the right gear
matters more than expensive gear

Length

5'6" to 6'6" (1.68 to 1.98 m)

Action

fast to extra-fast; moderate-fast for lures with treble hooks

Power

8–17 lb (light) · 12–25 lb (medium) · 20–40 lb (heavy)

Lure weight

7 to 40 g, depending on line rating

Material

carbon (graphite) or carbon/fiber composite

Pieces

1 or 2

Define the most-used lure. Lures of 7 to 12 g call for a rod rated 8 to 17 lb; 10 to 20 g, 12 to 25 lb; large zaras and tucunaré-açu propellers, 20 to 40 lb. Fast action works best for zara, jig and soft plastics; moderate-fast forgives more on crankbait and suspending-lure treble hooks. Use 5'6" to 6'0" for precise casts from the boat into submerged timber and 6'6" for distance on open reservoirs. Prefer one-piece or two-piece with a firm joint.

• Set up the baitcaster at the shop and test the balance: the combo should sit level when resting on your finger just in front of the spool.
• Keep two rods rigged on the boat: one for surface and one for mid-water or bottom.
• For tucunaré-açu, prefer a longer rear grip: it helps work the zara and fight the fish.

• Using a 10–20 lb rod with a 15 cm zara and 65 lb braid: it breaks on the first big fish.
• Casting a lure well below the rod's minimum weight: it does not load and the baitcaster backlashes.
• Reeling the lure in until it touches the tip guide: cracks the tip.

Length

6'0" to 7'0" (1.83 to 2.13 m)

Action

moderate (natural bait) to fast (artificial)

Power

4–10 lb (ultralight) · 6–14 lb (light) · 10–20 lb (medium) · 15–30 lb (heavy)

Material

carbon, composite or fiberglass

Compatible reel

1000 to 5000

Match the rod to the reel size and the line. A 1000 to 2500 reel goes with a 4 to 10 lb or 6 to 14 lb rod; 3000 to 4000 with 10 to 20 lb or 12 to 25 lb. Moderate action for natural bait and pay lakes: the fish swallows before it feels the rod. Fast action for artificial lures. Length 6'0" to 7'0": the longer rod casts light lures farther and controls the line better from the bank. A large, well-aligned first guide reduces friction and line twist.

• To start, a 6'6" rod rated 10–20 lb with a 3000 reel covers pay lakes, reservoirs and rivers.
• Lures under 7 g cast better on a spinning reel than on a baitcaster.
• At the end of the cast, touch the spool edge with your index finger to slow the lure before it hits the water.

• Mounting a baitcaster reel on a spinning rod (or the reverse): the guides do not fit.
• A large reel on an ultralight rod: heavy and tiring setup.
• Ignoring the line rating printed on the blank.

Length open

1.8 to 4.5 m

Length closed

50 to 120 cm

Action

usually moderate

Material

fiberglass (cheap and heavy) or carbon

Use

natural bait, pay lake, beach and travel

A telescopic rod folds to 50 to 120 cm and suits anyone travelling by car, motorbike or bus, for pay lakes, the bank and waiting fishing. It loses sensitivity and the joints can loosen. A one-piece or two-piece rod transmits bites better and holds up more. If you buy a telescopic, prefer carbon with reinforced guides, align the guides by turning each section, and do not force it open. For beach fishing there are telescopics from 3.6 to 4.5 m.

• Open from tip to base and close from base to tip.
• After fishing in the sea, rinse the open rod with fresh water and let it dry before closing.
• Sand in the joints locks the rod: clean each section before closing.

• Casting artificial lures all day with a telescopic: it loses precision and tires you out.
• Opening it with a jerk: the sections lock or crack.
• Storing it closed and wet: the guides rust and the sections seize together.

Length

5'6" to 7'0" (1.68 to 2.13 m)

Action

moderate to moderate-fast

Power

20–50 lb (surubim, cachara, pargo) · 40–80 lb (jaú, pirarara, large grouper)

Material

solid or tubular fiberglass, or composite

Sinker

30 to 300 g, depending on current and depth

Here the bait is natural and heavy, and the fish runs for its hole. The rod needs backbone, not long-distance casting. Choose 1.65 to 2.1 m, moderate to moderate-fast action and a 20 to 50 lb rating for surubim, cachara and pargo; 40 to 80 lb for jaú and pirarara. Fiberglass or composite can take the knocks on the boat and on the bank. When drifting, a short rod makes it easier to lift the fish off the bottom. Pair it with a round-profile baitcaster or a 5000 to 8000 spinning reel.

• When drifting, the tip has to be sensitive enough to feel the sinker bumping the bottom.
• A white or orange tip helps you see the bite at night.
• Prefer good ceramic guides: braid cuts through a poor guide.

• Rod too soft: the surubim runs into a snag and does not come out.
• Rod too heavy for the fish: it tears the mouth or opens the hook.
• Leaving the spare rod loose: a jaú takes the whole setup downstream.

Length

3.6 to 4.5 m (beach) · 2.4 to 3.6 m (rocky shore)

Casting weight

50–200 g (beach) · 20–100 g (rocky shore)

Action

moderate, with a sensitive tip

Pieces

2 or 3

Material

carbon or composite

Spinning reel

5000 to 14000, long-spool for the beach

On the beach, the sinker weight decides: check the casting weight printed on the blank. Calm seas and pompano call for 3.6 to 3.9 m for 50 to 120 g; rough seas and large croaker, 4.2 to 4.5 m for 100 to 200 g. A sensitive tip of solid carbon or fiberglass shows the bite. On the rocky shore with natural bait, 2.7 to 3.6 m helps lift the line off the rocks; with artificial lures, 2.4 to 3.0 m and 20 to 60 g.

• Use a stand (tripod or pipe in the sand) and keep the line taut to read the tip.
• A 0.50 to 0.70 mm monofilament shock leader protects the main line on hard casts.
• Rinse rod and reel with fresh water after every trip.

• Sinker heavier than the blank's limit: the rod snaps on the cast.
• Rod too short for the beach: the wave drags the line and the lure comes back to the shore.
• Casting without looking behind you: a hook in someone who is walking past.

Length

8'6" to 9'0" (2.59 to 2.74 m)

Weight

#3–#5 (light) · #6–#8 (medium) · #9–#12 (heavy and sea)

Action

medium to fast

Pieces

4 (travel standard)

Material

carbono

The rod number must match the line and the reel. For peacock bass and dorado, the standard is #7 to #9 in a 9 ft (2.74 m) rod; for tucunaré-açu with large flies and wind, #9 or #10. Lambari, tilapia and trout, #3 to #5. Fast action casts bulky flies into the wind; medium action is easier to learn. A four-piece rod makes air travel easier. Details in the Fly fishing category.

• Take a light spare rod on long trips: tip breakage is common.
• Assemble the sections lining up the guides and check the joints every hour of fishing.
• When fighting a big fish, keep the rod low and to the side.

• Line of a different weight from the rod: the cast does not load.
• A #5 rod for tucunaré-açu: it neither turns the fish nor casts a large fly.
• Lifting the rod vertically to pull the fish out of the brush: it breaks in the upper third.

Length

5'0" to 5'8" (speed) · 6'3" to 6'8" (slow pitch)

Line

PE 3–8 (speed) · PE 1.5–3 (slow pitch)

Jig weight

80 to 400 g

Action

fast (speed) · parabolic (slow pitch)

Material

carbono

Speed jigging uses a 5'0" to 5'8" rod, strong backbone, PE 3 to 8 and jigs of 100 to 400 g, with fast work. Slow pitch uses a 6'3" to 6'8" parabolic rod with a tip that returns the jig; choose by the maximum jig weight printed (for example up to 250 g or up to 400 g) and use PE 1.5 to 3. The rod is chosen by the jig weight that depth and current demand, not by the size of the fish. Pair it with a jigging reel or a 6000 to 14000 spinning reel.

• Slow pitch reference: 1 to 2 g of jig per meter of depth; increase if the line angles away from the current.
• Carry jigs of three weights for each spot: the current changes through the day.
• In speed jigging with a big fish, use a fighting belt with a socket for the butt of the rod.

• Slow pitch rod with a jig over the limit: it stays bent and the jig does not glide.
• Line too thick: the current pushes it around and you lose contact with the bottom.
• Ignoring the blank's maximum weight when fighting a large bigeye.

Line class

20–30 lb (light) · 50 lb (medium) · 80–130 lb (heavy)

Length

5'6" to 7'0" (1.68 to 2.13 m)

Guides

roller or reinforced ceramic

Butt

gimbal socket

Material

fiberglass, composite or carbon

Choose by line class: 20, 30, 50, 80 or 130 lb. For mahi-mahi, bonito and king mackerel, 20 to 30 lb is enough. Tuna and sailfish, 30 to 50 lb. Blue marlin, 50 to 130 lb. The stand-up rod is 5'6" to 6'0", with a short butt and works with a fighting belt and harness. For trolling from the rod holder, 6'0" to 7'0". Roller guides reduce friction on heavy line under load. A gimbal-socket butt clips onto the belt and the rod holder.

• Match the rod, line and reel class: 50 lb with 50 lb.
• Check the roller guides: a seized roller cuts the line.
• Use a fighting belt and harness for fish over 30 kg: it protects your lower back.

• An 80 lb rod with 30 lb line: the rod does not bend and the line snaps on the hookset.
• Leaving the rod in the holder without a safety strap.
• Fighting with your arms alone instead of using your legs and body when pumping.

Length

3 to 7 m

Material

bamboo, fiberglass or carbon

Line

0.18 to 0.25 mm monofilament, matched to the pole

Target fish

up to 1–2 kg

Can be bamboo or fiberglass and carbon (telescopic, without guides). The length sets how far the bait reaches: 3 to 4.5 m for pond or pay-lake banks; 5 to 7 m to reach the edge of the vegetation. Use 0.18 to 0.25 mm line matched to the pole, a small float and a size 12 to 16 hook for lambari. For tilapia, 0.25 mm line and a small Japanese hook. Not for big fish: there is no drag to give line.

• Tie the line to the middle of the pole too, not only to the tip: if the tip breaks, the fish does not get away.
• Chum the spot with cracked corn or bran and always fish in the same place.
• Great for teaching a child: there is no reel to tangle.

