Four Pieces of Unique Fishing Gear
By Andy Whitcomb
Apr 17, 2019
If you usually only fish for a couple of fish species, you will find there is a lot of unique fishing gear out there. Here are some items you may not have in your boat.
What might be considered unique fishing equipment depends greatly on how many species you target. Unique fishing gear to you may be something other anglers use all the time. Additional fishing factors such as versatility of techniques, locations, and conditions also can influence what fishing equipment is in your boat. Here are four accessory items which may qualify as unique fishing gear:
1. Fish Grabber
There are several different types of these devices which are helpful when handling toothy fish like pike, bowfin, or sea trout. This piece of fishing gear also may be equipped with a built in tape measure and/or scale. Even though largemouth bass lack finger piercing teeth, the Major League Fishing tournament series utilizes a grabber with a digital scale with lip clip for quick release.
2. Marker Buoy
When fishing open water and you get a hit, this handy device can be tossed overboard to keep you in the hot zone. Many anglers in larger boats may enter a waypoint on their electronics but I prefer to have a visual point of reference too. My marker buoy is actually a duck hunting decoy; it is a little less obvious to other keen-eyed anglers.
3. Spinnerbait Storage Box
This is one of the most popular fishing lures but the unique bent-wire component makes it a wide shape which can become a complication for narrow tacklebox trays. Because there are many versions of blade types, combinations, and colors, anglers often have lots of these lures and this dedicated storage box piece of fishing gear is one way to keep them organized. Another way to handle this lure storage problem is to repurpose plastic lunchmeat containers with lids.
4. Alabama Rig
This multi-lure rig is a castable umbrella rig which has been around for decades but was adapted to bass fishing only about 10-15 years ago. With a range of spreading wires, this distinctive rig creates the illusion of a school of baitfish. Although not new, the Alabama rig may qualify as unique fishing gear because of limiting regulations, a more open-water application, and its skillful ability to locate snags.
There are so many kinds of fish and ways to catch them that unique fishing equipment abounds. When traveling, visit the area tackle stores not just to pick up a fishing license for that state but to check out all of the interesting fishing stuff used by the locals. You just may learn a trick or two.
