There are many people that enjoy nothing more than grabbing the fishing pole and heading for the local watering hole for a day of outdoor adventures. With all the different equipment choices and fancy gadgets that are available, it can be easy to get caught up in all the marketing hype. The truth is rod and reel fishing can be an enjoyable activity for anyone with just a few basic pieces of equipment.
The main advantage of a rod and reel setup is the ability to cast the line a far distance. This allows you to fish from a boat or the shore. With room to fish, you have the option of using lures that move through the water to simulate swimming bait.
Rods come in many sizes and shapes but in general, shorter rods are stouter and typically used to troll for big game fish. Longer rods will allow you to cast farther distances. Materials used to make rods range from bamboo to fiberglass to graphite. An inexpensive fiberglass rod is a good option for beginners because it is lightweight, durable and does not require a lot of maintenance.
The fishing reel is the name of the device that stores the line on a spool. The four basic types of reels used are fly, spin casting, bait casting and spinning. The spin casting reel is ideal for the amateur angler because it is easy to use. It mounts on top of the rod handle and the line is expelled through a small hole in the front, so it is held neatly out of the way and will not get tangled.
There are many types of fishing line to sift through but the most common type used is monofilament. This all-purpose line can be used anywhere and can be purchased in various strengths. Four pound test line is rated to hold a fish that weighs up to four pounds without snapping. The thicker the diameter, the more weight it will be able to handle.
With a few basic pieces of equipment and a little bit of knowledge, you can see for yourself what the fuss about fishing is all about.