* Types of Fishing Tackle

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Rods and Reels
Spincasting
Baitcasting

Fishing tackle is used to get your bait or lure to the fish. You don't need a lot of equipment to begin fishing. In fact, it's a good idea to begin with basic, simple tackle. You can try more difficult tackle after you've mastered some basic skills.

The Most Basic Tackle
The simplest fishing tackle is a pole; however, for some types of fishing, even a soda can with fishing line wrapped around it can be used!
The pole can be made of cane, bamboo or a straight piece of tree branch. You do not use a reel with a pole. Cut a piece of fishing line as long as the pole. Tie the line to the tip of the pole and a hook to the other end of the line. A small sinker, called a "split shot," is squeezed onto the line above the hook. The sinker makes it easier to swing the bait out into the water and keeps the bait under the surface. You may also want to use a bobber or float. By moving the bobber up or down the line, you can change the depth of your bait in the water. With a pole and line you can fish the area near the bank, where many fish often live.

4 Types of Rods and Reels
Other types of fishing tackle use reels to store large amounts of line. They let you cast a bait or lure farther. They also help you retrieve lures correctly, fish in deeper water, and battle larger fish more easily. There are four kinds of reels: spincast, spinning, baitcast, and fly. Each kind uses a different type of rod.

Spincasting



Spincasting tackle is ideal for beginning anglers because it works well and is easy to use. A spincasting rod has small line guides and a straight handle. Spincasting tackle is often used while fishing for bluegill, crappie and other panfish. The spincasting reel mounts on top of the rod's handle. The fishing line comes out of a small hole in a cover on the front of the reel. How to Cast With a Spincasting Outfit To cast, grip the pistol grip with one hand. If you're right-handed, turn the rod sideways so the reel handle points straight up; if you're left-handed, point the reel handle straight down. Push the reel's thumb button and hold it down. Face your target area and turn your body at a slight angle. The arm holding the rod should be closest to your target. Aim the rod tip toward the target-about level withyour eyes. Swiftly and smoothly, bend your casting arm at the elbow, raising your casting forearm until your hands reach eye level. When the rod is almost straight up, it will be bent back by the weight of the practice plug. As the rod bends, move your forearm forward with just a slight wrist movement. When the rod reaches eye level, release the thumb button and let the line travel freely. If the plug lands close in front of you, you have released the thumb button too late. If the plug went more or less straight up, you released the button too soon. Learning how to use a spincasting rod and reel isn't too hard, but it does take practice. Buy a practice-casting plug. This is a rubber or plastic weight without hooks. Then, tiit to the end of the line. Find a spot where you can practice safely. Put a target on the ground about 25 feet away. Practice casting until you can consistently hit the target with your casting plug. Being able to hit a target is much more important than being able to cast a long distance!

Spinning Rods and Reels



Spinning rods have a straight handle with large line guides that are on the bottom of the rod. A spinning reel is often called an "open-face" reel because the spool of fishing line isn't covered. The reel mounts under the handle. Spinning rods and reels allow for more line to be quickly peeled off the reel, allowing for casting longer distances. Learning how to use a spinning outfit may take more practice than spincasting. Casting with a spinning outfit is very similar to using spincasting equipment. However, at the beginning you grasp the spinning rod's handle, placing the reel "stem" between your second and third fingers. Your thumb should be on top of the handle and your forefinger extended to touch the spool cover. With your other hand, rotate the reel spool until the line roller is directly beneath your extended forefinger. Pick up the line in front of the roller with your forefinger and open, or cock, the reel's bail with your other hand.(Some reels have a lever so you can grasp the line and open the bail in one motion.) After you have accomplished this procedure, casting is very similar to that for spincasting except that when the rod reaches your eye level as you are casting, you release the line from your forefinger rather than releasing the thumb button. Again, if the plug lands close in front of you, your forefinger released the line too late. If the plug went more or less straight up, you released your forefinger too soon. To prepare for practice follow the same steps as for spincasting.