• Line much longer than the pole: you lose control and the hookset.
• Striking hard on lambari: it tears the mouth; a flick of the wrist is enough.
• Using a carbon pole near power lines: carbon conducts electricity.

Capacity

100–150 m of 0.20–0.25 mm mono or PE 0.6–1.2

Maximum drag

3 to 5 kg

Retrieve

60 to 85 cm per turn

Gear ratio

5.0:1 to 6.2:1

Weight

170 to 250 g

Choose a 1000 for lambari, ultralight and trout; 2000 to 2500 for tilapia, black bass, fat snook and lures of 3 to 10 g. Pair with a 4 to 14 lb rod. Accepts 0.16 to 0.25 mm monofilament or PE 0.4 to 1.2 braid. A maximum drag of 3 to 5 kg is enough. Check that the rotor turns without play and that the drag releases line steadily, without jerks: fine line does not forgive uneven drag.

• Fill the spool to 1 to 2 mm from the edge: overfilled it lays loops; underfilled it loses distance.
• With thin braid, use a shallow spool or make a mono backing.
• Close the bail (pick-up) with your hand, not by turning the handle: it twists the line less.

• Tighten the drag until it locks with 0.20 mm line.
• Spooling new line with the spool turning the wrong way: the line comes off twisted.
• Choosing the smallest reel to stay light, and fishing an 8 kg tambacu at the pay lake.

Capacity

150 m of 0.30–0.35 mm mono or PE 1.5–3

Maximum drag

6 to 11 kg

Retrieve

75 to 100 cm per turn

Gear ratio

5.2:1 to 6.2:1

Weight

230 to 320 g

This is the size for someone who will own only one. 3000 for snook, trahira, yellow peacock bass and large tilapia; 4000 for large peacock bass, dorado, tambacu at the pay lake and calm-sea beach. Accepts PE 1.5 to 3 (30 to 50 lb) or 0.30 to 0.35 mm monofilament. Look for a maximum drag of 7 kg or more, a firm rotor and a retrieve of 80 to 100 cm per turn for artificial lures.

• If you will only use braid, prefer a shallow spool or a model with an extra spool.
• High-retrieve versions (HG, XG) help with zara and jigs; for crankbaits and natural bait, the normal ratio is enough.
• Rinse with a gentle stream of fresh water and the drag tightened, so no water gets into the washers.

• Choose by the number of bearings.
• Turning the handle with the drag slipping: twists the line and creates a tangle.
• A 4000 reel on an ultralight rod.

Capacity

200 m of 0.40 mm mono or PE 3–4

Maximum drag

10 to 15 kg

Retrieve

90 to 110 cm per turn

Weight

350 to 500 g

Use it when the line is over 0.40 mm or PE 3. It suits surubim and cachara from the bank, dorado in wide rivers, large tambacu, rocky shore with natural bait, crevalle jack and bluefish. Look for 10 to 15 kg drag, a metal or reinforced resin body and good sealing. It is heavy for casting artificial lures all day: it pays off in bait fishing, with natural bait and occasional casts.

• With thick monofilament, fill to 2 mm from the edge and clip the tip to the spool clip when storing.
• Check the drag with a scale before fishing for big fish.
• On the rocky shore, prefer a sealed model: sea spray gets into the bearings.

• Buying a cheap rear drag in this size: it will not hold a big fish.
• Leaving the rod in the holder with the drag locked and no free-spool: the fish takes everything.
• Line too light on the rocky shore: you lose the fish on the rock.

Capacity

250–300 m of 0.30–0.35 mm mono

Size

6000 to 14000 (varies by brand)

Spool

long and tapered, low-flanged

Maximum drag

6 to 15 kg

Weight

450 to 650 g

The long, low-flanged spool reduces friction at the line exit and gives you extra meters. Sizes run from 6000 to 14000, with numbering that varies by brand. Choose one that holds 250 m of 0.30 to 0.35 mm mono, plus the shock leader. The slow spool oscillation crosses the layers and keeps the line from sinking into the lower layers. It needs sealing and corrosion-protected bearings.

• Always use a 0.50 to 0.70 mm mono shock leader, long enough to give 5 to 6 wraps on the spool with the sinker ready for the cast.
• Protect the finger that holds the line during the cast with a thimble or tape: thin line cuts.
• Do not rest the reel on the sand: use a high stand or a cover.

• Casting 100 g without a shock leader: the line snaps and the sinker turns into a projectile.
• Spool overfilled: it throws loops and tangles.
• Rinsing only the rod and forgetting the reel.

Capacity

300 m of PE 3–8

Maximum drag

15 to 30 kg

Retrieve

110 to 150 cm per turn

Weight

600 to 900 g

Sealing

required

Popping with 60 to 150 g plugs calls for sizes 14000 to 20000 with PE 5 to 8. Medium jigging and popping, 8000 to 10000 with PE 3 to 5. Look for 15 to 30 kg maximum drag, a rigid body and rotor, metal gears and saltwater sealing. A retrieve over 110 cm per turn helps when the fish comes toward the boat. It is a high investment; with maintenance it lasts many years.

• Set the drag with a scale before leaving: for popping, 25% to 30% of the PE's breaking strength.
• Service it once a year with a grease change.
• Put a few wraps of mono or tape on the bottom of the spool before the PE.

• Using a freshwater reel in the sea: it corrodes in one season.
• Tightening the drag during the fight without knowing how much is already set.
• Winding PE directly onto a smooth spool: the line slips under load.

Sizes

1000 to 6000

Maximum drag

2 to 6 kg (less than front drag of the same size)

Adjustment

knob on the rear of the body

Use

pay lake, waiting fishing, beginner

The rear knob makes it easy to adjust the drag with the fish on the line and the rod in the holder. It suits pay lakes, the bank and beginners well. The downside is lower maximum drag and a less smooth feel, because the washers are small and sit away from the spool. For fish over 5 kg or long fights, prefer front drag. If you choose rear drag, test it: the line should come off smoothly when pulled by hand, without jerks.

• Some models have a lever to tighten the drag quickly during the fight.
• Mark the position of the knob you use with a pen: it is easy to return to the setting.
• Good for a child: the setting is simple to understand.

• Use on large tucunaré-açu or dorado.
• Confusing the drag knob with the anti-reverse lock.
• Setting the hook with the knob fully loose: the hook does not penetrate.

Sizes

3000 to 8000

System

second drag, low tension, engaged by a lever

Main drag

front, 6 to 12 kg

Use

waiting, live bait, carp and catfish

Made for bait fishing with natural bait: carp, tambacu, pacu, catfish and snook with live bait. The fish takes and runs without feeling resistance, and the rod is not dragged. When setting the hook, turn the handle: the system disengages and the main drag takes over. Choose sizes 4000 to 6000 for pay lakes and rivers. Set the free-spool tension just enough that the current does not pull line off on its own.

• In a river with current, tighten the free-spool tension a little so the line does not run off on its own.
• Wait for the fish to settle its run before turning the handle.
• With a circle hook, do not jerk: turn the handle and let the line tighten.

• Forgetting the system is engaged and casting artificial lures.
• Free-spool tension at zero: the spool spins too freely on the run and tangles the line.

Typical capacity

100–150 m of PE 0.6–2

Use

artificial lures with braid

Alternative

deep spool with mono backing

Braid is thin and strong: 150 m of PE 1.5 takes up little room. On a deep spool you would need a mono backing or hundreds of meters you will never use. The shallow spool solves it with less line and less weight on the rotor. Several manufacturers mark a shallow spool with a letter in the code (S or SS, for example); check the capacity on the label. For thick mono or beach fishing, prefer a deep or long spool.

• Put a few wraps of mono or tape on the bottom of the spool so the braid does not slip.
• Keep the line 1–2 mm from the edge.
• An extra spool lets you swap line on the boat in minutes.

• Putting 0.35 mm mono on a shallow spool: little line fits.
• Underfilling the spool: you lose distance and the line rubs the edge.

Size

100/150 (compact) · 200/300 (larger); varies by brand

Capacity

100 to 200 m of PE 2–5

Maximum drag

5 to 10 kg

Gear ratio

6.3:1 to 8.1:1

Retrieve

65 to 90 cm per turn

Weight

150 to 250 g

Smaller sizes (numbered 100 to 150, depending on the brand) hold about 100 to 150 m of PE 2 to 4; larger ones (200 to 300) hold more line and are the standard for tucunaré-açu and long-fight fish. Look for a 5 to 10 kg maximum drag, a light spool if you will use lures under 10 g, and a brake that is easy to adjust. A gear ratio of 7:1 to 8:1 for zara, propeller and jig; near 6:1 for crankbaits and spinnerbaits. A metal body twists less than a graphite one.

• Adjust the tension: release the spool with the lure hanging; it should drop slowly and the spool should stop when the lure touches the ground.
• Touch your thumb to the spool an instant before the lure hits the water.
• When travelling, take a baitcaster or a spare spool already loaded with line.

• Casting at full power in the first hours: start with a high brake and ease off gradually.
• Casting into the wind with a low brake.
• Using braid under PE 1.5 on a basic baitcaster: the line sinks into the spool and tangles.

Size

4000 to 7000 (market standard; varies by brand)

Capacity

150 to 300 m of 0.40–0.60 mm mono or PE 4–8

Maximum drag

6 to 12 kg

Gear ratio

4.2:1 to 6.4:1

Extras

audible clicker, aluminum body

The larger spool holds 150 to 300 m of heavy line, and the cylindrical body handles heavy torsion. Smaller sizes (numbered like 4000 and 5000) suit dorado, pacu and tucunaré with large bait; larger ones (6000 to 7000) for surubim, cachara, jaú and deep-sea bottom. Look for a 7 to 12 kg drag, aluminum body and metal gears. Many have an audible clicker that warns of line run during the wait.

• When drifting, use your thumb to feel the sinker and release line in time with the boat.
• While waiting, turn on the clicker and ease the drag: the fish runs without dragging the rod.
• Lubricate the spool shaft and the line guide worm gear on every trip.

• Reeling line in without tension: during the fight, the line sinks into the loose wraps and locks.
• Casting a light lure: the heavy spool does not accelerate and backlashes.
• Forgetting the clicker is on during a cast: the line locks and the lure comes back.

