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EmailBefore you head out to the ol' fishing hole, make sure you've checked your fishing tackle box. Believe us, you want to be prepared with the right stuff once you're out on the water.
Of course, 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 for you (or a loved one) to get started.
Tackle-Box Checklist
- Extra fishing line
- Bobbers (or, floaters)
- Swivels, to keep fishing line from twisting
- Leaders
- Sinkers (or, weights)
- Different sizes of hooks (for different types of fish)
- Needle nose pliers, to help remove hooks out of fish (and maybe you!)
- Stringer, to hold all the fish you catch
- Sharp knife (such as a Swiss Aermy knife)
- Ruler/scale
- A small flashlight
- First-aid kit (with basics just in case a hook gets stuck in your thumb)
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
Reader Suggestions
- Unscented soap to wash your hands before handling bait. –suggested by Jerry Buerge
- Plastic worm and a couple of lures to attract fish. –suggested by Andy Fox
Are we missing anything? What else would you put in a tackle box? Please post below!
Read more on our Best Fishing Days page.
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Comments
This is a good list,
This is a good list, especially for your first tackle box. Might add: electrical tape for rod repair. Beyond the tackle box, bring some small trash bags, a towel, and wipes to clean hands later. Don't forget a hat. And your drink of choice and vittels!
sun glasses for glare of the
sun glasses for glare of the water
If you chew scrap tobacco
If you chew scrap tobacco spit some on the worm and let it dry a little it will send the fish on a biting frenzy...
I also keep a small container
I also keep a small container of sanitizer in case of cuts... and smoking a cigar will help keep the bugs away...
I always have a fish glove to
I always have a fish glove to handle fish with as well.
Having JUST caught my first
Having JUST caught my first catfish, I would highly recommend this. A nice deerskin hide glove, or any leather driver's glove would be good...at least your thumb will be thanking you!
An old folks tale is; if
An old folks tale is; if you're stuck by a cat fish (but not a serious sting) you can rub the injury on the white portion of the catfish's belly to reduce the pain.
dont forget tolit paper for
dont forget tolit paper for those long fishing trips an some beef jerky
Electrical tape to secure
Electrical tape to secure your piece fishing rod and duct tape for minor fixes.
I meant two piece. Sorry.
I meant two piece. Sorry.
And no fishing trip is
And no fishing trip is complete without paying homage to age old tradition of fishin' cats... Two Girls...One Cup
I would recommend a 16penny
I would recommend a 16penny nail for skinnin' cats, if you do it while you're camping. Also, a couple of cut t-shirt rags for handling them. They bring the bottom of the pond/lake with them when you pull them out and this makes handling them by the tail end a lot easier.
Easiest way to grab a big cat
Easiest way to grab a big cat is right thru the gill. Hook your index finger thru the fish's gill and hold on tight. My grandfather tought me this at a young age and I've never been stuck by the spiny fins using this method,...just don't reach in nervous ;-)
i take a can opener with me
i take a can opener with me and one of those multy-tool things
A cut skip jack makes amazing
A cut skip jack makes amazing cat fish bait.
I have found that the same
I have found that the same clear aloe vera gel I put in my hair, is good for a bug repellant on the skin when fishing. Clear, unscented kind.
don't forget your fishing
don't forget your fishing pole like i did i drove 20 miles almost to the lake with my boat and rememberd my fishing pole
And dont forget a net to help
And dont forget a net to help land that prize fish.
Definitely need a net. There
Definitely need a net. There have been a few times when I finish wrestlin a monster fish (largemouth bass usually) just to have it fall off the hook when I grab the line.
That happened to me twice.
That happened to me twice. Last week, a big Bass. And once last year, an even larger bass. Oh the hurt from that, lol. Two days ago I got one at 5 1/2 lbs. I decided not to pull her out by the line. I reached down in the water and grabbed her by the gills. So if you don't have a net and you got a big one. Try to reach down in the water and grab them by the gills (not the mouth - unless it's hooked else where).
Don't forget the crappie jigs
Don't forget the crappie jigs black and chartreuse red chartreuse, white chartreuse. These colors will catch
salb crappie
Sardines in soy oil work
Sardines in soy oil work wonders either in summer or ice fishing. Marinate your shrimp bait in the sardines over night. Brookies love it, as do Rainbows, and no self respecting catfish can swim away from a sardine smalling bait. Try it, they'll like it, and if they don't, you can eat the sardines
It never hurts to have a few
It never hurts to have a few night-crawlers along, just go outside after dark when the dew hits the grass. Take a flashlight and you can catch enough for a good day of fishing, 'cause everything eats night-crawlers....kind of like crack for fish...
Dont forget 20 dollars, if
Dont forget 20 dollars, if you get skunked you go to the local fish store, buy a lunker. When you get home note how well you cleaned that fish
Also dont forget a glove if
Also dont forget a glove if you are one of the more squeemish or scared of touching a big greasy scaly fish!
Take an extra reel--if the
Take an extra reel--if the fish are biting and you get your line snarled, it is quicker and easier to switch reels than the headache of trying to untangle your line.
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