Fishing Tackle

Fishing is a great way to spend time with friends. It's the perfect activity to get away from the city, relax and maybe bring home dinner. If you've never tried it, we highly recommend that you do. But before you head out with your friends, there are a few things you should have in your tackle box.

If you're a beginner, buying fishing tackle can be a daunting task. There are many rods, reels, baits and accessories that you can find on the market, not to mention that they each have their own characteristics. Anglers are used to bringing a tackle box full of fishing equipment, but every box will have the same basic fishing gear besides rods and reels.
Below are the fishing tackle that most anglers have in their arsenal, so you can get a better idea of what you need to get started.

Fishing equipment for beginners

Here's everything you need to start fishing:

• fishing rod
• reel
• lead
• hook
• fishing weight
• bait
• lure
• swivels
• knife

Fishing Rod and Reel

Beginner fishing rods are slim rods that are made of a flexible but strong material, usually fiberglass or graphite, to allow you to cast your fishing line farther and deeper into the water. They can be classified according to their strength (power), responsiveness and action (bending capacity). Choosing the right rod for you should depend on the type of fishing you are going to do. If you are a beginner, use a rod with medium strength to be able to guide different types of fish and enough reactivity so that you can easily feel when the fish is biting and allow you to get it out of the water quickly. The ideal length of a fishing rod should be about 12 inches (30 centimeters) longer than your height.

As for your fishing reel , it is attached to your rod to help you reel in your line and attract your catch. They are lightweight, affordable and easy to handle. Spinning reels, in particular, are quite versatile as they are good for fishing from shore, on a dock or on a boat. When fishing the shallow waters of the dock, a long stick with a line should be enough to catch a small fish. However, there are also many cheap surfcasting rod and reel combos that you can start with.

Fishing Line

You probably already know you'll need fishing line. In fact, your new spool may already come with a reel or two, but always remember to bring extras. It's normal for fishing line to tangle or break, whether it's from being caught on logs or bitten by a particularly strong fish.
You'll also need a variety of single braids or braids specifically designed for fishing, with different strengths and weights. Many of these are rated for visibility and elasticity, with strength varying depending on the type of fish you're after.

Harsh environmental conditions require heavier, stronger fishing lines, while clear water generally requires thin, clear, stealthy lines (like braided lines) so your fish don't run away. You can also try monofilament lines, which are very easy to tie.

Remember that you should never have less than 100 yards of line on your reel. Many beginner reels also have fishing lines that are already wound on the spool.

Fishing hooks

In addition to lines, you will need to incorporate dasn your fishing gear an assortment of hooks to catch fish of different sizes. There are also different types of hooks, such as single hooks, double hooks, circle hooks, etc. But if you are a beginner, it is best to start with single hooks. The sizes range from number 32 (smallest) to 19/0 (largest).

Fishing Bait

Bait is what you attach to the end of your line to attract fish. The best option is usually live bait. Again, different types of fish are attracted to different types of food. You should be well equipped with one of the two most common and effective live baits: worms and minnows (small freshwater fish). Other inexpensive options include grubs, corn, smooshed bread, marshmallows or hot dog pieces. You can get live bait from your local bait store or simply dig up the worms in your garden on a dewy night. Store them in a can with grass and soil, and place the container in a cool, dark place until you are ready to take them out.

Fishing Lures

Fishing lures are essentially artificial baits designed to imitate real fish to attract a fish's attention. Anglers keep them in their tackle boxes in case they run out of live bait or simply prefer to use recyclable plastic lures. Once you get your feet wet, you'll find that a variety of lures make it easier to catch specific types of fish and to be successful in different weather and water conditions.

For example, light-colored lures are ideal for clear days and clear water, while dark-colored lures are used on cloudy days and in murky water. Two-tone plastic worms, with a darker head and a brightly colored tail, are also great for murky water. Plastic worms, especially those with long tails, are also very effective if you're fishing for bass. At the water's edge, you may encounter anglers who swear by certain colors of artificial lures.

Fishing Floats

Floats help keep your bait closer to the surface and let you know when a fish has taken interest in your bait. You'll see the cork sink when a fish bites the bait, and that's your signal to bring in your catch. This important role makes floats an essential part of your fishing tackle arsenal.

Like your bait and lure, you have several choices when it comes to floats. Traditional ones are cork with a stick inside so you can attach them to your line. The most popular and commonly used are the red and white round plastics. They are easy to attach to the line but can limit the depth you cast. There are also these more elongated slip floats, which you can slide along the line and can help you sink your hook deeper into the water.

Try not to make the mistake of buying floats that are too big. It's important to have a float that floats but will also sink once a fish takes your bait, so it's best to have smaller, more responsive ones.

Fishing Leads

Another important item you'll need dasn your fishing gear is a sinker. For every line you cast, you'll need to tie one on so that your line stabilizes as your light hook and bait sink into the water. Make sure you have plenty of them on hand, as you'll likely lose them at some point during particularly long fishing sessions.

Lead sinkers are traditionally made of lead, but newer, more environmentally friendly ones like brass, tungsten and steel. They also come in different shapes and weights, depending on how deep you want your hook to go. You can also find small split shot, which are very small round sinkers that you can easily clip on and off your line. In addition to helping you keep the bait close to your desired depth, split shot can keep your floats longer standing in the water (when stacked at the bottom of your float).

Fishing Swivels

You will find that some baits and lures will spin your line until your line is twisted. A swivel can serve as a connecting tool between your line and the bait and allows the bait to spin and move freely, like a live bait, without affecting your line.
The swivel itself has a loop on each end, but you can add a plug-in component to save you time in attaching different lures, baits and lines.

Fine Nose Pliers for Fishing

Fine nose pliers are great for removing hooks from your catch, so you don't have to risk injury from sharp teeth or the hook end. You may also need them to remove hooks from your skin in case of an accident. Basically, any pair of fine-nosed pliers will do, but you'll want to invest in stainless steel pliers and maybe one with a bent, angled tip so it's easier to pull the hooks out or bend them for a better curve.

Polarized sunglasses fishing

When fishing in daylight, it can sometimes be difficult to see where the fish are because the sun can create a glare on the surface of the water. Be sure to bring a good pair of sunglasses, such as polarized sunglasses, which have polarized lenses that allow you to better see below the surface and locate fish. In addition, polarized sunglasses are designed to protect your eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays.

Fishing Box

Last but not least is the fishing box. This is where you will store your hooks, sinkers, lures, pliers and all your other small tools. This will not only help you carry your fishing gear, but also keep everything organized. Fishing boxes come in many shapes and sizes, depending on the type of fishing you do (sports or hobby), preferred style of fishing, size of fish you'll be catching and many other factors.

If you plan to fish from shore, small tackle boxes that can fit in your bag may suffice. When fishing from shore, simply bring a small tackle box as it would be easier to carry than having to lug a large one around. You will probably need to update your box with the appropriate fishing tackle for each of your trips so you can bring a small box.