Choosing the Right Bass Fishing Equipment

When it comes to bass fishing, or any other type of fishing for that matter, there is no shortage of products people will try to market to you. They have every color of lure and jig imaginable, spinning reels, baitcasting reels, rods of all different lengths and materials and the list goes on. The aim of a bass angler is to have the right bass fishing equipment for the job. The trouble is that the job is constantly changing. Anglers have to walk the fine line between being equipped for everything and not breaking the bank to do it. This article will provide some useful insight on what kind of bass fishing gear equipment is right for you so you can be prepared for as much as possible with your particular budget.

Have you ever wondered how T.V. fisherman can land fish after fish all day? Obviously a big part of that is that they know the behavior patterns of their fish like the back of their hand, but most people don't realize how much preparation goes into their gear. T.V. anglers have at least 5 or 6 rods already set up with whatever lures and jig rigs they think they might need for the day. That way if they encounter a change in the weather or if the fish just stop biting whatever they're using, they can switch it up in a second. Think of how much time you've wasted on the water tying knots, assembling rigs and changing lures? Now obviously it's not in the budget to go to the extreme with your bass fishing equipment that the professionals do, but even having just one baitcasting rod and one spincasting at the same time can make a world of difference. Consider this: it's a bright sunny day with very little wind in mid afternoon, therefore you're focusing your efforts in somewhat deeper water where the bass will be to get away from the heat and brightness of the sun. You're trolling a crankbait on a spincast rod and reel with moderate success when the weather suddenly changes. It turns cloudy, the wind picks up and all of the sudden you're not getting any strikes. Instead of spending 15 minutes setting up a Carolina rig to fish the shallows with, you just grab your baitcaster with the rig already set up and go. Say your Carolina rig isn't getting results and you want to try a top water popper, you can just take that crankbait off your spinning rod and throw on the popper. That way you won't create another 10 minute job for yourself next time you want to use the jig rig. It's still there, all set up for whenever you want to use it again.






Now if you're not too concerned with maximizing your time, you can always improve your effectiveness by diversifying your bass fishing equipment. Having a well rounded tackle box allows you to take advantage of different situations. I wont get in to what exactly you should be doing in these situations, I have other published articles about that, but for now I will say that having something you can use in shallow or deep, bright or dark, still or calm conditions will greatly improve your chances. I like to have a couple crankbaits of different colors, a top water lure or two, a jerkbait, some various colored spinners and an assortment of soft plastic worms and jigs. With that you should be covered, providing you know where and when to fish them. And even if you don't, you would at least have more to work with. It also helps to have a good assortment of colors.

Another great piece of bass fishing equipment is a fish finder. While not essential, a fish finder can provide you with invaluable information about water depth, structure and even the fish underneath you. If you're looking for a great item to add to your bass fishing equipment collection, perhaps its time to purchase a fish finder.

Ice Fishing Equipment - Your Basic Necessities

Ice fishing is very popular among fishing enthusiasts. This is due to its nature, where you do not need many supplies, and the supplies that you might need are affordable and won't burn a hole through your pocket. This article will discuss some of this important equipment.

Do keep in mind that with the many choices of equipment available, you are bound to find that the prices for the equipment range from the very cheap to the very expensive. What you need is to get equipment that is of reasonable quality, something that will last you more than a fishing season. Always try to avoid the very cheap equipment as they can be flimsy and not last long, which means you need to replace them often. The wiser bet is for you to purchase slightly higher priced equipment so that you are guaranteed of a couple fishing seasons.

Fishing rods: all fishing equipment lists should start with a good quality fishing rod, including ice fishing. A good fishing rod for ice fishing is short and very strong to make sure that it can take the strain and weight of the fish. Ice fishing can also make use of the tip up, a rod or a reel that is attached to a board or a 'cap' that is placed above the hole in the ice. There is also a flag or a small marker which is connected to the rod or the spring. This means that when you catch a fish, the marker will move to alert you and you can then start to work on the line and hook the fish. Most of the time, anglers will have several lines in ice holes with tip-ups so that they can see which line the fish is biting. When they see the marker, they'll then concentrate on single line fishing on that particular ice hole.

