Butterfly jigging with Shimano Rods?

What is butterfly jigging?

The Butterfly Jigging System was designed in Japan in the 1990’s to catch Blue fin tuna at depths of up to five hundred feet. This system of fishing is called a butterfly jig because of the distinctive butterfly like zigzag motion of the lure under water. This unique motion of the butterfly jig attracts a larger multitude of fish as compared to regular jigs.

How does it work?

Butterfly jigs are designed to present a vertical profile to fish. These jigs are designed to catch fish from a hundred and fifty feet and more. The design of the jig is such that it drops quickly to the bottom with a swinging motion. Jigs are shaped and colored to resemble species of fish that are eaten by bottom feeders. The lively action of the jig has been dubbed action/reaction. This means that the jig not only attracts fish looking for food, but also startles the other fish into attacking it because of its sudden movements.

What are Shimano Rods?

Shimano is a Japanese manufacturer of high-quality, precision-engineered sports equipment. It was started by Shozaburo Shimano in 1921 in Kansai, Japan. Shimano aims to make the highest quality products and the immense popularity of Shimano products in the world of competitive fishing is a testimonial to the standards of this Japanese multinational. Shimano began producing fishing rods in 1970 and since then it has steadily carved a name for itself as one of the foremost manufacturer of fishing tackle.

Shimano introduced butterfly jigs into the United States in the year 2005. Since then, this unique system of fishing has rapidly been gaining in popularity. Since the introduction of the butterfly jig in the 1990’s, Shimano has steadily consolidated its lead in the market, and today it is one of the most popular manufacturer of butterfly jig systems.

Which Shimano Rods should I use for butterfly jigging?

Shimano rods for butterfly jigging are specially designed to take the strain of fishing at these extreme depths. These Shimano rods allow the fisherman to feel every movement while retrieving the lure. The rod amplifies every movement of the lure so as to enable the angler to judge precisely the action and the motion of any fish that take the bait.

There are many Shimano rods that will let you set up a butterfly jigging system. The best Shimano rods for those looking for a heavy duty setup are the Shimano Trevala and Shimano Trevala F series of rods. These Shimano rods can be combined with patented Shimano jigs and reels to provide you with a complete butterfly jigging system. You can choose from spinning and casting variants.

Shimano rods for butterfly jigging are designed to be powerful yet lightweight, with increased sensitivity. These rods also have a very fast recovery rate. This helps to increase the jigging action and subdue the fish faster. The popularity of the Trevala can be judged from the fact that it is the winner of the American Sport Fishing Association’s Award for Best in Category Rod.

For more information on the perfect butterfly jigging system visit our website http://www.seaisletackle.com.

Tips and Tricks for Using Fishing Lure

Perhaps the most thrilling manner of catching fish is by using fishing lures. Broadly speaking, lures can be divided in three categories. Spinners and spoons are typically made of metal; move about or spin in the water similar to real fish. Plugs, which are made of wood or plastic, move along the surface of the water or sink deep below the surface, sometimes staying somewhere in between.

Here are a few tips and tricks that can help when using fishing lures.

Where to fish?

Ideally, it’s advisable to not stay in one position for too long. A good way to start is by doing a complete reconnaissance of the water, and then finding a suitable point. Remember, bigger fish prefer still water, so you’ll probably find them off the main current.

Finding the right fishing lure

When you a buy a lure, ensure that you pay attention to its every detail. Most fish have extremely sharp vision, so the more alike your lure is to a real fish, the more are the chances you’ll catch one. Things to look out for are the eyes, scale pattern, and color.

Correctly using a lure

Even if it appears that the line is only being cast and retrieved, there is method to using fishing lures. The only way you’re going to be able to catch fish while using a lure is if you can successfully make your lure resemble a fish or an insect. Remember, fish are not attracted to metal, wood, or plastic, so it’s your job to make the fish think there’s a meal in there somewhere for it. Hence, cast accurately and carefully, once you’ve cast your line keep moving the rod tip so that the lure keeps changing its direction of motion.

