I have put together an easy to follow list about picking your basic fishing tackle. You won't need expensive or complicated gear to catch a fish. Everyone knows that fishing tackle manufacturers turn out fishing tackle to catch the Fishermen's eye instead of fish. The Rods and Reels I used to catch fish many years ago still catch fish today. In fact, it may even work better today seeing how the fish haven't seen this particular offerings over and over again.

Gear to catch Fish shouldn't be overly complicated. Simple set-ups work best for any fish. Back in my younger days, a Buddy and I went Bass fishing at a local lake. The weather was hot that day, even for June. We knocked off around noon and was standing around after loading the boat when this Old Man and 2 kids came in from fishing.

When they were done loading their boat, I walked over to find they had a limit of Black Bass. The biggest one was 6 and a half pounds and none were under 2 pounds. I walked over and asked the Old Man what they had used for bait, seeing how my Buddy and I were skunked that morning and we had been using the latest equipment and lures on the Market. The Old Man smiled and showed me his Minnow bucket and said "We're using Bass minnows"! I also couldn't keep from noticing their very basic used fishing rods and reels. Their simple set up had out produced the newest technology and presentations on the market at the time!

The necessities you'll have to have in order to begin catching Bass is a Rod and Reel, line and bait. That's all you need. Where do you get your tacke at, your local sporting goods store or Wal-Mart has everything you'll need. I'd suggest a Rod and Reel combo like the Zebco 33 and a matching rod. You may even find this cheaper online.

Stay away from level wind reels to begin with. They're hard to master and expensive. Although easier than a spincast reel to use, Spinning reels can be complex to use and if not used correctly, can leave you with a mess on your hands.

Now on your fishing tackle list comes the line. If you bought a rod and reel combo, chances are it came with line already on it. If not, or you want to change the line, then I'd suggest a 10lb line from either Stren or Trilene. You could use a more expensive line, but there's no use. These two fishing line makers offer excellent line.

Now we're at bait selection. Start with live bait and work your way up to artificials. Again, ignore the marketing hype. Live bait catches more and bigger fish day in and day out than artificial lures do. When you're in the Fishing Dept. of your favorite store, look for Eagle Claw live bait hooks in the 1/0 to 3/0 sizes and get a few packs. Next try and find some weights. You can generally find the ones that come several sizes to a package. Split shot is a great weight for beginners. Next, check out the floats. I like to use the Balsa wood floats. I use the slip floats. These slide up and down the line for easy adjustment. They're held in place at the top by a knot or bobber stop. Now all that's left is checking the regulations, buying a tackle box and stringer and you're set to go!

This is all you'll need in order to catch fish. All total, this should cost less than a hundred bucks. The fishing companies have made it seem like catching a Bass is nearly impossible unless you're using the latest and greatest gear on the Market. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you come home empty handed, don't sweat it. Even the best of us do from time to time!

Beginning fishermen can learn a lot by talking to a pro bass fishing expert. They are a good source of information about the sport of bass fishing, as it has the mistaken reputation of being a hard sport to master. It is not. Skills can be learned on the shore of a river or a lake, and then taken out into a boat for some real adventurous fishing.

Fishing tackle is an indispensable part of fishing gear to any bass fishing professional and can determine the success or failure of the fishing trip. With plenty of bass fishing experience under their belts, professional bass anglers know precisely what terminal tackle they'll need, either for freshwater or salt water bass fishing, before leaving shore. For example, if they're looking for smallmouth bass or largemouth bass, then they'll use the appropriate lures, and the right 'wet' or 'dry' flies.

Among other essential items are swivels, a small metal unit that can prevent twisting or snapping of the line caused by rotating flies, or a strong tug by a large bass. Leaders are used to prevent damage, or cutting the line on fish teeth or rocks. Flies are small insect-like artificial bait, of various colors and form that attract bass.

They will also take the weather conditions into account. Before leaving on the boat, professional bass enthusiasts make it a point to study weather conditions, via forecasts and bulletins, as well as the timings of high and low tides, etc. Only if such conditions are favorable, will they venture out.

If you need more information about bass fishing, then you can look online, watch special television programs or read magazines devoted to pro bass fishing. In all of these types of media, professional bass fishermen will show you tips and tricks on how to successfully catch bass. They will tell you what kind of fishing tackle you will need, including reels, line, rods, leaders, swivels, lures and flies. They will also help you to learn to watch the weather and know what kind of weather is most conducive to bass fishing.