Fishing lines: when you go ice fishing, do keep in mind that the lines that you use in spinners or during fly fishing which is called the monofilament line is not suitable. Monofilament lines will not be able to take the weight, thus a braided line with a test weight of about 10 to 20 pounds will be a better choice. The braided line is your best bet as it is very suitable for withstanding the cold and icy conditions during an ice fishing trip.

Fishing baits and lures: for ice fishing you can use almost any type of lures. However the best choice would be to use the colorful and shiny minnows, plastic worms, live bait and ice jigs. These are the times that you should have in your tackle box before you go ice fishing.





Ice auger: An ice auger can save you a lot of time as it helps you cut the ice for your ice hole. Pick one that is gas operated, and you will find that you can save money and time using an auger. Do remember that the safe depth for ice fishing is at least 4 inches.

Shelter: now that you're going to fish, you need some sort of shelter to break the wind. A simple three-sided frame with a tarp stretched across would be just as effective as the many different types of canvas, plastic and even insulated shelters or 'igloo' shelters that are available in the market. A good shelter can be pulled onto the lake or be set up once you get there.

Skimmer: a skimmer is a flat slotted paddle or a slotted spoon. Its function is to remove the ice crystals from the fishing hole. Also, many anglers now have 'caps' which can help to provide a thermal layer over the fishing hole and in turn prevents in from freezing over.

First aid kit: anytime you are outdoors, you should carry a first aid kit with you. Now that you'll be out in the cold, you'll get cold fingers which are prone to cuts on hooks, so carry a first aid kit and you'll be prepared for what is to come.

And finally, do remember to have all important documents together with your fishing equipment. This includes your identification and your current fishing license. Other additional supplies such as chairs, blankets, heaters or even a camping stove can certainly provide more comfort for you and will add to your ice fishing experience.

Fishing Equipment - How Much Do You Really Need?

So what to you need nowadays to go fishing?

Well, the basics are of course a rod, a fishing line, weights, hook and bait; however, it doesn't always stop there.

Equipment needed for fishing would also depend on which type of fishing you want to do. Types of fishing include, deep sea fishing, lake fishing, pond fishing, canal fishing or perhaps carp fishing.

Some types of fishing also require a licence, so it is important to find out if your chosen type of fishing involves you applying for a fishing licence.

The ideal way to find out exactly what you would need for your chosen type of fishing would be to walk into a tackle shop and discuss equipment with the person behind the counter.






If you walk into a fishing shop, presented before you would be a mass of equipment and accessories from rods and reels to chairs and tents. You could even buy an electronic bite alert, therefore, talking to someone experienced would be a great help when considering what equipment you need.

Fishing equipment can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. Fishing in lakes and ponds may only require the bear minimum. Why take the fun out of fishing by adding all the expense? We already know it is possible to enjoy a great day out fishing without having to spend a fortune on equipment.

For the more serious fisherman, using a wooden pole and stones as weights simply would not do, especially if they are on a fishing weekend.

Fishing at night is said to be more successful than daytime fishing if you want to bait a particular fish. Most fish are more active at night looking for their feed, therefore, many fisherman will leave their homes at 11 - 12 pm at night to set up for a nights fishing.

On top of your essential fishing equipment, you would also need to consider waterproof clothing, a large umbrella, seating and perhaps even a tent.

Once you do have your equipment, and you have spent the day on the lakes catching your bait, remember to rinse off your reels and rods in fresh water, this is especially so if you have been fishing in salt water.

Most equipment is fine in a cool dry environment, but do not be tempted to lean your rod up against a wall, this could cause your rod to warp, instead, store them vertically or horizontally.

Whatever equipment you decide to purchase for the type of fishing you choose, we all know that fishing is fun.

A recent study showed that most fisherman fish for any type of fish and happy with whatever they catch, just as long as they catch something. In this case, equipment needed for fishing would perhaps prove to be less expensive and a lot more fun.

This is the type of fishing the kids are interested in, however, you still have to watch those pockets, as kids come up with all kinds of equipment they 'need' and just cannot do without. Sound familiar?