One of the best things about having a new passion is shopping for a new ‘toy’ that would complement and fulfill your chosen passion. As exciting as it could be, it is also one of the most delicate ones. Choose the wrong one, and you’re headed for a big failure, or ‘disaster’ if you want to use that term.
The brand, the shine, the shape, the chrome, or the popularity should not be the main criteria to use when purchasing such items.
Fishing is not different from a long list of diverse hobbies today which needs quality in choosing the right equipment for them, so before heading straight to your nearest river to pull up a thousand fish, here are the basic and most important equipment to buy for your fishing needs.
FISHING LINE
Fishing lines are classified through strengths, weights, castability, elasticity and visibility (the last one is the most interesting of all). The one that you’re going to buy must depend on the species of fish you’re trying to catch. At first, it might seem elaborate, but the reason why there are options is that each classification of lines corresponds to the different features and characteristics of various types of fish.
FISHING ROD AND REEL
Fishing rods are quite amazing; they are durable yet flexible, thanks to its wonderful material, which can be fiberglass or graphite. This durability-flexibility combination is perfect to enable you to cast your fishing line further and deeper into the water.
Take note that when buying a fishing rod, you won’t find just one kind but quite a lot. It is classified by their action (bending capability), strength (power), responsiveness and taper. When buying the necessary rod, the online world is a big help as you’ll an idea of what rod you are purchasing by looking at the review section. There are tips from sites, like fishing supply world that you can use to identify which ones are good rods.
For beginners, they must use a rod with medium strength so that you can easily angle different kinds of fish but with enough responsiveness that you can easily feel the fish.
Why is responsiveness so important? Because it’s a signal that you need to reel your rod out of the water, quick, before the fish ‘decides’ to escape.
Now, let’s take a look at the Fishing Reel. It is a part that is attached to your rod to help you wind your line and draw the hapless fish you’ve just caught. It has all the qualities that perfectly complements your fishing rod: lightweight, easy to handle and affordable. What’s good with its spinning reel is that you can use it whether you’re in a boat, on a shore or even in a pier.
HOOKS
This is the rumor that the fish-o-landia has been denying all along: hooks! And they come in different shapes and sizes to catch any fish that humans up there desire to catch. Somebody break the news to the fishes!
Beginners must also be aware that hooks also come in different types like single, double, and treble, but if you’re just starting out with fishing (that’s why you’re reading this in the first place), you must first begin with Single Hooks.
How do hooks catch fish exactly? Fish accidentally pokes their mouths straight into a hook’s pointed end because the food that lured them is tied on the line’s end. They bite the nibble, and they bite the hook.
BAIT
This is what drives the fish to hook themselves up into the deadly points of the hook: the bait. Bait is what is attached to the end of your line to lure a fish into coming to your hooks. The best type to use is a live bait, one with real flesh so that fish can be attracted to it.
Worms and minnows (small freshwater fish) are 2 of the most common types of baits. Aside from that, those who are just beginning with fishing must first try other cheap options, like smooshed bread, marshmallows, grubs and even hotdogs.
LURES
Lures are artificial baits. If you want something that’s reusable and you don’t want the icky stuff, then this one is for you.
Lures are shaped and colored to be a replica of a real fish to get the attention of a fish, but of course, lures now come in all shapes and sizes.
One thing that beginners should take note of is that specific colors of baits are intended to be used in different weathers. For a bright and clear sky, it is best to use light-colored hues, while for cloudy days and in murky waters, it is best to use dark-colored lures and two-toned plastic worms.