Some pointers

Almost any fish is attracted to a fishing lure that resembles a minnow or crayfish. For bass, the most effective lures are spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and plastic worms. If you’re fishing for trout, it’s good to know that trout enjoy fish like pike and saltwater fish, so use shiny metal lures.When it’s time to catch some big fish, use plastic worms or jigs.If you’re fishing on the surface, which is by far the most exciting, cast your line near the cover and hold still for a few minutes. Then, slowly tug the rod tip in such a manner so that the fishing lure appears to be moving on the surface.

If you’re having trouble catching fish, or there appears to be few fish in the water, opt for a smaller fishing lure. For instance, you could use a small plastic worm. Make sure to attach a small weight about a foot and a half above the hook. Again, cast the line accurately and then wait patiently for the lure to rest on the bottom of the water. After this, very slowly begin to retrieve the line. This will cause the weight to bounce on the bottom, which, in turn, will cause the worm to move around in different directions along the bottom.

For more information on the types of fishing lures available and the range of methods that can be used for effectively attracting and catching fish, visit http://www.seaisletackle.com.

Servicing a Fishing Lure

Maintenance

Almost as important as it is to buy the right fishing lures, it’s equally important to take care of them after purchase to ensure that you can get the most out of them. Typically, storing fishing lures does not require much care, simple boxes will do. However, there are certain factors such as the climate that can cause you to take extra require. For instance, if you stay in a wetter climate zone, it becomes extremely important to not allow the metal parts of your lure to be exposed to air, if you do, you’ll end up with rusted hooks and corroded metal. Also, lures with feathers should be kept in air-tight containers to avoid moths and other insects from getting to them.

Repair

Regardless of how well you keep your fishing lures, damage is inevitable. However, most lures can be made as good as new with a few simple tricks. Below are some basics for fishing lure repair.

Plugs

If you find that your plug is slightly chipped a simple touch up with some enamel or lacquer should easily solve the problem. On the other hand, severely damaged wooden plugs require a complete paint job; you can do this with either a brush and enamel or a spray gun and lacquer. Remember to remove the hooks if they require replacement or if you’re using a spray gun. Also, before you begin painting, it is important to sandpaper the plug. A few coats of white enamel, followed by additional colors should bring excellent results. When it comes to hooks, if they’re rusted, they need to be replaced; however, if the damage is minimal, cleaning with steel wool, followed by some oil coating, should solve the problem temporarily.

Spoons and Spinners

When it comes to spoons and spinners the golden rule is to wipe them dry after every use; this prevents them from tarnishing or corroding. Also, if you’re fishing in saltwater, ensure that you rinse the fishing lures with fresh water and then wipe them dry before storing them away. Wiping them with an oil cloth also goes a long way in maintaining the lures. If you notice that the lures are tarnished, some metal polishing could bring them back to good condition. However, if your lures are severely damaged, your best would be to take them to place that does nickel or chrome plating. Chrome plating is ideal for spoons that are used in salt water.

Jigs

When it comes to jigs, keep an eye on the hook and the skirts, which are made of the hair, feather, or nylon. If your hook is damaged, it’s best to discard the jig; then again, if damaged part of the fishing lure is the skirt, then one can always remove the old hair, feathers, nylon and tie on new hair, feathers, or nylon. When the paint wears off, sandpaper and remove the old paint completely, before giving it a fresh paint job.

Remember, however, that every fishing lure has a lifespan. After a certain amount of damage, the best option is to discard the old lure and get some new ones. For more information on the fishing lures that are available in the market, visit http://www.seaisletackle.com.

Types of Fishing Lures

Fishing lures are objects that are attached to the end of fishing lines. They mimic the movement of fish and insects in the water and attract other fish.

Fishing lures are available in many different designs based on the kind of fish that they are being used to catch. Some of them have brightly colored tails that moved through the water when the lure is retrieved. Fishing lures that are used for fly fishing slowly sink below the surface of the water. Here are some of the more common types of fishing lures that are available at http://www.seaisletackle.com.

Jigs: Jigs, or leadheads, are made of a metal head and a flexible tail of animal hair, plastic feather, or soft rubber. When a jig is retrieved it resembles a small fish swimming through the water. To make a jig work effectively, the user needs to apply just the right amount of pressure in order to make the jig move on the bottom of a stream like minnows or crawdads. The action performed by the user is called jigging, hence the name.

Spoons: Spoons, as the name suggest, resemble large metal spoons and have a single hook attached to the curve of the spoon head, or a three-pronged hook attached to one end through a small hole. They are shaped and painted to resemble baitfish so that when they are retrieved, the larger fish go to attack them and are caught. Spoons are the simplest form of a lure. Owing to their durable nature they are also widely used in commercial fishing.

Plastic bait: Plastic baits are molded in various shapes and sizes to resemble crayfish, minnows, worms, and as such. They are brightly colored and probably one of the most popular kinds of fishing lures in the market. They may also employ the use of attractants to lure their prey.

Plugs: Plugs include a large variety of lures and are designed to resemble dead insects. These fishing lures either float on the surface of the water, or slowly sink to a certain depth. They are generally made of plastic or wood.

Spinners: Spinners have blades that spin when they are dragged through the water. Some of them may also have tails of animal hair or soft plastic. The movement of the spinner’s tail helps to attract fish.

Spinnerbait: Spinnerbaits, also known as hairpin lures, are similar to spinners except for slight differences in design. Instead of having one or more blades, they have a skirt of animal hair, soft plastic, or vinyl that spins in order to attract other fish. They also have a trademark safety-pin shape.

Poppers and Flies: Poppers and flies are fishing lures that are used with spin cast or fly cast fishing tackle. They mimic the movements of flies on the surface of the water.

What is a daisy chain? A chain of plastic fishing lures is called a daisy chain; these chains do not have any hooks. Daisy chains are useful in attracting a school of fish toward those lures that have hooks on them.

Questions to Ask Before Purchasing Fishing Reels

Buying fishing reels is an important part of being a fisher. You don’t want to get out to your favorite fishing area with a shabby reel and not be able to catch the fish you want. You also don’t want to end up with equipment that doesn’t meet your needs or that isn’t easy enough to use for you.

For these reasons, you should ask yourself some important questions before you choose your fishing reels.

Which Type of Fishing Reels Work?

Fishing reels come in a wide variety of types but for most basic fishing you only have two possibilities: spinning or casting reels. If you’re new to fishing then you’d probably be better off choosing a spinning reel because they are easier to use. You’ll also find a number of different types of spinning reels to choose from. Many of these are good for using bait to catch fish.

On the other hand, casting reels are a little more difficult and take some experience to master. If you’re going to be using lures then using a casting reel would be an ideal choice.

Which Type of Water am I Fishing in?

Obviously, you’re going to have two choices: salt water or fresh water. You may also choose to fish in both types of water. Now many experts will tell you to choose fishing reels that are designed specifically for those types of water. You could do that. However, you don’t really need to.

In most cases, salt water isn’t going to be any more destructive to your reel than any other type of water. Of course, you don’t want to dunk the reel into the water and hold it in there for long periods of time. You also want to follow proper maintenance for your fishing reels at all times.

The only time this is going to be different is if the reel contains magnesium. Magnesium is highly corrosive especially when it comes in contact with salt water. However, only very expensive fishing reels contain magnesium so this is rarely going to be a problem.

Fishing Reels and Attracting Fish

Another consideration when choosing your fishing reels is whether you want to use bait or a lure to attract fish. Also, the specific type and size of bait and lure you want to use can also have an impact on the reel you want to pick. The weight of the lure, for example, will have an impact on the reel you choose because of the line capacity that of the reel.

Of course, this means that you’re going to need to know the answer to these questions before you go shopping for fishing reels. If you’re not an experienced fisher, you should do some research and talk to other fishers before you make that decision and start your search.

Finding More Help with Fishing Reels

If you have questions about the fishing reels you are interested in, then you need to talk to specific companies, such as Sea Isle Tackle, about the questions you have.

Caring for Your Fishing Reels

Fishing reels are an important piece of your equipment. When you purchase one, you’re making an investment in a favorite pastime and that’s going to require some maintenance. You can’t just leave it in the corner when not in use and expect it to continue performing at peek capacity for years to come. That just won’t happen. Following the tips for caring for your fishing reels below will help ensure a long life for your reel.

Preventing Problems with Your Fishing Reels

The main problem with fishing reels is that you simply can’t clean them in just any old way because of the materials they are made from. For example, if you’re using an aluminum reel it could corrode pretty easily and that’s not what you want. However, titanium is pretty resistant to this problem but the average fisher can’t really afford to purchase that type of high end equipment. Even if you could, there are other parts of the reel that are not quite as resistant.

