Well-balanced fishing gear is easy to cast and retrieve, and catches more fish.

This is a very basic concept in the fishing tackle industry and encourages anglers to purchase a matching fishing combo that they will use to catch their favorite fish. If anglers read what gear makers print on their rods and reels, they’ll easily find the best rig for their favorite fishery.

Fishing rods and reels are the most common type of fishing tackle used in America. Every spinning reel made today has numbers on the side of its spool that holds the line. These numbers tell the angler how many meters of line the reel can hold and the weight of line the reel was designed for.

My favorite walleye and bass reel has 200 yards of 6 pound test line, 140 yards of 8 pound test line or 120 yards of 10 pound test line. The ads tell me the reel was designed specifically for these lines, and I wouldn’t think of reeling with a lighter or heavier line.

The fishing rod I’m leaning on also has a lot of information about the rod blank, just in front of the handle. The rod was designed for the same types of fishing line, which tells me the rod action will sparkle when I cast lures from 1/8 ounce to 1/2 ounce.

What I have is a perfectly matched tackle. The rod and reel are balanced and work together to help me cast, retrieve, and catch fish.

“I have seen far too many anglers struggle with a reel that is too heavy or too small for the rod it’s attached to,” said John Mazurkiewicz of Catalyst Marketing, a fishing expert who deals with rods and rods. Shimano reels and G. Loomis. stems. “Fishermen wouldn’t make this mistake if they just read what the tackle makers printed on the rods and reels.”

Bass fishing and the lures used to catch bass have become so sophisticated, Mazurkiewicz said, that changes will be coming soon.

“On some of our new rods that will be released later this year, we will be putting small icons on the rod blank to help anglers choose the best rod for a specific type of lure or fishing. The icons will indicate to anglers. anglers if the rod is designed, perhaps, for throwing crankbaits, shaking head worms, drop shot rigs, spinnerbaits or jig-worm combos. Or maybe even the new heavy rigs from Alabama. “

In Ohio, a single rod and reel can cover the majority of fishing opportunities. If muskellunge is your game, or if large, flat-headed catfish keep you on the water at nights, you’ll need some heavy-duty gear. But a standard fishing rod and reel designed for walleye will also be a good choice for largemouth bass, crappie, perch, catfish, rainbow trout or even a lot of. bluegill sunfish.

Choosing the perfect fishing rig is also a great excuse to stop by the local tackle store. While catalogs and big box stores can carry a lot of fishing tackle, a local expert at the neighborhood tackle store can put the right rod and reel in your hand. This will help you determine if this matches the style of fishing you like the most.

If you already have a well-balanced tackle, there is one more question left. Have you put on fresh fishing line recently?

Spinning is the best bet for young anglers

Push-button reels were not designed for children.

The spincast, or push-button reel, was first manufactured in 1949 and allowed anglers to cast without cursing a backlash. Throwing or horizontal wind reels were the norm and the tangled braided line on almost all other casts was common.

When spinning reels and monofilament fishing lines debuted soon after, anglers rejoiced. The vast majority of anglers today use spinning reels, and kids should too.

Push-button reels are easy to learn to use, but inexpensive spincast reels are only a game of fishing away. Even quality spincast reels from Zebco and Daiwa have a housing that covers the spool of the fishing line, allowing tangles and other issues to remain hidden until they bypass a fishing trip.

If you’re teaching a child to fish, start with a reel. It has a larger spool of line and a sturdy bail mechanism that brings the fishing line together on the retrieve. An hour in the backyard with a rotating combo and a casting plug will allow a youngster to throw like a veteran.

For kids with small hands, start with a small reel designed to hold a 6 pound test line. Pair it with a fishing rod designed for that line weight and for casting lures weighing from 1/8 ounce to around 1/2 ounce.

The best fishing rod for a 5ft angler is a 5ft fishing rod and no longer than 6ft. A rod that is much longer than a young fisherman is large becomes unwieldy for short arms.

If you want to hook a child up for fishing, a simple hand line will do. A balanced tackle, however, helps make a lifelong fisherman.