You wouldn’t take to the ice in a game of hockey with a stick, some skates and a helmet, right? Or, you wouldn’t take to the green without a set of golf clubs. Similarly, you wouldn’t want to embark on a fishing expedition without the right tools and equipment. Below is a list of some of the essential pieces of equipment every angler worth his salt should have.
Sunglasses
We aren’t just talking about a pair of .99 cent sunglasses you picked up at the Dollar Tree. A serious angler should have a pair good-quality, polarized sunglasses. One of the toughest things for a fledgling fisherman to master is the ability to see fish in the water and cast your line near enough to the fish to catch their attention. Polarized sunglasses will allow you to more accurately and easily see the fish in the water, even in the bright sunlight, than you would with either regular sunglasses or with the naked eye. With a good pair of polarized glasses, your line casting will certainly improve. They come in a virtually endless array of styles and price points, making it possible to find one that suits both your budget and your personal style. If you know that you tend to be forgetful and careless with glasses, however, don’t spend top dollar on them. It’s better to buy an inexpensive pair if you know you’ll have a tendency to lose, forget or break them.
Hooks, line and sinker
If you want to give yourself a leg up on the fishing game, you’ll be well advised to take notice of the details of the tools you use. Newbie fishermen can tend to overlook those small things that can make a big difference in the success of your fishing hobby. Choose a fishing line that is invisible in the water, for one thing. If the fish can see the line, they will be much more hesitant to approach the bait. This is particularly important in stiller waters, as a more opaque line will be even more visible. Choose a line that is also pliable enough that it will simulate natural movement in the water. These higher-quality lines will cost you a few extra dollars, but you will be paid back in the number of fish you are able to successfully catch.
Hooks are also very important. The best quality line won’t do you any good if you use cheap hooks that can’t hold on to the fish once it takes the bait. For trout fishing, always use hooks that are specifically designed for that purpose. Websites such as www.seagreatmarine.com have a dizzying array of hooks that can seem daunting to choose from, but narrowing it down by task (trout fishing, for example) can be one effective way of making the choice easier. Good-quality hooks will keep their sharpness and shape, and they won’t bend against a wily fish. There’s nothing as heartbreaking as thinking you have hooked a big one, only to have your equipment fail you, leaving you with nothing but a tale of “the one that got away.”