What The Professionals Use

Fishing Equipment And You

Remember when you were little and going on your first fishing trip?  Just thinking about this trip was all you could concentrate on and how you were going to land your first fish.  Now that you have several fishing trips under your belt, you know that bait, tackle, reels, lures, rods, boats, and all kinds of fishing tackle equipment are key to catching the big one!

You have learned that whether you are using wholesale fishing equipment or discount fishing equipment, in the end it does not necessarily matter what the price is.  Quality fishing gear is essential if you’re going to succeed.  Cheap inferior gear or low quality gear can ruin a fishing trip just as quickly as fishing in the wrong spot.

Sharing fishing stories with old buddies is a great way to learn about the best spots to fish.  Likewise, learning about gear and techniques is a great way to stay abreast of all the new models and features.  Whether you’re using fly fishing equipment, ice fishing equipment, or bait fishing equipment, you should find out what the professionals have to say.  Let’s look at some of the latest fishing equipment that’s causing quite a stir these days.  The three rods this season that are getting some rave reviews include Shimano® rods, the Shakespeare Ugly Stik, and the Okuma Guide Select.

Shimano® Cumara Rod

Everyone is taking a closer look at Shimano® fishing rods, which are designed for a variety of diverse fishing activities that include fresh and salt water fishing.  Shimano® rods have been endorsed by several professionals and can be found in fishing tournaments as well.  The Shimano®Cumara is expensive, but it seems to be carrying its own weight considering it’s fairly new on the market.

Professionals recommend this lightweight, flexible, sensitive, and accurate rod made with graphite materials.  The carbon reel seat is considered an advantage along with incredible sensitivity for feeling the lightest of fish.  Many don’t care for the foam grip.  Largemouth bass fishing enthusiasts are praising its design for catching some good sized bass.

It has the strength to handle their weight, and yet the sensitivity to negotiate tricky areas along the bottom, maneuvering the bait.  Whether you want to cast baits on the bottom, try out a casting spinner, or send surface lures out from the shore, you’ll reap the benefits of balance and performance.  With the secure reel seat and the Fuji SIC guides feeding the line, you’ll be the one in control and ready to go after the big ones.

Features include a length of 6’8” to 7’6” with a rod type of high modulus IM-10 graphite.  It comes in black with a handsome shaped grip made of Eva Foam.  It includes Fuji SIC guides for maintaining a secure even line feed and an excellent reel seat.  The Shimano® Cumara comes with a lifetime warranty.  You can purchase this rod at Amazon.com, Cabelas.com, or Basspro.com.

Shakespeare Ugly Stik

If you’re looking for a great rod at a reasonable price and really well constructed, then you ought to have a look at the Shakespeare Ugly Stik.  Posted reviews online have shown high marks for usability, quality, and price.  This rod is constructed of a graphite core with a fiberglass casing that provides strength and sensitivity, making for a great rod.  Anglers of a variety of skill levels find fishing with the Shakespeare Ugly Stik reliable for catching smaller fish, and the price fits their needs.

This brand is available in several different models, so you can shop till you find the one that’s right for you.  A reviewer over at Field & Stream put it to the test, and it only failed at 55 pounds of weight, which is more than enough for small to medium sized catches.  This rod comes with a seven year warranty backed by a company with a long history.  Some of the highlights of this rod include lengths of 5’0” to 9’0,” two piece light action rod type, and black foam grip construction with four guides.  If you’re interested in purchasing or locating more details about this product, you can find it at Amazon.com or Basspro.com.

Okuma Guide Select

This rod will put you back into the reasonably priced category of spinning rods.  Many of the experts say that it comes with good quality, well made materials that are normally found in rods that are much higher priced.  You can feel good when you use this sure grip cork handle and the all-graphite shaft, making it comfortable and lightweight to handle most fishing situations.  Fishing enthusiasts like this rod because it falls right in the middle price range, not the cheapest, and certainly not the most expensive.  It’s a great rod for those that wish to upgrade from cheaper models. 

This lightweight rod is made of IM-8 graphite, which makes it very light and sensitive to any movement that’s encountered.  This lightweight rod features a Pacific Bay reel seat with a carbon fiber insert, high quality cork grips, stainless steel snake guides, IM-8 graphite blank construction, and a lifetime Okuma warranty.  Websites that sell Okuma Guide Select include Troutlet.com, Sportsauthority.com, and Dickssportinggoods.com.

Additional Online Information For Fishing

It never hurts to check some review sites or read a few articles about fishing equipment that you may be thinking about purchasing.  It’s better to be the guy reading about the broken rod than experiencing it on the trip!  Consumersearch supplies reviews about fishing rods in their Fitness and Sports tab.  Their website collects reviews from people just like you, analyzes your review, and even provides recommendations for other viewers.  You can check in with them at Consumersearch.com/fishing_rods.

Another good review source to use is Reviewcentre.com.  It’s pretty straight forward, just check off the Review box, and type in your search word or phrase.  You may like to try a search for antique fishing equipment, cheap fishing equipment, or fishing equipment.  You now have a sneak peak at what some of the best brands and gear are being recommended by the professionals.  Study up, pick your favorite, and catch the big one!