By Mike Frisch
I have been on the water a bunch lately filming fishing TV episodes, hosting guide trips, and fishing “for fun.” One on-the-water observation from my recent fishing is that lots of anglers are now equipping their boats with forward facing sonar (FFS) technology and other expensive equipment. That is good because FFS and other latest and greatest gear can certainly help us find and catch more fish. However, FFS and other high-end fishing equipment is expensive and we, as anglers, can still be successful on the water without the most expensive fishing equipment. Here’s what I mean.
Let’s start with sonar units. We, at Fishing the Midwest, purchased Elite FS sonar units for our two “TV boats” last year. These units were selected because they are top quality fish-finding products and are very user friendly. We want units that we can power up, push a button or two, and be fishing. Easy to use, but with all the latest in fish-finding technologies. Another distinct advantage is that the units are also mid-priced meaning we didn’t break the bank in purchasing units for two boats. We were very pleased with our purchases and rigged this year’s boats with the same models.
When it comes to rods and reels, again there are lots of great options available to anglers, some at very high price points too. Late last summer, I acquired a sample of a new baitcast rod and reel combo called the Accel. The reel on this combo is smooth and casts well too. The rod features an IM6 graphite blank and split grip EVA handle. I put the combo through the paces with good success. But, maybe the best part, a quality rod and reel together that retails for just over 100 bucks.
Quality sonar units and very good rods and reels are available to anglers on a budget. Another place an angler can spend lots of money in short order is in purchasing new fishing tackle. A big trend in today’s fishing lures is the use of tungsten jigs. Tungsten first came on the fishing scene several years ago mainly in the ice fishing market. Now, however, open water anglers use tungsten jigs for walleyes, bass, and panfish too.
Tungsten’s main advantage is that it is denser or “heavier” than lead, meaning a ¼-ounce tungsten jig is smaller in actual physical size than its similarly weighted traditional counterpart. A smaller profile tungsten jig can be very important when finesse-fishing panfish through an ice hole. However, my experiences lead me to believe that tungsten is less advantageous for open water fishing. For example, I have been fishing an eighth ounce jig and minnow combo for spring walleyes a great deal this year, fishing some tungsten jigs and some traditional lead models. I can’t say that the tungsten version has outperformed lead. Plus, for various reasons tungsten is more expensive than lead, a trend that appears to be becoming even more significant now. For me, I’ll stick to fishing lead for most of my jig selections.
Using good equipment helps anglers be more efficient, catch more fish, and enjoy their time on the water. However, successful fishing doesn’t also have to involve breaking the bank on equipment. As detailed above, very good fishing equipment can still be had for those on a fishing budget allowing for good catches and good fun on the water. As always, enjoy your time on the water and remember to include a youngster in your next fishing adventure!
Mike Frisch hosts the popular Fishing the Midwest TV series. Visit www.fishingthemidwest.com to learn more.
PHOTO – Mike Frisch with a big walleye he caught and released. Fishing on a budget can yield good catches!