Adjustment

external knob with scale

Action

continuous during the cast

Best with

lures of 5 to 20 g, headwind, beginner

Limit

can take off a little distance on long casts

The external knob changes the magnets' force without opening the baitcaster. The brake works throughout the cast, including the end, when the lure loses speed and backlash usually starts. It is best for beginners, light lures and short precision casts. Prefer a wide scale and clear markings. Start with the brake almost at maximum and lower it one step at a time until the lure travels far without backlash.

• Adjust brake and tension together: tension controls the start; the brake, the middle and the end of the cast.
• With a headwind, raise the brake two steps.
• With a heavy lure and a tailwind, you can lower it.

• Setting the brake to zero to gain distance.
• Adjusting only the tension and forgetting the brake.
• Thinking the brake replaces the thumb.

Adjustment

turns pads on and off (side cover) or external selector

Action

strong at the start, weak at the end

Best with

10 g lures and up, long casts

Requires

thumb at the end of the cast

The pads (usually 4 to 6) open by centrifugal force and rub against a ring. The effect is strong at the start and almost gone at the end, which is why the cast goes long and smooth with medium and heavy lures. Adjustment is done by turning pads on or off with the side cover open; some models have an external selector. It requires more thumb at the end of the cast. Good for someone who already casts well and needs distance.

• Start with half the pads on, in opposite positions.
• A pad dirty with oil loses friction: clean it with a dry cloth.
• On a windy day, raise the spool tension one step.

• Turning on pads on one side only: unbalanced spool.
• Lubricating the brake ring.
• Expecting the same control as a magnetic brake with a very light lure.

Adjustment

mode selector + external fine tuning

Power

generated by the spool's rotation, no battery

Advantage

automatic control with wind and varied lures

Sound

distinctive hum during the cast

The system corrects the brake continuously and nearly eliminates backlash, even with wind and lures of different weights. Choose by the adjustment: an external mode selector (line type, distance or control) plus fine tuning. It takes no battery: the power comes from the spool's rotation. It is the most expensive option; worth it for those who cast all day, chase trophy fish and do not want to lose time untangling.

• Select the mode for the line type you are using: the reading changes between mono and braid.
• Even with a digital brake, touch your thumb to the spool when the lure hits the water.
• Keep the spool tension set: the digital controls the brake, not the start.

• Thinking it replaces the tension adjustment.
• Buying the most expensive one before learning the basics with a magnetic brake.

Class

20, 30, 50, 80 or 130 lb

Drag

lever with strike and full positions

Typical strike

about 25% to 33% of the line's breaking strength

Speeds

1 or 2

Capacity

400 to 1,000 m, depending on class

The lever sets the drag progressively and repeatably, with a pre-set strike position and a full position for the end of the fight. Choose by line class: sizes 12 to 20 for 20 lb (mahi-mahi, king mackerel, wahoo); 30 for 30 lb; 50 for tuna and sailfish; 80 to 130 for large blue marlin. Two-speed models help lift heavy fish from below the boat. Use a rod of the same class.

• Set the strike with a scale, with the line running through the guides and the rod bent.
• With the spool nearly empty, the effective drag rises: ease the lever instead of tightening it.
• When storing, leave the lever in the free position to rest the washers.

• Storing with the drag engaged: deforms the washers.
• Line stronger than the rod's class.
• Filling the spool without tension: the line sinks in during a long fight.

Capacity

300 m of PE 1.5–3 (slow) · PE 3–5 (speed)

Maximum drag

7 to 15 kg

Gear ratio

5:1 to 6.3:1

Handle

long, with a large grip

Extra

line counter (optional)

For slow pitch, a small low- or round-profile baitcaster with a long handle gives the half-turn that makes the jig glide. Choose a capacity for 300 m of PE 1.5 to 3, a 7 to 12 kg drag and a low to medium gear ratio, 5:1 to 6.3:1. A digital line counter helps you repeat the layer where the fish is. For heavy speed jigging, prefer a larger size with a 10 to 15 kg drag.

• Use color-marked PE every 10 m to know the depth.
• On touching bottom, reel in 2 or 3 turns before working the jig: it prevents snags.
• Rinse and loosen the drag at the end of the day.

• Using a regular casting baitcaster: the drag and gears cannot take it.
• Letting the jig drop free without thumb control: the PE tangles on the spool.

Diameter

0.16 to 1.00 mm

Stretch

high (somewhere between 15% and 30% until it breaks)

Buoyancy

sinks slowly

Lifespan

about one season; less in strong sun

Knots

uni, Palomar, improved clinch

Choose by diameter, not just by rating. For lambari and tilapia, 0.18 to 0.25 mm; pay lake with tambacu, 0.30 to 0.40 mm; river with catfish, 0.40 to 0.60 mm; beach, 0.30 to 0.35 mm with a shock leader. Elasticity cushions the strike and head shakes, so it pairs well with circle hooks and natural bait. Clear or green for clear water; yellow or orange when you need to see the line.

• Run your fingers over the last few meters: if it is rough or whitish, cut it.
• Keep it away from sun and the heat of the car.
• Wet the knot before tightening it.

• Buying the thickest to be safe: it casts badly and the fish gets suspicious.
• Using the same line for years.
• Old line at the pay lake: a large tilapia breaks it on the first pull.

Strands

4

Surface

rougher

Abrasion

resists more than 8x of the same diameter

Casting

less than 8x

Stretch

less than 5%

With fewer strands in the braid, each strand is thicker, which handles abrasion against wood and rock better. The cost is a rough surface: it makes noise in the guides, casts less far and sinks more into the spool. It is good for bottom fishing, drift, budget jigging and fishing in submerged timber, where line scrapes. For casting artificial lures all day, the 8x does better.

• Use a leader even with 4x: the braid cannot take a tooth or a long scrape on rock.
• To tie to the leader, use an FG or Albright knot.
• Stick one wrap of tape on the spool before spooling.

• Thinking braid makes a leader unnecessary.
• Choosing 4x to cast light zara all day.

Strands

8

Numbering

PE 0.4 to 10 (Japanese standard)

Stretch

less than 5%

Casting

better than 4x

Lifespan

several seasons, cutting off the worn section

Eight strands form a rounder, smoother braid: it casts farther, makes less noise in the guides and lays better on the spool. For tucunaré-amarelo and snook, PE 1.5 to 2.5 (30 to 40 lb); tucunaré-açu and fish in submerged timber, PE 3 to 5 (50 to 80 lb); jigging, PE 2 to 5. Strong colors help you see the line and the bite; line that changes color every 10 m helps in jigging.

• When the used section is worn, reverse the line on the spool: the bottom is new.
• After a big fish, reel in under tension: loose wraps underneath trap the ones above.
• Compare the actual diameter, not just the rating on the package.

• Tying straight to the snap, with no leader, in clear water.
• Using a mono knot (simple clinch) on braid: it slips.
• Filling the spool without tension.

Strands

9 to 12

Surface

very smooth

Abrasion

thinner than 4x and 8x

Casting

the best among braids

With 9 to 12 very thin strands, the line is almost round and slides through the guides. It is excellent for light lures, fine fishing and long casts. Because each strand is thin, it frays faster on rock, wood and barnacles. Use it in open water, beach fishing with artificial lures, black bass in reservoirs and popping, where distance matters more than abrasion. It is the most expensive option.

• Use a slightly longer leader to protect the braid near the cover.
• Pairs with a shallow-spool reel.

• Buying 12x to fish tucunaré-açu in submerged timber.
• Thinking more strands means more strength.

Density

about 1.78 (sinks)

Visibility

baixa

Abrasion

high strength

Stretch

lower than mono

Knots

Palomar, uni, FG; wet and tighten slowly

Its refractive index close to water's keeps fluoro discreet in clear water. It sinks, which helps jerkbaits, soft plastics and jigs, but gets in the way of zaras and poppers if the length is long. It is stiffer and has memory: as a main line, only in thin diameters and light tackle. As a leader, it is the standard for snook, peacock bass in clear water, black bass and offshore fishing. Fluoro sold as a leader is tougher against abrasion than fluoro sold as main line.

• A fluoro knot heats up and weakens: always wet it and tighten slowly.
• On a surface lure, use a short or mono leader, which sinks less.
• Test the knot with a firm pull before casting.

• Buying very cheap fluoro with no traceability: it is not always what the package says.
• Using thick fluoro as the main line on a spinning reel: the memory throws loops.

Profile

WF (standard) or DT

Density

floating, intermediate, sink tip or full sinking

Length

27 to 30 m

Climate

tropical for the Amazon and Pantanal

In fly fishing, the weight is in the line. Choose the number that matches the rod (#8 with #8). The most used profile is WF (weight forward), with the weight concentrated at the front. Floating for surface lures and shallow water; intermediate or sinking for dorado in rapids and peacock bass in pools. Lines for tropical climates have a harder coating and do not get sticky in the heat. Details in the Fly fishing category.

• Wash the line with water and mild soap and dry it with a cloth: it casts better.
• Mark the line number on the tip with a permanent marker.

• Cold-climate line in the Amazon: it softens and sticks.
• Sinking line with a popper.

Line rating

20 to 130 lb

Length

0.6–1.5 m (fresh) · 1.5–3 m (sea)

Braid knot

FG or Albright

Knot at the lure

loop for zara and minnow; strong snap for quick changes

Choose the line rating by the cover and the fish. Fat snook in mangroves, 20 to 30 lb; swordspine snook, 30 to 50 lb; tucunaré-açu in submerged timber, 50 to 80 lb; jigging and popping, 60 to 130 lb. In clear water, use the thinnest you can safely. Length 60 cm to 1.5 m in freshwater and 1.5 to 3 m at sea. Prefer fluoro sold as a leader, which is tougher against abrasion.

• Run your fingers along the leader after each fish; if it is rough, replace it.
• A loop knot lets the lure work freely; use it on minnows and zaras.
• Carry a leader of two different ratings.

• A thin leader to save money: you lose the fish on the first scrape.
• A badly tied FG: it slips on the hookset.

