Croix offers a five-year warranty for its Triumph rod, which we tested as a possible upgrade pick. Another problem with the Ugly Stik GX2 is that the guides are not always perfectly placed. Compared with the similarly priced Ugly Stik models, the Shimano Saguaro is a stiffer graphite composite. If you plan to fish with care and not with children , the Saguaro can make an excellent rod for medium-weight jigging and topwater fishing, but it is less than ideal for lightweight artificial lures or bait fishing, and nowhere near as sturdy as an Ugly Stik.
But the GX2 is more versatile and cheaper. If the Ugly Stik GX2 is unavailable, or if you know you want something stiffer for doing more lure fishing, the Ugly Stik Elite series is a good bet. Second, while the GX2 is the direct successor to the classic Ugly Stik, which had four decades of acclaim behind it, the Elite series is a whole new line. For most anglers, however, the GX2 is the better bet. The Daiwa BG SW series is our reel pick because these reels are built tougher than any similarly priced competition.
Consider sizes to for small freshwater and inshore saltwater species, to for medium freshwater and saltwater species, to for surf fishing, and to for larger fish, including some pelagic fish like mahi mahi and small tuna. Mechanically, the Daiwa BG SW reels stand head and shoulders above competitors within the same price range for a handful of reasons. And finally, one small but brilliant finishing touch: The spool has a small hole drilled in it to prevent rust and allow trapped water to escape.
Daiwa no longer states on its website that the BG SW has a machined aluminum gear, but the company avoids mentioning what material the gear is made of. This slightly larger, more expensive reel is durable and has a high drag for targeting larger fish. The Okuma Azores reels are simple but powerful, with a design and drag comparable to those of the Daiwa BG SW , but they can be slightly more expensive depending on the size you select we recommend the ZS size for all-around use.
This means it will perform well in the surf or at greater depths 60 feet or more , where excess line is often necessary. Forty-four pounds of drag or tension is about as much drag as any human can handle before being yanked off their feet anyhow.
That bodes well for the long-term durability of the Azores, despite the relative lack of internal grease compared with other models.
Overall, the Azores is a capable reel, but its larger size and slightly higher price mean that the BG SW is both more versatile and a better value for most people. Regardless of what rod or reel you get, salt is the enemy—even with gear specifically designed for use in the ocean. If you want to be particularly diligent when cleaning your fishing gear it will pay off in the long run , you can soak a cloth in freshwater even with a little soap—boat soap works and wipe everything down.
Once finished, loosen the drag; if you leave reel drags tight, they tend to get stuck that way and lose their precision. Additionally, keeping your reel packed with grease will reduce corrosion and improve longevity.
Although a good rod and reel are crucial for the beginning angler, managing the necessary tackle hooks, lines, sinkers, floats, and so forth for your fishing expedition can also make or break your experience. But to keep things flexible and give yourself room to grow and try out different environments, we think investing in a simple yet multipurpose tackle bag is a good place to start.
In comparison with the tackle boxes of old—whose fold-out compartments resembled hardware storage more than outdoors equipment—a well-constructed tackle bag with individual compartments, carabiner loops, and a supportive shoulder strap will lessen the load of hiking to remote spots or bringing necessities with you while wading into a river. We spoke with senior editor and lifetime angler Grant Clauser about his preferences for tackle storage.
And though he agreed that there is likely no single bag that will suit anything from fly-fishing to deep-water trowling, he had a few suggestions for what to look for. Fiberglass is also a popular option among anglers going after larger, more aggressive species like muskellunge and pike. Additionally, there are composite options that combine fiberglass and graphite.
If you are an angler who uses one rod for multiple conditions, this combination can complement your style. Consider your skill level and preferred fishing methods to best determine which material can be an asset to your fishing capabilities.
Power and action have as much to do with fishing rods as they do with the next summer blockbuster. While power and action are similar, having the right combination of the two is essential to making sure your bait and lure presentations work right in the water.
Power is the amount of force necessary to bend the fishing rod. Power is also sometimes referred to as the rod weight. While power is how much a fishing rod will bend, action is defined as where along the blank the bend occurs. Fast action rods are great for throwing heavier baits or around heavy cover where anglers need to jerk their catches out of vegetation. Slow action rods are ideal for lighter lures and slower baits.
There are other action classes in-between, such as medium action rods that combine the best of both worlds for an all-around versatile option.
