Fishing Tackle

If you're a new or occasional angler, you'll need a certain amount of tackle, including an assortment of bait, lures, hooks, leaders, sinkers, swivels and bobbers. Let's work backwards starting from the hook.

Bait

Bait is food or natural substances used to attract fish and tempt them to bite.
There are natural baits and artificial baits.

Natural bait: includes worms, fish roe and doughballs.

Artificial bait: includes artificial substances that are scented or flavoured to
attract fish to bite. PowerBait is the brand name of one kind of artificial bait.

Careful! Some waters in B.C. prohibit the use of bait. For complete definitions
of bait and the "Rules on Bait Usage" please consult the B.C. Freshwater Fishing
Regulations Synopsis before you go fishing.

As your you become a more experienced angler you'll learn which baits are
best for catching different species of fish.

Tip: Determining a fish's food source is the best way to ensure angling success!
Once you determine what a species eats (insects, plants, other fish) and where
they feed (at the bottom or near the surface), you can choose tackle that best
imitates their food choice. Check out the "Fish of B.C." section of this website
to see what popular freshwater sport fish like to eat.

Lures

Lures are objects designed to resemble a fish's prey that are attached to the end of a fishing line. Lures usually have one or more hooks, and the movement, vibration and colour of the lure aim to catch the fish's attention and ‘lure' them to bite the hook. Artificial lures include plugs, spoons and spinners.

Plugs
are usually made of balsa wood or plastic and are designed to resemble a baitfish. Some plugs are designed to float on the surface and some will have a small lip at the front that will make them dive as you reel in your line. The faster you reel, the deeper they dive.

Spoons

are metal blades that wobble, dart side to side and move up and down in the water as you reel in. This movement makes them vibrate and reflect light which attracts fish. There are hundreds of different designs and sizes of spoons to choose from.

Spinners
Like spoons, spinners vibrate and reflect light. They do this by using a spinning blade at the front of the lure. Behind the blade, various lures or flies can be attached to add more attraction. There are many designs and sizes of spinners to choose from.

Tip: Fish can be picky feeders. If you are not having much luck, try changing lures occasionally. You will increase your chance of being successful.

Hooks

Hooks come in many shapes and sizes, each designed with a different purpose in mind.

Careful! All rivers and streams, and some lakes in B.C. require you to use only single barbless hooks. Please consult the B.C. Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis before you go fishing.

Tip: If you buy a lure or spoon that has a treble hook or hook with a barb, you can easily replace the treble with a single hook and pinch the barb flat with a pair of pliers.

Leaders
A leader is a piece of line that goes between your main fishing line and your hook. The type of leader you use depends on the type of fishing you are doing; when fishing for a strong fish with teeth you should choose a short, strong leader, and you would probably want a lighter, thinner leader when you're fishing in clear water. Many hooks and lures come with leaders already attached.

Sinkers
Sinkers are usually made of lead or tungsten and come in various shapes and sizes. A sinker adds some weight to your line, making it easier to cast further; it also makes your bait sink and balances your bobber or float in the water.

Swivels
Swivels are used where your main line is joined to your leader. It helpsstop your line from twisting. The two most common are the barrel swivel (a loop at each end of a barrel) and a snap swivel (a quick snap on one end and a loop on the other).

Bobbers

Bobbers allow you to adjust the depth you're fishing at. You can move them up or down your line to place your bait, lure or fly in the exact depth the fish are located.