Line rating

30–80 lb (fresh) · 130–400 lb (trolling)

Shock leader

0.50–0.70 mm, with 5 to 6 wraps on the spool at the moment of the cast

Knots

Albright, FG, uni-uni

Trolling

crimped (crimp sleeve)

On zaras, propellers and poppers, mono helps the lure stay up and cushions the blow. It is the budget choice for peacock bass and trahira, 40 to 80 lb. On the beach, a 0.50 to 0.70 mm mono shock leader absorbs the jolt of casting with a heavy sinker. In offshore trolling, thick mono of 130 to 400 lb holds up to a marlin's bill and the fish's body scraping. Prefer stiff mono, sold for leaders.

• Reference for a shock leader: about 10 lb of leader for every 28 g of sinker.
• In trolling, use a crimp sleeve of the right size for the diameter and the proper crimping tool.
• Mono for a leader is stiffer than mono for main line.

• A short shock leader: the cast's jolt falls on the thin line and it snaps.
• Crimping with ordinary pliers.

Material

1x7 or 7x7 stainless steel, bare or coated

Line rating

30–90 lb (fresh) · 60–150 lb (sea)

Length

15–30 cm (artificial) · 30–60 cm (natural)

Attachment

crimp sleeve or twist-on sleeve made for cable

Color

black or brown (less shine)

Use it when the fish cuts nylon: dorado, payara, piranha, large trairão, bluefish, king mackerel, wahoo, barracuda and cutlassfish. 7-strand (1x7) or 49-strand (7x7) cable, bare or coated, 30 to 90 lb in freshwater and 60 to 150 lb at sea. Length 15 to 30 cm for an artificial lure, which interferes less with the swimming action, and 30 to 60 cm for natural bait. Thick wire kills the lure's action and reduces strikes in clear water.

• Replace a trace that has kinked and formed an elbow: it has lost strength.
• Prefer a matte color in clear water.
• For trahira, 40 to 60 lb fluoro usually does; use steel where piranha are present.

• A long trace on a small zara: the lure's nose sinks and it does not swim.
• A weak swivel on the trace: it opens during the fight.

Butt

40–150 lb steel

Length

20 to 50 cm

Hook

4/0–8/0 (surubim, cachara) · 8/0–12/0 (jaú, pirarara)

Swivel

with bearing or reinforced barrel

Surubim and cachara have fine-toothed plates that abrade nylon; jaú swallows deep. Use 40 to 90 lb steel cable for surubim and cachara, or 90 to 150 lb for jaú and pirarara, 20 to 50 cm long. Hooks size 4/0 to 8/0 for surubim and cachara; 8/0 to 12/0 for jaú. A good-quality swivel. Buy ready-made or assemble with a crimp sleeve. Carry spare traces already made: on drift, a lot is lost to tangles.

• With a circle hook, let the fish turn its head before you tighten the line: it hooks at the corner of the mouth and makes release easier.
• Store the traces coiled and separated: a bent cable loses strength.

• Nylon trace for a large surubim.
• Reusing a bent cable or one with broken strands.

Main line

mono 0.40 to 1.00 mm

Droppers

10 to 30 cm

Hooks

1 to 3 per rig

Sinker

pyramid (beach) or pear (from a boat)

Assembly

three-way swivel or bead with stopper

In a dropper rig, the sinker sits at the bottom and the hooks on short droppers above, off the bottom and not tangled with each other. On the beach, use 0.40 to 0.60 mm mono for the main line, 0.30 to 0.40 mm droppers 10 to 20 cm long and hooks size 2 to 1/0 for pompano and betara. For bottom fishing from a boat, a main line of 0.60 to 1.00 mm, droppers of 0.50 to 0.80 mm and hooks size 2/0 to 6/0. Use three-way swivels or beads with stoppers on the droppers.

• Make the droppers shorter than the distance between them: they will not wrap around each other.
• Assemble the rigs at home and store them coiled on a card.
• Tie the sinker on with line weaker than the main line: if it snags, you lose only the sinker.

• Three hooks on a rocky bottom: everything tangles.
• Sinker tied to line stronger than the main line: on a snag, the whole rig goes.

Material

mono or fluoro 80–400 lb; wire for toothed fish

Length

3 to 9 m (check the rules)

Attachment

crimp with loop protector

Connection

reinforced trolling swivel snap

Marlins and swordfish scrape the leader with their bill; tuna and mahi-mahi with their body; wahoo cuts with its teeth. For mahi-mahi and tuna, mono or fluoro of 80 to 150 lb; sailfish and white marlin, 100 to 200 lb; blue marlin, 200 to 400 lb. For wahoo, king mackerel and barracuda, 30 to 60 cm of steel cable ahead of the lure. Length 3 to 9 m; for records and tournaments, follow the IGFA rule or the tournament rules.

• Crimp with the proper tool and test by pulling hard.
• Use a protector in the loop so the mono does not cut on the ring.

• Wrong-size crimp sleeve: the leader slips.
• Using thin mono on a marlin leader: the bill rubs and breaks it.

Braid + leader

FG, Albright

Line + hook

Palomar, uni, improved clinch

Free-swimming lure

loop knot (Rapala or perfection)

Strength

a well-tied knot loses little; a badly tightened one can cut the strength in half

For braid with a leader: FG is the thinnest and runs smoothly through the guides; Albright is easier and does the job well; uni-uni is quick for similar lines. For the lure and the hook: Palomar and uni; loop knot (Rapala or perfection) to let the lure swim free. Length: 50 cm to 1.5 m in freshwater; in surf, enough to take several wraps on the spool; 1.5 to 5 m for jigging and popping, with the knot going onto the spool.

• Practice the FG at home until you can tie it in a few minutes.
• Trim the tag end leaving 2 to 3 mm.
• Test every knot with a firm pull before the first cast.

• Tightening the knot dry: friction heats and weakens the line.
• Tying a knot on top of a knot.

Shank

short, medium or long

Wire

fine to forged (2X, 3X = heavier)

Sizes

16 to 10/0

Barb

with or without; crimp to release

Works for almost anything with natural bait, as long as you set the hook at the right moment. A long shank makes the hook easy to remove and protects the line from small teeth; a short shank hides better in the bait. Fine wire for live bait and soft-mouthed fish such as weakfish and croaker; thick, forged wire for pacu, tambacu and catfish. If the fish swallows it and the plan is to release it, prefer a circle hook.

• Long shank for small-toothed fish such as piranha and cutlassfish prevents cutting the line.
• On rocky bottom, sharpen the point with every bait change.

• Waiting too long to set the hook: the fish swallows the bait and the hook catches in the throat.
• Hook too big for the mouth: the fish eats the bait without taking the hook.

Point

turned toward the shank

Offset

in-line (no offset) or offset

Sizes

1 to 16/0

Hookset

take up the line, no jerk

Works with natural bait left still or drifting: the fish eats, turns, and the hook slides to the corner of the mouth. Do not jerk; just take up the line by turning the handle. Ideal for catch and release, waiting fishing, live bait for snook and tuna, and catfish. The in-line model (no offset point) is the best for release. As a rule, use one or two sizes above the J for the same bait. Many tournaments require circle hooks with natural bait.

• Keep the point and barb clear: bait covering the point prevents the hookset.
• With a free-spool reel, just turn the handle and let the line tighten.

• Setting the hook with a jerk: it pulls the hook out of the mouth.
• Using a circle hook on a lure worked fast.

Gap

larga

Sizes

1 to 6/0

Wire

fine to medium

Use

live bait and bulky soft plastics

The wide gap leaves room for the bait and keeps the point exposed. Good for live lambari, tuvira and shrimp, and for thick shads and worms. For snook with live shrimp, 1/0 to 2/0 in fine wire; for trahira and peacock bass with live bait, 2/0 to 4/0. Fine wire keeps the bait alive longer.

• Hook live shrimp under the horn of the head, avoiding the dark spot: it lives longer.

• Thick wire on shrimp: it kills the bait right away.

Shape

offset or EWG

Sizes

1/0 to 5/0

Use

worm, frog bait, lead-free shad

Rigs

Texas and Carolina

The step near the eye holds the head of the bait, and the point goes back into the body of the soft plastic, making it weedless. Choose by bait size: a 10 to 15 cm worm needs 2/0 to 3/0; shads and baits of 12 to 18 cm, 3/0 to 5/0. The EWG (extra-wide gap) leaves room for the point to pass through thick soft plastic. The hookset has to be firm: the point must go through the plastic.

• Keep the point resting just below the surface of the plastic: it hooks more easily and does not snag.

• Hook too small for thick soft plastic: the point does not go through.

Shank

curta

Eye

virado

Sizes

4 to 6/0

Knot

snell or palomar

The eye turned back makes it easy to tie a snell knot and aligns the point with the line. The short shank disappears inside shrimp, a piece of sardine or dough. Good for small and medium natural bait, pay lakes and beaches. Sizes 4 to 6/0. For live bait for peacock bass and snook, it is an alternative to the wide gap.

• The snell knot, tied to the shank, improves the hookset with natural bait.

• Thin-wire octopus on a large pacu: it opens.

Weight

3–7 g (shallow) · 10–21 g (current) · 28–100 g (deep sea)

Head

round, bullet, fish or stand-up

Hook

1/0 to 6/0, reinforced wire

Lock

barb or spring to hold the soft plastic

The weight sets depth and fall speed: 3 to 7 g in shallow, still water; 10 to 21 g in river current and snook channels; 28 g or more in deep sea. A round head works for everything; a bullet head pushes through vegetation; a stand-up head keeps the hook upright on the bottom. For peacock bass and snook, a strong-wire hook of 1/0 to 5/0. Check that the hook matches the soft bait: the point should come out in the middle of the body, not at the end.

• Take the same shad with heads of three weights.
• A drop of instant glue on the barb keeps the soft plastic from sliding.

• Head too heavy in shallow water: the bait sinks fast and snags.
• Thin hook on a large peacock bass: it opens.

Hook

1/0 to 9/0, forged

Cord

Kevlar, PE or high-strength fiber

Ring

solid, attached to the jig by a split ring

Position

head (standard) and tail (optional)

It sits on the head of the jig, held by a fiber loop and a solid ring. The fish attacks the head and the hook swings free, hooking better and snagging less than a treble on the tail. In slow pitch, use a pair of hooks on the head and, if you like, another on the tail. Choose a forged hook from 1/0 to 9/0 by the size of the jig and the fish, with a cord that leaves the point up to about a third of the jig's length.

• In slow pitch, the pair of short hooks on the head makes sure one is always in position to hook.

• Cord too long: it wraps around the jig and the leader.

