Tackle Express Blog

Fishing live bait is one of the most productive and easiest ways to catch a variety of different fish in Southern California. Finding out which bait to fish, how to hook it, and how to fish it can be difficult for anglers to understand. 

Fish smell in parts per million and who's to say how much scent we should put on.  If we load the lure with a gel, and the water is cold, not much of the scent will come off since it is thick and coagulated on the bait.  When the water is warmer and the gel scent is more viscous, it will come off easier presumably giving off more scent.  Should we put less on in the summer and more on in the winter.  Fishing has always been about the little things and taking into consideration these and other factors may make a huge difference.

Fishing reels and rods are like golf clubs, you generally need more than one to be proficient at either sport.  Although you don't need as many rod combos as you do golf clubs, each rod and reel combination have specific uses that will make fishing more successful.   A spinning reel can be used with many applications from small fish like bluegill to giant tuna weighing over 100 pounds.  Setting up your spinning reel with the right line and rod are crucial to making sure you have a successful trip.  The line size is critical for the spinning reel you choose and the type of fish you plan on targeting.   Spinning rods and conventional or bait casting rods are different so make sure you have the right rod for your reel.  In general, the spinning rod has a larger first guide, which is the guide closest to the reel.

Let’s start out by discussing the different line and leader combinations. The first one that comes to mind is the classic, all monofilament. This is definitely the most cost effective option when it comes to spooling. It’s also great for beginners as mono tends to be much more forgiving when it comes to casting and line management. The drawback is that mono needs to be replaced fairly often as it loses strength every time it is fished. Sunlight and repeated exposure to water can also weaken it by breaking down the physical makeup of the line.  It also has a tremendous amount of stretch that can, in some instances, lead to missed hook-sets and lost fish.