fishing gear

Your Tackle Bag

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Here’s another tip for the summer angler.

Two of the most guarded secrets an angler keeps is their favorite fishing spot and the contents of their tackle bag. While secret fishing spots are frequently shared only to close friends, their tackle bags contents can be held stealth for years.

To guard that secret, most anglers will quickly retrieve gear from their bags away from spying eyes. It’s probably no secret to the contents of a typical tackle bag but serious anglers can be a little funny on their favorite and probably the most reliable lures and techniques.

The tackle bag, as a general rule, should only include items you will need on the current fishing trip. But lots of anglers, including this author, use the bag sometimes as a storage box for everything they possibly could ever use even if it doesn’t work on every trip. While a great place to store gear when not in use it’s especially not one to drag out on each trip.

Tackle bag contents will vary depending on the target species and fishing location. Let’s look at my suggestions.

Standard contents should at least include a collection of sinkers, hooks and terminal rigging gear. Don’t go wild, just a few are needed. Store more in your vehicle tote box.

Also several types should include some two hook bottom rigs, one or more Carolina rigs, bluefish rigs and finally some pompano rigs. Extra leader materials can always come in handy. I use Fluorocarbon for clear water and monofilament when the water is a little cloudy. I always carry several sabiki rigs for catching your own baits.

You should also carry a small bait knife, plastic cutting board, finger nail clippers, and pliers, tape measure, and fish grippers.

Several rags will help steady a fish to remove hooks – but remember, if holding a fish with a rag make sure it’s wet. Dry rags can wipe the protective slim off a wiggling fish quickly.

The bag should also include a variety jigging gear with a variety of lead heads, various soft swim baits, and several different got-cha plugs or top water hard baits. A bottle of attractant, such as Procure, will help enhance the artificial smell similar to real bait fish. I sometimes even spread some procure on my fresh baits. Can’t hurt to enhance the scent.

A tackle bag will not be complete without “fish-bites” or some type of artificial baits.

This list is definitely not complete and inclusive but it should give the new or occasional angler as least a start on filing that tackle bag with basic gear.

Of course, there is always time to load it, so full of the angler’s special & most reliable gear, which like the author, can act more like a storage bin than a tackle bag.

One tip: Put extra gear that will not be used that day in a rubber-made crate in your vehicle. That way, the gear won’t load down you bag but if needed it’s just a quick walk back to your vehicle.

Until next time – Tightlines. Capt. Tony

Let’s Try Fishing – Rod & Reel

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Today’s topic in the “Let’s Try Fishing” series is rod and reel setup. There are many places to purchase a rod and reel and associated gear on the Outer Banks, but only a local tackle shop can provide quality gear and how to use it. And as a new angler, purchasing quality gear and following their advice is invaluable.

One mistake many first-time anglers make is bringing their “favorite” freshwater gear when fishing in our harsh saltwater environment. That decision to use the wrong gear may work initially but inevitably it will fail and most likely at the most inopportune time.

Now let’s talk about what equipment and gear is needed. Remember, we want to keep this simple. So you want a good all-around rod and reel setup. The best starter rod will be a seven to eight foot with a medium flexibility. I like a one piece rod but a two piece allows for better storage. This size and style rod should give you the sensitivity to feel a bite and enough backbone to reel in most local species. The reel should be loaded with a 12-15lb test monofilament line. Braided line is also an option which I will discuss in a future article. So for now stick with monofilament lines.

Next part is tackle or rigging. The basic tackle setup will be a snap hook connected to the end of your main line with a standard two hook bottom rig and a sinker. You can either tie the bottom rig directly to the main line or use a snap swivel. A snap swivel allows for quick change for gear. But either method should work well. We will discuss knots in another article but for immediate access you can find basic knot tying methods in this section of my website: https://walkingangler.com/basic-knots/

Next you will need to decide on hooks and sinkers. Your tackle shop staff can help with the proper size and style of hook and sinker types. I suggest a simple Number 4 “J” hook and a #2 or #3 pyramid sinkers depending on the waves and tides. The key to weight size is to just hold the bottom and not allow the weight and bait to move.

So there you go. A complete and simple rod, reel and rigging set up. We could get more involved describing the various styles and types but let’s leave that up to the tackle shop staff.

Check back soon for the next phase of Let’s Try Fishing.

Until Next Time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

Fishing Equipment Maintenance.

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Fishing equipment maintenance is one project that should not be ignored. As we get close to the start of the spring fishing season, now is the time to complete those unfinished jobs. If you let things go until now from the previous season, the job may take a little more effort but needs to be done to ensure a trouble free season kick off..

  • Shelf of Reels

First, a complete evaluation should be done on the rod and reels. If there is any major damage, cracks or corrosion on either the rod or reel, it might be better to replace them now.

Disassembling the reel from the rod will permit a thorough examination and allow for cleaning. Check the butt, reel seat, guides and tip. If everything checks out, move on the reel.

The reel should be thoroughly cleaned and oiled. Replace any damaged or worn parts. The drag washer should also be checked. And if found warned, either order a new one from the manufacturer or have a tackle shop replace it for you.

Many types of lures and hard bait hooks may not survive more than a year so close focus on these items is imperative. Rusty rings, tangled lines or damaged components can result in potential loss of the catch. Sometimes it’s cheaper to replace the entire lure unless it’s your ‘go-to” catching machine. Then it’s an easy decision to just replace the hooks and rings.

Tackle boxes and bags habitually get cluttered over the season with many of those “I must have those” gadgets or maybe the “favor of the month” lure.

Your best option is empty the bag, sort through what’s salvageable and toss the rest.

Sinkers, loose terminal tackle, swivels, extra leader materials should be placed in separate containers for easy access next season.  Pliers, scissors, line cutters, fish grabbers should be cleaned or at least organized in its proper place. Remove all batteries on any electronic gear such as bait bubblers, night lights and bug zappers.

Knives should be cleaned, sharpened, oiled and placed in a sheaths for protection.

Large items such as coolers, cast nets, pier carts, cutting boards, rod holders and other large pieces need a good flushing, wiped off and stored properly.

Finally, all metal surfaces should be coated with a rods, reels or other gear with an anti-corrosion protectant.

Remember, the off season is the best time to find and replace worn or defective gear or equipment. And the new season is just around the corner.

Because most anglers have their own special fishing collections, I am sure we missed something but that’s what the offseason is for. Finding those issues before they cost you that trophy species next year.

Until Next Time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony