I love ice fishing

I got into ice fishing even more after I bought my first flasher. An eagle silent 60 changed ice fishing for me, forever. I won’t go ice fishing now without my trusty flasher. Of course I eventually upgraded to a vexilar flasher and still use it today.

I love ice fishing because you can truly be alone and comfortable. No boats whizzing by, no jet skis, no irritating loud people, no one pulling kids on tubes or float toys. Lol, well, now and then there are some irritating loud people but it’s simple to pick up the house and move to another spot where there is no one.

If you’ve never tried fishing I suggest you get yourself a rod and reel and go give it a try. Almost everyone I know has friends who fish so you can ask one of your friends for some advice or you can ask on this blog. Anyway, you’ll have a lot of fun fishing, either alone or with a group.

Fishing is also a family sport and if you get kids hooked on fishing it’s not as likely they’ll get hooked on drugs or other things you don’t want them to get into. Be patient when you’re teaching your kids to fish and teaching them about the outdoors. They don’t have the patience or the knowledge you do so take it easy on them and above all, find a lake here the fish are biting so they don’t get bored and want to go home.

Salmon Fly Fishing Reels

Fly Fishing Equipment For the Magnificent Salmon
There is nothing more fulfilling then bringing home a large fish that can be enjoyed for several meals. If you are looking for a way to get the best catch, then considering the options for your fishing gear is the beginning to enjoying your time outdoors. One of the options available is the salmon fly reel. This particular reel is designed to help you catch the larger salmon through the defined make, size and angles that are a part of the reel. Understanding how this works to help you catch this specific type of fish can help you to enjoy even more of your time fishing.
The salmon fly reel is known as the most essential piece of equipment if you are searching for salmon. This is because the cast and retrieve that are used to catch this particular type of fish have to move in at a specific angle to make sure that the fish is able to see the bait and latch onto it at a faster pace. Even a slight change to the line, angle and cast makes a difference in the ability to bring home the catch you desire. If you are trying to catch a salmon, this is the primary tool that can help you to win over the fish you want to bring home.

Shimano AERNOS C3000 spinning reel, shimano aernos c3000

# #ID:30
# $59.00 $51.00
Save: 14% off
# Model: Shimano AERNOS C3000
# Shipping Weight: 1000g
# 9 Units in Stock

This is a 100% real and Brand New SHIMANO reel main reserved for the Japanese market.
Information:
For saltwater Fishing
3Bearings.
AR-C SpoolCold-Forged Aluminium Spool
Easy Maintenance
Instant Anti-Reverse
Power Roller
Super Stopper
Bio grip ergonomics Aluminium Handle
Right/Left Interchangeable Handle
Made In Malaysia
No Box

Model


Bearings


Gear Ratio


Rev.(cm)


Line Capacity（mm/m)


Drag(kg)


Weight(g)

C3000


3


5.2:1


74


0.28/150,0.33/100


3.0


250

FIN-NOR Fishing Reels

Hi All,

Ocean Storm Fishing Tackle is now pleased to announce we are stockists of FIN-NOR Reels. You can view our current range on our online fishing store website at this location.

http://www.fishingtackleshop.com.au/brands/Fin%252dNor.html

A real interesting fishing reel in the Fin-Nor range is the offshore spin. A heavy duty fishing reel capable of some seriously hard work and punishment. The 6500, 7500, 8500 and 9500 size reels all with 60lb drag.

Daiwa Fishing Reels

Daiwa Fishing Reels have established themselves in the Australian market place to be a quality top notch fishing brand. There are many Products in the Daiwa Range including Daiwa Fishing Reels, Daiwa Fishing Rods, Diawa Fishing Lures and tackle.

After a long wait Ocean Storm Fishing Tackle is now a retail distributor for Daiwa Fishing Products in Australia. Whilst we need to wait a period of time longer to establish ourselves as a quality Daiwa retailer we are at this point in time not able to offer Tournament Grade products such as the Daiwa Saltiga and a few other select models, But as we establish ourselves with the Daiwa range in our product portfolio this will change. We are hoping that we will establish a tournament dealer contract sometime in 2010.

We are able to obtain a large portion of the Daiwa Fishing Product Range and will include this on our website as soon as possible. We have already started to put up product links on our online shopping website so that you can buy Daiwa products from us online.

For Daiwa Fishing Reels you can find them on our website here: Daiwa Fishing Reels

Feel free to Join our fishing blog and comment on this post or suggest Daiwa products you might like to see on our website.

Daiwa Saltist Spin Fishing Reels

Ocean Storm Fishing Tackle are pleased to advise we are stockists of Daiwa’s new Saltist Spin Fishing Reels

The Daiwa Saltist 4500H Spin fishing reel features a strong aluminum body and side plate, 5 +1 ball bearings, braid friendly air bail tubular stainless steel bail, Sealed waterproof drag and more. This Model of Daiwa Saltist spinning reel has a high speed gear ratio of 6.2:1 and has a fishing line capacity of PE 3 (400 meters of 30lb braid) or 300 meters of 40lb Drag pressure rating is max 10kgs.

The 6500H Daiwa Saltist spinning reel has a high speed gear ratio of 6.2:1 and has a fishing line capacity of PE 5 (500 meters of 50lb braid) Drag pressure rating is max 30kgs.

The new Saltist spinning reels are designed for serious saltwater fishing, and that means simple, straight forward mechanisms that can withstand the punishment and still work flawlessly, time after time.

Due to massive public demand for the Daiwa Saltist Spin fishing reels there is limited stock coming and going. As many of the first few shipments are sold out! There will be pleanty of reels avaialable in coming months of 2010.

Shimano Thunnus CI4 Fishing Reel

For 2010 Shimano have re-released their famous Thunnus baitrunner style fishing reel however this time round they have added the Thunnus reels to the CI4 Family of fishing reels..

So what does CI4 stand for? Well CI4 refers to the construction of the fishing reel. It is a Re-enforced carbon fibre that creates a strong but incredibility light weight fishing reel.

This CI4 material is a product invented that is stronger than steel and lighter than magnesium.Shimano’s Thunnus CI4 fishing reels are their Premier Baitrunner fishing reel.The Shimano Thunnus Reels feature:* Lightweight CI4 Frame and Rotor (AL on 12000)
* Aluminum Sideplate
* Paladin Gear Durability Enhancement
* Propulsion Line Management System: Propulsion Spool Lip, SR One-Piece Bail Wire, Power Roller III. Redesigned Bail Trip, S-Arm Cam
* Varispeed Oscillation
* S-Concept, S-Rotor, S-Arm Cam, Direct Drive Mechanism (Thread-In Handle Attachment), Oversized Septon Grips for Power and Comfort, WP Drag (Waterproof Drag)
* Machined Aluminum Handle
* Dartainium II Drag Washers (Cross Carbon)
* Repairable Clicker
* S A-RB (Shielded A-RB) Ball Bearings
* Super Stopper II Anti-Reverse
* Dyna-Balance
* Floating Shaft

* Fluidrive II Gearing
* Approved for use in Saltwater
* Rated for use with Mono, Fluorocarbon and PowerPro lines

A Brilliant NEW strong, light weight fishing reel perfect! what more could you ask for!

Want to review the Shimano Thunnus Fishing Reels? Reply / Comment to this blog. or use the product review tabs in our online fishing store.

Fly Fishing Reels for freshwater salmon fishing

Catching any species of salmon on a fly means that you are in for a hell of a fight, so it is important that you use the right fly fishing reels for freshwater salmon fishing. Fly fishing reels for the most part have the same basic design, and the difference that will mean a great story with a picture or a steelhead to back you up and a great story about one that got away will often lie in the makeup of the reel itself. Here are some of the components you will want to look at in order to land those spawners when they are on their way upstream; always keep in mind that although the techniques and casting may be the same for salmon and trout, the salmon are the fish that are going to give a bigger fight in the landing.

Handle

The handle of your reel can make all the difference in a salmon strike on fresh water. There are a couple of considerations here. The first is comfort. Fresh water salmon are notoriously fickle in their tastes; one day can see hardly any bites, the next day your line is hopping. Western steelhead in particular are one of the greatest fly fishing catches there are in terms of bragging rights, both because of their fight and their reluctance to rise to the fly. It’s important that the handle on your reel is suited to your palm so that you won’t find your hand is getting tired or sore after hours of reeling. A big handle will provide this comfort, and will also come in useful when after a few hours out, throwing and retrieving with no action, you suddenly get a bite. The size of the handle allows you to make a quick grab even from the doldrums, in time to play your line.

