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I receive a lot of emails and give a lot of talks to fishing
groups and regularly get the question of what exactly is
light tackle fishing, or light tackle jigging (LTJ) as it
is sometimes referred, for striped bass and how can that
person do it.
The best way I know how to explain exactly what light tackle
fishing is and how to do it is to describe what rods, reels,
line and lures I use as well as what situations work best
for this type of fishing.
My goal is that after you have read this article you know
what light tackle fishing is, have an idea of the type of
rod, reel, line and lures you need and give some tips of
how to approach different types of fishing situations and
where/when you can practice this technique.
Light Tackle Fishing Introduction
The best way to describe light tackle fishing is that it
is downsizing tackle from trolling and bait equipment to
lighter more sensitive equipment, lighter lines and lures
to target a variety of fish species.
Light tackle fishing has its roots from freshwater anglers
where they have used spinning rods and bait casting rods
in ultra light to medium heavy action to cast artificial
lures for species such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass,
trout, perch, crappie, sunfish and other similar species.
Freshwater anglers started replacing trolling and bait
techniques, once the norm in targeting saltwater fish, and
started using their freshwater tackle in saltwater to catch
striped bass, snook, trout, redfish, bonefish, permit, tarpon
and other saltwater species. Anglers quickly realized that
using light tackle with many of the same artificial lures
as used in freshwater produced exciting fishing. As soon
as this new wave hit the saltwater scene, fishing tackle
manufactures recognized the emerging market and started
making specialty saltwater reels, rods, lines and lures
that could withstand the rigor that the saltwater environment
presents. With the boom of all the new tackle, and buzz
among anglers of what a blast it was, saltwater light tackle
fishing was born.
While we will talk about light tackle fishing for striped
bass, much of the equipment and techniques can also be used
to fish for other species such as redfish, trout, bonefish,
snook, trout etc…
Light Tackle Rods for Striped Bass Fishing
I use spinning rods and bait casting rods for my light tackle
fishing. Because of my roots fishing for largemouth bass
I use a casting rod about 75% of the time. In general you
want at least an IM 7 graphite rod to provide a good level
of sensitivity.
I use three sizes of rods for my striped bass light tackle
fishing:
1. 6' rods in medium to medium/heavy action. I use this
rod for fishing in close quarter areas such as drifting
in and around pilings or other closely located structure.
2. 6'6"rods in medium and medium heavy action. I use
this rod as a general application length. I will use it
when in close quarters, but where I have a little more room
to work, when I am jigging straight down or one a steep
slope. Also at times I use it in open water long casting
situations where I am working back from a shoreline, casting
to structure located a medium distance from the boat or
when working breaking fish.
3. 7' rods in medium to heavy action. I generally use this
length when working open water where I want or need to make
long casts. The longer lever gives you more leverage to
make long casts. Most of my baitcasters are bolted to 7'
rods.
Before my recent move to more customer rods, GLoomis has
dominated my rod collection. I like them because I travel
and they make a few models of 3 piece rods. They are super
sensitive, and have held up through all the abuse I throw
at them. Generally I use their GLX or GL3 models. I also
use Berkley Series 1 rods. These rods come from my bass
fishing. They are a freshwater rod, but I really like the
feel and sensitivity at a really good price.
Over the last few years I have moved to having custom rods
built. In general they are not much more then rods you buy
off the rack and it allows me to customize the guides to
be higher quality as well as customize my handle length
and balance of the rod.
Next in this light tackle fishing article series we'll take
a look at rod and reel combinations.
Brandon White is Chief Angler at Lateral Line, Inc., a
technical year-round fishing clothing company located in
Easton MD. He also is a Maryland Governor appointed member
of the Sport Fish Advisory Commission of Maryland. You can
learn more about Brandon and Lateral Line on the web at:
http://www.LateralLineCo.com
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