Fishing Frenzy

Everyone knows that fishing is the activity of catching fish. Methods consist of gathering by hand, netting, trapping, spearing and angling. The term is also ascribed to catching cephalopods (squid, octopuses, etc.), mollusks (clams, oysters, etc.), crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, etc.) and echinoderms (sea urchins, starfish, etc.).

Unless you gather your catch by hand and carry it home in your arms, you will need some sort of fishing gear. Some people may think of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn fishing in the Mississippi River during the 1800s. In those days people made their gear from items they find throughout the house. They might also purchase a spool of line, a hook and a sinker from the general store for only a dime.

Today you can find a huge variety of fishing gear available using the hottest technology. Lightweight rods made from graphite or even a fiberglass/graphite composite are easy to use and are ideal for beginners. Glow-in-the-dark lures sound like fun, but they also can actually be very useful in murky water.

Fishing rods date back to ancient Egypt along with other old civilizations. These were usually made of Tonkin bamboo, Calcutta reed, ash or lancewood. During the 1600s experiments resulted in the development of modern rods and reels. Izaak Walton, a British fisherman detailed fishing and tackle in his classic book, The Compleat Angler published in 1653.

Besides the rod, basic fishing gear and hunting clothing includes fishing line, hooks, sinkers and bobbers. Fishing line can be made of Dacron, cotton or monofilament. Some folks have even used dental floss or kite string. Fishing line parameters consist of material, length and weight. Keep in mind that fish are able to see thicker lines better than thinner ones. Additional factors to take into account include UV resistance, breaking strength, stretch and abrasion resistance.

When you're out in the back woods other gear you might need include a camp fire stove, eureka tents, and remember the hooks. Professionals advise that novice anglers use hook size 6 or 8 since these are suitable for many types of fish. A little cork from a wine bottle or even the classic white and red float or bobber can let you know if a fish strikes. The name portrays the action -- the bobber bobs down and up. Finally a sinker or weight lowers the bait to the level of the fish.

Deep sea fishing gear is a little different compared to that used for freshwater fishing. The rod is larger and thicker and is also tough to break. A long rod can get your cast farther out into the water. A short rod gives you more power to pull the fish out of the depths. The reels to go with the rod can be complicated so beginners should choose a simple reel to start.

A deep sea fishing harness that have a cup to insert the butt of the rod can help pull in heavy fish using your entire body weight rather than just your arms. The harness Quint wore in the movie Jaws is a great example. Lures and baits are a matter of personal preference. Ask locals what works best in their waters.