CNR basics
A strong foundation is required for proper CNR. We help you to establish some basic methods and equipments you need in order to do so. We also provide a more in depth analysis with 4 subcategories to chose from. Hover your cursor over to the header to find out more!
Buying your starter tackle
Before you start, you will need to get some basic tackle, which involves finding a tackle shop.
Below are 2 tackle shops that are well-known and well-stocked:
1. BIG FISH @ The Helping Hand
2. Lure Haven
Other tackle shops would also suffice, these suggestions are just examples.
BIG FISH @ The Helping Hand
BIG FISH is a non-profit tackle shop with relatively cheap prices. All funds go to THH, a rehabilition center for ex-offenders, so you are supporting a great cause!
They offer beginner sets at very affordable prices at around $50.
Address: 819 Upper Serangoon Road Singapore
Telephone: 6283 8091
Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 10am to 7pm, Closed on Sun and public holidays
BIG FISH's entrance. There is free parking at the premises.
Wide range of tackle available at BIG FISH.
Affordable beginner sets. Even the line is spooled in for you.
Lure Haven
Lure Haven is Singapore's largest lure shop and it specialises in premium Japanese tackle, having multiple storeys stocked with many lures, rods and reels to suit all your needs!
Address: 10 Bussorah Street Singapore
Telephone: 6297 4898
Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 11am to 7.30pm, Closed on Sun and public holidays
Side view of Lure Haven. It is a shophouse-like building.
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Check out the selection of rods they have!
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The amount of lures at Lure Haven is unimaginable. This picture only shows half the soft plastics section.
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Understanding your tackle
The tackle plays a crucial role in CNR fishing, hence it is important to understand it well.
The rod
The rod is one of the two main objects you fight the fish with, apart from the reel. You use the rod to cast and wrestle the fish, so if you do not set it up properly, you may lose the fish and even damage your rod.
There are 2 kinds of rods in the market - 1 piece and 2 piece rods. Most people would go for the 2 piece rod version, since it provides more convenience as the pieces can be easily stored in a rod bag.
A 2 piece rod. The pieces are unattached now.
Slot the bottom piece into the top piece tightly using the hole.
Make sure the rod guides (the rings on the rod) are aligned.
Setting up your rod is easily but you need to joint the 2 pieces tightly, if not, the top piece may drop off with a powerful cast or when fighting a fish. Don't worry - it can be retrieved. Just reel in your line. However, it can get really complicated when you are fighting a fish halfway.
The reel
The reel is the other object you fight the fish with. The reel is spooled with the line that connects you to the fish at the end and it also controls how much line the fish is able to pull out via the drag. Know your reel well to maximise the number of fish caught.
There are 2 kinds of reels - spinning and baitcast reels. Start with a spinning setup first as it is much easier to use for the beginner angler. Baitcast reels are used by more experienced anglers.
Spinning reel
The spinning reel is easy to use and as mentioned above, great for beginners. It rarely has any problem with the line unlike baitcast reels. Below are the explanations for the parts of a spinning reel. Refer to the diagram on the right.
1. Reel foot
The reel foot is the part of the reel that is attached to the rod. The reel foot is connect to the lower part of the rod via a opening on the rod.
Parts of a spinning reel.
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To attach the reel to the rod, scroll down the ring on the reel seat on the rod to enlarge the hole and allow the reel foot to be slot in.
Once the reel is in position, scroll back the ring on the reel seat and make sure the reel is held in position tightly.
2. Reel Handle
The reel handle is what you hold to when you retrieve the line. It goes in a circle while taking in line. Most spinning reels have only a single handle. You may want to customise your reel and replace the single handle with a double handle to make it easier to work lures aggressively.
A double-handled reel.
3. Line Spool
The line spool is the part of the reel that holds the line. It decides how much line can be spooled into the reel. At least 150m of line is recommeded to be spooled into each reel, so depending on the size of your reel, choose your line accordingly as they are directly proportionate.
4. Line Roller
The line roller is basically the part that spins when you retrieve the line, giving the spinning reel its name. It coils the line back into the spool.
5. Bail
The bail is the part which you open when you are about to cast and close after a cast. Opening the bail will let the line fly out but once you close it you will be able to retrieve the line using the line roller.
An open bail.
6. Drag Adjustment
The drag adjustment, controls the amount of the line pulled out by the fish. A reel on low drag will allow the fish to pull out more line when it speeds off, whereas a reel on high drag will reduce the amount of line being pulled out. If you set the drag too high, the line wil burst when the fish takes off. As a general guideline, set a low drag when fighting fish with line that have a poundage of 10lb and below.
Baitcast reel
Baitcast reels look different from spinning reels and they work differently. Baitcast reels are used by lurers most of the time and they are able to hold higher poundage line. It also allow anglers to stop the line immediately and land at the desired spot. However, to allow such accuracy, the spool is not fixed like a spinning reel but is free-running. This means that without proper casting, the line will come out and form loops and loops over each other and cause backlash, or "bird's nest", due to its messy appearance.
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Parts of a baitcast reel.
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1. Reel Seat/Reel foot
The reel seat is the part of the reel that is attached to the rod. The reel foot is connect to the lower part of the rod via a opening on the rod.
2. Reel Handle
The reel handle is what you hold to when you retrieve the line. It goes in a circle while taking in line. There are 2 reel handles on a baitcast reel to make it easier for lurers to work lures aggressively.
