Gear finder: which tackle for which fish?

Ledgering with worms

• Rod: 3.00 to 3.60 m, 50 to 80 g (alternatively carp rod 2.5 lb), stiff backbone, not too soft
• Reel: Spinning reel with at least 100 m capacity of 0.35 monofilament
• Line: Monofilament 0.30 to 0.35 mm (approx. 8 to 9 kg); on snag-free small waters also 0.26 mm; braid unsuitable around rock packing and wood
• Leader: Monofilament approx. 0.30 mm; in rivers a braided leader against Chinese mitten crabs; with deadbait 30 cm wire
• Hook: Size 2 to 8 (worm rather 6 to 8, deadbait 1 to 2)

Fly fishing

• Rod: around 2.70 m (9 ft)
• Reel: Fly reel matching the line weight
• Line: floating fly line (DT-F or WF-F)
• Leader: tapered monofilament leader, approx. 3 m for nymph fishing; tip 0.12 to 0.18 mm (nymph 0.16 mm)
• Hook: Dry flies size 14 and smaller down to 22; gold-head nymph size 14 to 16

Float fishing

• Rod: long rod (trotting example: match rod 4.20 to 4.80)
• Reel: Centrepin reel common among specialists
• Line: Monofilament, not over 0.20 mm
• Leader: 0.12 to 0.16 mm
• Hook: medium wire gauge, rather short shank; size not documented

Light spinning

• Rod: 1.50 to 2.10 m, approx. 5 to 12 g (on streams up to 10), parabolic to semi-parabolic, not too stiff
• Reel: small spinning reel size 2000; if you fish upstream a lot, choose a high gear ratio (e.g. 6:1)
• Line: Braid 0.08 to 0.12 mm or monofilament around 0.20 mm
• Leader: Fluorocarbon 0.20 to 0.23 mm, approx. 1 to 2 m; swivel against line twist
• Hook: Spinners with single hooks instead of treble hooks: fewer snags, undersized trout released faster

Fly fishing

• Rod: approx. 1.80 to 2.70 m (6 to 9 ft)
• Reel: Fly reel matching the line weight, with backing (e.g. 20 lb or 0.40 monofilament)
• Line: floating WF fly line (e.g. WF 5 F); on a fly rod the line is the casting weight
• Leader: tapered monofilament leader approx. 2.70 m with 0.18 mm tip; on overgrown streams also 0.21 mm fluorocarbon
• Hook: Dry fly around size 16, gold-head nymph size 12 to 14

Spinning

• Rod: 1.80 to 2.55 m, 2 to 25 g (classic 5 to 25; ultralight 2 to 7), fast for jigging, soft parabolic for twitching
• Reel: Spinning reel 1000 to 2500
• Line: Braid 0.06 to 0.12 mm (0.06 to 0.08 mm correspond to approx. 3 to 4 kg)
• Leader: Fluorocarbon 0.24 to 0.30 mm; where pike are present, add 6 to 9 kg wire in front
• Hook: Treble hooks of the artificial lures; jigs approx. 5 to 10 g

Drop shot

• Rod: approx. 2.00 to 2.10 m, approx. 1 to 11 g, rather soft with a fast tip
• Reel: Spinning reel 1000 to 2500
• Line: thin braid, e.g. 0.06 mm
• Leader: Fluorocarbon 0.18 to 0.23 mm, approx. 1.2 to 1.5 m, connected via a mini swivel
• Hook: Drop shot or worm hooks size 4 to 1/0, tied with a Palomar knot, point facing up

Feeder fishing

• Rod: 3.00 to 4.20 m (still water 3.60), up to 50 g (light) or up to 80 to 90 (medium); interchangeable tips 1 to 3 oz
• Reel: medium spinning reel (3000), shallow spool, line clip, finely adjustable drag
• Line: Monofilament 0.20 to 0.25 mm (practical example 0.23 mm, 5 kg); beyond 30 m casting distance braid with mono shock leader
• Leader: 50 to 100 cm (still water initially 80 cm, river 50 cm), 0.12 to 0.20 mm matching the hook
• Hook: Size 8 to 16 (depending on bait up to 18)