Baitcasting


A baitcasting rod can have either a pistol-type grip or astraight handle. As in spincasting, the casting reel and line guides are mounted on top of the rod. Unlike the other two types of reels, the casting reel's line spool turns as you cast types of reels, the casting reel's line spool turns as you cast and can snarl the line if it is not controlled properly. Learning to control this spool makes casting tackle harder for most people to learn, and is considered a skill for advanced anglers.



* Drag
All reels have an adjustment called a drag that controls how easily the line is pulled off the reel. When set correctly, the drag lets a larger fish pull some line from the reel until the fish becomes tired. Follow the directions that come with your reel to set the drag correctly.

* Flyfishing
Flyfishing tackle is different from all of the other types. In flyfishing, you are casting the line that carries the "fly." With other fishing tackle the weight of a bait or lure pulls line from a reel. In
flyfishing, the reel is only used to store the line. Flycasting is usually the most difficult to learn.
However, with proper instruction, anyone can learn.



* Saltwater
Saltwater tackle requires special equipment because saltwater will corrode any aluminum, steel or iron parts. The metal parts of saltwater tackle usually are made of stainless steel or nickel chrome. Saltwater tackle ranges from the ultra light equipment used in inshore fishing to the extremely large and heavy tackle for deep-sea fishing.

* Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is a very specialized sport. One- to three-foot rods are most often used. Simple reels are used to hold the line. Ice fishing can also be done with tip-ups. Tip-ups fit over a hole in the ice. When a fish hits, it releases a lever. This causes a flag to tip up, alerting the angler.

Source Take Me Fishing
Http://takemefishing.org

Content courtesy of the Future Fisherman
Foundation.

* Fishing Safely

image from : whitbyseaanglers.co.uk

Safety Around Water, Personal Floatation Devices
Wading
Reach-Throw-Row-Go
Swimming, Safety With Fishing Equipment

Fishing isn't a dangerous sport, but you should prepare to keep safe and comfortable in the outdoors. It is possible to get caught unexpectedly in bad weather, encounter insects, spend too much time in the sun, or get caught on a fish hook.
Wearing the proper clothing helps to protect you from injury. It also keeps you warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. Rainwear and other gear keep you from getting wet and chilled.

Safety Around Water

Anglers should learn how to swim and use caution around water at all times. You should always use the "buddy system" and have a friend or an adult with you in case something goes wrong.

Personal Flotation Devices

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) which are also called life jackets and
life vests, are not just for wearing in boats. Anytime you are on or
around deep or fast moving water, it is always best to be wearing
your PFD. U.S. Coast Guard and/or state laws require you to have an
approved PFD when you are in a boat. The rules say a boat must
have one PFD for each person on board. Certain types of boats must
also have a cushion or ring that can be thrown to a person in the
water.


Wading

There are several rules you should follow for safe wading.
1. Always wade with another person.
2. Always wear your PFD.
3. Find out how deep the water is.
4. Find out how strong the current is.
5. Find out what the bottom is like.
6. Use a stick or staff. Shuffle your feet along the bottom to avoid
holes.

While wading you can protect your ankles by wearing high-top shoes
or wading boots. Long, lightweight pants can protect you from jellyfish and sea nettles in saltwater and from
snags and rocks in freshwater.

