Fishing Equipment

Baitcaster reels are a purpose built reel with plenty of features to suit every persons fishing style. Designed ultimately for lure casting or trolling and either being of low profile or barrel style to suit the individual user’s needs. They are very accurate for casting lures at structure and can be controlled easily with one hand. One of the best features to any baitcaster reel is the magnetic cast control which can be altered depending on the weight of the lure and the user’s ability.

For barra fishing and bass fishing and many other salt and freshwater species, when it comes to precision casting with a wide variety of lure weights, shapes and sizes, baitcaster reels are the way to go — and Shimano have the best in the business.

For decades now, a skilled baitcaster user who can land a lure just millimetres out from a snag has been a fishing opponent to be reckoned with. Now, while threadline proponents might disagree, a crack-shot with a baitcaster usually finds a lot of fish on the end of his line by the end of the day. And whether you hook a fish or not, there’s a lot of satisfaction to be derived from uncorking a bottler of a cast, whether you make use of cast assisting features such as Shimano’s Variable Braking System (VBS) or go it alone with the much revered ‘educated thumb’.

Shimano’s low profile baitcaster reels are ergonomically designed to be comfortable to use for long periods of time, as casting accuracy can really suffer when arms and wrists become tired, especially in the tropical heat, but when that long-awaited hookup does occur, other Shimano-exclusive features such as ultra smooth drags, SA-RB or A-RB bearings and Super Stopper come into play to make the fight even more enjoyable.

For mixed fishing situations such as live baiting and trolling — whether hand-held or sitting the outfit in a rod holder — traditional round cross-section baitcasters still hold sway, especially when line capacity is a factor if targeting species such as Niugini black bass, big saltwater barra and offshore dwellers such as Spanish mackerel and black jew.

Advantages of Baitcasting Reels

We believe anglers should use both spinning reels and baitcasting reels to be the most versatile angler you possible. However, there are many techniques and lures that are best used with a baitcasting combo.

Heavier Line

On a baitcasting reel, the spool’s axis of rotation is perpendicular to the rod guides, meaning the line comes off directly through the line guide and straight through the rod guides. This makes it easier to use heavier lines, from 10-20lb test on average, and heavier lures. A good baitcasting setup can easily cast lures from 1/4 to 1oz, and more.

More Power

Baitcasters are capable of more power than spinning reels, thanks to their spool layout and design. The spool is in-line with the handle and gears so the reel can apply more power and torque. Also, because the handles are mounted directly onto the reel frame there is no lever arm to cause flex when reeling hard on a fish.

More Control

Baitcasting reel combos give you a higher degree of casting control compared to spinning gear because you can control the distance and speed of your lure by thumbing the spool during the cast. Once you become proficient in their use, you can achieve pinpoint accuracy with your casts, allowing you to place your lure exactly where the fish are.

Baitcasting reels are ideal when using heavier line and lures, and they provide greater control over the speed and distance of casts. You’ll find a great selection of baitcaster reels at Field & Stream. Choose from the best brands, including Abu Garcia®, Daiwa®, Lew’s®, Quantum®, Shimano® and many more.

Find the perfect match for your new reel in our great selection of casting rods, or try a baitcasting combo.

Buying Considerations

There are several factors to consider before investing in a baitcasting reel, including:

Frame

Most baitcasting reels feature an aluminum or graphite frame. Graphite is lightweight and easy to handle, while aluminum is extremely durable. Top-of-the-line reels often feature a one-piece aluminum frame.

Design

Low-Profile Baitcasting Reels: Low-profile models are the most popular type of baitcasting reels; they feature an ergonomic design and are perfect for bass and crappie fishing.

Round Baitcasting Reels: Round baitcasters are workhorses—they hold more line than low-profile reels and are great when using large baits and heavy line.

Gear Ratio

Gear ratio indicates the speed and power of your reel. For example, for a reel with a gear ratio of 6.4:1, the spool spins 6.4 times for every one crank of the handle. A gear with a lower ratio, like 4.1:1, will provide more cranking power, while a ratio like 7.1:1 indicates a very fast retrieve

Bearings

Generally, more bearings mean better performance, but pay attention to the bearing quality. You’ll be better off with four high-quality bearings as opposed to 10 lower-quality ones.

