Downsizing Your Fishing Tackle

If you are ever fished for schoolie stripers during the spring run you know how exciting it can be catching these hard fighting fish on light tackle. As the season progresses and the fish start getting a little bigger though, many of us put this tackle aside in favor of heavier outfits. Those of us who have read any of the books written by the old-time stripermen like Frank Daignault are well aware of the possibility of losing the fish of a lifetime due to inadequate tackle, and as someone who has landed a few big fish I can tell you that is certainly not out of the question.

More and more however I find myself using lighter tackle throughout the season, and in all honesty I don't think I lose any more fish than if I was out there breaking my back with my 10' surf rod. In fact, I'm quite certain that I hook into more fish using light tackle. The ability to fish comfortably for longer periods of time using a greater variety of lure and bait choices with this downsized tackle can be a real advantage. Don't get me wrong, there are many instances where heavier tackle is a necessity-If I go out looking for that 40lb trophy striper at 2 am I don't bring along my freshwater bass rod-but I do try to keep it light whenever I can.

Advances in line technology have made it possible to use smaller reels than ever before, with 200 yards of 20lb test braid fitting onto a spool that would hold only 200 yards of 8 lb. conventional monofilament. Combine this with the lightweight graphite and composite rods of today and you have the ability to pair up an outfit you can comfortably fish with for extended periods but one which can handle larger size fish-even in the salt water arena.

Every year during August I spend several weeks fishing the rocky shoreline of Casco Bay in southern Maine for stripers and bluefish, and when the bluefishing is hot my set-up of choice is a 7'6" Ugly Stick light inshore rod coupled with an Okuma Stratus XTS 40 spinning reel. I'll toss small to medium swimming plugs and topwater baits and when the blues are on a bite-especially if they're on the top-catching them with this rig is about as thrilling as shore bound fishing gets. I have caught and landed some nice size stripers on this set-up as well and of course there is always that chance I'll hook into a fish that outclasses my tackle and evades capture. Isn't that part of fishing though? The increased fun quotient and higher hook-up ratios far outweigh any perceived risks of fishing light, at least in my mind.

If all of your salt water fishing experiences have been with big, backbreaking tackle try lightening it up. You'll have more fun, spare your back, and most likely be able to actively cast for longer stints.

Oh yeah. Don't be surprised if your success rate goes up too!

About the Author:
Scott Peters is an outdoor enthusiast and sportsman. Please see Leupold VX II for details on some of his favorite hunting and shooting equipment.

Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Tags: fishing

, striper

, tackle

, pole

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