Now that you know what length you want your rod to be and how much power and action you need in your pole, the last decision you have to make as an angler is what style of rod you would like to use. Fishing rods come in two general styles, with variations according to intended species and environment. Casting rods are designed with the guides on top of the blank and allow fishermen to better place their casts with more accuracy and precision. They can come in either baitcasting or spincasting models to match either type of reel.
They are very strong poles that are intended to be used for catching very large carp that patrol the marginal shelves of commercial carp fisheries. Margin poles are great for young pleasure anglers, as well as professional match anglers, because they are light, robust and almost unbreakable.
Carp poles are again very strong because they are designed to cope with the stresses of catching big, powerful fish quickly and regularly. This extra strength comes with additional weight due to the increased thickness of the pole sections. They are available in a wide variety of lengths from 10m through to over Most are supplied with additional top kits and most will handle the thickest grades of elastic available.
Match poles are the lightest, stiffest and best-balanced poles. They are designed for catching small to average-sized fish with all manner of elastic grades, but not the strongest grades. These are the poles that most match anglers use when tackling canals, mixed stillwaters and rivers where finesse is required.
Match poles tend to be long — The answer to this question should depend upon the fisheries you tackle and the fish you want to catch, not the amount of spare cash you have, and not what pole your mates own.
If you tackle commercial fisheries that are stocked with all manner of different species big and small and you enjoy catching them all, an all-round match pole would be best. If you tackle commercial carp waters with one aim only — to catch carp — then a carp pole or a margin pole will be the obvious choice. The key here, when buying a new pole, is to pick the longest you can afford as that will open up more options to you in terms of reaching fish-holding features.
If your budget allows it, try to buy either a Most poles have their weight printed on the butt end sections, in catalogues and on websites. Drennan are the only pole manufacturing company who have seen sense and have realised this. Bait falls into two categories either live baits or prepared baits. Below are some examples of each type and typical ways to hook each. These come in a variety of choices, like earthworms, red worms and night crawlers. If you buy worms from the store, they usually come in a Styrofoam container.
You should store in the refrigerator when not fishing. Hooking: Ensure to loop the worm through the hook times with some less than 1-inch or 2. More than an inch of worm dangling will allow a fish to nibble the worm without biting the hook. These are excellent bait for heavier fish like bass and catfish. Buy them from most local bait and tackle shops. These are a general term used by anglers to mean any small bait fish.
Bait fish are usually shiners, chubs and dace or minnows. Hooking: Insert the hook through the lips or under their dorsal fin. Avoid hooking too low through the backbone if hooking under their dorsal fin. This is because the minnow will bleed out and die. Dead bait is not as effective in attracting fish. You can buy this very common dough bait in most bait shops or fishing retailers. Dough bait is a scented putty like substance that comes in small glass jars.
Anglers use it for targeting trout, carp or catfish. They do this to help attract the fish depending on time of day and water clarity. Most people agree that buying a bright green and rainbow colors are great for beginners. As beginner though, a single hook is cheaper to buy and easier to use. To hook this bait, mold a piece of the bait around the hook. These are available in two ways; you can either buy real preserved eggs or buy imitation eggs Power Eggs.
Power eggs come in different flavors and colors. What you choose will depend on your own comfort with salmon eggs. Hooking Salmon Eggs: Use a single hook and thread a single egg through the point and barb. Being gentle, pull and twist the egg back into the barb to secure the egg.
If you prefer to use a treble hook, you can do this same method on each hook barb. Lures are like man-made baits except they use movement, vibration, flash and color to lure fish. Lures do tend to be more expensive to buy than live or prepared baits. Plus they are more prone to snags and snaps if entangled with obstacles. While losing lures can be a pain, they are very effective in getting certain types of fish to bite. In fishing lingo, lure presentation is the actual technique used to catch the fish.
Below are five typical types of lures: plugs, spinners, soft plastic baits, jigs, and spoons. In addition, I give a simple presentation for each type. In the past, made of carved wood, plugs are these days made of many materials including plastic and cork. Plugs resemble bait fish, frogs or other marine prey and have two or three treble hooks.
Depending on the design, a plug can float, dive or do both. Floating plugs include stick baits, prop baits, and crawlers. Diving plugs include crank baits, minnow plugs, trolling plugs and jerk baits. Dependent of which type you choose, plugs are available in a variety of sizes. They can wobble, rattle or gurgle when moving to aid in attracting fish. A great option for beginners is the minnow plug; make sure to add a split ring to its eye.