Light spinning

Bread on the surface

• Rod: 3.00 to 3.60 m (12 ft), Test curve approx. 1.5 to 1.75 lb, soft
• Reel: medium spinning reel
• Line: Monofilament 0.16 to 0.25 mm (0.16 to 0.20 mm correspond to approx. 2 to 4 kg)
• Leader: no leader, hook tied directly to the main line (freelining)
• Hook: thick-wire eyed hooks size 2 to 10

Charter boat fishing with pirk and teaser

• Rod: 2.1 to 3.6 m, 50 to 250 g, Pirk rod with tip action
• Reel: Saltwater-resistant spinning reel size 4000 to 5000 or multiplier reel
• Line: Braid 0.12 to 0.25 mm (mostly 0.15 to 0.20 mm), alternatively monofilament 0.35 to 0.50 mm
• Leader: Pirk leader made of monofilament 0.40 to 0.80 mm, about 0.5 to 1.2 m long; one teaser (twister on a 2 to 3 g jig head, rubber mackerel lure or octopus) on a short, sturdy side arm about 50 cm above the pirk
• Hook: Treble hook on the pirk size 1 to 3/0 depending on pirk size, single hook on the teaser about 2/0

Surf casting with natural bait

• Rod: 3.5 to 4.5 m, 100 to 200 g, Surf rod
• Reel: Large spinning reel with long-cast spool and high gear ratio
• Line: Braid 0.12 to 0.20 mm or monofilament 0.30 to 0.45 mm; plus shock leader: monofilament about 0.50 to 0.70 mm, tapered leader (for example 0.58 to 0.33 mm) or, with braid, a braided shock leader 0.25 to 0.30 mm
• Leader: Surf rig with one or two side arms: main leader monofilament 0.60 to 0.80 mm, snoods 0.35 to 0.45 mm, about 25 cm long; lead 100 to 200 g, in current a grip lead
• Hook: Long-shank hooks 1/0 to 4/0 (1/0 for one worm, larger for two worms)

Surf casting with lugworm

• Rod: 3.5 to 4.2 m, 100 to 200 g, Surf rod
• Reel: Large spinning reel with long-cast spool
• Line: Monofilament 0.30 to 0.50 mm or braid 0.12 to 0.17 mm; with thin main line, a shock leader or tapered leader (for example 0.58 to 0.33 mm)
• Leader: Surf rig with two snoods: main leader monofilament 0.60 to 0.80 mm, snoods 0.35 to 0.40 mm, 25 to 40 cm (in calm sea up to 70 cm, in waves 10 to 20 cm); lead 100 to 200 g
• Hook: Long-shank flatfish hooks (Aberdeen type) size 4 to 1/0, often size 2

Spinning with artificial lures

• Rod: 2.40 to 3.50 m (all-round 2.70), 30 to 80 g (all-round 50 to 80; big baits 100 to over 200), firm, fast
• Reel: Spinning reel 3000 to 4000 (light class 2000 to 2500); for big baits a baitcaster is preferred
• Line: Braid 0.12 to 0.16 mm or about 10 kg breaking strain (club handout specifies no less than 0.40 mm for monofilament)
• Leader: Wire, at least 20 cm, approx. 8 to 15 kg breaking strain; soft 7x7 material recommended
• Hook: Treble hooks of the artificial lures; jig hooks for soft plastics e.g. size 3/0 to 5/0

Deadbait/float fishing

• Rod: 2.50 to 4.00 m, 50 to 100 g
• Reel: Spinning reel 3000 to 4000, also free-spool reel
• Line: Monofilament or braid with at least 8 to 10 kg breaking strain (club handout: monofilament no less than 0.40 mm)
• Leader: Wire, 50 to 70 cm, approx. 8 to 15 kg breaking strain
• Hook: Treble hook size 2 to 8 (Blinker magazine: 6 or 8; club handout: approx. 2 to 5), alternatively single hook or rig with two treble hooks

Herring paternoster from breakwater, pier or harbour

• Rod: 2.4 to 3.6 m, 40 to 80 g, Spinning rod with enough backbone, alternatively carp or ledger rod
• Reel: Spinning reel size 2000 to 4000
• Line: Monofilament 0.22 to 0.35 mm, because the stretch protects the soft herring mouth; braid 0.10 to 0.14 mm only when the shoals are far out
• Leader: Herring paternoster 70 to 120 cm with 2 to 5 side arms (fish skin, silicone foil or glitter), at the bottom a herring lead of 20 to 80 g depending on current
• Hook: Thin-wire gold hooks size 8 to 14, often 10 to 14 catch better

