Posted by Derek Townsend on November 25, 2009 under Fishing Equipment | 
Each weekend, people choose to take up rod and reel and go out onto a lake or riverbank to catch fish. Fishing can certainly be considered among the leading enjoyable pastimes in the UK. Many cannot avoid the temptation to take a boat out and search for the right fishing spot. Others seem to take fishing as a refuge from everyday cares. One of the most noteworthy forms of fishing seems to be fly fishing. With this in mind, it is vital that anyone who wants to be a competent fisherman should try to find the right fly fishing equipment.
For years, fly fishing has existed as a way for anglers to try to land a juicy salmon or a succulent trout. However, this style of fishing has expanded in popularity to include searching for bass, carp and various other fish. Casting – the process of setting your line into the water – is a very important. You can really use just about anything as an artificial fly (hair and fur do well) – but you still have to make sure it will attract the fish.
Fly fishing gear goes well beyond the fly you choose, other items to consider are your rod and reel. A fishing rod for fly fishing tends to contrast in size based on whether you wish to fish in salt water or freshwater. Be sure to think about weather conditions, as this will be a factor in how you decide to cast.
Fly fishing is now getting an unexpected boost from technology. With GPS technology, more fishers are finding and keeping excellent spots to fish.
So consider that whatever fishing gear is called for, you can buy it. The best part is that fly fishing equipment in the UK doesn’t have to cost a fortune. It doesn’t matter if you have fancy equipment, so long as you have the proper equipment.
Posted by Derek Townsend on under Fishing Equipment |
Would you like to take full advantage of your UK carp fishing equipment? Snagging a carp can prove difficult, but if you can secure the proper fishing gear and information, you will do better than you might think. In order to succeed, you’ll need to know the best tactics for catching one and how to care for one once it’s been caught.
Guide to Making the Catch
Carp normally travel in groups – it’s not easy to find an isolated carp. This takes us to rule one of carp fishing: Find a carp by itself if possible since they’re more likely to take the bait. Where are you most likely to find an isolated fish? Take your fishing gear into those tight spaces where the water’s real deep, places that may appear to be an attractive safe haven for a carp.
You’ll have to be quiet to catch any carp, as they’re easily spooked and can swim away before you can even cast. Take your time and be as quiet as possible. If you should notice a carp, reach for some carp bait such as maggots, worms, pellets and so forth. Throw the line ahead of him, say 1-2 meters. You want it to appear “normal” to the carp. It may make him suspicious if a juicy worm suddenly appears from nowhere. You’ll quickly land your fish if you stay smart about it!
Blimey, You’ve Got Him! Now What?
Once you seize a carp, the objective is to use your carp fishing gear in order to heave him up out the water, get his weight, a victory snapshot, and safely cast him back in the water. All fish are vulnerable once removed from their aquatic habitation so you’ll need a high-end net that’s big and good enough to keep the lively little fish from injuring a fin while fighting back. Easy does it when transferring him to the wet mat and weigh sling.
If you’re not ready for picture-taking at the moment of success, you’ll probably need to detain the carp in a sack or net, placing it in the water for a time. If we’re talking about only a few minutes, you may use a net. For longer periods use the sack. Following the pictures, back in the water he goes.
Carp fishing is an intriguing sport within the UK: with good carp fishing equipment and these guidelines, you should come out a winner!
Posted by Derek Townsend on November 23, 2009 under Fishing Equipment |
At best, the weather in the British Isles is highly unpredictable. For anglers who spend hours outdoors waiting for that trophy fish to strike, the question of what sort of clothing to wear can be tricky. I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on how best to dress for a successful fishing trip. After all, clothing is an important part of your fishing gear.
Fishing Equipment - Layers Are Best
Try to dress in layers. Closest to the skin, wear a thin T-shirt. This layer must be able to dry quickly or you might begin to feel clammy and if it gets cold, a damp vest won’t help. Over the base layer, in colder weather, a shirt or jacket made from wool is a good choice. Wool retains its insulating properties even when wet and will help to keep heat from escaping from your body. Wool from the Merino sheep is particularly soft and not scratchy. For the top layer, select a waterproof but breathable jacket.
Fishing Equipment – The Importance of Socks
Choose a pair of well fitting socks to avoid chafing and blisters. Your socks should be absorbent enough to direct sweat away from your skin and promote drying. Cotton, wool and silk are good fibres for socks. There even are socks with antibacterial properties that help reduce odour. For cold weather, layer your socks. Silk makes a good base layer combined with a wool outer layer. In warmer weather, a single layer of cotton socks is adequate. Finally, be sure your shoes or boots are sized to accommodate layered socks without being too tight.