Reach-Throw-Row-Go

Reach-throw-row-go is a method of rescuing a person who falls overboard or an angler or swimmer in trouble.
The first safety step is to REACH out with an oar, tree limb, or other long object if the person is close to you.
If you can't reach the person, then THROW them a life-saving device. This can be a boat cushion or ring that floats. If possible, it should be tied to the end of a line so you can pull the person to you. If a cushion or ring
isn't handy, anything that floats can be thrown. Plastic coolers, ski belts, or even beach balls can be used in an emergency.
If there is nothing to throw, ROW a boat to the person in trouble. There should be someone else in the boat to help pull the person in trouble into the boat. The person should be pulled in over the stern, or back, of the boat. If the boat has a motor, it must be shut off before you get to the person in the water. Don't let the
person try to climb in over the side of a small boat. This can tip the boat over. If the boat is small, have the victim hang on the gunwales, and tow him to shore.
Swim out to save the person in trouble ONLY as a last resort and ONLY if you are an
experienced lifeguard or have had life-saving training. Going into the water after the person in trouble is very dangerous. People who are drowning often panic and injure or even drown someone trying to rescue them. Going quickly for help is often the best choice.


Swimming

If you fish, you should know how to swim for your own safety. Many young anglers like to go for a swim during a fishing trip just for fun or to cool off. Don't swim if there is any doubt about your ability. Never dive into the water of an
unknown area and don't swim after a heavy meal or in cold water. Swim only when an experienced swimming partner is with you.

Safety With Fishing Equipment


Handle your fishing equipment responsibly. Look behind you before you cast to make sure your hook will not be caught on a power line, a tree, or a person. If you leave your tackle lying on the ground, another person can trip on it and fall, step on a hook, or break your tackle. Take caution and use long-nose pliers to help remove hooks from a fish. If a hook is deep inside the fish, either cut off the line and
leave the hook in the fish, or use a hook disgorger. Hooks left in fish will work themselves free or rust out. When transporting your equipment, remove the hook or lure from your line and store it in your tackle box.


Source Take Me Fishing
Content courtesy of the Future Fisherman Foundation.

* How to Land a Fish!

image from : majorfishing.com

1. Set the Hook
"Setting the hook" refers to the method of forcing a hook into a
fish's mouth. In most cases, one sharp snap of the rod is all that is
needed, provided the hook is sharp. Some situations, however,
require more force than others.

For example, a single hard strike is needed when using a
soft-plastic worm rigged Texas style (the hook is concealed inside
the worm) because the strike must drive the hook through the
worm first and then into the fish's mouth. Striking too hard or
repeatedly with a soft-mouthed fish such as a crappie, shad, or sea trout can pull the hook through the
mouth.

2. Fight the Fish
When a fish feels the hook, it struggles to get free. This might involve jumping, making a long run, swimming
back into snags, or swimming around obstacles. Each species of fish fights differently.

Some experienced anglers can often tell what species of fish is on the end of the line just by the way it fights. Carp, bonefish,
and Chinook salmon are strong, powerful fish that tend to make long runs. Largemouth bass and steelhead trout both run and jump. Tuna dive for the bottom. Trout and tarpon fight wildly when first hooked. Northern
pike and cobia (ling) often come to the boat easily, but fight strongly near the boat. Sunfish zigzag toward cover to take full advantage of their body shape.
Fish hooked and played in shallow water are more likely to jump and behave more frantically than those hooked in deep water. When hooked, deep-water fish often seek the bottom. Large bass are less likely to jump than smaller bass.
It's possible to land many small fish just by reeling them in. They'll fight, but this can be easily overcome by the strength of the line and the fishing rod. Much of the enjoyment of fishing, though, is gained by using
lighter tackle that allows the fish to fight. However, if you plan to release the fish, do not fight it so long that it becomes exhausted and later dies.
Fighting larger fish requires a technique called "pumping the rod."
To do this, retrieve line quickly as you lower the rod until it is horizontal and pointed at the fish. Then stop retrieving line and slowly raise the rod up. When the rod is at about the 11 o'clock position, repeat the process until the fish is near and ready to be landed. Never let the line go slack in the process.

