Finding the Right Fishing Equipment for Your Needs
When selecting fishing gear, you always need to keep in mind the species you will be targeting and how you will be fishing for that species. You also need to know where you intend on fishing, and whether it is freshwater or saltwater.
Saltwater Fishing Gear
In general, saltwater fishing gear will cost more than freshwater gear. This is because the fish are generally a lot larger so they need much stronger rods, lines and reels. Also, the gear needs to be able to withstand corrosion caused by saltwater.
Tuna are some of the biggest monsters in the sea, so if you are going to invest in tuna fishing gear, be sure to try and get the best quality products you can. These fish can way upwards of 700 to 800 lbs and they put up a good fight.
Salmon fishing is often done at sea along the western coast of North America and is especially popular around Alaska. Your salmon fishing gear for marine settings is again, not going to be cheap. Get what you believe will hold up because you don’t want to find out on the water that the inexpensive rod you purchased won’t stand up to a 40 lbs salmon.
Halibut fishing gear is not quite as expensive as what you need for shark or a tuna, but it can get expensive quick. Go with what local anglers are using. No matter what you think you know about halibut fishing gear, it can differ depending on the location so if you are unfamiliar, take the kind advice you’re given.
Freshwater Fishing Gear
Different types of fishing gear is used for different species of freshwater fish, and for different method of catching the fish.
Steelhead fishing gear usually consists of a long float rod with a light spinning reel or centerpin reel. The long rod is helpful when fighting the strong fish on light line.
Freshwater fishing gear doesn’t need to resist corrosion like saltwater fishing gear, so it is usually less expensive and made from lighter materials.
Jack Bollinger
Walleye fishing gear usually consists of medium action 6′-7′ spinning rods and 6-10 pound test line. Longer and heavier gear is used when trolling, and shorter and light gear is used when jig fishing.
Pike fishing gear, unlike walleye gear, has to be heavy to haul in these big toothy brutes. Heavy power fast action rods are used with baitcasting reels and 20-60 pound test line. Wire or heavy fluorocarbon leaders should be used with fishing for pike to prevent them from biting through the line.
Catfish fishing gear usually includes a long heavy rod that helps cast further and fight big catfish. Catfish spinning reels often include a free-spool switch that allows the fish to take line off the spool with little resistance until the angler is ready to set the hook.
3 Tips For Finding Cheap Fishing Gear
1. Wait For Your Local Gear Store To Put Fishing Gear On Sale
You would be surprised at how many people never look for fishing gear for sale in their local shops. They will shell out huge amounts of money on the latest and the greatest, but if you search out the sales and hang around the shops you will learn when the gear goes on sale. You can pick up excellent bargains if you look for sales at the right time of year. It is a tremendous way to save a good deal of money and it’s very easy to do.
2. Buy Used Fishing Gear
You can save a whole lot of money with used fishing gear. If you aren’t sure where you would find that, here are a few ideas: garage sales, thrift stores, newspaper classified ads and the online site craigslist. Anglers upgrade their rods, reels and tackle from time to time, and sell their old gear.
3. Buy Fishing Gear Online
This is a terrific way to save money and get exactly what you want. As great as local shops can be, you are going to pay more when you buy fishing gear there. That is how retail works and these days if you shop online you get fast delivery, a huge number of options and a whole lot of really excellent products you might never see in your local shop.