Float fishing with bubble float or sbirolino and fish strips

• Rod: 3 to 3.6 m, 40 to 50 g, Spinning or carp rod
• Reel: Spinning reel size 3000 to 4000
• Line: Monofilament 0.22 to 0.25 mm or braid 0.08 to 0.15 mm
• Leader: Fluorocarbon or monofilament around 0.30 mm, with sbirolino about 1.5 m long; bubble float or float with about 30 g carrying capacity, ideally with an internal line guide; a swivel prevents line twist
• Hook: Single hook size 4 to 8 or small treble hook size 10 to 12

Spinning with spoons

• Rod: 2.7 to 3 m, 10 to 40 g, Light spinning rod
• Reel: Spinning reel size 3000 to 4000
• Line: Monofilament 0.20 to 0.25 mm or braid 0.08 to 0.15 mm
• Leader: Fluorocarbon around 0.30 mm; between lure and treble hook a 4 to 5 cm piece of 0.40 monofilament so the hook grips better in the hard beak
• Hook: Small treble hook size 10 to 12 instead of the stock treble, alternatively wool or silk loops without a hook

Ledgering/self-hooking rig

• Rod: 2.70 to 3.90 m (standard 3.60), Test curve 1.75 to 3.75 lb (all-round 2.75 to 3.25 lb; 2.75 lb corresponds to about 80 g)
• Reel: large spinning reel with free-spool or quick-drag
• Line: Monofilament 0.30 to 0.45 mm (mostly 0.32 to 0.40 mm); braid only at long range with 10 to 20 m mono shock leader 0.40 to 0.50 mm
• Leader: soft braided leader material (hooklink) 15 to 25 lb, approx. 15 to 20 cm (hair rig)
• Hook: Size 2 to 8

Float fishing at the pond

• Rod: 3.85 to 4.50 m (match rod), 30 to 40 g, powerful backbone
• Reel: Spinning reel 4000
• Line: Monofilament 0.18 to 0.22 mm on the match rod (club handout specifies 0.30 to 0.40 mm for carp in general)
• Leader: approx. 40 cm, 0.16 to 0.20 mm, about 20 cm of it on the bottom
• Hook: Size 6 to 12

Paternoster with feathers from a charter boat (North Sea)

• Rod: 2.4 to 3.3 m, 150 to 300 g, Powerful boat or pirk rod
• Reel: Large spinning or multiplier reel with high gear ratio
• Line: Monofilament 0.40 to 0.50 mm, the stretch cushions the runs and reduces lost fish; braid with about 15 kg breaking strain is possible
• Leader: Mackerel paternoster made of 0.50 monofilament, about 2 m long, with 3 to 7 hooks (feathers, rubber tubes or small twisters); lead mostly 150 to 200 g, more in strong drift
• Hook: Size 1 to 6, mostly 4 to 6

Paternoster or feathers from the breakwater

• Rod: 3.6 m, 60 to 100 g, Spinning, ledger or carp rod
• Reel: Medium-sized spinning reel, about size 3000
• Line: Monofilament 0.25 to 0.35 mm or thin braid (0.10 mm)
• Leader: Herring or mackerel paternoster, with a lead or a heavy sea trout spoon around 50 g as casting weight
• Hook: Size 4 to 6 on mackerel paternosters

Coastal spinning with spoons and wobblers

• Rod: 2.7 to 3.3 m, 10 to 40 g, Spinning rod with semi-parabolic to parabolic action
• Reel: Saltwater-resistant spinning reel size 3000 or 4000 with a large spool, filled to the rim
• Line: Braid 0.10 to 0.15 mm (0.12 mm for maximum distance, 0.15 mm around mussel-covered rocks) or monofilament 0.22 to 0.30 mm; in front of braid a piece of monofilament shock leader, connected with an FG knot
• Leader: No separate leader, only the monofilament shock leader in front of the braid (length not documented in the sources)
• Hook: No size documented in the sources; fishing is done with the hook on the artificial lure

Fly fishing on the coast

• Rod: 2.75 to 3 m, Single-handed fly rod, 9 feet to about 3 m
• Reel: Fly reel matching the line weight, ideally large arbor, with about 50 m backing
• Line: WF weight-forward line or shooting head with running line, floating or intermediate (slow to fast)
• Leader: Leader about 9 feet long with 0.25 to 0.28 mm tip, ideally with about 1 m fluorocarbon at the end
• Hook: Streamers size 4 to 8