A minnow plug is long and narrow, about four inches in length. After you cast, this plug will float at the start, then dive and sit right below the surface of the water. Watch for the rings on the surface of the water to disappear. Next, choose to either reel it in slow or fast. While reeling in ensure to twitch the rod and make intermittent stops to activate the lure.
This will help attract the fish to bite. This type of lure is awesome for beginners since they are simple to use. A spinner is a metal shaft with spinning blade. You can leave the hook bare or dress it with bait. Reeling in a spinner through water will cause the blade to spin. This spinning motion creates sound and vibration that attracts the fish to the lure. In addition, if you fish in murky water spinners are a great choice.
As you start reeling in the blade begins spinning and working to attract fish. These are flexible lures made by pouring liquid plastic into a mold. Then they add dyes, metallic flakes, and sometimes scent.
These molds are in shapes of what fish eat like worms, grubs, lizards, crayfish and minnows. This helps give the angler a greater chance to hook the fish. Lure presentation with soft plastic baits will depend on the shape of bait. Use a bullet sinker weight, first thread and secure it to the leader line. Next, rotate the hook out of the bottom of the worm. Now push the hook point and barb through the mid-section of the worm, so the bait lays parallel to the hook shaft. Once rigged, you can direct your cast to the desired area.
Let the rigged hook disappear underwater and fall to the bottom. Then twitch the tip of your rod a few times until you feel a bite. Sometimes this action might not be enough, so try to tug the rod back to imitate light twitchy hop backs. A jig lure is a weighted metal or lead head with a body and tail. The tail is either made of feathers, soft plastics, animal hair or a chosen bait. They come in infinite sizes, colors and patterns. Using a jig lure is all about concentration and practice.
Doing nothing after you cast means the jig stays motionless and sinks to the bottom. You will know it has hit bottom when the main line goes slack. So, cast out and let the jig sink to the bottom. Next you will begin a hopping-in reel action.
To do this start by jerking up and lifting the rod tip, then lowering it, while also reeling in your line. Attempt big hops and little hops, or twitching while reeling in. As said before, you need to practice this until you find what works for you. Detecting a fish bite is the toughest aspect about jig lure fishing. These are metal curved lures shaped like a spoon. To attract fish, you move the lure to cause a side-to-side wobble which resembles an injured bait fish.
Nature is unfortunately cruel and most fish bass love to hunt injured bait fish. Spoon lures come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so there is a lure for every fishing situation.
Using spoon lures will depend on what technique you choose to use. Some spoon lures are casting types, others are good for trolling, and some you can use for jigging. For beginners, I recommend sticking with a casting spoon. Casting spoons, or spinner lures, use a simple cast and retrieve movement. As long as the lure is wobbling you can increase or decrease speed.
However, if the spoon begins to spin, then slow down your reeling in. By now you should have a basic understanding about what a fishing rod, reel and tackle is. Good job! This is a lot of information to learn in one sitting. For novices looking for a sample of a fishing rod setup that will give you great all-around results. Look no further, below is my bare-bones example to help you get started as an angler. This means you can go to a reputable tackle shop or buy online a rod and reel in a package deal.
Balanced means matching the rod and reel to hold the same size line. Likewise, balanced gear helps each individual part to perform as effectively as possible. This is the other common option for those of you who enjoy research as much as I do. Buy a rod and reel on their own.
If you are unsure of which rod specifications will match a reel, I include some basic tips. Look near the handle, on the butt-end of the rod for the specifications. The specifications tell you length, action, line strength and sometimes lure size. As seen in the above infographic, it shows 8-pound test line. The diagram below shows a sample rod that works with the infographic. Next, match the reel and look at the specifications on the reel.
Sometimes you will find them on the box they come in. In general, good quality reels will have the specs printed on the spool body. For our sample look for reels with 8-pound test line in the mid-range of the specs. A sample reel specification that works with our beginner rod setup may state:.
This reel specification will give you ample room to be a beginner and allow you to grow in ability. As you can read, choosing a fishing rod and reel is a thorough subject that needs a lot of research and personal choice.
All that is left to say is good luck and have a great time out on the water! This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website: more info. Choose Your Location Next, choose where you intend to fish, either freshwater or saltwater. Share This Article:. Darren Coleman September 15, Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on reddit.
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