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Home > Learn to Fish & Boat > How To Fish > Fishing Gear and Tackle > Eco-Friendly Fishing Gear
Looking to reduce your impact with sustainable fishing gear? Find out how to choose the best eco-friendly fishing lures, line and more
While all fishing can have some degree of impact on the environment, you can lessen your footprint with these simple tips for selecting more sustainable fishing gear.
To ensure fisheries continue to thrive, many anglers are taking steps to preserve their favorite spots – and species – for future generations to enjoy. That may mean adhering to regulations to prevent overfishing like bag limits, avoiding specific species at certain times of year and using more sustainable fishing gear.
When it comes to eco-friendly fishing gear, there are more and more options available on the market today. Here are some popular choices to consider:
Beyond fishing gear, there are other ways to practice eco-friendly fishing. If you catch and release, in addition to choosing barbless circle hooks, be sure to use the right eco-friendly fishing lures for the species to avoid exhausting the fish, keep your catch wet and limit the time the fish stays out of the water to increase the chance of survival.
It’s also important to pay attention to the area around you. Take your trash with you to prevent fish and other wildlife from eating or getting caught in your rubbish. If you’re boating, consider rowing or paddling a canoe rather than a motorized choice. If you do go in a power boat, be careful when you’re navigating over fragile habitats and be careful to prevent fuel spills.
The largemouth bass is the most popular freshwater game fish in the U.S. Learn more about how you can identify a largemouth bass, where to catch it and what bait and lures to use.
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