Drag

Fly fishing reels for freshwater salmon fishing need to have materials that get rid of heat and that have a good amount of surface area for the drag. The drag itself will assist you in playing the fish out, while heat dissipation is critical in order to keep a line from snapping with a fish on the other end. The very highest quality (and also of course the costliest) material used to create drag on a fly reel is carbon fiber. With this material any concerns about losing a big fish due to heat friction are gone, but then so is a lot of money. The next material down, Rulon, is also acceptable and presents a minimal amount of heat exposure to the line. In order to prevent friction caused by debris, it is important to look for a fly reel that has a sealed drag on it.

Fly fishing for salmon, even land locked species, can mean quite an arduous days’ work with little or nothing to show for it at the end. When looking for the best fly fishing reels for freshwater salmon fishing, you need to be aware both of the level of comfort and the possibility of tempting a really big fish onto the fly. Any fisherman will tell you that the latter consideration is the most important, but the qualifications of a reel to meet the two distinct needs are no longer mutually exclusive, so look for a reel that offers the heavy duty materials needed to land those big fish without a lot of additional weight and handling.

Battlestar Galactica Fly Fishing Reels

For some anglers their fly reels are the crown jewel of their equipment collection. I’ve known some astute fly fisherman that have had severe addictions to the latest and greatest creations from all sorts of manufactures.

Like a wide eyed cutthroat carefully inspecting a tasty Wulff pattern, their eyes glaze over as they marvel at the shiny surfaces, spinning knobs, and intricate machining. They spin the reel and close their eyes as they listen to every gorgeous clicking note of the drag system - imagining the fish of their dreams speeding away and singing the sweet song of fishing glory. Who could blame them really? Fly reels are just cool and lot of them are just little slices of design and performance perfection.

The other day I spent a day on the water with the Redington Drift, a fully machined $100 click and pawl reel, and the more I lovingly used it, the more it really got me thinking about the state of the fly reel market these days.



I seem to run into more and more anglers that are fishing with reels from a bygone era. In some cases preferring to load these relics on to brand new $500 - $800 fly rods. With all of the crazy new advances in reel technology, materials, machining and design, what is it that would compel a confident young angler to seek out a fly reel made twenty to forty years ago?

Perhaps it's just that these anglers have a flair for all things retro or perhaps there is something more going on. I would suggest that many of the offerings in the fly reel market are just getting too cool. Some produced lately look more like offerings from the Orange County Choppers web site, or latest Hollywood space invader movie then fly reels.

Don’t get me wrong. I marvel at the workmanship, incredible detail, and clever design like a lot of people but sometimes it seems like in an all out effort to be cool and different, the simple things become lost. Things like the sound, the feel, the handle, and the fit into the reel seat of the rod. Not to mention a little simplicity when it comes to the price.

I challenge fly reel manufactures as they ponder new directions for their products to continue to get back to basics. Simple lines, less aggressive porting, simple machining, efficient drag systems, incredible durability, relatively few parts, and prices that make sense for everyone.

Among some top brands it seems the race has become more and more about just outdoing the other with crazier technology and wilder looks in an effort to create a product that justifies an astonishing price point.

I’m drawn to those products that are beautiful in their simplicity and that seem to almost “hide” the technology. In this way, I believe a consumer becomes surprised by the unexpected and superior performance instead of just expecting it. When you stare down at a fly reel with nearly logic defying machining, splashes of carbon fiber, five different types of Teflon, hula hoop sized arbors, and prices that make you weep, it BETTER perform. It BETTER last forever and I BETTER be the coolest mofo on the river. Sometimes these designs often look like they would be more at home sitting on the dash board of an Aston Martin then a Ford F150.

People pay top dollar for the iPad not because it is the glitziest and most fully featured product in the planet, but because its hidden power is surprising and the design is incredibly simple, yet incredibly useful. I’d just like to see a little more of that in the fly reel market and a little less Battlestar Gallactica.

Perfection for me would take the best of what came from the timeless old school fly reel design and marry it to the wonders of today’s technology for the purpose of reducing costs and increasing durability. I’d like to see less focus on what looks good under glass or in your favorite online digital magazine and more focus on making things simple, beautiful, durable and affordable.

I’d like to hear what you have to say on this. As always, thanks for reading and good fishing.

Do you fish with an old school reel? Do you want more of the latest and greatest? Are you a fly reel junkie and just love the fancy materials, crazy looks, and wild designs? What would you like to see in fly reel design? If you were at the reigns what aspects would be most important to you?