Hats and Gloves
For warm, sunny weather, choose a hat with a brim to keep the sun off your face. In colder weather, a watch cap will help keep your head warm. Look for cold weather hats made with Thinsulate®, a type of lightweight insulation. Another handy item for cold weather wear is a neck warmer. Many anglers don’t like to wear gloves when fishing because gloves can make casting awkward. It’s a good idea to carry a pair of gloves anyway, especially for boat based fishing, where the trip out to the fishing site can be lengthy. Layering is a good rule for gloves. A thin silk or cotton liner under a leather or wool outer glove will keep hands warm in the coldest weather.
The right clothing can make all the difference between feeling clamp and uncomfortable and feeling dry, comfy and snug.
Posted by Derek Townsend on under Fishing Equipment |
Even if you have the best fishing equipments and have read all the articles and books about fishing you can get your hands on, there’s no substitute for good safety practices, even when fishing from what might seem to be a fairly benign shore. Here are a few of my thoughts on good safety practices for anglers.
Planning is Key
Every angler needs to be aware of local topography, weather and tides before setting off on a shore fishing excursion. When planning a trip to the coast, be sure to check with the local tourist information centre and fishing tackle shops. Buy a tide table for the area in which you plan to fish and get a detailed weather forecast. Fishing in an open coast can be extremely dangerous if there are strong winds and rough seas.
Other Precautions
Reaching your ideal fishing spot may be dangerous if it involves climbing down a steep rock face or cliff. Be especially wary of such descents, particularly in wet weather. Study your tide table carefully and plan accordingly. Don’t allow yourself to be cut off by the rising tide. If you’re fishing in an estuary, be aware that the soft mud found there can trap an unwary angler.
Dress for Angling Success
When fishing from a rocky shoreline, wear a stout pair of boots or shoes with non-slip soles. For particularly dangerous shores, you might want to invest in a flotation suit. Such a suit will greatly increase your chance of survival if you fall into the water. A flotation suit also has insulating properties that might save your life if you’re in the water for an extended period. Even if you’re only wading, it’s advisable to carry some type of self-inflating buoyancy device.
Fishing Equipment – Gear to Take
Don’t fish alone, but if you must, take your mobile phone and be sure to tell someone where you’re going and how long you’ll be gone. Tuck a compact first aid kit into a pocket or small rucksack. Have a plan for landing any fish that you hook if you’re fishing from a precarious perch. Use a gaff or landing net with a long handle, so there’s less chance you’ll lose your balance by having to lean.
Safety is a broad topic and I could expand this article to cover other risks such as hooks, sharp knifes and dangerous fish but for now I’ll just say that following even the most basic of safety procedures when fishing on shore will help you avoid becoming a grim statistic.
Posted by Derek Townsend on November 16, 2009 under Fishing Equipment |
There are many different types of fishing tackle equipment available in the UK. The pole, of course, is the most basic form. If you’ve got a pole with a line and hook, and can find the perfect fishing destination, you’re pretty much ready. Poles can be made of bamboo or even a straight portion of a tree branch. Simply fasten each end of your line to the hook and pole. To avoid floating bait, make sure to attach a sinker to your hook. By making use of a bobber, you can control how deep your bait stays under the water.
Fishermen use reels in order to get more distance when they cast a line. They can store a huge amount of fishing line. Fly reels are among the four types of reels; the others are spin cast, spinning, and bait cast. A different kind of rod is used with each of the four reel types. With these rods you can do deep water fishing, recover bait correctly, and handle bigger fish more easily.
There can be a spin casting reel over the top of the handle of either spin casting or bait casting rods. Each of these two reels can work together with particular rods. Carbon graphite is heavily used in the creation of a fly fishing rod. If you are salmon fishing, this is the rod you’d likely go with. Spinning rods can be constructed from both fibreglass and graphite. Controlling your line is made possible by the placement of guides under the rod.
There are a number of other kinds of fishing tackle equipment. Carp fishing equipment is very popular as carp fishing is a joy for those who love to fish. Lots of UK lakes contain particularly large carp.
Saltwater fishing tackle equipment needs to be carefully chosen because of the fact that saltwater can rust any type of steel, aluminium or iron components within a rod. Nickel, chrome and stainless steel are commonly used as the metal components for saltwater tackle. For sea fishing equipment, big tackle is usually used. Light tackle is more commonly used for inshore fishing.
If you have never fished before or are a newbie to the sport of angling, start out with more simple fishing tackle equipment and move up as you gain experience.
