Fishing Art: Fishing Equipment and Techniques

Fishing Equipment and Techniques - Top Tips For Anglers

There's a mountain of information available on fishing equipment in the UK. Some anglers spend as much time reading about fishing gear as they do using it. Here are a few brief tips that may help you improve your fishing tackle and methods that won't take forever either to read or implement.

Tip #1: Don't buy all your angling equipment at once. As your skills progress, so do your preferences for fishing tackle equipment. Your preferences change as well -- don't get stuck with a pile of specialised fly fishing equipment or salmon fishing equipment when you discover that you'd really rather pursue a different technique or fish species.

Tip #2: Get organized. Be sure your tackle box is big enough to hold all your gear. Store unused fishing rods, fishing reels and other items in the same place, so you know exactly what you have. It's also a good idea to have plenty of spares on hand -- rigs, hooks, weights, leader and line.

Tip #3: Acquire new skills. One angling authority recently wrote that "angling is a game of options...the more options you have, the more likely you are to have a solution." In other words, the more skills you have, the better prepared you'll be.

Tip #4: Learn to fish rough ground. Although there's a higher risk of snags, there's a higher reward of landing quality fish like cod and bass. Cleaner and less rough fishing venues generally hold fewer fish because there are fewer protected areas for them to lurk or hide.

Tip #5: Go with proven rigs and equipment for fishing. Use what the pros and other successful anglers use. Then customise your fishing tackle equipment to suit your particular needs. You can even build your own rods and make your own leads.

Tip #6: Manage your bait. Always use the freshest bait possible. If local fishing shops don't carry good bait, you may have to dig it up yourself. One of the best tactics is to store both fresh and frozen bait at home, so it's ready at a moment's notice. On site, be sure to use a cooler to keep your bait fresh and hence more appealing to the fish.

Finally, always seek to refine both your skills and your fishing equipment. Regardless of the type of fish you're seeking, the broader and deeper your UK angling skills are, the more likely you are to succeed.