Fly fishing reels for trolling?

Question
Just wondering, Since fly reels are pretty much the same as mooching reels, are they capable of being used for trolling for salmon? I'm thinking fly reels such as Sage, Nautilus etc. Thanks!
Answer
My family uses fly rods and reels for trolling every day on Moosehead Lake in Maine. You can use either floating line for the salmon on top, or lead-line for those a little deeper. Nail a nice one with your line out as far as the filler line, and hold on for one of the most fun-filled retrieves you can get!

Can you assemble a fly fishing rod outfit by using components from different manufacturers?

Question
In a couple of places I've read something to the effect of having a "properly balanced rod" and using leaders and fly line from the same manufacturer because they will have the right amount of bend (flexibility) and will transfer energy better while casting. I do understand that for a 6 weight rod I should use a 6 weight line, but can I use a fly line from say Orvis, on a rod made by Sage using a reel made by XYZ? Along the same lines, I know that some stuff in fly fishing has been standardized. Can one use spools from a different manufacturer on a reel from another?
Answer
reel spools are not interchangable with different models and makers,because of design differences.There are some components of fly fishing that can be used in mixed company,lines by other than the one it was created for,and leaders and tippets and stuff,also the components of the rod itself can be used in some situations to create a custom job,just like automobiles they can be modified to fit the individual's needs and substituted where that is ok,it might not be pretty as a picture,but if the creator is skilled in his craft,it can be a beautiful thing to use.the standards in fly fishing are so someone in New Zealand can tie the same fly as one in Ireland and have it represent the same creature it's mimicing.A blue dun is the same fly pattern worldwide,wherever it was tied.Some local variations are common,because of the availability in materials.I have a vintage fenwick fly rod with scientific anglers line on a pfleuger reel and it works fine.There's a black wooly bugger on the tapered leader at the buisness end.

Underspin reel

Underspin or Triggerspin reels are spin cast reels in which the reel is mounted underneath a standard spinning rod. With the reel's weight suspended beneath the rod, underspin reels are generally more comfortable to cast and hold for long periods, and the ability to use all standard spinning rods greatly increases its versatility compared to traditional spin cast reels.

Underspin Reel Operation
A lever or trigger is grasped or rotated (usually by the forefinger) and this action suspends the line in place. During the forward cast, the lever/trigger is released, and the line flies off the fixed spool. When necessary, the lever can be activated once again to stop the lure at a given point in the cast.

Spinning (fixed spool) reel

Reels utilizing a fixed spool were in use in North America as early as the 1870s. They were originally developed to allow the use of artificial flies, or other lures for trout or salmon, that were too light in weight to be easily cast by bait casting reels. Fixed spooled reels are normally mounted below the rod. Spinning reels also solved the problem of backlash, as they did not have a rotating spool to overrun and foul the line. The earliest fixed-spool reels turned the spool 90 degrees in the body of the reel for retrieval, and then reversed it back into casting position. In casting position, line was drawn off in coils from the end of the fixed, non-rotating spool.


In 1948, the Mitchell Reel Company of Cluses, France introduced the Mitchell 300 with a design that oriented the face of the spool forward in a permanently fixed position below the fishing rod. A mechanical line pickup was used to retrieve the cast line (eventually developed into a wire bail design), and an anti-reverse lever prevented the crank handle from rotating while a fish was pulling line from the spool. Because the line did not have to pull against a rotating spool, much lighter lures could be cast than with a bait casting reel. Conversely, halting the cast and stopping the lure at the desired position requires practice in learning to feather the line with the forefinger as it uncoils from the spool. Most spinning reels operate best with fairly limp, flexible fishing lines.

Though spinning reels do not suffer from backlash, the line can be trapped underneath itself on the spool or even detach from the reel in loose loops of line. Various oscillating spool mechanisms have been introduced over the years in an effort to solve this problem. Spinning reels also tend to have more issues with twisting of the fishing line. Line twist in spinning reels can occur from the spin of an attached lure, the action of the wire bail against the line when engaged by the crank handle, or even retrieval of line that is under load (spinning reel users normally pump the rod up and down, then retrieve the slack line to avoid line twist and stress on internal components). Most anglers who use a spinning reel also manually reposition the bail after each cast in order to minimize line twist.

