Saltwater Tackle, Freshwater Tackle, What’s the Difference?

When you walk into many sporting goods stores, stores like Bass Pro, Cabelas and Wholesale Sports there is often a large section devoted to fishing. When you enter a fishing section you will find freshwater fishing tackle and saltwater fishing tackle are separate from each other, and for good reason. Right?

I know many freshwater fishermen that have never taken a second look at saltwater fishing tackle and vice versa. Freshwater fisherman is what we will focus on in this article and using saltwater tackle in freshwater.

Most freshwater fishermen that I know have never and probably will never step foot into the saltwater fishing section at there local tackle shop.

The reason for this is simple, Product Packaging. When you see a product in a store that says freshwater and you’re a freshwater fisherman, what are you going to buy? If you see saltwater on the package and you are a freshwater fisherman you will most likely pass right by with nothing more than a quick glance.

Believe it or not saltwater lures can be a great addition to you Esox arsenal.

What Makes Saltwater Tackle Specifically Saltwater Tackle?

The oceans of the world contain some of the clearest water on the planet, and a lot of it. Because of ocean clarity, how realistic the lure looks is extremely important. Many lures designed for the saltwater environment are ultra realistic and need to be. Fish can see a lure for a very long way and it is so important that it looks like food.

The other thing lures designed for offshore use need to be is corrosion resistant. Lures should be able to withstand being in a wet salty environment for a long time without rusting or corroding and weakening.

Fluorocarbon fishing lines are a saltwater development that is now used religiously by many Pike and Musky anglers that I know. Being that it was designed for offshore fishing there are lb test lines that far exceed what is available for freshwater angling. Fluorocarbon fishing lines have the same properties as water when it comes to reflecting and absorbing light. This makes fluorocarbon line invisible in even the clearest water. Anytime that you can make your lines undetectable is a huge advantage.

Which Saltwater Equipment Do You Choose?

When you are looking at different equipment designed for saltwater to use in freshwater don’t go buy giant squid lures and 3 lb lobster imitations. You still want to “match” the styles of bait that are in the lakes or rivers that you are going to be fishing.

Berkley make a great selection of offshore fishing lines and equipment that translate from saltwater to freshwater flawlessly and can defiantly help you get more fish in your boat.

Berkley power bait soft plastics with scent impregnation that are designed for saltwater have produced great results for me with both Northern Pike and Walleye. Pike seem to hit these soft plastics hard and hold on tight. Rig them up straight and clean and hold on your sure to get a couple lunkers in your live well.

Berkley’s Manic Minnow is a large realistic minnow with a soft body and action collar that works like a lip on a conventional crankbaits. I really love this bait because in Alberta it is illegal to use live bait and the Manic Minnow is in my opinion the next best thing. I land many pike with these baits and can’t stress enough that you should have at least one of these bad boys in your tackle box.

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