This article will teach people about the different types of equipment they can use for fishing.
Fishing rods
Fishing rods are used to cast your line into the water to try and catch fish. They vary in length, weight, and material (commonly graphite or bamboo). The type you buy depends on your preference. Long rods are typically more accurate but harder to hold than shorter ones. Short rods usually have less accuracy but make it easier to reel in the line when a fish is caught (thus preventing them from breaking away).
Fishing Reels
Reels are used to attach your line and lure to the rod so you can cast your line across the water and reel it back in. They range in size and, depending on the type, come with either a crank or a button for reeling in your line. Reels typically have adjustable drag systems, so if a fish is on your line, you can loosen it up to prevent them from breaking the line, allowing lee-way for the fish to tire itself out. Like other types of equipment, the size matters; bigger reels typically allow further casts but get harder to reel when cranking under pressure (such as when fighting a massive fish).
Fishing Lines
Lines are used for catching fish. They come in different thicknesses and materials (monofilament, braided, fluorocarbon), but there’s a wide range of line weights and strengths even within these categories. Depending on how deep you’re going to be fishing and what type of fish you’re after, it might be wise to buy one that isn’t too thin or too strong; if your line is too thin, then it could break; if it’s too strong, then the weight of a catch might snap your pole.
Fishing Sinkers
Sinkers are used on your line to help get your bait deeper into the water so you can catch bigger or deeper fish. They typically come in different types of metal, but not all sinkers are created equal since they vary in size and weight depending on what kind of fishing you’re doing. Again, this depends on how deep you’re going to be fishing and what type of bait you’re using; if it’s too heavy, then your line might snap at the first nibble.
Fishing Hook
A fishing hook is a curved or bent device with a sharp-pointed end attached to the line. A fishing hook can be made from bone, metal, plastic, wood, or other available substances. A “barb” is usually located on the pointed end of the hook. A barb is a design feature meant to snag the fish once it chomps the bait and sets the hook within the mouth of the fish. There are different hooks depending on what bait you’re using and the fish you’re after.
Fishing Lures
Lures are used to imitate bait that fish might eat. They usually have a bit of weight at the bottom if they’re sinkers or divers, or an air bubble within to float and pop along the water surface called a “top-floater.” Lures come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and materials (metal, plastic, and rubber being the most common) depending on what kind of fish you’re trying to catch. The design matters because it affects how the lure moves through the water, enticing different types of fish.
Now that you know what types of fishing equipment are out there and how they work, you should feel more confident about what equipment you need before visiting your local bait shop or fishing store.