One way to save yourself from having to deal with this problem is by not putting the reel into water unless it’s absolutely necessary. The more contact with water your reel has the more likely it is to be damaged. That’s especially true if you’re dipping it into saltwater. Additionally, if you’re fishing from a boat you want to protect the reel from any of the spray coming back into the boat. The force of the spray can get the water inside the reel and that’s not good.

Cleaning Your Fishing Reels

After you return home from a fishing excursion, you should always make sure to thoroughly clean your reel. Make sure to only use low pressure water and to remove the spool afterward so you can get rid of any extra water before you put it back together. You definitely don’t want that water sitting around inside your reel. If you’ve gone on a saltwater fishing trip, then you’ll want to be even more thorough. You should take apart the reel, scrub everything with soapy water, rinse it all down, and dry it completely. Only when it is completely dry should you start putting the fishing reels back together. Make sure there are no salt crystals left on any part of the reel because these can be very destructive.

Routine Maintenance for Your Fishing Reels

Fishing reels should be well-maintained obviously. If you do salt water fishing, then this is even more critical because that salt can be so destructive. You’re going to want to spend time about four times a year to really take everything apart on the reel and clean it with hot water. You’ll also want to apply new lubricant to the reel at this time.

Getting Good Fishing Reels

Of course, the best way to ensure that your fishing reels are well taken care of is to pay attention to the maintenance but also to purchase high quality equipment from the beginning at sites like Sea Isle Tackle.

Understanding Different Types of Fishing Reels

Before you head to the store with your money and start shopping for fishing reels, you need to think long and hard about what you need. If you’re familiar with what’s available, you already know that the selection is pretty wide and can be hard to navigate. That’s why your best course of action is to begin at home with some research and go into the store ready already knowing what type of fishing reels will work best for your specific needs.

Let’s look at those different types of fishing reels.

Fishing Reels: Casting

Casting fishing reels are used for exactly what the name suggests. If you’re doing mostly inshore fishing and you need to get that bait or lure into the water, you’re going to probably focus on these types of reels. They actually have a fairly long history in fishing and most were developed from some early, popular models that developed in the 19^th century.

Within casting reels, you’ll also find level winding and non-level winding varieties. The one you choose depends mostly on what feels right for you so test out a few different models of each before settling on your preference.

Fishing Reels: Spinning

Another popular type of fishing reels is the spinning ones. These reels first hit the United States when they were introduced hear during the mid 20^th century from Europe. After that, their popularity among fishers exploded and they continue to be a popular choice for inshore fishing. One major advantage is cost. You’ll spend a lot less on these types of fishing feels than either of the ones listed below. Keep in mind that these types of fishing reels come in two types as well: open face and closed face. Again, you’ll want to do some hands-on testing at your favorite fishing ground to see which variation works best for you.

Fishing Reels: Fly

If you’re planning on doing any fly fishing, then you’ll want to choose these types of fishing reels for your needs. Nothing else will work quite as well for most fishers. These reels tend to be narrower even when they have larger spool diameters. Most also don’t have gearing. As fly fishing has become more popular, the price of these reels has begun to increase so keep that in mind when you’re beginning to search for the right fishing reels for your needs.

Fishing Reels: Trolling

These are the best reels to use if you’re interested in doing some deep water or bottom fishing, such as for catfish and similar species of fish. Although in many ways they look like fly fishing reels, you’ll probably notice that they are larger and have wider diameters. Prices on these types of fishing reels, which are primarily designed for offshore fishing, can be a bit steep. However, if you’re serious about catching certain fish then you’re absolutely going to need to make the investment.

Remember as you’re searching for fishing reels your best choice is to browse online at shops like Sea Isle Tackle.

Understanding the Label of Fishing Reels

Before you start comparison shopping for fishing reels, you might want to learn a little bit of the industry jargon so you can understand all of the terminology you’ll find on those boxes. If you’re new to fishing or if you’ve never really tried your hand at buying fishing reels before, then you’ll probably feel like you’re lost in a world of strange terms that may or may not be important clues about the quality of the purchase you may or may not be making.

Don’t worry though. That’s a natural reaction to what you’ll see on the box. Now let’s try to understand the basics of the box so you can start searching for the best fishing reels possible.