Spinning with long casts

• Rod: 2.40 to 3.00 m (bank 2.50 to 3.00; boat 2.10 to 2.40), 10 to 50 g (boat up to 40), firm and fast, but not too stiff
• Reel: Spinning reel 2500 to 4000 with reliable drag
• Line: Braid 0.10 to 0.16 mm
• Leader: Fluorocarbon 0.25 to 0.35 mm, 1 to 1.5 m
• Hook: sturdy treble hooks; the stock trebles of some perch lures bend open

Trout pond: float/sbirolino

• Rod: 2.70 to 4.60 m (small ponds 2.70 to 3.30; large lakes and sbirolino 3.60 to 4.60), up to approx. 30 g (sbirolino on large waters also over 30), soft tip, semi-parabolic
• Reel: small spinning or free-spool reel (practical example 2000)
• Line: Monofilament 0.18 to 0.22 mm
• Leader: Sbirolino 1.50 to 2.20 m (with cautious fish up to 4.50 m); on the float rig approx. 70 cm
• Hook: Size 4 to 8 on the sbirolino, size 8 on the float rig

Spinning

• Rod: 1.80 to 2.20 m (mostly 1.80 to 2.10), up to approx. 5 to 8 g, soft
• Reel: light spinning reel 500 to 2500 (mostly 1000 to 2000) with finely adjustable drag
• Line: Monofilament 0.14 to 0.20 mm or braid 0.04 to 0.08 mm
• Leader: with braid approx. 1 m fluorocarbon 0.15 to 0.20 mm with snap
• Hook: Single hooks with micro barbs (standard equipment on spoons at trout lakes); treble hooks are often prohibited

Float fishing

• Rod: Match rod 3.60 to 4.50; pole 3 to 10 m, up to 30 g (pole 5 to 20), fast tip
• Reel: small spinning or match reel with finely adjustable drag (pole without reel)
• Line: Monofilament 0.12 to 0.20 mm
• Leader: with or without leader, a matter of taste according to practical authors
• Hook: Size 10 to 20 (on heavily fished waters 18 or 20)

Feeder

• Rod: 3.00 to 3.60 m (light feeder 3.30 to 3.45), up to 50 g (tips under 1 oz for very light feeder fishing)
• Reel: medium spinning reel (3000)
• Line: Monofilament 0.20 mm in still water, 0.25 mm in current
• Leader: 0.12 mm to a size 18 hook
• Hook: Size 18 for shy roach, up to size 10 depending on bait

Float fishing

• Rod: 3.60 to 4.00 m (powerful match rod), Test curve approx. 1.5 lb, powerful, not too soft
• Reel: small spinning reel size 2500
• Line: Monofilament 0.18 to 0.22 mm, can run straight through to the hook; in weedy waters 0.25 mm
• Leader: often no separate leader, main line straight through
• Hook: Size 4 to 14 (bunch of worms 4 to 8, small worms 10 to 14, maggots 12 to 14)

Surf casting with natural bait

• Rod: 3.5 to 4.2 m, 100 to 200 g, Surf rod
• Reel: Large spinning reel with long-cast spool
• Line: Monofilament 0.30 to 0.50 mm or braid 0.12 to 0.17 mm, with thin main line use a shock leader or tapered leader
• Leader: Surf rig with two snoods: main leader 0.60 to 0.80 mm, snoods 0.35 to 0.40 mm, 25 to 40 cm; lead 100 to 200 g
• Hook: Long-shank flatfish hooks size 4 to 1/0

Charter and boat fishing with flatfish spoon or running lead (flatfish angling)

• Rod: 2.4 to 3 m, 30 to 200 g, Flatfish rod or powerful spinning rod with a fine tip
• Reel: Spinning reel size 4000 to 5000, baitcaster or small multiplier reel
• Line: Braid 0.12 to 0.17 mm (about 8 kg breaking strain) or monofilament 0.25 to 0.40 mm
• Leader: Flatfish spoon rig with a short leader (at most 25 to 30 cm, monofilament 0.40 to 0.45 mm) or running lead on a boom with a 1 to 3 m long trailing leader; flatfish spoon or lead 60 to 170 g depending on drift
• Hook: Long-shank flatfish hooks or circle hooks, size 4 to 1 for one worm, 1/0 to 4/0 for two worms

