How does Predator Fishing Tackle differ from other tackle?

For newcomers to  the wonderful world of predator fishing, this form of fishing – as the name suggests – involves going after bigger species of fish, such as pike and Perch, that feed offer smaller fish. These ‘predatory’ species tend to bigger, heavier, and generally harder fish to land, making predator fishing a favourite for adrenaline lovers and those looking for a fight.

One important aspect of this style of fishing is that it’s important to be aware of the differences between dedicated predator fishing tackle, and what might be seen as standard course fishing tackle. Let’s start with the rod. If you’re keen to get into predatory fishing, then your tackle will have to be able to stand up to the extra strain it will endure when going after the bigger fish, and the rod is no exception. Whether your spinning or float-fishing, you’ll likely need a rod that’s slightly longer, making it capable of delivering bigger lures and baits with accuracy, whilst maintain a good level of control for ‘active’ fishing (when you are required to fish with the rod in hand at all times). A good example of these kinds of all-rounders is the Fox Predator Elite RRP £139.99. If you’ve got a bit more to spend, take a look at the ABU Fantasista Oren’ji retailing for around £500.00, but worth every penny. Made with the highest quality carbon in the industry, it is acclaimed to be head and shoulders above the rest.

As far as reels go in the world of predator fishing tackle, you have the standard decision between multiplier and fixed-spool to make, although the reels themselves do differ in their features to cater for this kind of fishing. Added speed is a much desired factor when lure fishing for predatory fish, and something which fixed spool reel manufacturers have addressed in the production of ever-improving ball bearing performance. The Shimano Seido FA2500, featuring 5 shielded stainless bearings on a single roller-bearing, means that the effect is multiplied to give the performance of a 9-ball bearing. If it’s a multiplier reel you’re used to then you’ll need something that delivers extra power for landing the beasts that you’ll hopefully be catching when predatory fishing. The ABU Revo Toro Series will deliver on this very thing and is acclaimed to be the most powerful low profile drag reel in the industry.

When it comes to choosing predator fishing tackle for bait and lures, there are a number a different options to take as with most style of fishing, including using tackle for live baits, lures, deadbaits and much more. When using larger live baits like mackerel and sardine for example, you’ll need a bigger float like a stubby-inline float to provide the amount of float you’ll likely need. Alternatively, the Drennan Pikebob is a fantastic classic Pike and predator fishing float ideal for still or running water environments, and offering plenty of buoyancy. The downside of using these bigger floats is that they may not cast as well when distance is important, and may also hamper your line sensitivity also due to their size.