Bearing Amount in Fishing Reels

One of the main numbers you’ll see on the side of the box and one that you should pay attention to is the number of bearings. The bearings contribute to the smoothness of the reel. The general, although not universal, rule is that a larger number of bearings are going to give you less resistance when you’re turning the reel and that will make fishing a lot easier and less strenuous for you. However, sometimes other factors can enter the picture and cause fishing reels with fewer bearings to be just as smooth as or smoother than ones with more bearings.

While those numbers can act as a guide, the only real way to know the smoothness of your fishing reels is by testing them yourself. Only when you have them in your hand and can feel them in action will you know for sure. That’s why you should do plenty of tests with other fisher’s rods before you make decisions and start buying.

Fishing Reels & Line Capacity

The line capacity number is meant to tell you how much line can be held by the fishing reels. However, this usually isn’t consistent for all lines. Different sizes of line can change the basic numbers. If you see a line capacity such as 10/(155) that means if you’re using a 10 pound line you’ll be able to hold about 155 yards of line.

Gear Ratios and Fishing Reels

This number is probably not going to mean much to you but understanding its meaning may help give you an idea of which fishing reels you’re more partial to after some hands-on testing. Basically, these ratios tell you how many revolutions the spool or line winder is going to make each time you turn the handle on the reel. Obviously, the more turns it makes the less cranking you have to do and the easier your job is going to be overall.

When you’re reading the ratio, the first two numbers represent the number of revolutions. The last number is almost always going to be a 1 which stands for the one time you have to turn the handle.

Shopping for Fishing Reels

When you begin shopping for fishing reels, you should start your search online so that you can have the biggest selection. Sites like Sea Isle Tackle are good starting places.

Fishing Rods for Your Type of Fishing

When you’re looking for to purchase fishing rods, you should know that it’s not a one-size-fits-all market. You wouldn’t buy a Ferrari if you just wanted to drive the kids to school and go to the grocery store just like you wouldn’t buy a Dodge Caravan for street racing. You have to know your purpose before purchasing the right fishing equipment for the tasks ahead.

Let’s look at some of the different types of fishing you might want to consider and how that might influence the purchase of your fishing rods.

Fishing Rods for Inshore Fishing

If you’re doing some inshore fishing, you need to realize what that means: working in shallow water and trying to catch fairly small fish. What you are going to look for in the fishing rods is one that will be heavy enough to pull in decent size fish but you want to choose one that is lightweight enough that you can cast it easily without causing your body to ache the next day.

You’ll probably want to look for either casting or spinning rods. These would also be good choices if you’re going to be doing bottom fishing, such as for catfish and other fish that stay close to the bottom of watery areas.

Don’t confuse these fishing rods with what you would need for inshore fly fishing. For that, you’ll still need to purchase fly fishing equipment.

Fishing Rods for Offshore Fishing

When you’re going to be doing offshore fishing, you’re going to want a rod that can handle whatever you throw at it. No matter what type of offshore fishing you’re doing you can expect to spend more the fishing rods you’ll need than you would for ordinary fishing equipment. For example, if you’re going to go trolling then you can expect to pay around $1,000. You may be able to find some cheaper options but you’ll want to shop around and pay attention to the quality of the item before you buy.

Bottom fishing is another example. While you can use the same equipment as you would for inshore fishing, you’d probably want something a little more substantial, especially if you are going to be hunting for big fish. These fishing rods are usually also heavier and less flexible than the ones used for trolling.

Fishing Rods for Surf and Pier Fishing

If you’re going to be doing fishing in the surf or off of a pier, you’ll probably want to look into some fairly specialized equipment. Surf rods are usually designed to help you cast further so that you can actually reach the fish. These rods can also be used for pier fishing as can most types of inshore fishing. However, you’ll want to still focus on choosing equipment that feels comfortable for you.

Looking for Specific Fishing Rods

One of the bigger challenges you’re likely to face is finding these fishing rods at your local store. Instead you should choose an online site like Sea Isle Tackle which has a larger selection to choose from.

Looking at the Attributes of Fishing Rods

If you’re not familiar with fishing rods or if you’re looking to choose something a little more specific than what you currently have to work with, then you’ll want to start paying close attention to the different attributes of the fishing rods that are on the market.

