| If you are ever fished for schoolie stripers during | | | | monofilament. Combine this with the lightweight |
| the spring run you know how exciting it can be | | | | graphite and composite rods of today and you |
| catching these hard fighting fish on light tackle. As | | | | have the ability to pair up an outfit you can |
| the season progresses and the fish start getting a | | | | comfortably fish with for extended periods but |
| little bigger though, many of us put this tackle | | | | one which can handle larger size fish-even in the |
| aside in favor of heavier outfits. Those of us who | | | | salt water arena. |
| have read any of the books written by the | | | | Every year during August I spend several weeks |
| old-time stripermen like Frank Daignault are well | | | | fishing the rocky shoreline of Casco Bay in |
| aware of the possibility of losing the fish of a | | | | southern Maine for stripers and bluefish, and when |
| lifetime due to inadequate tackle, and as someone | | | | the bluefishing is hot my set-up of choice is a 7'6" |
| who has landed a few big fish I can tell you that | | | | Ugly Stick light inshore rod coupled with an Okuma |
| is certainly not out of the question. | | | | Stratus XTS 40 spinning reel. I'll toss small to |
| More and more however I find myself using | | | | medium swimming plugs and topwater baits and |
| lighter tackle throughout the season, and in all | | | | when the blues are on a bite-especially if they're |
| honesty I don't think I lose any more fish than if I | | | | on the top-catching them with this rig is about as |
| was out there breaking my back with my 10' surf | | | | thrilling as shore bound fishing gets. I have caught |
| rod. In fact, I'm quite certain that I hook into | | | | and landed some nice size stripers on this set-up |
| more fish using light tackle. The ability to fish | | | | as well and of course there is always that chance |
| comfortably for longer periods of time using a | | | | I'll hook into a fish that outclasses my tackle and |
| greater variety of lure and bait choices with this | | | | evades capture. Isn't that part of fishing though? |
| downsized tackle can be a real advantage. Don't | | | | The increased fun quotient and higher hook-up |
| get me wrong, there are many instances where | | | | ratios far outweigh any perceived risks of fishing |
| heavier tackle is a necessity-If I go out looking | | | | light, at least in my mind. |
| for that 40lb trophy striper at 2 am I don't bring | | | | If all of your salt water fishing experiences have |
| along my freshwater bass rod-but I do try to | | | | been with big, backbreaking tackle try lightening it |
| keep it light whenever I can. | | | | up. You'll have more fun, spare your back, and |
| Advances in line technology have made it possible | | | | most likely be able to actively cast for longer |
| to use smaller reels than ever before, with 200 | | | | stints. |
| yards of 20lb test braid fitting onto a spool that | | | | Oh yeah. Don't be surprised if your success rate |
| would hold only 200 yards of 8 lb. conventional | | | | goes up too! |