Strength

1X (standard) to 4X (heavy)

Sizes

8 to 6/0

Barb

crimp to release

Connection

split ring of equal or greater strength

Replace the original trebles on cheap lures with reinforced models (2X to 4X) for tucunaré-açu, swordspine snook and sea fish. Use the same size as the original, or one size up if the lure still swims well. A 12 to 15 cm zara for tucunaré-açu: reinforced 2/0 to 4/0; a 9 to 11 cm minnow: 2 to 1/0. To release, crimp the barbs: you lose few fish and release is easier. At sea, use an anti-corrosion finish.

• A treble that is too large changes the swimming action and one catches on the other.
• Carry long-nose pliers and a hook cutter on the boat.

• Fishing for tucunaré-açu with the original thin treble.
• Grabbing the lure while the fish is still thrashing: treble in your hand.

Numbering

grows with the number (unlike the Western scale below 1)

Maruseigo

tilapia and small-mouthed fish

Chinu

large tilapia, pacu, carp

Iseama

tambacu, pacu and tambaqui at pay lakes

Widely used for tilapia, pacu, tambacu and carp with dough and pellets. The maruseigo has finer wire and suits small-mouthed fish, such as tilapia; the chinu and iseama are sturdier, with a rounded bend, for pacu, tambacu and carp. Here the hook grows with the number: maruseigo 12 is bigger than maruseigo 8. There is no exact equivalence with the Western numbering: compare them in hand.

• Many pay lakes have their own hook rules, such as banning barbs or trebles: ask first.

• Buying a size 12 thinking it is small, as in the Western standard.

Size

7 to 15 cm

Weight

8 to 30 g

Buoyancy

flutuante

Action

zigzag (walking the dog)

Trebles

2; replace with reinforced ones for large fish

Work it with short, rhythmic rod-tip taps, leaving the line slack between them: that is what makes the lure turn sideways. For tucunaré-açu and blue peacock bass, 11 to 15 cm and 15 to 30 g; for tucunaré-amarelo, trahira and snook, 7 to 11 cm. A zara with a rattle calls from afar in dark water; the silent one works in clear water and with pressured fish. Prefer a model with reinforced trebles or replace the originals.

• Tucunaré-açu often misses the first strike: do not stop the lure, keep working it.
• A loop knot on the leader lets the zara swim looser.
• Fast rhythm for active fish; pauses for wary fish.

• Set the hook on the strike, before feeling the weight.
• Line taut the whole time: the zara does not turn.

Size

12 to 25 cm

Weight

40 to 150 g

Buoyancy

floating or slow sinking

Hooks

forged treble 2/0–5/0 or single forged hooks

It imitates an injured fish swimming just below or at the surface. Work it with long pulls and pauses, or with the rod low at a steady pace. Choose the weight by the rod and wind: 40 to 80 g for rocky shore and light popping; 80 to 150 g for large tuna and bigeye. The size follows the local bait: a small sardine calls for a smaller plug. Rig it with a split ring and forged treble or high-strength single forged hooks.

• When tuna school at the surface, cast ahead of and beyond the school and run the lure along the edge, not through the middle.

• Weak split ring: it opens on the first tuna.

Size

7 to 14 cm

Propellers

1 (rear) or 2 (front and rear)

Weight

10 to 40 g

Action

pulls with a pause or steady retrieve

The noise calls fish from afar and works well with chop and dark water. Work it with firm rod pulls and short pauses, or with a steady retrieve. The double propeller is the classic tucunaré-açu lure: 10 to 14 cm. For tucunaré-amarelo and trahira, 7 to 10 cm. The propellers have to spin freely; slightly bending the blades changes the sound.

• After a missed strike, stop the lure for a moment: the tucunaré usually comes back.

• Retrieving too slowly: the propeller does not turn and the lure sinks by the tail.

Size

5 to 20 cm

Weight

5 to 150 g

Mouth

concave, more or less deep

Action

pop and pause

Give a sharp rod-tip flick and pause. Long pauses for still fish; fast rhythm for aggressive fish. Small (5 to 8 cm) for fat snook, black bass, trahira and tucunaré-amarelo; medium (9 to 12 cm) for swordspine snook and large tucunaré; large popping models (60 to 150 g) for crevalle jack, tuna and bigeye. A deeper mouth makes more noise and splashes more.

• In calm, clear water, use a small popper and gentle taps.

• Long pulls as if it were a zara: the popper should pop and stop.

Size

5 to 7 cm

Hook

double, turned up

Line

PE 4–6 braid

Action

zigzag taps over vegetation or in open water

Made for water hyacinth, floating mats and flooded grass, where other lures snag. The body flattens on the strike and exposes the hook. Use a heavy rod (20 to 40 lb or more) and PE 4 to 6 braid (60 to 90 lb): the fish has to come out of the vegetation with force. Sizes 5 to 7 cm. After the strike, let the fish sink with the lure for one or two seconds before setting the hook.

• After the strike, lower the rod, count one, two and set the hook hard.
• Squeeze the body before use: the hook should come out easily.

• Thin line: the fish wraps around the vegetation and breaks it.
• Setting the hook on the blowup: it pulls the frog out of the mouth.

Size

6 to 12 cm

Hook

offset or EWG 3/0–5/0

Action

steady retrieve with leg kicking

Extra weight

optional, to cast farther

The legs kick and make constant noise on the surface, like a soft buzzbait. Rigged on an offset or EWG hook of 3/0 to 5/0, with the point resting on the body, it passes over vegetation. Steady retrieve, fast enough to keep the lure on top. Excellent for trahira in shallow ponds and marshes. Carry several: a trahira's teeth tear the silicone.

• A drop of glue on the head holds the silicone on the hook.

• Set the hook before the trahira closes its mouth on the lure.

Weight

7 to 14 g

Propeller

metal, 2 or 3 blades

Exit

silicone

Action

steady retrieve

Works in shallow water, over submerged vegetation and in low light. Start reeling as soon as the lure lands, fast enough for the blade to buzz without sinking. Weights of 7 to 14 g for trahira, black bass and tucunaré-amarelo. If the fish miss a lot, add an extra hook to the main hook.

• Start turning the handle just before the lure touches the water: it is already working as it falls.

• Retrieve slowly: the buzzbait sinks and snags.

Size

5 to 14 cm

Depth

0.5 to 4 m, depending on the lip

Buoyancy

floating, suspending or sinking

Weight

5 to 30 g

A short lip swims 0.5 to 1.5 m; a long one swims 2 to 4 m. The floater is the most versatile: it rises on the pause and passes over snags. For tucunaré and snook, 9 to 13 cm; trahira and black bass, 7 to 10 cm; dorado, 10 to 14 cm with reinforced hooks and rings. A steady retrieve with occasional rod taps imitates an injured fish.

• In the river, cast upstream at an angle and retrieve following the current.

• Long lip in 1 m of water: it snags on every cast.

Size

8 to 13 cm

Depth

0.5 to 2.5 m

Buoyancy

suspending, slow floating or slow sinking

Action

jerks and pauses

Give two or three short downward rod-tip jerks and pause. The fish strikes on the pause. Suspending models are best for cold water and inactive fish; the slow floater works well over shallow structure. Sizes of 8 to 13 cm for black bass, tucunaré and snook. In clear water, natural and translucent colors.

• On a cold day, stretch the pauses to 5 to 10 seconds.

• Pause too short: the fish follows the lure and does not strike.

Size

4 to 9 cm

Depth

0.5 to 6 m

Lip

square, round or long

Action

strong vibration

The wide body displaces a lot of water, and the lip makes the lure dive and bounce off logs and rock, which triggers strikes. Choose the lip by depth: square bill for 0.5 to 1.5 m among timber; medium for 2 to 3 m; long for 4 m or more. Keep a steady retrieve; when it hits structure, stop and let the lure rise.

• A lower gear ratio reel (5:1 to 6.3:1) tires less with deep crankbaits.

• Rod too fast and stiff: the treble tears the fish's mouth.

Size

5 to 9 cm

Weight

7 to 30 g

Buoyancy

afundante

Action

vibration and rattle

Covers ground fast on sandy beaches, the edge of submerged vegetation and channels. It sinks: count until it reaches the desired depth, then retrieve steadily or in a lift-and-drop, pulling and letting it fall. For tucunaré, trahira and black bass, 7 to 14 g; snook and weakfish in channels, 14 to 30 g. The rattle helps in murky water.

• Count the sink on the first cast to find the depth of the spot.

• Leaving the lure still on the bottom in brush: it snags.

Weight

7 to 21 g

Blades

willow, Colorado or Indiana

Exit

silicone

Action

flash and vibration

The blades flash and vibrate, and the hook sits protected behind the wire arm. The willow blade flashes more and lets you retrieve fast; the Colorado, round, vibrates more and works in murky water and at night. Use 7 to 14 g for black bass, trahira and tucunaré-amarelo. Steady retrieve, running close to logs and vegetation.

• Put a grub or soft plastic on the hook for bulk and vibration.

• Retrieving too fast: the lure rises out of the depth.

Weight

5 to 40 g

Finish

silver, gold, copper or painted

Action

sway and flash

Assembly

with a swivel or snap with a swivel

Compact and heavy for its size, it casts far even in wind. Retrieved slowly, it sways; too fast, it spins and twists the line, so use a swivel. The weedless spoon passes through vegetation for trahira. At sea, heavy spoons catch anchovy, bluefish and bonito from the beach and rocky shore. Silver or gold for sun; copper or painted for murky water.

• Put a swivel 30 to 50 cm from the spoon so the line does not twist.

• Tying the spoon straight to the line: everything twists.

Size

0 to 4 (about 2 to 10 g)

Blade

round or elongated

Action

continuous spin

Hook

treble; replace with a single hook to release

The blade spins around the shaft, vibrating and flashing. Excellent for trout, piraputanga, matrinxã, black bass and tucunaré-amarelo. Sizes 0 to 4 (about 2 to 10 g). Reel only enough for the blade to spin. In current, cast upstream at an angle. Use a swivel to avoid twisting the line.

• In trout rivers and catch-and-release waters, replace the treble with a single barbless hook.

• Retrieving so slowly that the blade does not turn.

