Sport fishing is defined by pursuing one or more species of fish with the use of some kind of rod and reel. On this rod and reel is fishing line, and on the other end of the fishing line is the bait or lure. The targeted fish will detect the bait or lure in some way, investigate, and with luck strike the bait. The fisherman will then proceed to reel the fish in. While this sounds pretty simple, sport fishing can actually get quite complex and technical. With an almost innumerable array of sport fish to chose from, and a just as abundant selection of tackle for said sport fish, it can seem impossible to get started. But fear not, as all sport fishing tackle follows a general pattern. All you have to do is match your tackle to the fish!

Sport Fishing Tackle: Rods and Reels

Before you think about what species of fish you wish to catch, you must understand the equipment used to catch the fish. First there's your fishing rod and reel. All fishing tackle starts with the rod and reel, it's what connects you to the line and the line to the fish! All the different fishing rod and reel types come in different sizes or "actions". The action of the rod determines it's stiffness and flexibility. Remember, when choosing any rod and reel it is very important to match the fishing line to the rod and reel! Here are some basic rod and reel types:

• Spinning Rod/Reels are defined by an open faced reel that hangs below the rod itself. The guides on the rod also face down. Spinning rods are very popular as a kind of "general use" rod and reel setup. Casting is performed by "flipping the bail" on the reel, thus disengaging the line from the reel. There are versions of spinning for everything from tiny trout and panfish, to huge ocean going tuna! Spin-fishing setups are also by far the most popular for ultralight fishing.
• Spincast or Closed-Face rods and reels are the first type of fishing rod most young anglers encounter. The reels have a sort of covering over the spool and the line is fed out of a small hole in the front. A push button or trigger is used for casting. Most anglers move away from this kind of rod/reel combo in favor of the other three types.
• Baitcasting rods and reels look to be a cross breed between a spincast and spinning reel, but operate in a vary different way. A button is used in casting much like the spincast reel, but the angler must "thumb the spool", thus stopping it's spin before the bait hits the water or suffer a line tangle or "backlash". These rod and reel combos are very popular among bass fisherman for their rugged construction and potential for incredibly long casts.
• Fly-rods and reels are the most unique and oldest of the four types, and utilises a method of casting that is completely different than any other kind of fishing. When fly-fishing the angler uses the weight of the line to cast small, very light lures known as flies. Fly-fishing is one of the world's most popular ways of catching the various trout and salmon species.

Sport Fishing Tackle: Terminal Tackle

Terminal Tackle refferes to all the other parts of a fisherman's gear such as his hooks, bobbers, sinkers, leaders, swivels, and dozens of other items. While not all of these things are needed all the time, it's important to have a general grasp of what they are for. Storage deals with where you put all your sport fishing tackle when on and off the water. It's very important to keep all your tackle organised, as loose line and hooks can be very dangerous to say nothing of the frustration they can cause. Here are some examples of useful terminal tackle:

• Your Hooks are one of the single most important bits of tackle in your whole collection. Fishing hooks come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and even colors! When choosing the proper hook you must consider the bait you will be using, the species of fish, and even where the fish lives. Some hooks come in very specialized shapes to aid in weedless presentations or to help hold baits on the hook. Also consider using barbless hooks, as the injure the fish less and make unhooking incredibly quick and easy.
  
• Bobbers or Floats are devices used to keep the fishing bait suspended at a certain depth in the water and as a handy strike indicator. Bobbers are often thought of as a child's tool, used only for catching sunfish on worms. This is very untrue, as floats are commonly used for bass, catfish, crappie, and even pike fishing!
• Sinkers are devices usualy constructed of lead or other dense metals, designed to sink the bait to a certain depth, or to improve casting distance through additional weight. The most common type of sinker is the split-shot, which is a ball of lead with a split through the middle. The line is fed into the split, then with the use of pliers the split-shot is pinched onto the line.
  
• Snaps, Swivels, and Leaders can also be very important, if a bit situational. Snaps and swivels are used for quick bait changes (snaps) and keep fishing line from twisting (swivels). Leaders on the otherhand are lengths of specialty fishing line attached to the main line on the rod. Wire Leaders are often used for toothy fishes, such as muskie and norther pike, due to the risk of the sharp teeth cutting the line.

Sport Fishing Tackle: Tackle Storage

Now that we have all of our lovely tackle together, it's time to choose what it will all be put in. Luckily when it comes to tackle storage there are many options available. From several types of tackle boxes to even fishing vests and backpacks, there's no shortage of ways to keep your gear organized. So how do you choose the best sport fishing tackle solution for you? Merely ask yourself the following:

• What kind of fishing do I plan on doing? Bass fishing for example utilizes fairly large lures and baits from time to time, so large amounts of storage space is key. When fly-fishing for trout however, small fly-boxes that can fit in a pocket may be all you need.
• Where am I fishing? If you will be fishing from a boat, large, heavy tackle boxes with tons of storage space wont be a problem. However, if you are wading in small streams and rivers, small, pocket sized tackle boxes and fishing vests are the way to go.
• How long will a be fishing? The longer you intend to stay on the water, the more gear you will need to carry, and you will need more space to carry it. On the other hand short trips only require a handful of tackle.