Tackle Box Tips

The contents of your tackle box will vary, depending on the type of fish you plan to catch, but this is a typical tackle box checklist to get you started. 

Extra fishing line or leaders

it’s almost guaranteed that your fishing line will break or get tangled up during a fishing trip. Thus, pack extra line in your tackle box. The line you bring depends on where you are fishing and the type of fish you are fishing for. If you are fishing in rough conditions, use a heavier and durable fishing line. This will help reduce the chance of breakage. If you’re fishing in a crystal-clear lake choose a thin, clear line to fake out the fish.

Lures

Hook and worm should be enough for most of your fishing needs. However, to up your game, keep a few lures in your tackle box. There are many types of fishing lures to choose from: spinners, minnow imitations, and top water lures to name a few. Each type of lure is designed to behave differently in the water to attract fish. For example, the minnow imitations are lures that look like small swimming minnows. Many medium and large sized fish like to munch on minnows, so it can be an effective lure. Spinners have a blade attached to them that creates a spinning action to attract fish. The type of lure you use is a matter of personal preference.

Bobbers or floaters

They help you know when you’re getting bites from a fish. When a fish bites, the bobber sinks. Letting you know it’s time to reel in your catch. Red and white plastic ball bobber are best known and easy to attach to your line. Get a few sizes, to handle smaller and larger bait/sinker combinations. Really, any design that grips the line firmly enough to stay in place will do fine.  For those who fish deeper water, try a slip bobber. You can slide it up and down the line, which allows you to get your hook into deeper water.

Swivels

You will need these to prevent your lures from twisting and kinking the fishing line. For most fishing applications, an inch long will do.

Sinkers or weights

A hook and worm alone are too light to sink very deeply. You will need to attach a weight to your fishing rig to compensate for that. Stock a variety pack of split-shot sinkers for live-bait fishing with bobbers and to add casting heft to jigs and spinners as needed.

Different sizes of hooks 

You can probably cover most needs by purchasing a number of hooks both snelled (with sections of leader tied to them) and unsnelled in sizes 4, 6 and 8. These will handle most live baits (worms, minnows, crawfish, etc.) as well as the firmer types of doughballs or stinkbaits used for carp and catfish.

Needle nose pliers

Helps to remove hooks from the lips of fish that have already been caught. However, pliers can serve a wide variety of other purposes too, from helping you to assemble your baits to pulling poorly aimed hooks out of your own skin without causing too much damage.

Stringer  

holds all the fish you catch! The type with the large safety-pin-like clips will keep your fish submerged and fresh until you're ready to clean them.

Sharp knife

Regardless of whether you need to clean fish, cut line, slice up baits, open cans, or perform other tasks, a fillet knife is an item that is versatile, essential, and inexpensive.

Ruler/scale

Since each state has protected fish species by size and bag limits, a digital lip grip scale and a cheap ruler can help you grab quick measurements for both bag limits and minimum catch sizes. This saves you the headache of catching a fish that you were not permitted to catch.

A small flashlight

If dusk catches you, have a flashlight to save you from wandering around aimlessly and running into things in the dark.

First-aid kit

It is tough to imagine getting seriously injured while fishing, but it happens. A First Aid Kit can go a long way. Invest in a First Aid Kit small enough to fit in your tackle box. If it doesn’t fit in your box, just make sure you bring it with you every time you fish.

Insect repellent

Don’t become a victim of mosquitos and other nasty biters on fishing outings.

Sunscreen

To keep your face from looking like an old piece of leather and to prevent skin cancer, slather on some sunscreen.

Unscented soap

Remember to always wash your hands before handling bait and after handling your catch.

Tackle Box

But of course, to hold everything!