Size

7 to 20 cm

Jig head

3 to 60 g

Tail

paddle (paddle tail)

Action

continuous vibration

The paddle tail vibrates even when worked slowly. Choose the size by the fish: 7 to 10 cm for fat snook, tucunaré-amarelo and black bass; 10 to 15 cm for swordspine snook, weakfish and blue peacock bass; 15 to 20 cm at sea. The jig head weight follows the bottom and current. Work it with rod taps, letting it drop to the bottom, or with a slow, steady retrieve close to the bottom.

• Channel snook: cast above the spot, against the current, and let the lure roll along the bottom to the structure.

• Jig head too heavy in shallow water.

Weight

7 to 40 g

Material

feathers, hair (bucktail) or nylon

Hook

2/0 to 5/0, strong

Action

fiber pulse and slow fall

A classic for peacock bass in the Amazon and in reservoirs: the fibers pulse even when the lure is still. For tucunaré, 7 to 14 g with a strong 2/0 to 4/0 hook; snook and bluefish, 10 to 30 g. Work it with short jerks, letting it fall between them, or sweeping the mid-water. White and yellow for clear water; red with yellow or black with red for dark water.

• Cast beyond the spot and work the jig to the edge of the log or rock.

• Retrieving fast with no pause: the fibers stick to the body and the lure loses its life.

Weight

20 to 400 g

Shape

long (speed) or compact (casting)

Finish

holographic, silver or luminous

Hook

assist hook on the head

The speed jig is long and slim, worked with quick jerks, one per turn of the handle. The casting jig is short and compact, cast from the beach or rocky shore for bluefish, bonito and Spanish mackerel. Choose the weight by depth and current: 20 to 60 g for casting; 100 to 300 g for vertical jigging. Use an assist hook on the head.

• A glow jig helps in deep water and on overcast days.

• Treble on the tail of the jig over rock bottom: it snags and you lose the jig.

Weight

80 to 400 g

Shape

wide and flat

Balance

center (glides) or rear (falls fast)

Line

PE 1.5 to 3

Hook

pair of assist hooks on the head

The wide shape makes the jig fall while swaying and turning sideways. Work it with a half-turn or one turn of the handle while lifting the rod tip, and let the jig drop with the line nearly slack. As a guide, 1 to 2 g per meter of depth with light current. Centered weight glides more; weight concentrated at the tail falls faster and suits current.

• Work the first 10 to 20 m above the bottom: that is where most reef fish strike.

• Quick speed-jig jerks: slow pitch loses its glide.

Size

6 to 10 cm

Weight

3 to 15 g

Assembly

pre-weighted, jig head or offset hook

Action

hops and drops

Works in mangrove, estuary, pier and rocky shore. Models with internal lead and ready hooks make it easy; pure silicone goes on a light jig head (3 to 10 g) or an offset hook. Work it with short taps, hopping and falling close to the bottom, or let it drift with the tide. Sizes 6 to 10 cm. Natural and translucent colors by day; glow colors at night.

• With the tide running, cast above the structure and let the water carry the shrimp to it.

• Work it fast and steady: the shrimp escapes in hops, it does not swim straight.

Size

5 to 12 cm

Assembly

jig head or companion to other baits

Action

tail wiggle

Jig head

3 to 14 g

Simple and effective for beginners. Rig it on a 3 to 14 g jig head and reel slowly near the bottom, or make short hops. 5 to 8 cm for black bass, trahira, tucunaré-amarelo and river fish; 10 to 12 cm for snook and croaker. It also works as a companion to spinnerbaits and jigs.

• Rig it with the tail pointing up: nothing more natural.

• Soft plastic rigged crooked on the hook: the lure spins and twists the line.

Size

10 to 18 cm

Hook

offset or EWG 2/0–5/0

Texas sinker

3.5 to 14 g, bullet

Carolina

10–28 g sinker, 40–90 cm leader

Texas: a bullet sinker slid onto the offset hook, with the point hidden in the body, to cast into brush and vegetation. Carolina: a 10 to 28 g sinker and bead on the main line, then a swivel and a 40 to 90 cm leader to the hook; the bait follows the sinker, floating above the bottom. Worms of 10 to 18 cm. Work slowly, dragging and lifting the rod tip.

• Lock the Texas sinker with a rubber stop: the rig does not slide apart on the cast.

• Weak hookset: the point has to go through the silicone.

Types

red or red wiggler worm; minhocuçu

Hook

12 to 1 (earthworm) · 2/0 to 6/0 (minhocuçu)

Storage

damp, cool soil or sawdust, in the shade

Assembly

whole for large fish; pieces for small fish

Common earthworm works for lambari, tilapia, mandi, jundiá, piau and almost everything in freshwater: small pieces on a size 10 to 14 hook, whole worm on a size 6 to 1 hook. The minhocuçu, which grows over 30 cm, is bait for piau, piapara, mandi, catfish and jaú in rivers of the Southeast and Center-West, on a 2/0 to 6/0 hook. Buy from a licensed supplier: collecting minhocuçu has its own rules in Minas Gerais.

• Thread the hook through the tip of the worm and leave a piece free to wiggle.

• Leaving the worm box in the sun: they die in minutes.

Size

15 to 25 cm

Hook

4/0 to 7/0 on steel leader

Storage

clean fresh water or damp grass, in the shade

Region

Pantanal and the Paraguay and Paraná basins

Hardy and very attractive to catfish and dorado. Choose tuviras of 15 to 25 cm, alive and active. Hook through the mouth, exiting at the top of the head, or through just behind the head, with a 4/0 to 7/0 hook on a steel leader. Keep in a box with fresh water or damp grass, in the shade. Buy from a licensed supplier: collecting live bait is regulated by state rules.

• Replace the tuvira that has stopped moving: dead bait does much worse on the drift.

• Leaving the tuvira box in the boat's sun.

Size

5 to 12 cm

Hook

1/0 to 4/0, wide gap or circle

Assembly

through the lips or the back

Storage

bucket with aerator, in the shade

Lambari of 6 to 10 cm for trahira, tucunaré and dorado; larger for surubim and jaú. Hook through the lips, from below upward, to swim naturally, or through the back, behind the dorsal fin, avoiding the spine, to last longer on the float. Use a wide gap or circle hook of 1/0 to 4/0, in fine wire. Keep in a bucket with an aerator and change part of the water. Use lambari from the same basin you will fish in.

• Dead lambari in strips also works for piranha and mandi.

• Releasing unused lambari into the river, brought from another basin.

Hook

1/0 to 2/0 (live) · 2 to 1/0 (piece)

Assembly

under the horn (live) or threaded through (dead)

Storage

live well with aerator (live); ice in a sealed bag (dead)

Habitat

estuary, mangrove, beach and river

Live shrimp for snook, weakfish and croaker: hook under the horn of the head with a 1/0 to 2/0 fine-wire hook and fish with a float or light sinker. Dead shrimp, whole or in pieces, for pompano, betara, croaker and sargo. Pitu, the large river shrimp of the North and Northeast, is excellent snook bait in brackish water and for catfish. Keep live ones in a live well with an aerator and water from the same place.

• Cut off the tail tip of dead shrimp: it releases more scent into the water.

• Shrimp frozen and thawed several times: it goes soft and slides off the hook.

Hook

2 to 1/0

Collecting

tatuí in the surf; corrupto with a pump at low tide

Storage

damp sand with seawater, in the shade

Shelf life

a few hours

Tatuí lives in the zone where the wave breaks; corrupto lives in burrows in the exposed sand at low tide and is dug out with a suction pump. Use them whole on a size 2 to 1/0 hook on the beach leader. Live or very fresh works best; dead, soft corrupto does poorly. Keep in a box with sand dampened with seawater, in the shade. Take only what you will use and return the rest to the sand.

• Attach with elastic bait thread to hold up to a hard cast.

• Storing tatuí in a bucket of still water: they die fast.

Hook

2/0 to 5/0, reinforced

Assembly

through the side of the shell, whole or in halves

Storage

bucket with damp cloth, in the shade

Shelf life

holds up to small fish

In the Pantanal, river crab is the classic bait for pacu, whole or in halves, on a reinforced 2/0 to 4/0 hook. In mangrove and rocky shore, small whole crabs and blue crabs attract sargo, swordspine snook and grouper; pieces of blue crab work for croaker and miraguaia. Thread it through the side of the shell. Keep it in a bucket with a damp cloth.

• Remove the large claws: the fish takes it more easily, and the crab does not grip the bottom.

• Collecting crab during the closed season: on the coast, several species have a closed season during molting (andada).

Cut

fillet, steak or strip

Hook

1/0 to 5/0

Storage

cool box with ice, in a sealed bag

Combination

squid + sardine on the same hook

Fresh sardine, in fillet or piece, attracts by oil and scent: good for pargo, cioba, amberjack, grouper, croaker and bluefish. It is soft: tie it on with elastic thread. Strips of squid last a long time on the hook and resist small fish; combining both on the same hook works well. Hook size 1/0 to 4/0 on the leader. Keep on ice, in a sealed bag, away from fresh water.

• A whole sardine on a float, drifting, is good for bluefish and Spanish mackerel.

• Using stale bait: it drives away quality fish.

Types

bottom dough, feeder dough, floating feed

Hook

small to medium Japanese hook (maruseigo, chinu, iseama)

Assembly

dough on the hook or on the feeder spring

Storage

closed jar, in the shade

Ready-made or homemade doughs (flour, cornmeal, ground feed and essence) for tilapia, tambacu, pacu, carp and piau. Firm consistency to hold on the cast and break apart gradually; too soft and it falls off on the cast. Floating feed on the feeder float, or a feed pellet on the hook, for tambacu and pacu at the surface. Ask the pay lake which feed they use in their ponds: the fish is used to it.

• Chum before fishing, but not too much: a full fish does not bite.

• Dough too soft: it comes off the hook on the first cast.

Examples

laranjinha-de-pacu, tucum, guava, grape, sweet corn

Hook

2/0 to 4/0, reinforced

Technique

tapping, drifting or bottom

Season

high water, when fruit falls into the flooded forest

Use fruit from the riverbank where the fish is feeding, such as laranjinha-de-pacu, tucum, guava, coconut and nuts, depending on the region. In the tap method, the fruit goes on a 2/0 to 4/0 hook and the rod tip taps the water to imitate the fall. Grapes, guava and sweet corn work at pay lakes. Firm fruit holds better on the hook; tie it with elastic thread if needed.

