world’s favorite sports and is enjoyed in almost every corner of the globe. It can be a very basic hobby where one has very little invested in his or her equipment although some people can push the sport to its limits having millions of dollars caught up in boats, rods, and other various pieces of tackle. However, for even the most basic sports fisher person, he or she needs to have a bit of basic terminal tackle that will help them be prepared for whatever landing a fish requires. This terminal tackle revolves around basic hooks, rods and reels, blades, and other equipment. Although fishing tackle is very basic for almost all types of fishing, those that are fishing in saltwater locations will want a different setup than those fishing in freshwater locations.

Saltwater

For most people, the world of angling offers the chance to get out of doors and experience one of man’s basic drives: the quest for food. To be successful in his or her attempts, one should be prepared with a few items that will make landing their game possible. Saltwater fishing offers one of the most diverse fishing experiences available with the chance to land larger fish than most freshwater destinations. Although some people believe saltwater fishing revolves around a boat, there are many destinations in which one can simply walk through the sand and fish from the sound or the surf, catching many of the same fish as one does on a boat. Naturally, the rod and reel for surf fishing is the most important piece of equipment. For beginners, he or she need not purchase any rod over nine feet in length and a reel with no more capacity than 275 yards of 12 pound test. Also for this type of fishing, one will want to have a five gallon bucket with a lid. The lid should have four holes drilled into it that are at least two inches in diameter. This is to hold the fishing rod and sand spike that one should carry. After the bucket, a knife is an essential tool for filleting bait and making cuts if need be. After the knife, one should look for the type of bait that he or she wants to use. For surf fishing, many people choose to use bunker, or menhaden. This is a very oily fish that attracts other game of all sizes and shapes. Other people use shrimp, which is another great bait for surf fishing although it does not stay on the hook as well as cut bait. When you go to bait your hook, the hook should be no larger than a number four circle hook. The circle hook has become the most popular form of hook because it allows the fish to ingest the bait most of the time without deep hooking, which will more often than not kill the fish.

Freshwater

For those that find themselves in fresh water destinations, the tackle may not be quite as extensive. The rod will usually consist of a graphite pole between six and seven feet. Anything longer can be cumbersome when one is in tight casting quarters. The reel should hold about 175 yards of eight pound test. Anything less is too little and anything more is too much. The hook should be a number two and again of the circle hook type. A knife is essential to all fishing although you may need a much smaller knife because most of the time you are not cutting bait. The type of line that one should load on the reel is entirely up to him or her although most use either braided line or mono-filament. After this tackle has been purchased, he or she will decide whether to fish with live bait or artificial lures. Depending on what one is fishing for will determine the need. For instance, if you are looking to fish for large mouth bass, the best bait is artificial lures because live bait will attract a number of other game. If you are fishing for any fish that is biting, earth worms are the best bait available as most fish love the sight of a dangling worm on the end of a hook.