Let’s go over some of those attributes now and look at how they can impact your choice.

Fishing Rods: Length

If you’ve spent much time looking at fishing equipment, you probably already know that the rods come in a wide variety of sizes. What you may not realize is that the rod size you choose can have an impact on the type of fishing you can do well. For example, if you want to make long casts then you’re going to be looking for longer rods. If you re wanting a heavier line, possibly to catch bigger fish, then you should focus on shorter rods.

Furthermore, if you are interested in doing bottom fishing then you’ll probably want to stick to a shorter rod. These just work better for that type of casting. On the other hand, if you’re going to be using lures or if you simply have a hard time casting, you might want to choose a longer rod because it will make both of these steps easier.

Fishing Rods: Guides

Another important factor when choosing the right fishing rods are the guides. The guides allow the line to move as you want it to. That means your guides will have a big impact on the smoothness of your casting and reeling. Of course, guides made from certain materials can raise the prize of the rod so you may need to find a balance between cost and smoothness. Generally, the best choice is going to be ceramic guides. These are very quiet and smooth. You’ll also have fewer problems with line fraying and long casting.

The cheaper choices are usually stainless steel. They’ll get the job done but will not provide the same high-quality results as ceramics. These do work well, however, for shorter rods and bottom fishing rods when long casting is not such an important issue.

Fishing Rods: Taper

Even the most experienced fishers tend to overlook the importance of taper when it comes to choosing fishing rods. Taper, also sometimes called action, is how much the rod bends under pressure. The greater the bend the more difficult casting and baiting can be. In general, a slow taper will result in a lower priced rod.

At the other end of the scale, you’ll find the extra fast taper which causes only the upper part of the rod to bend. These are very flexible pieces of fishing equipment which work well for lots of fish but also cost a great deal of money.

Comparing Fishing Rods

When you’re ready to make a purchase or do some comparison shopping, online stores such as Sea Isle Tackle can be good choices because of their wide selection and because of the convenience of comparing from home.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Fishing Rods

Whether you’ve invested a large sum in your fishing rods or just have a lot of sentimental attachment to the fishing rods you’re currently using, you want to make sure you know how to properly care for them so they will last a long time.

The tips below will help you ensure that your favorite fishing rods will have a long and happy life as part of your fishing equipment.

Post Fishing Care for Fishing Rods

Once you finish fishing for the day, you might be tempted to just toss your rod back in the car and then back in the closet when you return home. That’s not a good idea. First, you never want to put a wet rod back in its sheath. If you were fishing in saltwater, all of that salt from the rod will end up getting into the sheath and cause future damage. No matter what type of water you are using for fishing you should wipe down your rod thoroughly with a dry, soft cloth before putting it back in its sheath. If for some reason, you aren’t able to do this, you should wipe it down as soon as you return home and wash the sheath to remove anything that might have gotten into the material thanks to the water.

If you don’t plan to use it for an extended period of time, let it dry and then return it to its sheath. For storage, make sure to hang the sheath on a hook or hanger. If possible, do not just lean your rod against a wall. This can not only cause damage to the rod but it’s also an easy way for your fishing rods to get broken accidentally.

Cleaning Your Fishing Rods

Like all types of sporting equipment, your fishing rods are going to need some thorough cleaning from time to time. How often depends greatly on how frequently you’re going fishing and what type of fishing you’re doing. For example, salt water fishing is going to require more frequent cleaning than fresh water fishing.

To clean your rod, you’ll need a soft cloth and lukewarm water mixed with soap. Get the cloth wet then ring it out before rubbing it over your rod gently. It’s also a good idea to use an old toothbrush to clean out dirt and debris that collect around the guide rings and in other hard to reach parts of the fishing rods.

Inspecting Your Fishing Rods

Never just take it for granted that your fishing rods are in great shape. You might find out the hard way that they’ve been slowly damaged by a minor problem that was never taken care of. For example, if water has gotten under the guide rings and start to cause rusting the rod can be in trouble and the ring should be replaced as soon as possible. To find out that problem, you need to be doing routine inspections of your equipment.

Caring for Your Fishing Rods

You can find out more about caring for your equipment properly by visiting offline or online sporting equipment shops, such as Sea Isle Tackle.