Changing Role of Fishing Gear in Global Fishing


While most people are familiar with what fishing gear is, it is probably worth explaining that fishing gear is the equipment used by fishermen for fishing. In fact, any instrument that is used for fishing can be termed as fishing tackle. Fishermen use hooks, nets, gaffs, traps, wader’s lines, bait, lures, spears, sinkers, floats, rods, reels and more. All of these are in fact fishing gear and thus they are also fishing tackle.

fishing gear

by David Light Orchard, http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidlh/

A common mistake is to confuse fishing techniques with fishing tackle . The latter includes any physical equipment used for fishing, whereas fishing techniques involves the process and ways implemented during fishing. Fishing gear is also called fishing tackle. However, fishing tackle often refers to fishing as a sport activity or recreation. For sport fishing, gears include a rod, reel, line and terminal tackle.

Types of Fishing Gear

Hooks: Hooks are small, usually wire j-shapes with a gorge on it, which people have used to capture fish since ancient times. Hooks snag the body of a fish or embed themselves inside the fish. Usually hooks are used for capturing both saltwater and fresh water fish.

Fishing Line: This is a cord used for fishing. They can be made with linen, silk, or cotton
Line is considered as the most important fishing equipment since without it, there really isn’t any fishing. Fishing Line is a vital part of fishing irrespective of a fisherman’s expertise in casting, enticing the fish bait, hooking-up, playing, and landing the fish. A person buying a fishing line must consider strength, stretch, size, resistance, visibility, and stiffness of a fishing line before making a choice.

Sinkers: Sinkers are a weight to angle the force attracting the fish. These were traditionally made up of lead. Nowadays using lead is prohibited in many parts of the world as it causes lead poisoning. Sinkers are also called a Plummet.

Swivels: Swivel prevent twists in the fishing line. They also provide combining points for line, terminal rigs, and traces. There are a variety of Swivels with different patterns, colors and styles. Ball-bearing swivels are stronger and can turn freely. They are best used for fishing for game fish, which fight a lot.

Fishing Rods: Fishing rods are composed of a hook, line and sinker. A hook is attached at one end to capture the fish with a long, flexible rod. Rods are available in a wide range from short to long, or light to heavy. Some are available with big guide rings or smaller ones for more control. Most fishing rods come in the shape of 1 piece or 2 piece-rods. The choice of rods for fishing depends upon the requirement and level of expertise in fishing skills for a particular fisherman.

Fishing Spears: In ancient times fishing rods were used in Egypt, China, Greece and Rome They were known as angles in Britain. Spear fishing is also an old style of fishing Fishermen used a spear to catch fish. They used harpoons with a barb attached at the end Harpoons were primarily used by Paleolithic peoples but also are still used for some whaling in both Japan and Norway. Tridents are another type of spear used by ancient people for catching fish.

Fishing Nets: Fishing nets are used even now as conventional tool by fishermen. Nets are made by knotting thread together. Nets are cast either from a fisherman on the shore, wading, or from a boat and held open by floats. When enough fish gather in the nets they are lifted back from water. Earlier nets were made with cocoon silk, leaves, or other fiber but modern nets are usually made with synthetic materials, i.e. nylon, wool and silk.

Fishing Traps: These are most commonly used fishing tools in the world. They are of two types—permanent or semi permanent. They have a frame of thick steel wire baited to attract fishes. Whenever a fish swims inside a trap, it cannot get out. In earlier days traps were made with wood and fiber.

Multipliers: Multipliers are mounted above a rod and they are used for bait casting. Multipliers used for freshwater fishing differ from those used for saltwater. They come in different models and have a wide range of applications in comparison to other fishing gear. A fisherman needs a lot of practice before using a multiplier for fishing. However, they are very useful for caching fish which fight fiercely.

Fly Fishing Gear: Fly fishing gear is used by fly anglers. It is specifically designed for making fishing easier. Fly fishing gear consists of fly lines, flies, and fly reels which help to hold a fly line. This way even heavy fishes can be caught.

Fishing for Pike: Pike are very popular fish that have been found for the last 80 million years.They are spread across higher latitudes in the northern hemisphere especially in North America. Canada also has had pike for the last 62 million years as revealed by fossils evidence.

Pike are very popular for recreational fishing. They are also known as Northern Pike and found in the UK, Canada and the United States. They are found in brackish and fresh water. Adventurous people catch pike and then return them safely to the water to maintain the future of sport fishing. This preservation policy was adopted following a campaign by the ‘Pike Anglers Club’ in 1977. If pike are removed, there will be tremendous increase in number of smaller fish which in turn may lead to an imbalance in the natural food chain as well as a later destruction of the environment.
Float tubes are commonly used for pike fishing .

In the United States another sport fishing is very popular . Bass fishing. Bass can be caught very easily but a fisherman needs to know the exact temperature and location where bass are to be found. Knowing feeding time also helps to determine how bass can be caught. People of all ages enjoy bass fishing as a recreational activity and a boat is not necessary though, sometimes a fisherman without a boat is at a disadvantage since bass don’t tend to be found in large numbers near the shore.


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