Baitcasting reels can be tricky to master. If you don’t stop the spool from spinning before your lure hits the water, you’re likely to face a bird’s nest—a nasty tangle of fishing line that can make for a frustrating day on the water. Many beginners prefer spinning reels over baitcasters because they are more forgiving, and easy-to-use spincast reels may be the best option for children. One key to avoiding a tangle: make sure you don’t release the line too late

If you’re a beginner in saltwater fishing, you must be confused about what to bring on your box. However, since you are beginner, you do not really need the ones with good quality. In order to be a good saltwater fisher, here are saltwater fishing gears that you need to bring.

1. Fishing Rod

The most important thing in your fishing equipment must be your fishing rod. You can choose either the graphite or fiberglass rods. Graphite is a lot stronger than fiberglass, but also more expensive. A graphite rod is also lighter, which is why it is recommended for beginners as it is easier to handle. The prevent rust on your rod and reel, you must rinse and wipe your fishing rod to clean it from salt water each time you finish fishing. The location of where you’re fishing from (a boat, beach, or a pier) determines the choice of the rod length.

2. Saltwater Fishing Reels

The saltwater has corrosive effect. That’s why your fishing reels must be strong enough to withstand it. As a beginner, you should choose the one that makes casting the line easy. For saltwater fishing, it’s good for you to choose spinning reels as they are able to cast long way and are hardly affected by wind. However, they are quite heavy with the line that is easily tangled. A spinning reel for saltwater fishing needs to hold 100 yards of line.

When choosing fishing reels, you should also need to put attention on the spool. Saltwater fishing is good with spool made from aluminum, as the line will not dig into the spool, and this will not stop the line to move freely, especially when in effort to catch big fish.

3. Saltwater Fishing Line

For saltwater fishing, you are recommended to use monofilament fishing line as they are strong and thin, and are easily stretched. This type of fishing line also has low memory, which means that if you have used this on the reel for a long time, the shape of the reel will not stay there when you use it again. You need to change the monofilament fishing line every six months as the long exposure of sunlight can break it down.

4. Saltwater Fishing Bait

When fishing in saltwater, the best bait that must be included in your salt water gear is shrimp. And the best of all is the live shrimp that are kept in a bucket of water. Cut bait is also frequently used when fishing in saltwater. Cut bait is simply dead fish which are cut into small pieces. Cut bait is a good option for those with small budget.

5. Saltwater Fishing Hooks

Another thing that must be included in your saltwater fishing gear is the fishing hooks, which can be made either from high-carbon steel or stainless steel. To avoid rust, you can choose stainless steel hooks, but they tend to break more easily. The size of the hooks depends on the fish you hope to catch. Fish with bigger mouth will certainly need bigger hooks. The most common hooks used are between size 14 and size eight. And size 32 is the smallest size available for saltwater fishing. Since they are inexpensive, you can bring a pack containing a variety of sizes.
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One of the most famous participation sports now is fishing. No matter if you put anchor for weight or you are fishing on the move, boats can be one of the best places to catch more fishes. And again, fishing from boats will give different experience than ever before.

One thing you should not forget is boat fishing roads that have been specifically designed for the angling undertaken. And when buying boat roads, you have to consider its safety and efficiency as well its ease to use on boats. If you fish in different occasions, such as in offshore or freshwater, buying many kinds of rods is highly recommended. A lighter model is suitable for those fishing in top water, while a heavier one is good for those enjoying to fish deeper under the surface.

Here are the tips to find the best boat fishing rods for you.

Materials of the Boat Rods

There are some materials available in the market. Choose the materials based on the occasions.

1. Fiberglass rods

Compared to graphite rods, fiberglass is cheaper. And at the same time, fiberglass is more durable. If you like straightforward, no-frills fishing, this rod is the best because it is heavier than its competitors.

2. Graphite rods

Since graphite is light, the sensitivity is higher so it is good for casting on and off. However, this rod tends to be more delicate so you have to give more care to keep it last longer.

3. Graphite composite rods

If you want strength but with reduced weight, this type of rods is the best for you. The casting performance and tip sensitivity are also greater than fiberglass. And compared to rods made entirely from graphite, this graphite composite rod is definitely cheaper.

Weights of the Rods

The species of fish you target determine the weight of the rods you will use. A 12-15lbs will be suitable for lighter species and a 30-50 lbs will give you much help when catching heavier fish.