• Watch which fruit is falling on the bank: that is what the fish is waiting for.

• Thin hook: the pacu crushes it.

Types

beef heart, chicken heart, liver

Hook

1/0 to 6/0

Storage

gelo

Durability on the hook

high (heart), low (liver)

Beef heart in strips or a whole chicken holds well on the hook and gives off scent. Good for mandi, jundiá, barbado, African catfish and piranha, and for surubim and cachara at night. Liver attracts more but falls off easily: tie it with elastic thread. Hook size 1/0 to 6/0, depending on the fish. Keep on ice.

• Cut into long strips: they flutter in the current.

• Piece too large: a small fish nibbles and does not swallow the hook.

Weight

5 to 200 g

Assembly

line – olive – bead – swivel – leader – hook

Use

bottom in rivers, from the bank and at pay lakes

Advantage

the fish does not feel the weight

Standard bottom-fishing rig in rivers, from the bank and at pay lakes. Set the olive on the main line, then a bead and the swivel; from the swivel the leader runs to the hook. When the fish pulls, the line runs through the sinker. Choose the weight by current: 5 to 20 g in a lake; 30 to 100 g in a river with current; up to 200 g in a deep river when drifting.

• The bead between the sinker and the swivel protects the knot.

• Light olive in strong current: the bait rolls and snags.

Weight

60 to 200 g

Shape

pyramid or with wire claws

Use

surf casting

Assembly

at the tip of the leader

On the beach, the pyramid digs into the sand. With a strong sideways current, use a sinker with wire claws, which anchors better and releases when you reel in. Weight of 60 to 150 g, depending on the sea. Use the lightest one that stays put: if the line drifts sideways, increase the weight.

• Carry sinkers of three weights: the sea changes with the tide.

• Sinker heavier than the rod's maximum weight.

Weight

20 to 500 g

Shape

drop with eye or swivel

Use

boat, rocky shore and drift

Assembly

leader tip, with a weaker line

Goes at the tip of the leader in boat bottom fishing and on rocky shores. The smooth shape slides between rocks better than the pyramid. Choose the weight by depth and current: 50 to 150 g on a shallow reef; 200 to 500 g from 60 m with current. Attach with a line weaker than the leader: if it snags, only the sinker is lost.

• Carry sinkers of several weights: the current changes through the day.

• Sinker too light: the line angles away and the bait does not reach the bottom.

Types

fixed, sliding or luminous

Buoyancy

1 to 30 g

Material

foam, balsa or plastic

Adjustment

split shot until only the tip is visible

A small, slim float for lambari and tilapia: it sinks easily and shows the lightest touch. A larger, round float for live trahira, tucunaré and snook bait. Adjust with split shot until only the tip stays above water. The sliding float, locked on the line, lets you fish deep and cast easily. At night, use a float with a light stick.

• Start with the bait a hand's width off the bottom and adjust the height as you go.

• Large float for small bait: the fish feels resistance and drops it.

Weight

10 to 40 g

Droppers

2 to 4 hooks, 10 to 30 cm

Spring

dough or feed

Use

surface at pay lake

The pay lake standard for tambacu, pacu and tilapia at the surface. The dough or feed breaks apart in the spring and draws the school close to the hooks. Choose by weight, for casting, and by spring size. Use 0.30 to 0.40 mm line and short Japanese hooks on 10 to 30 cm droppers. Check the pay lake's rules: some limit the number of hooks.

• Always cast to the same spot to concentrate the chum.

• Dough that breaks apart too fast: it runs out before the fish arrives.

Types

barrel, bearing, three-way

Strength

10 to 300 lb

Material

brass or stainless steel

Finish

matte or black

Use it between the line and the leader, before spoons and spinners and in all bottom fishing. The barrel type is simple and cheap; the bearing type turns better under load. Choose a strength above the line. The three-way swivel forms the rig. A black or matte color reduces the glint that attracts toothed fish, which end up cutting the line there.

• Use the smallest swivel that handles the load.

• A 20 lb swivel on 50 lb line.

Types

cross-lock, double-lock, with swivel

Strength

15 to 200 lb

Material

stainless steel

Size

the smallest that handles the load

Speeds up lure changes and lets the lure move more freely. Choose a model with a strong lock, rated above the leader. For zara, minnow and crankbait, a snap without a swivel. For lures that spin (spoon, spinner), a snap with a swivel. Avoid a heavy snap on a small surface lure: the extra weight sinks the nose.

• Check the snap after every big fish: it may have partly opened.

• Weak snap on tucunaré-açu: it opens on the first jump.

Size

numbering varies by manufacturer

Strength

20 to 300 lb

Material

stainless steel or carbon steel

Use

treble, assist hook, lure

Change the rings along with the trebles when you reinforce a lure, always with strength equal to or greater than the treble's. Use proper pliers to open them. Stainless for salt water. On a jig, the solid ring attached to the split ring holds the assist hook.

• Split ring pliers save your nails and time.

• Keeping the original weak ring with a reinforced treble: the ring opens.

Material

plastic, glass or luminous

Size

3 to 10 mm

Use

protect the knot, attract, set height

Position

between sinker and swivel

Between the sliding sinker and the swivel, the bead keeps the sinker from hitting the knot and weakening it. The glass one makes a click when it hits the sinker in the Carolina rig. Colored and luminous beads attract in beach fishing and on the sea floor. The rubber stopper fixes the height of the sliding float and locks the Texas sinker.

• Use a bead larger than the sinker's hole.

• Sinker hitting the swivel knot directly.

Length

15 to 25 cm

Material

anodized aluminum or stainless steel

Functions

remove hook, cut braid, open split ring

Safety

coiled cord and sheath

Long nose to remove a treble from the mouth of tucunaré, trahira and dorado without putting your hand close. Blade that cuts braid cleanly. The split ring opener saves time. At sea, aluminum or stainless with a safety cord. For trolling, also carry crimping pliers.

• Crimp the barbs with the pliers before fishing: release will be faster.

• Ordinary tool pliers: they rust and do not cut braid.

Material

aluminum or reinforced plastic

Capacity

up to 15 to 30 kg

Extra

built-in scale (optional)

Safety

cord

Holds toothed fish and loose trebles without risk to the hand. Some models have a built-in scale. Choose by the size of the fish: smaller for trahira and tucunaré-amarelo; larger for tucunaré-açu and dorado. Never lift a large fish by the grip alone in a vertical position: support the belly with your other hand.

• Clamp the grip to the center of the lower lip.

• Hanging a large fish by the mouth: it damages the jaw.

Net

rubber or knotless mesh

Hoop

40 to 80 cm

Butt

fixed or telescopic, 1 to 3 m

Use

boat, pier, rocky shore, pay lake

Knotless rubber mesh protects the slime and the fins and does not catch trebles. Large hoop and long handle for snook and high-sided boats. On the beach and the rocky shore, a telescopic handle helps you lift the fish off the rock. Put the net in the water and guide the fish head-first into it; do not chase the fish with the net.

• Many pay lakes lend landing nets: ask.

• Knotted nylon net: it takes scales off and catches hooks.

Types

UV protection (free fingers), leather, cut-resistant

Material

lycra, neoprene, leather or cut-resistant fiber

Use

sun, fight and handling the fish

Fabric gloves with UV protection and free fingers, so you can cast all day without burning your hand. Leather gloves or ones with a reinforced palm for holding the leader in trolling and jigging. Cut-resistant gloves for handling toothed and spiny fish. In catch and release, wet the glove before touching the fish.

• In trolling, use thick gloves to haul the leader to the boat.

• Holding thick leader with a bare hand and a large fish on the line: it cuts your hand.

Lens

polarized, polycarbonate or glass

Colors

amber/brown, copper, gray, yellow

Protection

UV400

Frame

wraparound, with cord

Polarized lenses cut surface glare. Colors: amber, brown or copper for freshwater and variable light; gray for strong sun and open sea; yellow or rose for dawn and overcast days; blue mirrored for sea with plenty of sun. Wraparound frames block side light. Polycarbonate lenses resist impact from lures and sinkers.

• Wear glasses whenever someone casts near you: a treble in the eye is an emergency.

• Non-polarized sunglasses: they protect from the sun, but do not cut the glare.

Shape

box with dividers, bag or backpack

Size

standard sizes that fit in bags

Sealing

recommended at sea

Organization

by technique

Boxes with movable dividers, in standard sizes that fit in a bag or backpack. One box per technique: surface, mid-water, bottom and terminal tackle. Soft baits in the original packaging or in a separate box: some plastics melt on contact with other plastics and with hard lures. At sea, use a sealed box or one with an anti-humidity sachet.

• Dry the baits before storing: a wet treble hook rusts and stains the others.

• Keep soft baits apart from hard lures.

Type

digital or spring

Capacity

10 to 50 kg or more

Use

fish weight and drag setting

Digital or spring scale, with a hook. To weigh a fish, use it with a landing net or lip grip, quickly and without hanging the fish by the gill. To set the drag, hook the line that runs through the guides to the scale and pull with the rod bent. Choose a capacity above the biggest fish you expect: 25 kg covers freshwater; at sea, 50 kg or more.

• Weigh the fish inside the landing net and subtract the weight of the net.

• Hanging the fish by the gill to weigh it.

Length

60 cm to 1.5 m

Type

flat, channel, flexible or adhesive, for the boat

Reading

centimeters with large markings

Material

floating plastic or aluminum

Flat or channel ruler, preferably floating, 60 cm to 1.5 m. Measure with the fish lying flat, mouth closed, from the snout to the end of the tail, unless the regulation or tournament calls for another measurement. Wet the ruler first to protect the slime coat. It is essential: enforcement works with minimum and maximum sizes.

• Stick an adhesive ruler on the gunwale to measure quickly.

• Measuring a fish that is curved or has its tail bent.

Approval

Brazilian Navy, class compatible with the navigation area

Types

foam, fishing with pockets, inflatable

Adjustment

according to the weight of the user

Inspection

inflatable: cylinder and trigger per the manufacturer

Use a life jacket approved by the Brazilian Navy, in the class required for the navigation area, and sized for each person's weight. For fishing, a jacket with pockets or an inflatable belt or suspender type is less bothersome, which is why they stay on the body. An inflatable needs its cylinder and trigger checked per the manufacturer. Children wear a child's vest with a strap between the legs.

