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Published: September 25, 2006
When selecting fishing tackle, be it rods and reels, line, hooks or lures, there are a widely different range of factors that come into play. Selecting the proper fishing tackle is not only a matter of the technical aspects of fishing, but personal preference as well.
Broadly speaking, fishing tackle such as rods and reels are usually classified as either saltwater or freshwater reels. More often than not, freshwater rods and reels lend themselves to the lighter side of the spectrum, while saltwater tackle are produced with larger, fiercer catches in mind making them heavier and more durable. Saltwater reels generally have a larger reel with greater capacity for line, and their gears produce a greater drag than their fresh water counterparts. Another difference between saltwater and freshwater fishing equipment is that saltwater tackle is built to withstand environmental differences, specifically to resist the corrosive effects that result from the salinity of water and air. These general differences notwithstanding, there are examples of specialized equipment designed for certain catches. Heavier freshwater tackle is available in cases of freshwater targets such as salmon, muskellunge or northern pike in North America, or more exotically, the Asia's Giant Mekong Catfish that rivals the size and tempestuousness of their saltwater counterparts.
Both saltwater fishing and freshwater fishing offer unique versions of rods and reels in their respective environment. In most cases, selecting fishing tackle is determined by environment or "intended catch;" saltwater fishing tackle having a greater capacity than that of freshwater tackle. Aside from that, saltwater and freshwater tackle are very similar. Both saltwater and freshwater fishing have their own versions of fly reels, baitcast or casting reels, and spincast or spinning reels. Additionally, rods are made and designed to complement each style of reel, differing in taper, length, size and location of line guides, and materials used in manufacturing. Unique styles of fishing such as ice fishing or deep sea fishing require specifically designed equipment.
Deciding on hooks and lures also depends on specific styles of fishing and what the angler intends to catch.
The fish hook is perhaps the oldest piece of fishing tackle, having occupied the tackle boxes of fisherman as early as 40,000 BCE. Although the earliest examples of fish hooks were made of a multitude of materials (bone, wood, thorns, horns and shells) today hooks are almost exclusively made from steel. There is a sundry of available hooks, such as the Aberdeen, Aneak and Beak Point and specialty hooks such as treble and barbless hooks. The prime difference is size (usually 6/0, the largest, down to a 13, one of the smallest). In designing a hook, aspects such as the style of point, length of shank and degree and size of bend are taken into consideration. Although most hooks are made of steel, the thickness or thinness of the "wire" varies from hook to hook.
Although the angler dangling a worm from a hook is the popular image of fishing, consistently, fishermen tend towards artificial lures as it is considered more in keeping with the sport.
The range of live bait lures is as large as the numerous species of fish. Although a variety of worms, leeches, crayfish and minnows are popular in freshwater fishing; saltwater fishing employs eels, clams, and a variety of bait fish. After species, location is perhaps the second most important factor.
Artificial bait, much like live bait is also available in several varieties. The choice of artificial lures is also based on the style of fishing. For example, fly fishing has a specific style of lure, the fly. Fresh and Salt water fishing have adopted similar styles of lures, including the jig, wobbler, spinners and spoons. Artificial baits are usually named for physical aspects of the lure, or the action they produce in the water. For example, spoons resemble the spade of the eating utensil, while wobblers tend to wobble in the water. Although selecting the bait depends on a variety of water and environment conditions, certain fish have a proclivity towards a specific style of bait, either in construction, action or color.
