Preamble
Bass angling in the United States is among of the most practised types of angling, and has its own following of die-hard fans, with its own dedicated tournaments and websites. There are a lot of different species of bass, both fresh and saltwater, and the name comes from the Middle English ‘bars’, meaning ‘perch’; and catching them can use either fly fishing methods, baitcast fishing or by the use of spinning tackle.
General Notes
A lot of fishing sages advise beginners to first get a combination set of rod and reel to begin with; and some will go further and suggest buying two combos – one baitcast and one spinning. This rule is not hard-and-fast however, as many people prefer to buy rod, reel, and terminal kit seperately.
The use of baitcast and spinning tackle developed noticeably during the 1950’s and 1960’s due largely to the development of such as monofilament fishing line; the introduction of fiberglass, and graphite rods, and new artificial lures and baits made of industrial plastics in a huge variety of colors, styles and sizes.
For a spinning set, one might aim for something like around a 6-7 foot medium action rod, and around 140 yards of line with a test weight of around 8lbs, though this is again not set in stone. Monofilament line is often suggested as a good ‘beginners’ line but to repeat, some with more experience will actually recommend using braided or fluorocarbon lines.
Those considering serious bass angling might want to go for the latest in fluorocarbon lines such as Trilene. For users of monofilament fishing lines, Sten is a consideration. For those considering a seperate rod and reel as opposed to a combo set, one fairly recent development from Swedish firm Abu Garcia is the Abu Garcia Vendetta: a graphite trigger range of rods that are durable, strong and yet, sensitive. Suitable for fishing for all sorts of fish, not least bass.
As for bait well, that is a topic of a post (if not more) all to itself. The choice of baits available is now without limit, ranging from crankbaits, plastics, through to jigs, and spinnerbaits. As with most things fishing, the angler has to adapt to the conditions he faces, and the fish he is after. With a choice of baits and possibly a choice of rods and lines as well, the dedicated angler soon learns what tackle suits whatever conditions he or she faces.
Tags: abu garcia, Abu Garcia Vendetta, bass fishing, vendetta rods