Surf casting with sand eel or fish strips

• Rod: 120 g, Surf or carp rod
• Reel: Sturdy spinning reel (size not given in the sources)
• Line: Braid 0.20 mm or monofilament 0.40 mm, plus 3 to 6 m monofilament shock leader 0.60 mm
• Leader: Ready-made surf rig with single hooks, carp lead 60 to 100 g
• Hook: Single hook size 1 to 2/0, for whole sand eels larger sea hooks 4/0 to 6/0

Charter and boat fishing with running lead

• Rod: 2.4 to 3 m, 80 g, Sturdy boat rod
• Reel: Sturdy spinning or multiplier reel
• Line: Monofilament 0.30 to 0.40 mm or braid 0.12 to 0.17 mm
• Leader: Running lead on a long running boom with a 1.20 to 4 m long leader, attractor spoon or action disc in front of the hook; the bait can also run behind a flatfish spoon or sea trout spoon of 30 to 60 g
• Hook: Sea hooks 4/0 to 6/0 for sand eel or a two-hook rig (circle hook size 4 plus treble hook size 4)

Ledgering/clonking

• Rod: Bank 3.00 to 3.50 m (up to just under 4); clonking 2.10 to 2.40, 200 to 300 g (test curve 6 to 8 lb), lots of backbone
• Reel: robust free-spool spinning reel size 6000 or multiplier reel (250 to 300 m capacity of 0.60 line)
• Line: Braid 30 to 70 kg breaking strain or approx. 0.50 mm; monofilament 0.60 mm
• Leader: Kevlar or braid 40 to 80 kg or monofilament 0.50 to 1.3 mm; wire not necessary
• Hook: thick-wire single hooks 2/0 to 10/0 on the bottom rig; treble hooks 7/0 to 9/0 for clonking

Heavy spinning rod

• Rod: 2.70 to 3.30 m (one source: not much longer than 2.70), 150 to 300 g (one source: heavy pike spinning rod with 4 to 6 lb test curve), soft tip
• Reel: Spinning reel 6000 to 8000 (multiplier reels less suitable)
• Line: Braid 0.32 to 0.41 mm or 30 to 40 kg; one experienced angler fishes no less than 80 lb
• Leader: Kevlar, approx. 50 cm, 111 kg or at least 200 lb, strong swivels on both ends
• Hook: reinforced treble hooks instead of stock trebles; sturdy jig hooks

Spinning at groynes and breakwaters (North Sea)

• Rod: 2.4 to 2.7 m, 50 g, Spinning rod with firm, not too stiff action
• Reel: Saltwater-resistant spinning reel size 3000 to 4000 with smooth drag
• Line: Braid with about 8 to 9 kg breaking strain
• Leader: 0.5 to 1 m fluorocarbon or monofilament around 0.40 mm, attached to the braid with an Albright knot
• Hook: Hooks on the artificial lure, offset hooks for slugs (size not documented); for natural bait sea hooks 2/0

Spinning/jigging

• Rod: 2.20 to 3.00 m (often 2.70), 30 to 80 g (mostly 30 to 60), stiff, fast
• Reel: Spinning reel 3000 to 4000; from the boat also 1500 to 2500
• Line: Braid 0.10 to 0.17 mm
• Leader: Fluorocarbon approx. 100 cm, 0.25 to 0.45 mm (often 0.35 mm); where pike are present, wire, soft 7x7
• Hook: Jig head 8 to 25 g (mostly 15 to 20 g, in current up to 30 g), optionally with a stinger treble at about half the lure length

Deadbait

• Rod: 2.70 to 3.60 m (ledgering from the bank 3.00 to 3.30), 10 to 50 g (ledgering 15 to 40; alternatively a light coarse fishing rod 1 to 1.75 lb), strong backbone, parabolic under load
• Reel: Spinning reel 2000 to 4000; in rivers a free-spool reel
• Line: Monofilament, practical example 0.22 mm
• Leader: Monofilament 0.25 to 0.32 mm; where pike are present, wire, e.g. 1x7 with 9 kg, approx. 60 to 70 cm
• Hook: Single hook size 4 on the float rig, size 6 on the hair; or treble hook e.g. size 6 depending on bait size