Money Saving Tips For Fishing Trips

When fishing, tackle can get expensive!

Sure it's tempting to buy every new lure you see out there, but it can get expensive too. Here then are a bunch of ideas that will save you some money.

Lures and Hooks

While we know that most fish will be attracted to a lure or spinner, and that most lures today have a swivel, a split ring and a hook, the problem is most hooks are made from hardened metal, which often snag on branches and logs and then you loose your lure. So I prefer to change the hooks on my lures to a softer one that can straighten out if it gets snagged.

Many people think that if the hook will straighten out on a snag then it will also straighten out on a fish, but this isnt true. When a lure gets snagged, the point of the hook is typically penetrated into the structure. This puts the stress right on the point of the hook. Then, when you pull, the hook either straightens (if it's soft) or breaks the line (if it's hard). When the hook is caught in a fish's mouth though, the stress on the hook is on the bend of the hook, not on the point, and you will not get it out.

I therefore change the hook on my lures, usually to a Gamakatsu Si-wash hook. A Si-wash hook has an extra long shank and an open eye, which allows you to attach the hook onto a split ring or swivel quickly with hardly any effort. All you need is a pair of pliers to close the eye once its on the swivel or the split ring. When you buy your next lure, pick up a pack of Si-wash hooks (and make sure you match the size of the hook on the lure to your Si-wash hooks).

Your Leader and Your Lines

There are many things to be considered when putting line onto a reel and for my money, Shimano has covered them all. They have baitcasting reels, spinning reels, offshore reels, you name it, and a reels for everyone's budget. I've used Shimano for many years now.

When you buy larger, one shot spools for re-spooling your reels, you typically pay between seventeen and twenty-two dollars for 220 yards. Now, most reels only hold 120 to 175 yards so, because you don't want to use the same diameter for leader as mainline, that extra 45 to 100 yards is waste! If instead you take your reels into the tackle store for re-spooling, you'll only pay for the exact amount of line that actually goes on to the reel. Re-spooling in this way will usually save you over 50%.

Save all your spools and take the large ones down to the tackle store and have them spool the diameter of lines that you most often use for mainline. 15 to 20 pound test is what I use. Then, when you need new line, you can re-spool your reel with your bulk line.

 

About the Author

Derek is passionate about Shimano fishing. For more detail on the best prices available online, please see Shimano reels.