| Going fishing? You will need some fishing tackle! | | | | least not with a clean cut. Not a problem if you |
| Whilst your fishing rod and reel are essential items | | | | only use monofilament. |
| of tackle, fishing tackle also refers to all those | | | | - Fish Scaler - I scale my fish only if I intend to |
| other items of equipment that you will need to | | | | cook them whole. Even then I only use a knife. |
| support your rod and reel setup and the type of | | | | When I take fillets from a fish I invariably leave |
| fishing you will be doing. Assuming that you have | | | | the scales on and then skin the fish with a knife. |
| an appropriate rod and reel and that your reel | | | | Salmon is probably the only exception to this rule, |
| spools, including spares, are already filled with line, | | | | as the Salmon skin can be quite tasty. |
| then you're going to need some or all of the | | | | - Line - You will need to choose from |
| following fishing tackle: | | | | monofilament, co-filament, braided or fused |
| - Sinkers - needed to provide a weight to your | | | | 'superlines' and fluorocarbon lines. All have their |
| line when casting bait. Various types include split | | | | pros and cons. Nylon monofilament line is still the |
| shot, ball, bean, barrel, snapper, pyramid and egg | | | | most popular line, but it stretches easily (often a |
| sinkers. What you need will depend on your fishing | | | | good thing) and it has poor abrasion resistance, |
| application. Line either runs through the sinker or | | | | although this is not so bad in the premium quality |
| the line is tied to the sinker. Split shot is an | | | | lines. Co-filament lines are like the monofilament |
| exception. It is pressed onto a line like putty. Split | | | | but somewhat tougher. Superlines are the |
| shot can be as small as 1/32 oz whilst sinkers | | | | toughest of all lines, have a very small diameter |
| used in deep oceanic water can weigh several | | | | for a given breaking strain and they do not |
| pounds. Remember, fish as lightly as conditions will | | | | stretch. Don't forget to put monofilament beneath |
| allow. Lead is the standard material used for | | | | the superline on your spool to stop any slippage. |
| sinkers, but note the move toward bismuth | | | | Fluorocarbon lines are invisible in water, low |
| sinkers, which are more environmentally friendly | | | | stretch, have good abrasion resistance and are |
| and they weigh only 7% less than lead for the | | | | very popular in freshwater fishing. Note that one |
| same volume. Note that lead is banned in some | | | | particular type of line will probably not be perfect |
| States and in some National parks. | | | | for all your fishing applications. |
| - Swivels - used to reduce line twist and to join | | | | - Leader line - this is the link between your main |
| your main line to your leader. They come in a | | | | line and your hook or lure. The leader line is |
| number of styles and include barrel swivel, ball | | | | normally of a greater strength than your main line. |
| bearing swivel, snap swivel and three way swivel. | | | | It is designed to take the knocks and abrasions |
| A snap swivel can be used to connect your line | | | | from fish or snags and hence save your main line. |
| directly to a lure. These enable very quick lure | | | | I like to use a fluorocarbon leader unless I am |
| changes, although the bulk of the swivel can | | | | fishing for pelagics. If you believe that you will |
| reduce lure movement to some degree. My | | | | require 15lb line to land your fish, then you could |
| preference is to use a blackened swivel, | | | | use a 15lb leader and drop your main line to 6 or |
| preferably a ball bearing swivel, as I don't want a | | | | 8lb. Check your leader line regularly, especially |
| fish to mistake the glint of a brass swivel as | | | | after a catch, both visually and also by running |
| something worth chewing on. The ball bearing | | | | your finger along it, and if you see or feel any |
| swivel is reliable under all fishing conditions, whilst I | | | | abrasions or nicks, change it. |
| don't believe the same thing can be said for the | | | | - Tackle Box - last but not least, you will need a |
| brass barrel swivels. | | | | good tackle box so that you can keep all of your |
| - Hooks - hard to catch that fish without a hook. | | | | tackle organized and within easy reach. |
| Numerous styles available, but you need to have | | | | - Landing Net or Lip Grip - Losing a prize fish at |
| a range of sizes and styles available so that you | | | | your feet is really excruciating. Save the pain by |
| can cater for every fishing opportunity. Don't | | | | using either a landing net or a lip grip, the former |
| forget jig heads if you use soft plastics. | | | | being much easier to use unless your fish is |
| - Sharpening device - you need a device that will | | | | exhausted and docile. |
| enable you to easily sharpen the hook on the end | | | | - Fishing Basket - What will you do with the fish |
| of your line. Re-sharpen your hook after every | | | | that you catch? You might need a fishing basket |
| catch and check it regularly. You will miss hookups | | | | or shoulder bag, or you might prefer to simply |
| with blunt hooks. You also need something with | | | | throw your fish straight into a cooler. |
| which to sharpen your knife. | | | | Over time you'll see other items of tackle that |
| - Knife - Good for bleeding a fish and ultimately | | | | you will consider necessary, but the foregoing is a |
| for gutting or fileting a fish. Can also be used to | | | | good starting point. You will have spent a fair |
| scale a fish. | | | | amount of money on buying a good fishing rod |
| - Pliers - Good for removing hooks from fish and | | | | and reel. Make sure you complement these with |
| for cutting monofilament. Lots of other | | | | good quality fishing tackle. |
| non-specific uses. | | | | (c) Copyright - Shane Flynn. All Rights Reserved |
| - Braid Scissors - You may find that your normal | | | | Worldwide. |
| run of the mill pliers or scissors won't cut braid, at | | | | |