Fixed Spool Reel Operation
Fixed spool reels are cast by opening the bail, grasping the line with the forefinger, and then using a backward snap of the rod followed by a forward cast while releasing the line with the forefinger at the same time. On the retrieve, the large rotating wire cage or bail (either manually or trigger-operated) serves as the line pickup, restoring the line to its original position on the spool.

Bait Casting Reel Operation

A bait casting reel and rod is cast by moving the rod backward, then snapping it forward. The rod is held with the handles of the reel facing upward. During the forward cast, the weight of the lure pulls the line off the reel. The thumb is used to halt the lure at the desired location and to prevent spool overrun. Though modern centrifigal braking systems help to control backlash, using a bait casting reel still requires practice, and a certain amount of finesse on the part of the fisherman for best results.

Bait casting reel

Bait casting reel

Bait casting reels are reels in which line is stored on a bearing supported revolving spool. The bait casting reel is mounted above the rod, hence its other (though rarely used) name, the overhead reel. The bait casting reel dates from at least the mid-17th century, but came into wide use by amateur anglers during the 1870s. Early bait casting reels were often constructed with brass or iron gears, with casings and spools made of brass, German silver, or hard rubber. Early reels were often operated by inverting the reel and using back winding to retrieve line. For this reason, the reel crank handle was positioned on the right side of the reel.[6] As a result, the right-hand crank position for bait casting reels has become customary over the years, though models with left-hand retrieve are now gaining in popularity. Many of today's bait casting reels are constructed using aluminum, stainless steel, and/or synthetic composite materials. They typically include a level-wind mechanism to prevent the line from being trapped under itself on the spool during rewind and interfering with subsequent casts. Many are also fitted with anti-reverse handles and drags designed to slow runs by large and powerful game fish. Because the momentum of the forward cast must rotate the spool as well as propel the fishing lure, bait casting designs normally require heavier lures (>1/4 oz.) for proper operation than with other types of reels. The gear ratio in bait casting reels was initially about 3/1, later standardized at 4/1 in most reels, but recent developments have seen many bait casting reels with gear ratios as high as 5.5/1 or even 7.1/1. Higher gear ratios allow much faster retrieval of line, but sacrifice some amount of power in exchange.

Spool tension on most modern bait casting reels can be adjusted with adjustable spool tension, a centrifugal brake, or a magnetic "cast control." This reduces spool overrun during a cast and the resultant line snare, known as backlash, colloquially called a "bird's nest". Each time a lure of a different weight is attached, the cast control must be adjusted for the difference in weight. The bait casting reel design will operate well with a wide variety of fishing lines, ranging from braided multifilament and heat-fused "superlines" to copolymer, fluorocarbon, and nylon monofilaments (see Fishing line). Most bait casting reels can also easily be palmed or thumbed to increase the drag, set the hook, or to accurately halt the lure at a given point in the cast.

A variation of the bait casting reel is the big game reel. These are very large and robust fishing reels, designed and built for heavy saltwater species such as tuna, marlin, sailfish and sharks. Big game reels are not designed for casting, but used for trolling or fishing set baits and lures on the open ocean.

Bait casting reels are sometimes referred to as conventional reels in the U.S. They are known as multiplier reels in Europe, on account of their geared line retrieve (one turn of the handle resulting in multiple turns of the spool).

Other Centerpin Reels

Centerpin reels remain popular with anglers in Australia for all forms of fresh and saltwater fishing. Most common is the use of centerpin reels in Australia for surfcasting off the beach. A large diameter spool centerpin reel is attached in a low mount position on a 12–17 foot surfcasting pole by way of a bracket that allows the reel to be rotated 90° to the pole for casting and returned to a position to retrieve line. In the casting position the spool is perpendicular to the pole, opening the face of the reel allowing the line to run off the side of the spool when released in the cast. The surfcasting poles are specifically designed for use with these reels have the reel low mounted as the line is held and released during the cast by the lower hand on the rod, unlike fixed spool or multiplier surf reels, and the lowest ring is of large diameter and around halfway along the poles length.

Fly Reel Operation

Fly reels are normally manual, single-action designs. Rotating a handle on the side of the reel rotates the spool which retrieves the line, usually at a 1:1 ratio (i.e., one complete revolution of the handle equals one revolution of the spool).

