Fishing Bait
In very simplistic terms - what you put on your hook - fishing bait varies greatly, from maggots to pepperami, there are some household staples that will catch fish, it's always worth trying something new. Deadbaits are bait that was, at some point, living. Usually smaller, smellier fish species, such as mackerel, which attract predatory fish.
Fishing Reels
The mechanism used to 'reel' in your catch. As you turn the handle of the reel, line is retrieved and your catch is brought closer to the bank, ready to be landed in your net. Spools are the part of your reel which houses line. Line is continuously wrapped and unwrapped, around the spool.
Fishing Rods
The traditional tool used to catch fish, a rod can be anywhere from 6ft - 13ft in length, a longer rod gives you great casting ability.
Fishing Poles
A newer, longer form of a rod. Poles are widely used in the match fishing discipline and offer the angler greater accessibility to the water they're fishing. For example, if the far bank is 11 meters away, the angler can attach sections of their pole until it reaches 11m in length, allowing them to fish the far bank with ease.
Fishing Nets
Used to 'land' a fish, safely removing it from the water and onto the bank. Nets are perforated to allow water to flow through. Keepnets are used in match fishing, the keepnet is, literally, a net to keep fish in until your catch is weighed at the end of a match. Be careful not to overfill your keepnet.
Fishing Terminal
Floats Used to identify bites at the surface, the concept being that when the float disappears beneath the water, a fish is biting. Hooks A sharp, pointed instrument at the business end of your rig, its purpose is to physically 'hook' the fish. It's important to keep your hooks sharp. Line is available in various materials and strengths, fishing line is a thread of material which attaches to your reel at one end and a baited hook at the other.
Fishing Lures
Used mainly in the predator and sea disciplines, although there are a few cases of use in other niches, a lure is an imitation bait. Usually made of plastic or rubber a lure, 'lures' fish in as it looks exactly like a smaller fish that larger species would feed on. However, lures are armed with hooks, which catch the fish by surprise.