Lengths of the Rods

When you have longer rods, you also have longer cast. When talking about length, most people will prefer something between 6ft and 8ft. Typically, the length is 6.5ft. However, if you fish from a kayak, the maximum length of the rods will be only 3ft.

Choice of Reels

When choosing a boat fishing rod, you have to also consider the reels. If you plan to hold the rod all the time, lighter reels are the best choices. However, if the rod will be put and rested a lot, weight is not pretty much critical.

Or do you think you also need a rod holder?
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Terminal tackle will help you when doing bottom fishing, both inshore or in deep offshore waters. Therefore, finding the right terminal tackle is crucial. Here are the guides to choose the right terminal tackle for you.

Fish Finder Rigs

If you’re on a party boat, with 12-50 people going to bottom fishing, you will be most likely to be provided with terminal tackle in the form of fish finder rigs, which is a form of leader with bank sinker or pyramid at the end of the leader. A loop is tied about 20-24 inches from the sinker, to which a hook is tied. Sometimes, above the first loop is also tied a second loop and hook, and swivel will be tied 12 inches from that.

The whole rig’s length is 3 feet which make it difficult for you to cast. This is good for party boats because the rig can only go straight down which is meant to avoid tangled lines with so many people fishing in the boats.

Besides used in party boats, finder rigs can also be used over a wreck or artificial reef as there may not several fish on the bottom. With its heavy sinker, finder rigs can just go right to the school.

Grouper and Snapper Rigs

Both rigs have monofilament leaders with the length of 3-5 feets, with swivel on one end and hook on the other end. Snapper rigs have lighter and shorter leaders with narrower hooks if compared to grouper rigs.

The egg sinker that can slide up and down is used for the rigs. Using this rig for bottom fishing in deep water is difficult. When the rig goes down, the relative buoyancy of the bait and the weight of the sinker will cause some twisted lines. However, these rigs are still good for deep water in current situation because the current will keep the hook and bait away from the sinker as it goes down.

If there is no current, you can still make the most of these rigs with live bait because it can swim away from the sinker and the bait can go to the bottom without any tangled lines.

Flounder Rigs

Trolling sinker or beaded casting sinker is used for these rigs. Since the sinkers are elongated and streamlined, they can bump along the bottom with a little chance of hanging on structure. A leader is tied to one end of the sinker, and a line is tied directly at the other end. When you drag live bait (especially mud minnows, small mullets, and other small live fish) slowly in the bottom to find flounder, these rigs will be your best choice.

Wire Leaders

Wire leaders are best for fish with sharp teeth, including barracuda, Wahoo, and king mackerel. The wire used can be stranded or coated wire or also can be stainless steel. It is usually used only in trolling situation because it can be easily seen so it can discourage strikes.

Maybe you also need to organize these in your fishing tackle box?

Source: saltfishing.about.com

Fishing tackle boxes are ready for you to bring to the next fishing. But what are to be put inside? Here are the basics that you should put inside your fishing tackle box.

1. Extra Hook

Packing a variety of hooks will make you ready to fish any kind of fish. Either the french or J-hook you carry, you must bring many different sizes because the fish—though only one kind of fish—can vary much in weight. Number 32 will be the smallest size and the biggest is 19/0.

2. Extra Line

Line can break during your fishing trip due to some causes, including bitten by monster fish or get caught on a log. There are various types of lines, based on the place you fish and what kind of fish you’re fishing. The durable fishing line is good for rough conditions to avoid snapping. A thin clear line is the best for crystal clear lake.

3. Bobbers of floaters

Bobbers will sink when a fish bites so you will notice; that’s why you also need to put it in your tackle box. There are at least two types of bobbers: the round and slip bobber. The round bobber is easy to rig but it limits on how deep you can cast a line. The slip bobber is a bit hard to rig but many fishermen think the difficulty is worth it because the hook can go into deeper water.

4. Sinkers

It is too light for worm and bobber alone to sink very deeply. Sinkers are usually made of lead but some state laws have forbidden lead sinkers to be used in fishing. Other options for sinker materials are brass, tungsten, steel, and bismuth. Bring many sinkers since you can easily lose it.

5. Plastic worms

Live bait is the best but you must also take plastic worms, especially when you bash fish. There are many colors and sizes.

