Ever been to the Florida Bay? If you want the best of shallow water fishing, you can’t afford to miss this natural fisherman’s paradise. Most of Florida Bay is considered part of the Everglades National Park. As such, it combines fresh water from the Everglades with the salty brine from the Gulf of Mexico, working together to provide some of the best fishing around!

Well, luckily for you, there’s a whole new generation of flats skiffs out there, just waiting for an angler like you. Guys who want to sight cast in the clear, shallow waters off the Florida Gulf Coast demand shallow water boats that deliver.

After all, a boat with ‘no sides’ is a two-edged proposition. Shallow water fishing is fun, immediate and exciting, but without enough width and stability, it’s not the safest way to navigate. You want to look at shallow water boats that are light-weight but stable, with a secure fishing platform.

Even the shallow water anchors are unique; you will see hydraulic ‘power’ poles which can hold the boat steady in up to 8 feet of water, or simple manual poles which can also be used as a push pole, to maneuver skillfully around the banks, and in the shallower waters.

Shallow water anchors are definitely something else you have to consider. Why? Because you have to decide between manual or power anchorage. You go manual, then you’re looking at a three-quarter inch rod of solid fiberglass, which functions as an anchor AND as a push pole. Brackets built right into shallow water boats hold the push pole in place.

Florida Bay offers the experience of taking fishing boats through miles of interlocking ‘basins,’ most of which are barely three feet deep. While the fun of floating along and taking in sights such as hawks, herons and egrets is undeniable, at some point all you want is to sink that shallow water anchor and get down to business!

If you brought a guide along who knows shallow water fish, he can explain how such factors as tide, water temperature and wind speed can affect your chances at landing a big one.

At the end of a very satisfying day, the shallow water fishing trip which takes in the Florida back country, will leave an angler with a lifetime of memories.

The fishing stick is dead. Long live the fishing rod. Modern fishing rods are designed and made from lightweight and robust materials like carbon fiber.

A much-sophisticated feature is the spinning rod where the entire shaft of the rod except the handle can move around on its axis to allow flexibility when fish caught on snare bait struggles through the water.

Like the classic cane fishing rods, the fishing gadget is thick at the handle (bottom) and is tapered and thinner at the tip. This very basic design allows handling stability and flexible movement of the entire length of the shaft – why would you want to try and reinvent the wheel?

Types of Fishing Rods and Specifications

A typical fishing stick measures 2m and 5m and vary in capability to tolerate strain in fishing activity. The length has a lot to do with withstanding force exerted by the fish to the pole and determines for the most part the performance of rods used for angling.

Fishing Cane Poles

Fishing Cane poles are one of the smallest and less sophisticated gadgets in fishing. It is usually made of bamboo or other flexible wood material with the most basic fly line attached to it.

Unlike other more sophisticated fishing rods, cane poles do not usually contain reels or its equivalent to be used for reeling in or retrieving fish caught on bait. This very same action is known as angling.

Spinning Rods

These types of rods are the most popular today. They can be used either for heavyweight or lightweight fish although they were proven best for trout, walleye and bass fish. They vary in measurements from 1.5 meters to 2.5 meters.

Spinning poles are commonly used in bass fishing competition accounting for their flexibility and tolerance to stress. They accommodate bigger and tougher fly lines and stabilize them to avoid line tangles during uncoiling of float lines.

Fishing Jigging Rods

These rods are best for heavy lures and baits especially when reaching around 180 to 200 feet under the oceans surface. They are made of fine, solid materials which accounts to their heaviness. The use of jigging rods is specifically due to alternating currents during the fishing activity.

Some oceans have erratic undersea current. That is why the bait and fly lines should be kept in place. Lures are also disturbed and cause confusion among fish if the lines are not long and heavy enough to withstand and tolerate water currents under the sea.

These rods are best for target fishes usually found dwelling at the bottom of the sea such as halibut and cods.

We continue our series of articles on Freshwater Fishing Tackle with part two, “The Spinning Reel.” With this series we are hoping to remove the fear of buying fishing tackle from the beginning fisherman.