• Put on the vest before starting the engine, not when the weather turns.

• Vest stored in the locker, out of reach.
• Adult vest on a child.

Power

200 to 500 lumens

Protection

IPX4 to IPX7

Modes

white, red and low

Battery

rechargeable, with a spare

Choose a model with a red light, which does not dazzle and scares fish less, 200 to 500 lumens in white mode, water resistance of IPX4 or more (IPX7 for boat and beach), and a rechargeable battery. Carry a spare battery or cells. Strong light aimed at the water scares fish: from the bank, use the red or low mode.

• On night fishing from a boat, also keep the navigation lights on.

• Pointing the headlamp at your companion's face.

Frequency

50/83 kHz (bottom) · around 200 kHz (shallow)

Technology

2D traditional or CHIRP

Screen

4 to 7 inches

Range

depends on power and frequency

Traditional sonar emits one frequency; CHIRP sweeps a band of frequencies and separates fish stuck to the bottom and fish close to each other better. High frequency (around 200 kHz) shows detail in shallow water; low frequency (50 to 83 kHz) reaches deeper bottoms at sea. For rivers and reservoirs, a 2D with CHIRP and GPS is enough. Install the transducer where the water flows clean, without bubbles.

• The arch appears because the boat passes over the fish: with the boat stopped, the fish becomes a straight line.

• Transducer badly installed: screen full of noise with the boat moving.

Frequency

455 and 800 kHz (typical)

Best range

up to 30–40 m

Shows

structure and bottom in detail

Use

split screen with the 2D

It uses a thin high-frequency beam (typically 455 and 800 kHz) to draw structure in detail. It shows timber, rock, wrecks and bait schools, and helps separate fish from structure. Works best up to 30 to 40 m. Works best in split screen with the 2D: the 2D shows the fish; down imaging shows where it is.

• Pass slowly over the spot, at 3 to 6 km/h, so the image comes out sharp.

• Thinking every bright spot on the screen is a fish.

Side range

30 to 70 m to each side (typical)

Frequency

455 and 800 kHz (typical)

Ideal speed

5 to 10 km/h

Use

mapping structure and marking points

Shows structure and fish tens of meters to each side, depending on frequency and depth. Ideal for mapping timber in reservoirs, holes in rivers and rocks in shallow sea. Mark the points on the GPS and go back to fishing. Works best in water up to 20 to 30 m, with the boat in a straight line and slow.

• Make parallel passes, like mowing a lawn, to cover the whole area.

• Turning while navigating: the image distorts.

Image

real time, like video

View

forward, down or perspective

Range

tens of meters; varies by model

Screen

9 inches or larger

The movable transducer points forward, down or in perspective, and the screen updates like video: you see the fish follow and strike the lure. Market models include LiveScope, ActiveTarget and MEGA Live. Requires a compatible screen of 9 inches or more and, preferably, a swivel mount or integration with the electric motor. It is the most expensive item and the one that needs the most reading practice.

• Learn in water you know, where you already know what is on the bottom.

• Staring at the screen and forgetting to fish and to steer.

Type

integrated with the sonar or handheld

Charts

official from the Navy and commercial

Features

track, points, real-time mapping

Backup

memory card or cloud

Integrated with the sonar it is the most practical. At sea and on large reservoirs, use electronic charts with bathymetry. In Brazil, the official nautical charts come from the Navy; commercial maps and the real-time mapping done by the unit itself help on reservoirs. Save the points with name and date and make a backup. Also carry a handheld GPS or a phone with an offline map.

• Record the outbound track: in fog or at night, go back along it.

• Navigating only by the screen without looking at the water: charts have errors and sandbanks move.

Thrust

30 to 112 lb

Voltage

12, 24 or 36 V

Assembly

bow (standard) or stern

Features

virtual anchor, autopilot, remote control

Choose thrust for the boat: as a reference, 2 lb of thrust for every 100 lb of loaded boat weight, more if there is wind and current. In general, 12 V goes up to about 55 lb; 24 V, up to 80 lb; 36 V, above that. On the bow, with a foot pedal or remote control, it is the standard for casting. The virtual anchor holds the boat on the spot by GPS. At sea, only saltwater models.

• Lithium battery weighs less and lasts longer, but requires its own charger.

• Leaving with a weak battery: the motor stops far from the ramp.

Power

up to 5–6 W (handheld) · up to 25 W (fixed)

Channels

16 (distress and calling) and local working channels

DSC

distress button with position (fixed and some handhelds)

Protection

IPX7 and floating (handheld)

The fixed set, up to 25 W, reaches farther and, with DSC linked to the GPS and an MMSI number, sends a distress call with the position at the press of a button. The handheld, 5 to 6 W, floating and waterproof, goes in the vest or the abandon-ship bag. A cell phone does not replace VHF: at sea, the signal disappears. Before using it, check the station licensing with Anatel and the Navy requirements for your navigation area.

• Test the radio at the dock before leaving.

• Occupying channel 16 with conversation.

Weight

#3 to #12

Length

9'0" (2.74 m), the standard

Action

medium to fast

Pieces

4

#3 to #5: lambari, trout, tilapia and small fish. #6 and #7: yellow peacock bass and popoca, piraputanga, matrinxã and peva snook. #8: the all-rounder for peacock bass and dorado. #9 and #10: tucunaré-açu, big dorado in the rapids and large flies in wind. #10 to #12: camurupim and saltwater fish. Prefer 9 feet and a fast action for large flies.

• If you will have only one rod for the Amazon and the Pantanal, choose #8.

• #6 rod for a 15 cm tucunaré-açu fly.

Weight

same as the line

Drag

sealed disc

Backing

100 to 200 m of 20 to 30 lb

Material

machined or cast aluminum

For small fish, the reel only stores line. For peacock bass and dorado, it needs a sealed, smooth disc drag, because the fish runs and jumps. Choose by line number (for example, #7 to #9) and by backing capacity: 100 to 200 m of 20 to 30 lb. A machined aluminum body resists impacts and corrosion better. Mount the handle on the side you prefer.

• After the hookset, reel in the loose line: fighting a fish with line on the boat floor tangles around your foot.

• A reel without drag for golden dorado: the tippet breaks on the first run.

Profile

WF, short heavy head

Density

flutuante

Climate

tropical

Weight

same as the rod

WF (weight forward) concentrates the weight in the head and throws large flies with few false casts. For the Amazon and the Pantanal, use a tropical-weather line, with a short, heavy head, made to turn bulky flies over. The floating line serves for poppers and surface flies, and for mid-water flies in shallow water. Use the same number as the rod; some lines come half a number heavier to load fast rods.

• Clean the line at the end of the day: dirt and sunscreen ruin the coating.

• Putting repellent or sunscreen on your hands and then touching the line.

Types

intermediate, sink tip, full sinking

Rate

type 3 to type 6 (about 7.5 to 15 cm/s)

Use

rapids, pool, wind, bottom fish

Weight

same as the rod

The intermediate sinks slowly, passes just below the surface and suffers less from chop and wind. The sink tip has only the sinking tip, good for dorado rapids and peacock bass pools. The full sinking line is classified by type (type 3 sinks about 7.5 cm per second) and serves for fishing the bottom in lakes and at sea. Keep a spare spool with intermediate or sink tip, besides the floating line.

• Count the fly's descent and repeat the count when you find the fish.

• Using a sink tip with a popper.

Material

dacron (polyester) or braided line

Strength

20–30 lb (freshwater) · 30–50 lb (sea)

Quantity

100 to 250 m

Connections

arbor knot on the reel; loop with the fly line

The fly line is 27 to 30 m long, and a strong fish takes that in seconds. The backing, of 20 to 30 lb dacron or fine braid at sea, fills the spool and gives reserve. For peacock bass and dorado, 100 to 150 m is enough; at sea, 200 m or more. Connect to the reel with an arbor knot and to the fly line with a loop-to-loop connection.

• Wind on with tension: loose backing gets buried in the run and locks.

• Too much backing: the fly line does not fit and scrapes the frame.

Length

1.5 to 2.7 m

Peacock bass

monofilament or fluorocarbon of 30 to 60 lb

Golden dorado

plus 15 to 25 cm of fine steel or titanium

X numbering

0X = 0.28 mm · 3X = 0.20 mm · 5X = 0.15 mm

The tapered leader transfers energy and makes the fly land softly; the tippet is the end you change. For peacock bass, a straight leader of 1.5 to 2.5 m of monofilament or fluorocarbon of 30 to 60 lb: with a large fly, it does not need to be tapered. For golden dorado, the same, plus 15 to 25 cm of fine steel or titanium at the tip. For trout and small fish, a 2.7 m tapered leader and tippet 3X to 5X. In X numbering, the higher the number, the finer.

• Tie the fly with a loop knot so it swims free.

• Fine tippet for peacock bass in timber.

Size

8 to 15 cm

Hook

1/0 to 4/0, strong

Types

streamer, popper, gurgler, slider

Colors

yellow/red, white, chartreuse, black

Streamers of 8 to 15 cm, imitating a small baitfish, on a strong 1/0 to 4/0 hook. Surface flies (popper, gurgler, slider) for early morning and late afternoon. Colors: yellow with red, white with red, chartreuse and black in dark water. Retrieve with long, fast line pulls (strip) and set the hook by pulling the line with your hand, with the rod low, without lifting the rod.

• Synthetic-material flies dry fast and are lighter in the cast.

• Lift the rod on the hookset: the fly comes out of the hard mouth of the peacock bass.

Size

8 to 15 cm

Hook

2/0 to 4/0, strong

Weight

lead eyes or heavy head

Tippet

fine steel or titanium, 15 to 25 cm

Streamers of 8 to 15 cm, of tough synthetic material: the golden dorado's teeth destroy natural ones. Use a heavy head or lead eyes to sink in the eddy, or a sink tip line. Strong 2/0 to 4/0 hook, always with 15 to 25 cm of fine steel or titanium. Colors: black, black with red, yellow, golden with orange and white. Cast upstream or diagonally and retrieve following the current.

• Hook with strong, repeated line pulls: the golden dorado's mouth is very hard.

• Nylon-only tippet: the golden dorado cuts it.