6. Some lures

Again, worms sometimes are enough. Some fishermen also bring some lures in their tackle boxes to up their game. There are many types of lures and you can choose based on your preference. It needs ecperiment to find which one is the best for you.

Another thing about fishing is rod. Do you know how to choose the best rod for you? Click here.

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Fly fishing rods are made to cast a fly to fish. It has the ability to build a momentum in a file and control its distance and direction. The lengths of each fly fishing rod vary. And the weights specify the size. A 5-weight rod means a 5-weight line. This weight lines affect the stiffness or load characteristic of the fly rod.

Choosing the right fly rods can be quite challenging for the newbies. If you don’t have idea about how to choose the right fly fishing rods for you, here are the tips to guide you.

1. What species you will fish will determine the size of your fly rod

A 5-weight line is a good option for those who want to catch trout mostly, but also sometimes want to fish small brook trout and 20-inchers. However, if your specialty is only the smaller native trout which we can usually find in high mountain streams, a 3- or 4-weight will be greater choices. Here is the a brief description of other size of fly rods to give you illustration about the suitability of the fly rods with the species you fish for.

– 7-weight and up for salmon and large rainbow trout in Alaska
– 8-weight rod for bonefish
– 10-weight rod for barracuda, small tarpon, and permit
– 12-weight for tarpon

You should not only consider the size but also the length, with the 9-foot rod as the most versatile one. Actually, the length ranges from 7 until 11 feet but the 9-foot rod is the most favorite of almost all fly fishers.

2. What material of fly rod that you need

The rod can be made either of bamboo split as traditional option or carbon graphite fiber. If you love slower and lighter as well as more classic style of casting, you must choose the bamboo fly rod. This is also for those who value custom craftsmanship. However, this type of fly rod tends to be more expensive because to make them, the skill is needed. If you are none of these type of fishers, then choose the high-tech ones.

3. How many piece of rod you think is more convenient?

Will you bring the fly rod inside a suitcase or strap them on your backpack or even carry them on plane? If yes, the 3- or 4-piece rod is a good choice. If you don’t think you need that many pieces and are fine with the strung-up rod for the entire season, two pieces are also fine for you.

4. How much money you prepare for the fly rods?

After considering all those things above, the last one to consider is the price. Some fly rods from certain providers are quite affordable while others can quite shock your wallet. Now that you know what you want, you can start browsing in the internet and surveying from one store to another to find the price that match your budget.

Do you think you also need fishing rod holders? Click here for more tips.

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Most people neglect the importance of fishing rod holders while in fact this device can help you while fishing. Not only making you able to enjoy the surroundings while fishing, fishing rod holder can help you to multi-task. Many people who have used fishing rod holders prefer the ones which are transportable, hands- and hassle-free, and simple to use.

Where to Use Fishing Rod Holders

1. Boat

To bring it in a boat, you need a fishing rod holder that is adjustable to different positions. With the fishing rod holder with you, you will have better concentration in driving the boat and monitoring electronics while trolling. With the holder, it will also be easier for you to eat or drink so your day will be more relaxed.

2. Beach

Holders can help you cast your lure and plant your pole while you’re in beach. Holder for the beach use is equipped with sand spike to help it to be driven in the sand while you’re relaxed.

3. Home

When you’re not fishing, home fishing rod holder can help store your fishing rods in a better place.

Choose the Materials

1. Plastic

Polypropylene plastic is the best material for fishing rod holder because it can’t corrode, even when repeatedly exposed to salt water. Plastic is also lightweight which makes it easy to use.

2. Aluminum

Aluminum is not only lightweight, but it is also anti-corrode and rust which is the best for boat usage in both saltwater and freshwater.

3. Steel

As the strongest material, steel can withstand the forces of fish game in both fresh and salt water.

Which Size, Adjustments, and Features?

1. Size

You should select the size of rod fishing holders based on your fishing rods. Not only the size, but you must consider also the type of reel in order to find the best holder for you. Some holders are best for casting reels, while others are for spinning reels.

2. Adjustability

It is important to find an adjustable fishing rod holder. This way, you can adjust the angle to alter your bait moves through the water.

3. Features

The conditions that you face in the routine basis can be your consideration in choosing holder. The features offered as the complement can also be considered to establish your specific needs.

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