Geared to Fish

Welcome back to the Importance of Fishing. In this post we will take a more detailed look at some of the gear associated with fishing and what fish are typically targeted with the use of said gear.

 

The picture above is of a  Bass Pro Shops Graphite Series Spinning Rod. This rod comes in a variety of different lengths and actions. The action is defined as light, medium, medium heavy, and heavy. In layman's terms the length and action are often referred to as a rod's "backbone". On a spinning rod the reel is mounted underneath the rod as you would hold it. This rod can also be purchased as a baitcaster. A baitcaster has an open faced reel that mounts on top of the rod as you would hold it. I selected this rod for several reason. The first reason is because of it's quality make with an affordable price tag. The other main reason for choosing this rod is because of it's great crossover ability. This rod can be used effectively in both fresh and saltwater scenarios. In freshwater this rod has plenty of "backbone" to land lunker bass or large catfish. It can be used in saltwater in similar fashion to catch trout and has the strength to handle Redfish as well. 

 

The reel on the left is an example of a spinning reel, and the reel on the right is an example of a baitcasting reel. Different fisherman have different preferences when it comes to which style of reel they prefer to use, and the reels have different styles in which you fish them, but no matter which reel you decide to use, they are both capable of catching the same fish. Most fisherman will agree that the baitcasting reel is more difficult to master and fish with. One of the challenges that determine which reel I use is the wind. If it is windy, then I will not even try to use a baitcaster. However, if the wind is not blowing, then I will use a baitcaster for it's ability to cast further and more accurately. The spinning reel is a reliable all weather reel that any fisherman can learn to use quickly.

In my next post we will take a look at the future of fishing and some of the problems and concerns that affect both commercial and recreational fisherman. I will also add my personal feelings concerning these issues and whether these problems are being properly addressed.