What you put on the end of your line can make or break any fishing excursion. From organic bait like worms and crayfish to plastic forms of organic forage, there are numerous options available to you.

Knowing which species you’re targeting can help narrow down the lure selection.

Hooks

Hooks are one of the cornerstones of fishing tackle, so it is critical that you understand their various shapes and sizes for use in various fishing scenarios.

Different point shapes allow for improved hook penetration, bait-holding capability and other factors. Furthermore, hook shanks may contain various curves, kinks, bends or offsets that affect their strength and overall effectiveness.

Circle hooks feature a rounded-in point designed to penetrate deep into fish mouths without causing severe injury, thus preventing swallowing the hook and leading to accidental fish mortality. Other hook types such as needle points pierce easily for faster hook sets while wide gap hooks feature larger and wider points suitable for thick-bodied baits such as night crawlers or worms.

Line

Line is the essential link between bait and hook and the fish that it attracts. Line comes in various forms – nylon, fluorocarbon or braided lines all have their own purpose.

Modern fishing lines are products of advanced chemistry. Nylon fibers are melted and extruded to form continuous lines with specific diameter and length measurements, before being coated with chemicals to form products with anti-abrasion and waterproof properties.

Monofilament line, made up of one continuous strand, is the most frequently used and versatile of the three fishing lines available today. It is relatively cheap and boasts the greatest strength relative to diameter; however, it can stretch. Other varieties include polyvinylidene fluoride (fluorocarbon), which fish almost cannot see through, and braided lines which feature low coefficient of friction for improved lure performance.

Lure

Metal, plastic or rubber lures crafted to look like the fish they mimic are among the most effective means of catching fish. You can fish these lures on either the surface, subsurface, bottom and retrieve in either an straight, jerking or twitching motion for best results.

Leaders are short lengths of monofilament or fluorocarbon line tied between lures or rigs and hooks to prevent twisting of the line and provide strength and abrasion resistance.

Natural bait consists of living creatures like worms, minnows, leeches, insects or shrimp placed on a hook to attract fish. Live bait increases your chance of success while being more realistic; however it requires special storage that may prove costly.

Reel

Reels hold lines onto their spools and spin when you crank the handle, with its flanged surface designed to help retain them and avoid slippage.

Conventional fishing reels are typically used for trolling and bottom fishing, while baitcaster reels provide heavier lines with plenty of power for targeting larger fish.

Artificial bait can be purchased online, in tackle shops or handcrafted at home from various materials. Manufacturers continually innovate with hydrodynamic designs and bionic technologies in order to produce baits which better represent natural food sources or attract specific fish species.

Other essential tackle items include a net for lifting caught fish out of the water and pliers for extracting hooks from them, along with a first aid kit and bottle of water.

Pole

Poles can be used for fishing without a reel and come in various shapes, lengths and styles; the basics remain constant. A spool of line should be selected to match the anticipated weight of targeted fish before fitting a pole float to it. Cocking shot should then be used to cockle it overboard before testing in an off-bank location (a tall glass vase or plastic tube can help). Hollow or dual core elastics offer progressive increase in power as the elastic stretches – an essential feature of pole fishing today.

Targeting margins has become an essential method of amassing bumper catches on commercial fisheries, made possible by super strong margin poles, seriously powerful and stretchy elastics and virtually indestructible floats. Cupping loose feed or using a cad pot are common practices; as your session continues it’s wise to add additional bait as necessary.