3. Land the Fish!
Fish can be landed by hand or with landing tools such as a net. When you fish from the shore, beaching fish is a popular way to land them. This method, however, should only be used if you plan to keep and eat the fish because it will harm the coating on its body. To beach a fish, lead it into increasingly shallower water, gradually sliding the fish on its side onto dry land. In saltwater, time your retrieve with an incoming wave. As the wave recedes, quickly grab your beached fish and pull it ashore. Landing nets are commonly used for landing fish. Long-handled nets are used for boat or shore fishing and fishing from docks and jetties. Short-handled nets are used for stream fishing. The size of the net depends on the size of the fish you plan to catch. Some people use a circular net with a long rope instead of a handle; this is used for pier and bridge fishing.

To net a fish, you must first have the fish under control as much as possible. Next, lead the fish to the net. Place the net in the water and lead the fish into the net head first. Then if the fish should try to escape, it will
swim into the net. Once the fish is completely in the net, raise the net by the handle. If you have a heavy fish, also grasp the net's rim to prevent the handle from bending or breaking.
A popular way to land bass is by hand. Carefully avoiding hooks, many bass anglers use the thumb and index finger to grip a bass by its lower jaw. This holds the jaw wide open and temporarily paralyzes the fish. This makes hook removal easier.
To handle a fish with sharp teeth such as walleye or northern pike,
carefully hold it around the body. Never hold a fish by the eyes or gills if you plan to free it. Other fish like Chinook or Atlantic salmon have a strong tail and you can grasp them in front of the tail fin.

Source Take Me Fishing
Http://takemefishing.org

image from : herndonrods.com

Packing Your Tackle Box - Essential Guide To Pack It Right

Author: Abhishek Agarwal
upplies, primarily the tackle box with the right equipment. It will not only help you know the value of your hook, line and sinker but work to actually reel in the catch of the day, just like that!



When people mention fishing equipment, the mind automatically flits around images of rods, reels and varieties of wriggling bait; what few know is that bait need not always be live or that there is more to the real fisherman’s tackle box than simply an assortment of hooks and lines.



Here, we learn about the most essential points of a fishing tackle box and what you need to know before getting yourself up in the mode for professionally being regarded as an avid angler!



You need to know there are many types of tackle boxes available both offline and online, (i.e. in local sports fishing stores and on the net besides second hand goods stores) that you can buy to store fishing tackle equipment in: these are made of different materials, such as plastic, aluminum and even powder-coated metal besides the old tin ones.



Whatever your choice of the tackle box material, be sure to source and buy one that is durable and easy to handle besides having strong handles that make it user-friendly to carry from the boat to the fishing spot and to your vehicle.



Look at the quality of the tackle box’s latch: this should be sturdy and hold the items in place without causing a spill-out at any time.

You may want to pull or tag at the latch to test its durability; this is why buying from a local store is recommended as the tackle box purchased online does not offer you the opportunity of testing the quality of the item.



You need to also invest in basic tackle box gear such as various sizes of hooks; lines and sinkers besides an extra spool for unexpected fishing tales.



The role of a sinker is to help the angler to position the bait just so that it is within easy range of the fish, right underneath the water’s surface. In order to get the bait beneath the water surface and right at the bottom, you may need to buy split-shot sinkers. Your best bet for buying the best kind of sinkers though, is purchasing ones either made from steel, tin or the ones made of non-toxic metals since those made from lead can poison some varieties of fish and are thus, avoidable.



Fishing bait on the other hand, can be determined according to your personal preferences and a wide, assorted variety of lures is available in the market today, ranging from bright colorful ones to small or really big, moving baits made of unique materials. You can even make your own bait or get live bait, depending on whether you are traditionally inclined or favor convenience store sports fishing support.



Therefore, whatever you decide about keeping in your tackle box, there really is no dearth of the kind of fun stuff out in the market today – right from snap swivels to needle-nose pliers and practice plugs or fishing maps to get your tackle box ready – just as you like it!
About the Author:
Abhishek is an avid Fishing enthusiast and he has got some great Fishing Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 116 Pages Ebook, "Fishing Mastery!" from his website http://www.Fishing-Masters.com/772/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/packing-your-tackle-box-essential-guide-to-pack-it-right-776107.html