FISHING TACKLE ESSENTIALS EVERY FISHO MUST HAVE
Fishing is, no doubt, a great hobby to get into. It’s an excellent way to catch up with friends or to relax and quiet your mind after a tough work week. But before you head on out to your fishing spot, you need to have a well-stocked tackle box if you want to become a fisho worth his salt. Every fisho must have the essentials to get the most out of his fishing experience. Regardless, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced fisho, here are all the essentials that every fisho must have.
ROD, REEL AND LINE
This is pretty obvious. When you’re getting started, make sure to get just one or two combos that can handle a wide variety of fishing scenarios. Before you go for the high-end equipment, start with a decent quality medium-action spinning combo spooled with a 10-pound monofilament fishing line. It’s a great rig to start learning the ropes.
EXTRA LINE
It’s guaranteed that your line will break or get tangled up at one point or another, which is why it’s always good to have some extra line in your tackle box. This is a necessity, not a choice. Remember that the line you’ll bring depends on where you’re fishing and what kind of fish you’re fishing for. Do your research and always bring an extra line.
EXTRA HOOKS
Your tackle box shall contain a variety of hooks, so you’ll be ready for any fish you encounter. One thing to keep in mind is no matter what type of hook you’ll bring, have them in different sizes. Bulk tackle packs are a great way to fill out your tackle box with all the hooks you will need and save you money.
SINKERS
Sinkers are pieces of lead (although nowadays, some are made of other materials) that add weight to the light bait. They come in several forms. The split shot sinker is a small round sinker with an opening that can be crimped onto the line. A while bell or ‘dipsey’ sinker has a bell shape and an eye for the line to be tied to. Then, there are slip sinkers which can be attached to the line and adjusted up or down depending on the depth you want your bait to sink into.
BOBBERS
Bobbers, otherwise known as floaters, help you know when you’re getting a bite from a fish. The concept is simple. When a fish bites, the bobber sinks. When that happens, you know it’s time to reel your catch in.
The most common bobbers are the plastic, round, red and white ones. The round bobber is great because you can just clip it to the line to attach it. The only problem is, the round bobber will limit how deep you can cast a line. Slip bobbers allow you to slide it up and down the line so that you can adjust the depth of your bait.
TACKLE BOX
This is pretty self-explanatory. A tackle box is where you place all your lures, baits and other necessary gear. If you’re fishing on a bank, a smaller tackle box is ideal. A couple of small tackle boxes that fit into a backpack is an excellent choice for the shore angler. If you’re going offshore, make sure your tackle box fits your boat/kayak.
HARD BODY LURES
Speaking of lures to put in your tackle box, hard body lures are a must have as well. Crankbaits, jerkbaits and lipless cranks are all great fish catchers. You’ll want to have a couple of options to tie on when you’re looking for a hard bait bite. Just make sure not to overdo it. A popper or walking bait, a shallow depth crank or stick bait and a deep diver will have you covered for all depths.
SOFT PLASTICS
Another tackle box essential is soft plastics. Soft plastics are deadly for anything that swims and increasingly popular among Aussie anglers. Grab a few packs and try them out.
JIGS
To complete your tackle box terminal tackle, you’ll need a few jigs. You must have a couple of styles on hand, so you can adjust your presentation on any fishing condition you’re in. Ball-head live bait jigs and skirted bass jigs are two great options.
NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS
This one is a must on every fishing trip. You will need needle nose pliers for taking the hooks out of the fish you catch. Sometimes, you’ll need them to take the hooks out of you. Always take a little extra care when dealing with hooks. Needle nose pliers are a good way to start.
LINE CUTTER
You’ll get a snag that you can’t get out of, and your only option is to cut the line. This will happen to your fishing trip at least once. A pocket knife will get the job done. Some fishos use nail clippers while others will use specially made line cutters. It’s up to you.
FIRST AID KIT
Last but not the least, small injuries are likely to happen like getting a hook caught in your thumb or arm. Falling, tripping over and getting scraped are also common occurrences. That is why it’s good to have a first aid kit on hand at all times when you’re out fishing.
Getting ready to reel in your first fish? It will be quite an exhilarating experience that will continue to motivate you to become a better angler. But to be able to fish correctly, you’ll need to make sure you have all these vital fishing essentials. The list can feel intimidating at first, but once you get a better understanding of each item, you’ll see why it deserves a spot in your tackle box.
Is there anything you would like to add to this article? Share your thoughts through the comments section below.