The centrepin reel is also used for coarse fishing, where one can use it to trot on a fast flowing river. Normally, the float would be pulled under because of the fast current, but the centrepin reel automatically releases line, thus making the float not go under.

Types of fishing reels Centrepin Reel

Mainly used for fly fishing. The fly reel or fly casting reel has traditionally been rather simple in terms of mechanical construction, little has changed from the design patented by Charles F. Orvis in 1874.[6] However, in recent years improvements have been made with the development of better reels and drags for fighting larger fish. A fly reel is normally operated by stripping line off the reel with one hand, while casting the rod with the other hand. Early fly reels often had no drag at all, but merely a click/pawl mechanism intended to keep the reel from overrunning when line was pulled from the spool. To slow a fish, the angler simply applied hand pressure to the rim of the revolving spool (known as "palming the rim"). Later, these click/pawl mechanisms were modified to provide a limited adjustable drag. Although adequate for smaller fish, these did not possess a wide adjustment range or the power to slow larger fish.

Modern fly reels typically have more sophisticated disc-type drag systems made of composite materials that feature increased adjustment range, consistency, and resistance to high temperatures from drag friction. Most of these fly reels also feature large-arbor spools designed to reduce line memory, maintain consistent drag and assist the quick retrieval of slack line in the event a hooked fish makes a sudden run towards the angler.

At one time, multiplier fly reels were widely available. These reels had a geared line retrieve of 2:1 or 3:1 that allowed faster retrieval of the fly line. However, their additional weight, complexity and expense did not justify the advantage of faster line retrieval in the eyes of many anglers. As a result, today they are rarely used.

Automatic fly reels use a coiled spring mechanism that pulls the line into the reel with the flick of a lever. Automatic reels tend to be heavy for their size, and have limited line capacity. Automatic fly reels peaked in popularity during the 1960s, and since that time they have been outsold many times over by manual fly reels.

Saltwater fly reels are designed specifically for use in an ocean environment. Saltwater fly reels are normally much larger in diameter than most freshwater fly reels in order to provide a large line and backing capacity designed for the long runs of powerful ocean game fish. To prevent corrosion, saltwater fly reels often use aerospace aluminum frames and spools, electroplated and/or stainless steel components, with sealed and waterproof bearing and drive mechanisms.

Fishing reel History

In literary records, the earliest evidence of the fishing reel comes from a 4th century AD[1][2] work entitled Lives of Famous Immortals.[3][4] The earliest known depiction of a fishing reel comes from a Southern Song (1127–1279) painting done in 1195 by Ma Yuan (c. 1160–1225) called "Angler on a Wintry Lake," showing a man sitting on a small sampan boat while casting out his fishing line.[5] Another fishing reel was featured in a painting by Wu Zhen (1280–1354).[5] The book Tianzhu lingqian (Holy Lections from Indian Sources), printed sometime between 1208 and 1224, features two different woodblock print illustrations of fishing reels being used.[5] An Armenian parchment Gospel of the 13th century shows a reel (though not as clearly depicted as the Chinese ones).[5] The Sancai Tuhui, a Chinese encyclopedia published in 1609, features the next known picture of a fishing reel and vividly shows the windlass pulley of the device.[5] These five pictures mentioned are the only ones which feature fishing reels before the year 1651 (when the first English illustration was made); after that year they became commonly depicted in world art.[5]

Fishing reel

A fishing reel is a device used for the deployment and retrieval of a fishing line using a spool mounted on an axle. Fishing reels are traditionally used in the recreational sport of angling. They are most often used in conjunction with a fishing rod, though some specialized reels are mounted directly to boat gunwales or transoms. The earliest known illustration of a fishing reel is from Chinese paintings and records beginning about 1195 AD. Fishing reels first appeared in England around 1650 AD, and by the 1760s, London tackle shops were advertising multiplying or gear-retrieved reels. Paris, Kentucky native George Snyder is generally given credit for inventing the first fishing reel in America around 1820, a bait casting design that quickly became popular with American anglers.

Beginners Fishing: how to tie a fishing line to a lure

Beginners Fishing: how to tie a fishing line to a lure

Monofilament Fishing Line Is this the Universal Line?

Many sea anglers are happy to use nylon monofilament fishing line for all their saltwater fishing needs, as it's an excellent general purpose line and suitable for most situations, but there are times when one of the hi-tech variants - fluorocarbon fishing line or braid fishing line for example, would perform better.


