Ricks Rigz | Ready made Carp and Catfish Rigs

 Traces and leaders are used as shock absorbers, abrasion protection and main line protection. Monofilament or Mono leaders should feature Fluorocarbon co-polymer construction, high abrasion resistance, high knot or crimp strength and high tensile strength. Mono leaders should be used when fishing with braided line, this gives the angler extra abrasion resistance and shock protection. A leader should be used when ever an angler has a hook attached. This gives main line protection, more natural bait and lure presentation as well as shock protection. Mono leader material is a better choice over a wire leader as Mono leaders give a more natural presentation, are less visible and more shock absorbent. Wire leaders should be used when chasing Toothy critters like sharks and Mackerel. While coated multiple strand wire is normally the choice of anglers there are occasions when an angler will require a thinner gauge wire. Single strand wire is often used by anglers live baiting for mackerel.

 Swivels are used for a number of functions. The primary function of a swivel is to prevent line twist as a result of a rotating bait, lure or rig. Swivels are also used as a joining mechanism to join main line to leader, and as a separator and restrictor to stop sinkers from moving on to a rig or too far up the main line.

 Swivels are sized the same as hooks with 14 being the smaller end of the scale and 4/0 being the upper end of the scale.

 There are a number of different types of swivels. Types include Barrel, Torpedo, Box, Crane, Snap swivels and 3-Way swivels.

 Barrel swivels are the cheapest and most popular swivels. Barrel swivels are not the most effective in reducing line twist but they are a very effective component when used in a running sinker rig, where the swivel is used as a separator and joiner. Barrel swivels come in two colours, Brass and Black. The brass are fine in most applications but if you are fishing in areas where fish like Barracouta, Barracuda, Mackerel and other toothy predators live, a black swivel is the smart choice. The reason behind this is the fact that a shinny brass swivel can look like a baitfish and attract the unwanted attention of hungry toothy critters resulting in bite-offs and lost fish. Black swivels are very useful in clear water and when targeting shy fish, this is once again due to the minimum amount of “flash” that they produce.

 Crane Swivels are stronger, smaller and more effective than Barrel swivels. The only disadvantage to the Crane swivel is the fact that it more expensive than the Barrel swivels.

 Torpedo swivels are typically used in Game fishing and heavy-duty applications. Torpedo swivels turn more freely than other swivels of a similar size and come in

 3-Way swivels are great in dropper style rigs. 3-Way swivels are great for preventing a dropper twisting around the main line. The reason behind this is the 3-Way swivel’s ability to enable unbalanced bait to spin in the water and during casting. The major downfall of a 3-way swivel is the possibility of the swivel arm breaking under pressure due to metal fatigue.

 Snap swivels are mainly used by lure anglers as the Snap mechanism gives the angler the ability to quickly change lures while not having to re-tie on the lure. Snap swivels do reduce the action of a lure and its buoyancy. Snap swivels are great for offshore anglers frequently changing rigs. I personally use Snap swivels in a dropper or paternoster rig to attach sinkers in fishing locations where there is a large amount of tidal flow. Snap swivels also come in Black and Brass finishes, and colour selection is the same as that used for Barrel swivels.

 To reduce line twist when trawling some anglers employ Keels in association with swivels. For heavy-duty salt water applications heavy lead keel sinkers are employed where in fresh water applications like light spinning and slow trawling for trout, clear plastic or celluloid keels are used. Keels are not required for all trawling and spinning applications but should be considered when fishing with free spinning lures.

 There are two types of Rings, Brass rings and Split rings. Brass rings are used in much the same ways as Barrel swivels. The advantage of Brass rings over Barrel swivel is the rings lighter and stronger for its size. This gives the angler the ability to more naturally present baits. Split rings are made of steel and are used to attach hooks to lures.

 Ezy-Rigs are used in running sinker rigs and give the angler the ability to change sinkers regularly. Ezy-Rigs come in 2 sizes, small or large and 2 colours Blue or Red. There are many imitations of Ezy-Rigs on the market these days they come in a range of sizes and colours, they are sure to do the job, but the original is always the best.

 Floats come in many shapes and sizes and are used in many fishing situations. Floats are typically used to suspend a bait or baits in a certain area in the water column and indicate to the angler indications of a bite. Floats can be fix or running, clear or coloured, made of Plastic, wood, cork, foam or glass. Most floats are high visibility on the top for angler recognition and low visibility or white on the base for camouflage.

 When choosing a float think about the application that you are going to use it for. If your fishing for Mullet or Luderick in calm waters you would probably use a Quill float. Now if you were fishing for these species in more turbid waters you would use a heavier pencil float. If you require a float for use in very clear water for catching very timid fish say trout for example, you would use a bubble float. Bubble floats are great because you determine their buoyancy by inserting water into the bubble, this lets the angler present the bait as naturally as possible. If your rock fishing and casting big baits you would use a Torpedo float.

 You have to consider the following when choosing a float, Size of fish targeted, size of bait, Casting characteristics, environment being fished, angler visibility required, running or fixed rigging and the advantages of fish attracting devices like burley cages and flashing devices.

 As a tip if you want to rig a float in the running style and don’t want to use a heavy sinker as a stopper try tying a piece of wool where you require the stopper. Many anglers find that their line sinks and creates a bow of line between the rod and the float. This bow of line reduces hook-up rates as it reduces strike time. One way of reducing or eliminating this line bow is to apply Silicon or Vaseline to your main line.

 Nets and gaffs are used to land fish. Gaffs are primarily used on fish that are intended for the table. Fish should be gaffed in the head or shoulder region, this reduces the damage to the edible fish flesh. Gaffs come in a variety of sizes and are typically designed for landing larger fish. The size of the gaff required is dictated by the size of the fish targeted. For fish that roll and thrash like sharks Flying Gaffs (Gaffs with detachable barbed hooks) are best suited. Gaffs can also be used in handling fish destined for released. If you intend to release a fish gaff the fish in the mouth there is very minimal damage done to fish as long as you support the fish’s weight as you lift it.

 A quality Gaff should have a strong handle, sharp stainless steel barb less hook, hook cover and a quality handle grip.

 Nets and the type employed are once again dictated by the fish that you are targeting. All nets should be of sturdy construction and furnished by a quality mesh. It is essential to match your mesh dimensions with the fish that you are anticipating on landing. You can look very silly if you fish slips through your net’s mesh and escapes. Nets are a more fish friendly way of landing your catch, this is epically true if your intending to release your fish. For anglers primarily intending to release their fish a net from the Environet range should be considered. Environet are specifically designed for catch and release fishing. Environets reduce the damage to the fish’s protective coat of slime, thus reducing the stress levels on the fish and increasing the fish’s chance of survival.

Spinner Rigs

 There are many features to look for when choosing a net. Net features include telescopic handles, collapsible heads, mesh type, mesh gauge, grips and handle lengths. When selecting your net make sure that you choose a net that is durable enough for your chosen application. Also in is vital to check the condition of your net prior to each fishing expedition, there would be nothing worse than loosing your catch of a life time due to a failure in your landing equipment.

 Tip: Always net your fish head first and lead the fish to the net. Squid on the other hand should be netted from behind.

 Bats are used to kill a fish and prevent the fish from suffering and doing damage to the boat. Bats are normally made out of aluminium or wood and are in the shape of a base ball bat. They are very effective for pacifying large fish quickly.

 Depth Sounders have many applications including monitoring water depth, temperature, bottom structure, sea bed composition and fish locations. Good sounders offer high definition images/pixel count, water temperature readings, depth readings, grey line (a measure of the density of the sea bed), sensitivity control, interference reduction, split screen display, zoom, speed display, back light and even GPS input options.

 Pixels are the measure of how many part a screen is divided into to. The higher the pixel count the higher the display definition. For shallow water operations a frequency of 200Khz is best, where deep water applications require a frequency of 50Khz. With a lower frequency you obtain deeper penetration but your target separation suffers.

 Sounders are very much horses for courses. If you are going to use your sounder a lot then purchase a high quality model, if your only going to use one occasionally then get a lesser model. The key to a sounder is to get the best one for your requirements. There is no point in having features that you are never going to use. Sometimes a basic sounder may be all that you require. Simple features such as Grey line, 200Khz frequency, water temperature, sensitivity control, depth readings and zoom are all the features many anglers require.

 To bag it or to box it is the new question in fishing gear storage. In the past everybody has had a tackle box. These boxes were hauled across the country in search of the fish and fishing memory of a lifetime. Your typical tackle box was like a trophy cabinet furnished with all of your favourite lures and accessories, it had fresh and saltwater gear as well as everything else you owned. Tackle boxes can be very cumbersome. A quality tackle box should be waterproof, have a quality handle, quality-locking device and be of suitable internal design to suite your needs. Tackle boxes have many different internal designs, including multiple trays, removable trays, adjustable shelves, adjustable compartments and internal removable storage boxes.

 To bag it or to box it is the new question in fishing gear storage. In the past everybody has had a tackle box. These boxes were hauled across the country in search of the fish and fishing memory of a lifetime. Your typical tackle box was like a trophy cabinet furnished with all of your favourite lures and accessories, it had fresh and saltwater gear as well as everything else you owned. Tackle boxes can be very cumbersome. A quality tackle box should be waterproof, have a quality handle, quality-locking device and be of suitable internal design to suite your needs. Tackle boxes have many different internal designs, including multiple trays, removable trays, adjustable shelves, adjustable compartments and internal removable storage boxes.

 Personally I prefer tackle bags. My reason behind this preference is the simple fact that the tackle bag is a very versatile item. A tackle bag is a Shoulder bag or backpack style of bag that has many different features. Tackle bags use storage boxes and plastic sleaves to store your chosen tackle for the trip. I have many storage boxes all sorted into relevant categories, Trout, Salt water, Freshwater, Tropical, Surf and Trawling are just some of my categories. I love the fact that I grab my bag, chuck in the relevant storage boxes, a jacket, hat, sunscreen and other supplies and it is all in one neat easily carried bag. This is a huge advantage if your hiking/ walking to your chosen location or even if you storage space is limited.

 A quality tackle bag should be very study in construction, have quality shoulder straps, heavy duty zips, and compartments big enough to store your storage boxes. Features of tackle bags can include binder rings to store plastic pockets, removable sections, phone, map and GPS storage units waterproof and cooler compartments and even inbuilt seats.

 This is the Ultimate Surf Fishing Guide for beginners. It starts from scratch and breaks down every facet of surf fishing with detailed instructions and complete diagrams.

 Surf fishing can become an overwhelming experience if you aren’t prepared. The amount of area to fish is massive, the equipment is much larger than freshwater gear. Not to mention, some saltwater species are very large and intimidating. If you aren’t sure how to surf fish—don’t worry at all, it’s much easier than you think, and can be among some of the most rewarding experiences you’ve ever had. This guide starts from scratch and tells you everything you need to know on how to surf fish as a beginner. From picking your rod and reel, bait and rigs; to finding a good spot on the beach to fish. This guide will walk you through your equipment setup and fishing strategy to give you the confidence to go out and catch fish.

 Trophy Triple Tail caught in the surf on Sanibel Island FL by Tailored Tackle Owner Ed Hitchcock. Watch it happen on our Tailored Tackle YouTube channel!

 Surf fishing is much more demanding on your gear than fishing in freshwater. For your surf fishing setup, you will need to use much larger fishing rods and reels to be able to cast your bait further and handle much larger and stronger fish. Surf fishing rods are almost twice as long as freshwater rods, attached with a reel that can hold hundreds of yards of thick fishing line. For beginners, we recommend a surf rod combo between 8ft to 10ft in length attached with a 6000 to 8000 series reel, spooled with 25lb to 50lb braided fishing line.

 Surf fishing reels come in a variety of shapes and sizes. When choosing a surf fishing reel, one of the easiest and most popular kinds to use is called a “spinning” reel. Manufacturers typically give their surf fishing reels a size rating in increments of 1000, starting at size 1000. Select a spinning reel in the 6000-8000 size range that can hold a minimum of 500yds of 25lb braid. The most important factor is the amount of line that it can hold because many saltwater species can grow over 3ft in length! Anything that large can easily peel off hundreds of yards of line. If you think you’ll be fishing mostly for larger fish over 3ft long, such as sharks or rays, get a reel that holds a minimum of 500yds of 25lb braid.

 Surf fishing rods are significantly bigger than other types of fishing rods. Simply, this is what’s required to successfully cast heavy baits to fish that are in the surf. Your rod needs enough height and power to cast beyond the waves breaking near the shore. An 8ft surf rod will work well in areas where the water is calm; otherwise, choose a minimum length of 10ft. Surf rods also have characteristics called “power” and “action”. The power represents the strength of your rod while the action represents how “bendable” it is. Select a Medium-Heavy power rating with a Moderate action. This will be a great all-around rod, allowing you to cast heavy sinkers and handle fish over 3ft in length.

 Braid is the preferred line type for surf fishing. Make sure to have enough to fill your reel with the right amount of line. If your reel can spool 500yds of 25lb braided line, then make sure you spool it with about 500yds of 25lb braided line. Adding too little or too much fishing line will cause problems that can easily be avoided. Because braid is so thin and gets slick when wet, your fishing knot has to be very secure so it doesn’t slip. For this, use the Palomar knot.