Bait Fishing
Bait Fishing is a style of Fishing which uses a live or dead organism attached on a Fish Hook. It is a simple way of presenting a
Fishing Bait in an area of water where the fish are likely to be feeding. The goal is to use the Fishing Bait to attract the fish, and there are numerous ways of doing this. You can let the Fishing Bait to sink on the bottom and its odor will attract the fish. The action created from jigging the Fishing Bait up and down can also appeal to fish, or you can reel in the Fishing Bait in the hope of making the fish to swim in between the surface and the bottom.
Obviously, you need specific types of equipment in Bait Fishing. As mentioned before, the world of the different pieces of Fishing equipment is so overwhelming that you need some guidelines in order to reduce the scope of your selection. In this section, we will look at the features and types of some of the basic equipment used in Bait Fishing.
Fishing Rod Types
Basically, there are three
Fishing Rods in Bait Fishing that you need to consider as a beginner in this Fishing Discipline. Each of these Fishing Rods has its own characteristics and applications, so it primarily depends on the kind of Fishing Bait you will use, where you will be fishing, and the fish you are after. Here are some pointers in choosing the appropriate Fishing Rod:
- The float rod is around 12-13 feet in length and probably weighs 6-7 ounces. It is designed to cast a light Fishing Bait with a float attached on the
Fishing Line so you will know if a fish already hits it.
- Use a swim feeder if you are after bottom feeders. In this case, you will need a Fishing Rod which is 10 ½ - 12 feet long. On the other hand, there is an average-strength feeder rod which can take Fishing Lines weighing 3-8 pounds breaking strain. This kind allows you to go for a wider variety of species.
- Make use of a Fishing Rod which is about 12 feet long if you decide go pike or Carp Fishing. Likewise, pay attention to its test curve. The phrase "test curve" refers to the strength of the Fishing Rod. A test curve of 1 ½ to 1 ¾ pounds is the ideal one. In essence, a Fishing Rod with a 1 ¾ pound force will bend the tip of the rod to about 90°.
These three Fishing Rods are capable of handling numerous Fishing situations. Buy a known rod. But it does not have to be expensive, as long as you are comfortable in its usage and it meets your requirements.
Fishing Reels
The Fishing Reel and the Fishing Rod work hand in hand, so make sure that both of them fit together. When the Fishing Reel is already attached to the Fishing Rod, it should balance properly on your finger, somewhere near the head of the handle of the Fishing Rod. Here are more guidelines:
- It would be better if the Fishing Reel has extra spools. Having different strengths of Fishing Lines at hand will help you when different Fishing situations arise. Keep 3-4 pound, 6-8 pound, and 10-pound Fishing Lines in your tackle box. Use a 3-pound Fishing Line for smaller fish and roughly 10-pound Fishing Line for bigger ones.
- The Fishing Line is probably the only piece of equipment that connects you to the fish. Thus, do not buy very cheap Fishing Lines. Buy Fishing Lines with highly regarded brands. They are usually the ones which can really do the job.
It follows that if you have a smaller Fishing Reel, it cannot hold more and heavier Fishing Lines, so make sure that your Fishing Reel has the carrying capacity of 300 feet of Fishing Line weighing about 7-10 pounds.
Baits
There is an overwhelming list of potential Fishing Baits. The kind of Fishing Bait you must use really depends on the species you are after. To give you an idea, here are some examples of Fishing Baits and the fish which likely eat them:
Night crawlers - almost any fish
Maggots - panfish
Hellgrammites, Crawfish, night crawlers - smallmouth bass
Minnows - landlocked salmon, Finger Lakes browns, perch
Large minnows - muskies, large walleye
Whole kernel corn (from can) - carp
Dead fish - pike
Egg sacks - steelhead
There are types of Fishing Baits that can come from your kitchen. Actually, any food that can stay on a Fish Hook can be Fishing Baits- bread, luncheon meat, cheese, sausage, and even some fruits. On the other hand, there are Fishing Baits available in the market. Some of these include maggots, minnows, and even hemp seeds, which work well after being boiled and simmered until you see the white insides showing through the black skin outside.
Bobbers or Floats
A Bobber, an object usually shaped like a pencil and is made of plastic, reed, or feather quill, is attached to the Fishing Line on top of the Fishing Bait. This indicates if a fish has already taken the Fishing Bait and it suspends the Fishing Bait at various levels in the water.
When using a float, do not forget to attach a split shot on the Fishing Line so that it tilts and sits properly in the water and also for easy casting. Likewise, it is advisable to make use of a float which is too heavy instead of a float which is too light. There will be less hassle in casting a heavier float and controlling it is much easier.
Purchase floats of different sizes and types. Make sure you have river floats, still water floats, and floats for fast waters. This will prepare you for numerous Fishing situations.
Moreover, look for various floats that have different colors on the tips. This is for you to see them against different types of waters.
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