| People, of all ages, love to go fishing. What a peaceful | | | | released when open. |
| way to spend your day. | | | | You can buy a combination of a good all purpose |
| Many of us have very stressful jobs. Even if you can | | | | (all-round rod and reel) that is great to catch fish in |
| get away, for at least part of day, it is a nice way to | | | | many sizes. |
| relax. When you are out there fishing there are so | | | | Medium Light Rods: 5.5 to 6.6 feet long with a reel that |
| many thing to see such as loons popping up for air | | | | matches can hold lines from 4-pound test to 12 pound |
| then diving down for fish, sea gulls swooping | | | | test are good mainly for fishing in ponds, small lakes |
| overheard, frogs jumping in, turtles laying in the sun on | | | | and rivers |
| a nearby rock, water snakes gliding smoothing through | | | | Line: The best line to start out with is the 8-pound test |
| the water, watching fish weave their way effortlessly | | | | monofilament line, which is lighter and casts father. It is |
| through the seaweed and dragon flies skimming by | | | | also good because you get more bites from skittish |
| close to the water's surface. There are just so many | | | | fish and the heavier lines to pull out of snags. Read the |
| wondrous sights. | | | | instructions when you buy your reel and line to see |
| The basic things that a fisherman needs are a good | | | | how much 8 pound line can be held. Most of the time, |
| rod and reel, a hook and worms. You do not need to | | | | a 100-yard spool is big enough to fill up a medium-light |
| know a lot about fishing to have fun. Sure there are so | | | | reel. You know it is full when the wrapped line is about |
| many types of tackle/gear that you could purchase if | | | | 1.16 inch from the outer edge of the spool. Always |
| you want. But if you really want to, you can easily | | | | check for knots in the line. The knots make it harder to |
| pack your tackle box full with a good selection of reels, | | | | cast and the knots make the line weaker. |
| hooks, spinners and bait. | | | | Fish Equipment (Gear): |
| The Reel and Rod: | | | | Going to a sporting goods store for the first time is |
| My grandparents only used a stick and a line to fish for | | | | quite the eye-opener. You will find bins of hundreds of |
| their dinners. Fish was plenty back then. They are not | | | | lures, artificial bates, hooks, sinkers, bobbers, etc. You |
| seen anymore. Now with, modern technology the | | | | can easily start to think that you will need to buy a |
| shelves in the stores are packed with great equipment. | | | | wide variety of items. |
| You can buy a rod and reel from between $10 and | | | | But if you are just starting out, then this is all you need. |
| $10,000. | | | | Beginners Shopping List: |
| If you choose to spin fish then you require a reel that | | | | -One package of Size 6 hooks |
| lays line around a fixed spool. The will let the spool end | | | | -A "wheel" of split shot in assorted sizes. |
| point toward the guides on the rod, and when the line | | | | -One package of Three bell sinkers,1/2 -ounce. |
| is cast the line falls off in loops. | | | | -One small plastic tackle box. |
| Closed faced and Open faced are the two main | | | | -Two or three bobbers, sizes small and medium |
| types of spin reels. | | | | -Monofilament line, 8-pound test. |
| The easiest to work with is the closed-face spinning | | | | -Stringer. |
| reel. It is operated with a push button and protects | | | | -Bucket. |
| from getting your line tangled into bird nests when you | | | | -Landing net (optional). |
| are casting. | | | | -A Fishing License. |
| It is also best for people just learning to fish and for | | | | Baited Hooks: |
| children. | | | | Fresh live bait- important for lot of bites from fish |
| Open Faced Spinning Reels have a spool that has the | | | | This list could go on and on but if you start with the |
| line wound around it. These reels have a semicircular | | | | basics then you can build up as needs and time build |
| metal device which is called a bail. This bail leads the | | | | up. |
| line onto the spool when closed and lets the line be | | | | |