Caribbean: World's Largest Freshwater Fish Under Threat. 1998. Third World Network. 22 Sept 2006. www.sunsonline.com
Hook History. 2004. O. Mustad & Son A.S. 22 Sept 2006. www.mustad.no
About Hooks. 2004. O. Mustad & Son A.S. 22 Sept 2006. www.mustad.no
Esox masquinongy. 1996. fishbase.org. 22 Sept 2006. www.filaman.ifm-geomar.de
Pangasianodon gigas. 1996. fishbase.org. 22 Sept 2006. www.filaman.ifm-geomar.de
Spinning/ casting reels. 2006. St. Croix Catalog. 22 Sept 2006. www.stcroixrods.com
Catalog. 2006. St Croix Catalog. 22 Sept 2006. www.stcroixrods.com
Broadly speaking, fishing tackle such as rods and reels are usually classified as either saltwater or freshwater reels. More often than not, freshwater rods and reels lend themselves to the lighter side of the spectrum, while saltwater tackle are produced with larger, fiercer catches in mind making them heavier and more durable. Saltwater reels generally have a larger reel with greater capacity for line, and their gears produce a greater drag than their fresh water counterparts. Another difference between saltwater and freshwater fishing equipment is that saltwater tackle is built to withstand environmental differences, specifically to resist the corrosive effects that result from the salinity of water and air. These general differences notwithstanding, there are examples of specialized equipment designed for certain catches. Heavier freshwater tackle is available in cases of freshwater targets such as salmon, muskellunge or northern pike in North America, or more exotically, the Asia's Giant Mekong Catfish that rivals the size and tempestuousness of their saltwater counterparts.
Both saltwater fishing and freshwater fishing offer unique versions of rods and reels in their respective environment. In most cases, selecting fishing tackle is determined by environment or "intended catch;" saltwater fishing tackle having a greater capacity than that of freshwater tackle. Aside from that, saltwater and freshwater tackle are very similar. Both saltwater and freshwater fishing have their own versions of fly reels, baitcast or casting reels, and spincast or spinning reels. Additionally, rods are made and designed to complement each style of reel, differing in taper, length, size and location of line guides, and materials used in manufacturing. Unique styles of fishing such as ice fishing or deep sea fishing require specifically designed equipment.
Deciding on hooks and lures also depends on specific styles of fishing and what the angler intends to catch.
The fish hook is perhaps the oldest piece of fishing tackle, having occupied the tackle boxes of fisherman as early as 40,000 BCE. Although the earliest examples of fish hooks were made of a multitude of materials (bone, wood, thorns, horns and shells) today hooks are almost exclusively made from steel. There is a sundry of available hooks, such as the Aberdeen, Aneak and Beak Point and specialty hooks such as treble and barbless hooks. The prime difference is size (usually 6/0, the largest, down to a 13, one of the smallest). In designing a hook, aspects such as the style of point, length of shank and degree and size of bend are taken into consideration. Although most hooks are made of steel, the thickness or thinness of the "wire" varies from hook to hook.
Although the angler dangling a worm from a hook is the popular image of fishing, consistently, fishermen tend towards artificial lures as it is considered more in keeping with the sport.
The range of live bait lures is as large as the numerous species of fish. Although a variety of worms, leeches, crayfish and minnows are popular in freshwater fishing; saltwater fishing employs eels, clams, and a variety of bait fish. After species, location is perhaps the second most important factor.
Artificial bait, much like live bait is also available in several varieties. The choice of artificial lures is also based on the style of fishing. For example, fly fishing has a specific style of lure, the fly. Fresh and Salt water fishing have adopted similar styles of lures, including the jig, wobbler, spinners and spoons. Artificial baits are usually named for physical aspects of the lure, or the action they produce in the water. For example, spoons resemble the spade of the eating utensil, while wobblers tend to wobble in the water. Although selecting the bait depends on a variety of water and environment conditions, certain fish have a proclivity towards a specific style of bait, either in construction, action or color.
Caribbean: World's Largest Freshwater Fish Under Threat. 1998. Third World Network. 22 Sept 2006. www.sunsonline.com
Hook History. 2004. O. Mustad & Son A.S. 22 Sept 2006. www.mustad.no
About Hooks. 2004. O. Mustad & Son A.S. 22 Sept 2006. www.mustad.no
Esox masquinongy. 1996. fishbase.org. 22 Sept 2006. www.filaman.ifm-geomar.de
Pangasianodon gigas. 1996. fishbase.org. 22 Sept 2006. www.filaman.ifm-geomar.de
Spinning/ casting reels. 2006. St. Croix Catalog. 22 Sept 2006. www.stcroixrods.com
Catalog. 2006. St Croix Catalog. 22 Sept 2006. www.stcroixrods.com
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