3. Spool
The spool is the part of the reel that holds the line. Spool size differ for every reel as different reel are of different sizes. There are 2 kinds of baitcast reels - low profile and round profile. Low profile reels holds only a small amount of line, while round profile reels can hold much more line.
A low profile baitcast reel.
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A round profile baitcast reel.
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4. Drag
The drag controls the amount of the line pulled out by the fish. A reel on low drag will allow the fish to pull out more line when it speeds off, whereas a reel on high drag will reduce the amount of line being pulled out.
5. Spool Tensioner
The spool tensioner applies pressure to the spool and controls the speed that the line comes off the spool. Set a higher tension when casting heavier lures so as to not create severe backlash should the spool be thumbed incorrectly.
6. Brake
The brake allows the angler to control the amount of line that comes off the spool. It can also be twisted open to remove the spool.
7. Line Guide
The line guide is the part of the reel that moves left and right as you retrieve the line. It helps to spool and spread the line evenly onto the spool.
8. Spool Release Button
The spool release button the place where the thumb of the angler presses down on before casting. This button allows the spool to move and the angler will be able to cast. When you engage the reel (lock the spool), the button will go back to its original position.
Types of line
When you head down to the tackle shop to purchase a reel, you will need to spool in some line. There are mainly 2 kinds of line in the market -monofilament and braided.
Mono vs braided line.
Mono line with "memory"
The mono line is cheaper and more abrasion resistant while the braided line is much stronger and having no twists or tangles. You can choose either one to spool into your reel - it is just a matter of preferance.
Setting up your rod for fishing
Before you start CNR fishing, you will also need to setup your rod.
The rod
Your rod is the device which you use to cast and tire the fish out. Proper setting up is required for results. A rod that is setup shabbily will not be able to cast properly and fight the fish effectively.
Step 1: Joint the 2 parts of the rods together. Align the rod guides.
Step 2: Scroll down the ring of the reel seat and insert the reel foot of the reel.
Step 4: Open the bail arm and pull out some line. Close the bail arm and make sure the line is coming from under the line roller.
Step 3: Scroll back the ring of the reel seat. Make sure the reel is sitting tightly in place and not able to move.
Step 5: Open the bail arm again and pull out some line. Thread the line through all the rod guides.
Step 5: Close the bail arm and tie on your rig/leader with a Trilene Knot and you are all set!
*For baitcast setup
Step 1: Setup the rod and attach the reel to the rod. Press the spool release button and pull out some line. (Pull slowly to avoid backlash)
Step 3: Slowly pull out some line and thread the line through the rod guides.
Step 2: Thread the line through the line guide.
Step 4: Tie on a rig/leader and you are ready!
Casting
Casting is important in CNR fishing at it allows you to cover more space on the water, meaning that you will be able to search for the fish effectively.
Spinning setup
Use your index finger and grab some line. Open the bail arm. Move your arm back to the 2 o' clock position and swing the rod forward, letting go of the line at the same time. Close the bail arm to lock the spool. Not joking, it's that simple!
Baitcast setup
Step 1: Adopt a grip like the one above for easy casting.
Step 3: Move your arm back to a 2 o' clock position and swing your arm forward, thumbing the spool at the same time. Lock the spool just by turning the handle.
Step 2: Press the spool release button and let the line come out as you thumb the spool as shown in the picture. Get a feel of what it is like to thumb a reel to make casting easier.
*WARNING: If you do not thumb the reel, backlash/"bird's nest" like the one pictured above will occur. Press the spool release button and slowly pull out line. Stop once you have unravelled all loops and retrieve back the line, then you're good to go.
Fighting the fish
Learning how to fight the fish properly will ensure that you lose less fish.
Step 1: Before you start fishing, set a low drag.
Step 2: When the fish strikes, set the hook.
Step 3: Let the fish run on a low drag first right after it is hooked. You will know if a fish is running by hearing that zipping sound off line coming out of your reel. You can also see the line coming out of the reel in addition to the sound.
Step 4: Set the drag lower or higher depending on Step 3.
Step 5: If the fish is not running, pump the rod, which means pulling back the rod and retrieving line to apply pressure on the fish and tire the fish out.
Step 6: Stop pumping the rod when you hear/see the fish run. Repeat Step 5 once the fish stops.
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Fierce fights between man and fish!
Congrats! If you have finished this section, you would have mastered the basics of fishing. Look under the CNR basics section for in-depth guides on baiting and luring.
Check out the videos by us to learn how to setup your rods!
How to get ready a spinning setup for fishing.
How to get ready a baitcast setup for fishing.
References:
Letsflyfishcom. (2016). Letsflyfishcom. Retrieved 18 August, 2016, from http://www.letsflyfish.com/candr2.htm
In-text citation: (Letsflyfishcom, 2016)
Monkeyseecom. (2016). How to Videos on MonkeySee - Free Instructional Videos. Retrieved 18 August, 2016, from http://monkeysee.com/fishing-basics-catch-and-release/ In-text citation: (Monkeyseecom, 2016)
Fishandboatcom. (2016). Fishandboatcom. Retrieved 18 August, 2016, from http://fishandboat.com/fish_skills.htm
In-text citation: (Fishandboatcom, 2016)