We will address a wide range of fishing tackle from reels, rods, lures, baits, jigs, lines, and knives. It is hoped by the end of the series you can go online and buy the right gear and within budget.

We commenced our review on freshwater fishing reels with the spincast reel, the best reel for novices and the casual fisherman. This review will cover the spinning reel, and will continue with the baitcast reel and finally an article on the fly fishing reel.

Spinning reels come in many varieties and are utilized by youngsters, occasional hobbyist and enthusiastic fishermen alike. When it comes to fishing reels, the spinning reel is the most well-known and best-selling. It is mainly used for light-line fishing and rules in terms of performance and simplicity of use.

The spinning reel is perfect for landing just about any fish out there; whether it is racing rivers, local creeks, mountain lakes or your favorite hidden pond. You can catch small pond fish such as bluegills, catfish, trout and bass; it doesn’t matter, if you have strong enough line your spinning reel will land the fish.

The spinning reel has a very recognizable look with the large wire bale around the open-faced line spool and a line roller to help control the line as you retrieve it. The reel handle or “crank” can have either one or two knobs, both work equally well at preventing line friction as you retrieve it, with little or no snarling. This type of reel is mounted on the underside of the rod.

There are few negatives to the spinning reel. It is only limited by the thickness of your fishing line, when compared to the baitcast reel it holds less line. This means you will need to use a smaller, lighter line to guarantee you have enough line to get to the point you want. The lighter the line the smaller fish you can land. The spinning reel is also not as accurate at casting as the baitcast reel

A good example of this type of reel is the Daiwa Opus Spinning Reel. Priced at under $38 it is an affordable choice for general-duty fishing, well-equipped and geared for extra power.

Look for our review of the baitcast reel in the next article in the continuing series “Freshwater Fishing Gear Beginners Guide.

You cannot deny the beautiful serenity and tranquility in standing up to the knees in a sparkling clear creek waiting for the number one trout to see the fly and proceed after it.

Fly fishing is tranquil and peaceful way to leave the city, job, obligations, and other responsibilities behind. Though, when you are out there whipping your fly from back to front, you should rest assured knowing you have the right equipment for the job. Not all fly fishing gear is the same or made for the same situations and/or desired catches.

First, the line you use should handle the types of fish that are living in the brook, stream, or river you are fishing at. Also, the weight of your reel and rod should equal the weight of the line you want to use. So, deciding on what you are fishing for is essential in figuring out what type of line, rod, and reel you should use.

Then, you have to consider the size of fly that you need. If you are going for trout weighing anywhere from 1-6 pounds, a tiny to medium fly is best. This is the premier type of fly fishing; trout are the most most popular fish using a small fly. But, fly fishing equipment can also be used for getting Bass, Steelhead, Salmon, and a few different types of saltwater fish. These other kinds of fish like different flies; they will not want to eat small or medium sized bait.

Another crucial aspect of fly fishing is the rod. There are two types of materials that a rod can be built with: fiberglass or graphite. Fiberglass rods usually are less expensive but extremely strong. Graphite rods, on the other hand, are more expensive but are said to be more accurate for casting. In selecting a rod, you should also decide on the action of the rod. The action of the rod is the bend or rigidity of a rod when either you cast or bringing in a fish; there are in short three types: slow, medium, and fast-action. Slow-action rods have the most bend or flexibility and are for reeling in small to medium sized fish. Likewise, fast-action rods are for larger fish. Fast-action rods have almost no bend and are excellent for reelingin big fish. Medium rods are an effective in between choice because they provide the ease of use for beginners and have the potential to bring in large catches from long distances.

In addition, to be skilled at fly fishing, you have to choose the appropriate length for a rod. The science is very much like that of picking the action. The shorter rods are best for small fish, the medium is used to catch medium sized, and the long are for the big fish. The longer the rod, the more simple it is to cast far and bring in mammoth fish. However, some anglers have been known to bring a short rod with them in case of obstructions like bushes, shrubs, trees, and other plants; shorter rods are very effective in casting over and around these things.