A lot of fly-fishing tackle these days is bought mail order or on the internet, which is fine if you know exactly what you want. However, if you are unsure, it is better to go to a traditional tackle shop and actually get the feel of the gear before making a purchase. Buy magazines to read the reviews and don’t be afraid of asking anglers on the bank or fishery owners their opinions. Even if you start out by buying economy gear, this doesn’t mean to say that it won’t be very good and won’t last you for many years. Rods and reels are now of a very high standard indeed, even when they are budget priced, so take care to buy something you really like and that you will want to use for years to come.

Rods
If you are just choosing one rod to start with, then a (9ft) or 6/7-weight is about what you are looking for, certainly for nearly all trout and grayling work. You’d even find a rod like this is capable of coping with small summer salmon in tight situations. And (3-4lb) sea trout won’t be too much for it either. Ideally, the rod will be tough, light and have a nice, easy casting action. Some rods, especially for long distance, are very fast in action and take some expertise to get used to, look for nice whippings, good-quality, cork handles, top-quality line guides and, if possible, a carrying tube for protection. Rods with lifetime guarantees are now fairly common and really worth looking for. (more…)

By Corinne Springdale During the months of May, June, and July, a great many anglers in the Gulf Coast region head to the beach to snare the Speckle Trout.  The Speckle Trout is a large trout, silver in color with olive-green tinting.  The “speckle” is given by the many small black dots that extend from its dorsal fin down to the tail.  Commonly, the Speckle Trout is between 14 to 18 inches long, and weighs between one to three pounds.  Its lower jaw is generally more prominent than its upper jaw and its mouth encapsulates two canine teeth.  Speckle Trout prefer small crustaceans, shrimp, and small fish for their diets. (more…)

It’s reel review time! Every Saturday we throw one of the hottest fishing reels your way. You may see a simple bass reel review, or possibly a huge Penn deep sea reel.

Today, we’re going to review the Mitchell 300x Series Spinning Reel, that you can buy right now for 58% off!!!

Tricky line changes? Your no-hassle solution is this Mitchell 300x Series Spinning Reel. Stop carrying an extra rod to handle line malfunctions! This Mitchell Reel lets you switch the spools out quickly and painlessly. And you still get the smooth drive and rugged, dependable construction the Mitchell name is known for.

So the next time you want to put in a full day, without respooling line… bring the one setup that can handle it all!

More: 5-bearing design, with one-way roller bearing for instant anti-reverse; Rugged worm gear oscillation; Right / left retrieve; Aluminum spool, with extra graphite spool for quick line changes.

300X, 6.1:1 gear ratio. 8-lb. / 240-yd. capacity. Weighs 11 ozs.; 310X, 4.9:1 gear ratio. 4-lb. / 100-yd. capacity. Weighs 7.2 ozs.; 306X, 4.6:1 gear ratio. 14-lb. / 210-yd. capacity. Weighs 17 ozs.

This reel is originally $60, but on sale right now for only $24.97! Buy it now!

Every weekend I’m going to switch things up a bit and review a reel. I mean there are only so many lures I can review before we catch them all! So without further adu, I give you the Shimano – Stradic 2500FH Spinning Reel.

It’s no secret that Shimano is one of the top reel producing companies in the world, and they stepped it up a notch with the Stradic 2500FH. It comes with ARB ball bearings that have corrosion resistant coating that protects the bearings and increases their life by 10 times. This reel also has Super Slow Oscillation gives the best line lay and longer castability.

DynaBalanceTM stops rotor wobble, giving you smooth retrieves. You won’t feel any jerk action with the reel. And SuperStopperTM anti-reverse gives Quicker hooksets. There is also an external maintenance port for drivetrain lubrication.

Other features: spare aluminum spool, oversized ball bearing roller guide, super fast gear ratios, stainless shafts, four ball bearings plus one roller bearing and stainless bail. Line Capacity: 140/8. Gear Ratio: 6.0:1.

The Shimano – Stradic 2500FH Spinning Reel can be had for under $100, so I don’t know what you’re waiting for. It’s a top of the line reel at a moderate price.