Rods used to be simple, made with plain bamboo and twine. Fishing line was made from horse’s hair. It required a lot of maintenance, had to be thoroughly dried between fishing sessions and often rotted away.

Time passed and someone designed a rod that could be more easily stored. The rod could separate into different pieces and had metallic loops to act as guides for the fishing line. A wheel was added to store the fishing line, which was now made from silk. The silk line was an improvement, but it also needed to be dried before being stored.

Fishing Gear of Today

Advances in technology have brought many changes to the world of fishing. One of the most amazing breakthroughs is the development of carbon composites, which now allows fishing rods to be made of carbon and Kevlar (yes, the stuff that makes bullet-proof vests bullet-proof). These rods are extremely strong and durable, and are amazingly lightweight.

Fishing line reached its ultimate when scientists developed synthetic materials from petroleum. Many products were born, among them nylon, the perfect material for fishing line. The wheels for the line advanced, too. No longer a simple spool, today’s fishing reels can be open-faced or closed, mounted on top or below the rod, can freely let line out or use a special catch to regulate the flow.

To Choose a Rod, Know Your Fish

All of these technological advances bring with them the need for research. A plain bamboo rod and horse hair won’t quite do anymore. Sure, you can give it a try, but why not see what your local retailer has in stock? Before you buy, though, you need to know what type of fish you’re going after.

Fish vary in size, so the rod will need to vary in size and/or strength and durability as well. A lightweight rod, such as a fiberglass rod, should suffice for small freshwater fish of 5 pounds or less. If you’re going after bigger fish, though, particularly game fish, you’re going to need a bigger rod. These fish are heavy, fight hard and will put tremendous strain on the equipment. Select a strong rod that can handle the battle.

Understand the Water

Where you’ll be fishing makes a difference, too. Fishing from the riverbank or the shore of a lake usually requires a 12 or 13 foot long fishing rod. If you’re in a boat or on a branch jutting into the stream, you’ll need a shorter, 6 foot rod. Fly fishing requires yet a different size rod, usually 10 or 12 feet long, because this type of fishing involves the angler wading into shallow waters to cast.

Where to Get Information

Beginners should watch other anglers to see what they use. Ask questions. Experienced fishers are usually happy to share tips about equipment and gear. You can also visit your local sporting goods store. The personnel there can explain the equipment each type of fishing requires. Before you know it, you’ll be in the great outdoors, snagging your first fish.

A knot is only useful to you if you remember how to tie it.

I could show you knots until the cows come home, but
if at that critical time, when you’re out on the stream,
you’ve rooted around in your tackle box until you found it,
“old faithful”, you’re favourite lure from days gone by,
and you go to attach it to your line…

But you’re drawing a blank.

“How did I do that knot again? Over, under through the
whatcha-ma-call-it? Oh drat!

I FORGET!”

Don’t get stuck in this terrible situation where the only way
out is to either:

a) Ask someone and risk looking like some newbie who’s
never fished a day in their lives. Can be very hard to
do after you’ve talked up how many fish you used to
catch and how big they were. Don’t want to look like a
liar…

b) Give it your best guess and risk losing your gear and
any fish you manage to hook because the knot wasn’t
quite right and it slipped free

One such viewer got stuck in this exact predicament. He
writes:

“Is there an easy way to remember how to tie the knots you’ll
need even if you don’t have years of experience fishing; and
only fish maybe a dozen times or so per year? I’m getting back
into surf fishing after 25 years away…”

Here’s to good fishing!

Pete Nalleweg
http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html

Should you ever be able to untie a knot after you’ve
tied it??

One viewer wrote in with this question:

“What is a simple knot that can be used to tie terminal
tackle lures etc to your line without much reduction in
line strength and can be tied and untied to avoid
constantly having to cut off current tackle in order to tie
on anther lure?”

First of all, I want to start by saying that if your knot
can be untied, then it wasn’t a good knot to begin with.

Your knot should be so tight that even a great white
shark can’t get that sucker to slip. Otherwise you risk
losing all the fish you hook and your tackle to boot.

However I understand your desire to not have to
constantly be re-spooling your reel and to save some
dough by not wasting your line.

So I’ve come up with some solutions to this
dilemma that don’t involve untying your beautiful,
strong, perfect little knot (who has the fingers or the
patience to even do that with such a tiny line anyway?)

Here’s to good fishing!

Pete Nalleweg
http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html

A serious problem that many fishermen encounter
is the frustration of not being able to get their knots tight
enough.

Having to ask countless times for help from a fishing
buddy to get your knot tight enough where you feel
comfortable casting it out there, makes them annoyed
and leaves you feeling like an idiot.

But rather than dealing with losing a lure and missing
out on some good fishing, getting help seems like the
best solution to the problem until you learn how to
make your knots tight enough.

Now it isn’t because you are a weakling or a wimp that
you can’t get your knots tight – don’t let anyone tell you
differently. You just simply don’t know the tricks to
get it tight yet.

With the proper training on how to get your knot to snug
tightly down, you too will be casting confidently and your
days of asking for help will be long gone.

Edmund C. wrote in for help with this very same
problem, “How do I tie it so that it doesn’t come loose?”

I just tackled this problem head on in my latest video.

So if you often feel the frustration of losing fish and tackle
because your knots are too loose, don’t lose your cool!
Instead try some of these tricks on for size:

• Lubricate your knot: Often just adding a bit of soap,
or in a pinch some saliva will give your line the
added oomph it needs to slide tightly into place.

• Take care when tying your knot: Don’t rush when
tying your knots. Take the time to ensure that you’ve
got it good and tight before casting it out into the
abyss.

• For heavier lines you may want to use pliers to help
get your knot the tightest it can be. I keep a small
pair on a retractor on my fishing vest.

• It is not recommended that you use your teeth very
often to either tighten your knots or cut line. The line
is harder than the enamel in your teeth and you could
notch your teeth if you do this.

• When tying knots in super braid, be sure to wear a
pair of gloves to help get your knots tight without
cutting up your hands.

Keep those knots tight and the fish will make it into your
boat every time.

Here’s to good fishing!

Pete Nalleweg
http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html

In fishing there are many “tails” that we often encounter.
There’s the:

• Fishing tale: A story of a mighty struggle and hardship
  that a fisherman underwent while trying to land a fish
  that got away. Typically followed with a gross
  exaggeration of the size of that elusive fish;

• Fish tail: The back end of the fish, used for swimming;

• Pony tail: What can be found on many female fishermen
  while out on the stream (and some men too);

• Rooster tail: The spray that comes off the back of a
  boat travelling at high speed;

• Tailing a fish: Grabbing the fish at the narrow part of the
  tail to pick it up without a net; And a

• Tailing loop: In fly casting is a very open cast that you’ve
  misjudged. It could even cause you to get hooked by
  mistake.

One tail that many fishermen often wonder about, but
don’t often ask because they fear that they will look like
a “donkey’s tail”, is how long to leave the tail (or tag end)
of the line after tying your fishing knot.

I received just that exact question from Ted over in
the UK, “I never know how much line to leave or how close
to the hook I cut.”

The video you just watched demonstrated how much of a
tail you should leave after completing your knots.

Here’s to good fishing!

Pete Nalleweg

http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html

Simply post your knot question below and watch your email box for the answer coming to you soon.

Here’s to good fishing!