Posted by Derek Townsend on under Fishing Equipment |
It doesn’t matter where in the world you may be–it could be abroad or here in the UK, using the correct deep sea fishing equipment can give you a thrilling and memorable experience. Choosing the appropriate sea fishing gear means that you need to know about the basic supplies and their uses. Starting out, you may need to rent supplies in place of buying—this will enable you to figure out the appropriate gear for your fishing needs.
Live bait is very efficient in the sea. You may bait with worms or mackerel. It is equally vital to obtain the appropriate rods and reels to match your bait. For example, match conventional rods with conventional reels and, likewise, match spinning rods with spinning reels. If you want distance, a longer rod is better; however, from a standing position in a boat, you may want a short rod because it has a stronger power for pulling the fish up from deeper sea water. You will need a larger, thicker, more resilient rod when fishing in the sea and you will need the proper reel depending upon the rod and type of angling.
Some other useful fishing equipment for sale to use in the depths of the sea are tools for navigating, fish finders, and depth sounding tackle. More equipment can include lures and baits, and in addition a harness and belt. Belts and harnesses allow you to exercise more manageability of the fishing rod. These supplies will allow you to use your body’s weight and not your arms alone.
Salt water can wear away such tackle materials as iron, aluminium, and steel; therefore, these cannot be used. What you need is stainless steel or nickel fishing tackle equipment and the tackle must be very heavy. For sea water ice fishing, particular equipment is necessary. Your rod must be from one to three feet in length with a simple type reel. Four other types of fishing are fly fishing, drift fishing, bait casting, and still fishing. Fly fishing tackle is purchased by choosing rods that match to casting distance and weight.
Whether you are an experienced or a novice fisher, it is important to have the right equipment. and where to get it. Remember that if you acquire the right deep sea fishing equipment by planning what you need, you’re likely to save money and enjoy more successful angling.
Posted by Derek Townsend on November 12, 2009 under Fishing Equipment |
Game fishing is a type of freshwater fishing for grayling, salmon, sea trout, brown trout and rainbow trout. Methods of game fishing include bait fishing, spinning and fly fishing. Here are some of my favourite tackle choices for game fishing.
Fishing Equipment For Bait Fishing
For bait fishing, I like a lightweight rod with a fixed spool reel. I recommend line with about 4 pounds breaking strain. Even if you’re lucky enough to hook a fish heavier than 4 pounds, the line won’t snap because the weight of the fish is partly supported by the water. Have on hand a variety of floats to suit the venue. Small floats are good for streams and larger floats work well for lakes and rivers. Barbless hooks cause less damage to the fish.
Fishing Equipment For Spinning
Spinning is a type of fishing that uses artificial bait called spinners. Spinners are made from metal and are brightly coloured. Spinners rotate and vibrate to mimic the action of a small or even injured fish that attracts larger predator fish. Choose line with about 6 pounds breaking strength. If you’re fishing for salmon, I recommend a Devon Minnow spinning lure. For trout, try a small Mepps spinner.
Fishing Equipment For Fly Fishing
Fly fishing is the time-honoured way to catch salmon and trout. There are two types of flies: wet and dry. A wet fly uses a hook that’s wrapped with brightly coloured thread and has feathers attached. Wet flies mimic the action of insects on the surface of the water and slowly sink. Dry flies have the same design as wet flies but are treated to keep them from sinking.
With the huge variety offered by game fishing in terms of places, prey and techniques to deploy, it’s likely to be a long time before you run out of gear to buy and fish to pursue.
Posted by Derek Townsend on under Fishing Equipment |
Sea fishing is both challenging and exhilarating. There are few things more satisfying than reeling in a trophy sized bass, conger or even a cod. If you haven’t tried sea fishing, you should. You don’t need lots of specialist gear, just a few basic items. Here are my recommendations for a beginner’s sea fishing rig that will work well in a variety of settings like estuaries and beaches, harbours, piers and rocky shores.
Fishing Equipment – Reels and Rods for Sea Fishing
If you choose a mid-sized fixed spool reel, it should handle all the fishing places I mentioned. For beginners, it’s easier to learn how to cast effectively with a fixed spool reel. If properly maintained, a reel in the £30 to £40 range will be quite serviceable for many seasons. For a rod, select one with a soft through action. This means the rod will flex easily and gently without violently snapping back to straight. I suggest a 10 to 12 foot long rod for a beginner. This length allows you to fish in a good variety of locations. If the rod were shorter, it would make pier and rock fishing difficult. If it were longer, there’s no doubt a beginner would find it unwieldy. You’ll also need to consider the rod’s casting weight. If casting distance is an important factor, you’ll need a rod with a heavier casting weight.