If you feel you've got what it takes to become a pro bass fishing expert, then go ahead and purchase all the items you'll need. You don't need to invest in a boat right away; rent one to start. Or, you could join a bass fishing club. It'll be a good learning experience for you. Make sure to pack a lot of patience, passion and optimism, as you'll need lots of these things too.

The success of a fishing trip depends on the availability of a good, local fly fishing tackle shop. Avid fishermen will find all the spares and forgotten equipment and get all the tips and tools needed for a successful trip. Finding equipment locally will mean getting the ideal rod, the ideal reels and the best flies and baits to use to attract the local fish. A well stocked shop will have rods from different companies and reels, lures, floats, traps, tackle boxes, lines, fishing nets, down riggers, outriggers, gaffs and harpoons. Some tackle shops have camping gear, vests, boots, tents and stoves for overnight fishing trips. The shop will stock gear made by popular fishing gear companies, like Shimaro, Middy, Fox, Preston, Svendsen, Daiwa, Okuma, Abu-Garcia, Berkley, St. Croix and Esox Reels.

Going on a trip arranged by the local tackle shop will help the fishing enthusiast enjoy the hobby in the company of a local expert who enjoys fly fishing as much as they do. The local will be well versed in the best times to get the best catch, the tides of the river and all of the tips and tools necessary for an enjoyable fishing trip. The local fish and their eccentricities can be handled in the company of a pro. Local knowledge can be valuable for a keen, amateur fisherman who is bent upon an excellent catch at the end of the day.

Lookup fishing tackle online and you will find thousands of fly fishing tackle shops. An online tackle store may be a better place to find equipment that might be out of stock somewhere else. The online stores also tend to be easier to deal with. You can use the internet to research the equipment, as well as finding out almost anything you wish to know about fly fishing.

Every state has different rules and regulations, along with fish that they consider exclusive to their state. A local fly fishing tackle shop will have all of the information you will need regarding the state laws, seasons and limits. You will also be able to ask about endangered fish and threatened species. Before you leave on your fishing trip, stop by your local tackle store and get your equipment and your information so that your trip is trouble free.

Keith fished with Roy aboard Capt. Pat's boat, complete with Choo Choo, the puppy who snuggled down between the fishing bags and spent most of the day fast asleep. Incidentally, following the poo incident yesterday, she's been re-christened Shit-Shoe . They had one of those "best forgotten" days with only a small cobia plus a kingfish to show for their efforts.

Jim fished with Tommy aboard Damon's boat and both of them caught a nice sailfish. They also had a kingfish, lost a dolphin plus another sailfish. That's a pretty good day, and Jim's first sailfish.

I fished with Harry aboard Chris's boat. We started by fishing for tarpon and Harry had one first cast !. We then moved offshore to search for sailfish. After a kingfish I hooked a sailfish that came adrift. A couple of minutes later I hooked another one and this was landed and returned safely to the water. Next it was Harry's turn and he hooked into a real street fighter of a sail that must have taken the best part of an hour to bring to the boat. Once a few pictures had been taken, this too was returned safely to fight another day.

Talking point of the day was when Roy and Keith decided to jump aboard Damon's boat. Damon was late starting because he had a doctors appointment and had thus arranged to stay out later with Jim & Tommy. At the end of the normal day, Roy & Keith decided to jump aboard Damon's boat and have an extra couple of hours fishing. This didn't particularly please Jim & Tommy who were having a nice days fishing and didn't want to give up their rods to the intruders, nor did it delight myself and Harry who were waiting patiently at the dock with heaps of fishing tackle and no car keys, I guess we shouldn't have expected anything else, Mr Marlow is famous for only looking after one persons interests...his own !!. Anyhow, Roy has long legs and was able to step across the gap between the two boats without too much trouble. Keith is of a "different build" and has shorter legs, plus the gap between the boats had widened. It was a close thing...Tommy had to drag Keith aboard. Tommy told me later that he wouldn't have jumped in to save Keith if he'd fallen between the boats, he'd just have thrown him the anchor to catch hold of !!.

Here's some pictures, as usual click on them to see a bigger image :