Have you ever watched those cable TV programs that feature the bass pro fisherman? I do -- I watch them all the time -- I love them, in fact. Have you ever noticed how many of these guys are really into the latest bass fishing tackle items?

Bass fishing is a sport that attracts thousands of sportsmen to area lakes every year. Canada, Mexico and the United States all have various types of bass in their rivers, but most fishermen appreciate the famous Large Mouth Bass. This is one of the most sought after species because of the rewarding experience of catching one.

If you going on your first Bass fishing trip and you haven't done any fishing ever before it can be a bit daunting to try and find the right fishing tackle. The moment you step in to a shop that sells fishing tackle, or better yet a shop that specializes in fishing, you will see that there are thousands of items to choose from. Things like lures, reels and rods are there in so many forms and variations and they exist because each one is needed in its own situation. For a beginner this can be shocking and even a reason not to go fishing but you should not let this huge assortment of fishing items to choose from get you down. As a beginner you don't have to know what all the different items are for just try and get the basics.

Tip Action: This tells you if the tip is soft or maybe more stiff. When the tip of your rod is soft then you will be able to make a more accurate cast, but on the other hand it will make the choice of lures a lot smaller. A Rod: We begin with the most difficult item in your bass fishing tackle, the decision which rod you need to buy. You already know that there are a lot of rods you can choose from. One can get a special rod for every type of fish you can catch or for the special lures that are available. The choice of rod largely depends on the type of lure you will be using. Looking at them you would not say so, but a fishing rod is a complex piece of tackle. When we talk about bass fishing rods there are four points to look for and these are tip action, length, power and sensitivity. Power: When we talk about power what this means is the weight of the rod, is it heavy or light. When you are going for bigger fish then you will need a heavier rod. Length: The type of fishing you are going to do and the type of lures you will be using will dictate the length of the rod.