Fishing Equipment – Choosing the Right Fishing Line
Line choice depends heavily on where you’re fishing. If there’s heavy vegetation, you’ll need a line that’s both tough and thin. A good line type is braid or fusion. If the water is clear, choose fluorocarbon line because it’s light refracting property renders it invisible under water. Monofilament line is great for rocky areas or rough bottoms. The more stretchable the line is, the more forgiving it will be. A less stretchable line offers more sensitivity. Monofilament line has about 15% to 30% stretch while fluorocarbon has somewhat less and braid line has none. Bait casting reels work well with stiff line and spin casting reels work well with thin, limp line. Finally, select a line colour that blends with the type of waters you’re fishing — clear, dark green, brown or highly visible fluorescent line.
All beginners at sea fishing should establish a good relationship with a top-notch tackle shop like keenstackleandguns.co.uk. The shop’s staff has a great deal of knowledge that will help you tailor your fishing gear to local conditions.
Posted by Derek Townsend on November 10, 2009 under Fishing Equipment |
To get the best fishing equipment for sale, regardless if you’re a UK fisherman or one from another country, it helps to know what you need. A large amount of hunting and fishing equipment shops all around the globe are filled with the best name brand equipment. An amateur fisher can make a fishing pole, but he shouldn’t necessarily expect to fish successfully with it.
Almost every shop offering fishing equipment has high priced supplies as well as inexpensive ones. You can purchase fishing supplies such as rods and reels from as little as five pounds to over seven hundred pounds. You should have a rod and reel which helps you snag fish of various sizes. At a sporting goods store you will find spin fishing supplies as well as fly fishing equipment. They sell rods, reels, wholesale fishing tackle, fishing knives and accessories like hooks, bobbers, sinkers, swivels and bait. Sea fishing uses fishing supplies different from those for small lake and river fishing. You will be able to obtain all your fishing tools and supplies, including ice fishing equipment, in these stores.
Bear in mind that looking for fishing equipment may also involve acquiring suitable clothing. Are you going on an extended fishing trip for days or will it be a simpler one-day deal? You need the correct clothing to stay protected from cold and dampness, along with the best boat and supplies to match the waters where you are fishing. You may need to look at several different store before you find exactly what you want to buy. Often you can locate bargains for saltwater and freshwater equipment, when purchasing fishing gear in large quantities.
You should select a store with a good reputation, one that has been operating for some time. Check in-depth info in reviews or internet information or personally go to a store. Study pricing and quality of the goods and choose a store which guarantees their products. Notice how well they serve you. How would you rate the quality of service from the employees? Was each product easy to get to? Did you find the shop to be neat and clean? When it comes to UK fishing equipment purchasers, the best fishing equipment for sale can be found, all you need to do is a little bit of DIY research.
Posted by Derek Townsend on under Fishing Equipment |
When you are starting out as a fishing novice in the UK, you will find it better to use the simplest kind of fishing equipment. It isn’t mandatory to have much fishing gear to catch fish, however, a rod or pole is indeed a necessary piece of equipment. The fishing pole is used to hang the line which contains the fishing bait. Materials such as fibreglass, carbon fibre and bamboo are used in manufacturing fishing poles. The fishing rod is used for the same purpose but is somewhat more sophisticated. They come in various lengths and also vary in what they can do. Sizes range from twenty-four inches to twenty foot rods. The casting is better with the longer rod.
You will find many styles of fishing rods. The more sophisticated pole is the carbon fibre one. To cast artificial flies, use a fly fishing rod. Fly fishing rods are good for snagging salmon in the UK. These kinds of equipment for salmon fishing are used by lots of UK fishers every season to successfully catch many fish. Even though salmon is generally caught in English rivers, the sea is abundant with them as well. In addition to the right rod, you will need waders for the majority of UK rivers in order to get to the best fishing places.
When you are searching for sea fishing equipment in the UK, you should look to get sea rods which are designed to be used in the open sea. These kinds of rods are made to be stronger and lengthier than the others. For big game fishing e.g. for shark or marlin, you have to purchase a unique rod. Be certain the deep sea fishing rod you have will work against the strength of the challenging bigger fish when you hook them. Also be certain that it is constructed from material such as fibreglass or graphite which will resist corrosion from the salt air.
Any other tackle component must be appropriate for the rod. What this entails are hooks, lines, lures and reels. If you aren’t sure about your choices, get advice from someone more experienced with fishing. Just think about it: regardless of what type of fishing you intend to do in the UK, you need the proper fishing equipment to have a winning catch.