Nylon monofilament lines are produced from liquid nylon, by drawing it out in a single continuous strand until it has reached a predetermined thickness.

Small diameter mono lines are made by extending the drawing-out process until the desired thickness has been reached.

Breaking strain is obviously related to diameter, so it will come as no surprise that thinner lines are less strong than thick ones.

Modern production processes ensure that today's mono lines are highly consistent in terms of both diameter and breaking strain when new, but this happy state of affairs soon changes after the line has been in use for a while.

Exposure to the sun causes a structural change in the line - ultra-violet degradation - to occur, and this together with the inevitable nicks and abrasions soon mean that the actual breaking strain of your mono line is only a fraction of what it said on the spool.

Fortunately, mono line is relatively cheap - and it's a wise angler that replaces it regularly.

The very best value is to be had by buying monofilament fishing line in bulk. Some suppliers offer this as a series of normal sized spools joined together as here, whilst others choose to load it all on to a single large spool and sell it by breaking strain and weight - for example a 2lb spool of 40lb breaking strain line - but fail to tell you what length of line you're getting.

In this latter case, the following table will give you the answer:~

Fishing Tackle Components

Fishing Tackle Components

The Worth Company manufactures quality fishing tackle and fishing lure components, including split rings, casting spoons, spinner blades, clevises, swivels, beads and lure bodies.   We have been producing custom wire forms for the fishing tackle industry for over 60 years.   We also offer tools for fishing lure making, including wire forming tools and machinery, fly tying vises and split ring pliers.

To deliver the finest fishing tackle and fishing lure components in the world is no small undertaking.   Variables in materials, manufacturing processes and finishing procedures provide obstacles along the way.

At the Worth Company, we go to extraordinary lengths to insure our fishing lure components are the finest anywhere.   We manufacture our own tooling to exact standards, and obtain only the finest materials available for the particular application.   And when it comes to finish - well, that's where we really shine.

"If you want a project done right, then you should do it yourself."   That's our philosophy here at the Worth Company.

From the incredible attention to detail on every incoming order, to the rigorous final inspection process, it's the people here at Worth that make the difference.   It's the people that are involved in the entire process... checking and verifying, and then checking again.   It makes you feel good to know someone's in control!

Melting Mpls. Lakes Reveal Hundreds of Dead Fish

The long cold winter wasn't just tough on Minnesotans, it was tough on fish in area lakes.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board officials say they're cleaning up fish at several lakes in the city, which died from a lack of oxygen.
Park officials say they're seeing dead fish at Diamond Lake, Grass Lake, Lake Harriet, Lake Hiawatha, Lake of the Isles, Loring Pond and Powderhorn Lake.  Both Loring Pond and Powderhorn Lake are seeing more significant fish kills because they are smaller and more shallow.
Park officials found dead channel catfish, large goldfish and bullheads.  But they say the fish loss will not be significant enough overall to affect summer fishing on Minneapolis lakes.
The fish kills occur when ice and snow prevent sunlight from reaching aquatic plants which produce the oxygen in a lake.  The impact varies depending on the species of fish.
The MnDNR does stock many of the lakes--including Loring Pond, Webber Pond and Powderhorn Lake--as part of the agency's "Fishing in the Neighborhood" program.  Park officials say they typically stock the larger lakes with walleye and/or muskie.
You can report fish kill sightings to Minneapolis Parks officials at (612) 230-6400.

9' #5 Weight Shootout

I've been using a 4 weight rod for the waters I fish for the last several years and lately I've been feeling a little under gunned.  Most of the trout I am landing are in the 10" to 15" range, but I've been landing some pigs that are pushing 20" and I know there are even larger to be found.  For dry flies and nymphing, my 4 weight has worked, but it is not the most fun.  When I want to strip streamers, I've gone to my 6 weight.  Well, I decided it was time to find an all purpose #5 weight rod to do it all.  This is going to be my new rod that I will fish 90% of the time.  I decided to head to Bob Marriotts Fly Fishing Store to compare the Sage Z-Axis to the Sage ZXL.  First off, if you are in Southern California and you are looking for fly fishing gear or information about anything fly fishing, I have yet to find a store that matches Bob Marriotts in customer service.  I can't recommend them enough.  While I was there I also added an Orvis Helios to the mix as well as Sage's budget rod, the Vantage.  All Rods were #5 weight 9 foot rods.