Course Title: Wildlife, Fisheries, and Ecology Management
Lesson Title: Angling: Rods and Reels
TEKS Addressed in Lesson: 130.15 (c) 4 L http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter130/index.html
Lesson Objectives. The student will be able to:
· Compare spin cast, spinning, and bait cast reels
· Match the appropriate rod and reel
· Calculate the amount of work produced by different rod lengths and types of reels
Tools and Equipment
PowerPoint “Angling: Rods & Reels”
Worksheet “physics of fishing”
Intro activity supplies:
2 pieces of wood
Scotch tape
Thumb tacks
String
Key Terms / Vocabulary
Angling
Tension
Friction
Leverage
Interest Approach
• Link: give supplies listed for the introductory activity. Instruct the students to work in pairs to connect the two pieces of wood together to form a 90 degree angle. Give students 3 minutes to attempt.
• Motivation: Was anyone able to securely attach both pieces of wood together? What tools would have made this activity easier? Having the right tool is important for a job. In fishing it is also important to have the correct tools for every different situation if you wish to be effective.
Explore & Explain / Teaching Plan and Strategy / Presentation of New Material
Teacher PowerPoint that includes the following information:
• Angling
• Method of fishing using an angle (hook)
• Hook is usually attached to a fishing line that is attached to a pole
• Most commonly used for recreational fishing, but used in some commercial operations
• Reel
• Mechanical device mounted on a rod that controls the fishing line
• Two basic types of reels:
– Spinning Reels
• Spool is parallel to rod
– Conventional Reels
• Spool is perpendicular to rod
• Components of a Reel
• Spool
– Holds the line
– Vary in size and line held
– Listed by maximum (pound test line/yards of line held)
• 12/160- this spool can hold 160 yards of 12 pound test
• Components of a Reel
• Bail
– 2 settings
• Open
– Allows line to come off spool
• Closed
– Prevents line from being let off the spool
– Bail is opened before cast and closed when the cast is complete
• Components of a Reel
• Handle
– Also known as the crank
– Retrieves line onto spool
– Can be on left or right side of the spool depending on preference
• Components of a Reel
• Drag
– Setting that allows line to be pulled out by fish to prevent the line from snapping
– Lighter drag will allow more line to be pulled
• Use for fighting larger fish to allow them to tire out
• If drag is too low, fish is more likely to swim under stumps or rocks and break the line. The fish could also shake the hook free due to lack of tension
– Higher drag will put more tension on the line
• Use for smaller fish that are less likely to break line
• If drag is too high, lure may be ripped from the fish’s mouth
• Components of a Reel
• Ball Bearings
– Reduce friction and allows for smoother operation of the reel
– More ball bearings indicate higher quality reel
– Commonly produced with stainless steel, higher quality reels may use ceramic or ceramic hybrid
• Components of a Reel
• Gear Ratio
– How many times the spool turns for every turn of the handle
– Will be displayed on the reel like “5.1:1”
• For every full turn of the handle the spool will spin 5.1 times
• A gear ratio of 7.1:1 would reel much faster
• Types of Reels: Spinning
• Spin Cast Reel
– Also known as closed-face reel
– Easiest to use
– Least expensive
– Good for small to medium sized fish
– Spool does not hold much line
– Difficult to work lures effectively
– Does not provide accurate casts
• Types of Reels: Spinning
• Open Face Spinning Reel
– Require more skill than spin cast, but still easy to use
– Excellent for casting light lures
• Least amount of friction
– Comes in wide range of sizes
– Types of Reels: Conventional
• Low-Profile Bait Casting Reels
– Most expensive reel
– Most difficult to use
• Improper technique will cause backlash and tangled line
– Allows for the most accuracy
– Used with heavier lures
– Types of Reels: Conventional
• Round Bait Casting Reel
– Same characteristics as the low-profile bait casting reel except:
• The round body holds more line
• They are less ergonomic and more difficult to handle than the low-profile
• Better for larger fish
• Rod
• Long, straight, flexible pole used to cast bait or lures
• Provides leverage
• Available in two common types:
– Spinning
– Casting
• Can be made out of bamboo, fiberglass, graphite, and other materials
• Components of a Rod
• Guides (Eyes)
– Rings attached to the rod to direct the line
– Usually lined with ceramic or chrome to reduce friction
– Largest guide at base of rod, smallest guide at tip
– Higher quality rods will generally have 1 guide per foot
• 6 foot rod would have 6 guides
• Components of a Rod
• Grip
– Also called the handle
– Usually made of cork or foam
– Longer rods will have longer grips to allow for two-handed casting
• Components of a Rod
• Reel Seat
– Where the reel attaches to the rod
• Hook Keeper
– Allows a place to rest the hook in during transportation
• Components of a Rod
• Action
– the point at which a rod initially flexes and where it stops bending
– Determine by 3 components
• Rod material
• Thickness
• Taper
• Components of a Rod
• Power
– Also referred to as rod weight
– Pressure required to flex the rod
– Determined by:
• Rod Material
• Thickness
– Types of Rods
• Spinning
– Used for spinning (open-face) reels
– Reel sits under the rod
– Larger guides
– Types of Rods
• Casting
– Used for spin cast and bait cast reels
– Reel sits on top of rod
– Smaller guides
– Pistol Grip
• Specialty Rods & Reels
• Fly Fishing
– Popular method for catching trout and salmon in streams
– Used to cast lightweight flies (bait)
– Requires practice and skill
– Equipment is generally more expensive
– Rod is much lighter and longer
– Line is retrieve by hand, not with a reel
– Specialty Rods & Reels
• Ice Fishing
– Much shorter rod than traditional fishing
• > 2 feet
• Medium to fast action
– Most have 4 guides
• Guides are large to pass accumulated ice through
– No casting involved
– Specialty Rods & Reels
• Surf Fishing
– Used when fishing from a beach
– Rods are long and heavy to cast bait past waves
– Usually used with spinning reel
– Components are more resistant to saltwater
• Overview
• Select equipment based on experience level
– Spin cast or spinning reels are most suited for beginners
• Know what you are fishing for
– There is no one size fits all setup, select based on the fish you intend to catch
• Make sure your tackle matches your gear
– Light lures do not work well with a bait cast
Elaborate / Activity/Application/ Student Engagement /Laboratory
Give students the worksheet and have them decide which rod will require more work and discuss. Have students calculate the work required and then discuss how their answers differed from their guesses.
Give students various lengths of rods with equal weights on the end of their line so they may feel the difference
Evaluation / Summary
Assessment at conclusion of the PowerPoint:
- What rod would be used with this reel? A
- Which component contributes the most to smooth operation of the reel?
- Drag
- Action
- Gear Ratio
d. Ball Bearings
- Michael is a 6 year old boy going fishing for his first time, which reel should he use? B
References
• http://www.angelfire.com/ia3/fishing/aboutreels.htm
• http://www.baitcastingreels.com/
• http://fishingnoob.com/25/fishing-equipment-primer-the-reel/
• http://www.fishingreelscenter.com/baitcasting-reel-all-need-know/
• http://www.opticsplanet.com/howto/how-to-buy-fishing-reels-baitcasting-reels.html
• http://takemefishing.org/fishing/freshwater-fishing/freshwater-gear/reels/
• http://www.trails.com/list_2442_different-types-fishing-reels.html
• http://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Selecting-a-Fishing-Reel
College & Career Readiness Standard
Math I, B, 1, c
Science VIII, D, 3, a
Cross-Disciplinary I, B, 1, a-b
©Texas Education Agency, 2015