A fully equipped tackle box comes in handy when out in the wilds.
Preparing for Your Next Fishing Trip
Before 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
- Lures or flies
- 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 Army knife)
- Ruler/scale
- A small flashlight
- First-aid kit (with basics just in case a hook gets stuck in your thumb)
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
Read Next
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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Fish oil capsules and whistle
I keep a rod tip repair kit and butane lighter in my tackle bag. The lighter is to melt the rod tip glue. I've used it many times!
As far as additional fishing box items, I like a few rod tips and stick glue repair kit, lighter, pencil and small sticky notes also a spare copy of fishing license.
I like to use a grabber tool for the fish's mouth, it really helps with stuck hooks. Also nail clippers for cutting line. Sun block, bug spray, net for head, especially during black fly season in Maine! Reading glasses, tough to see those knots at my age. Towel or rag. Matches, lighter. Lip balm.
In the Pacific N.W. it is believed that spraying WD-40 on your herring will generate more bites when salmon fishing. Sort of the photo negative of the unscented soap comment. I haven tried either.
Wd-40 also helps with keeping wasp and Hornets, etc. Away. You spray it making a perimeter of where you are going to be.
It's said to be made from fish oils.
Another thing to add to your tackle box is a lighter or matches!
Most of these are a no brainer if you have ever fished in your life. For people new to fishing this is a good list. My Dad, God rest his soul, made sure I had everything I needed in mine. I've been fishing most of my life and enjoy it. I don't use unscented soap because the river/creek water cleans it just fine.
I take two boxes. To keep hooks close to hand, I use a small sheet of foam that comes in shipping boxes. Cut to size needed and put hooks by size on it. Slides into the soft side tackle box without problem. A small wire cutter for removing things, placed on a lanyard tied to the handle of a box. light weight needle nose pliers extra long to get into the deepest small mouths like turtles. I got mine in the crafts area. Minnow bucket with bubbler/aerator for small silvers and always a box of worms. Clamp on sinkers. A lot of items you can in the boxes sold at walmart's. I buy the boxes on sale and use them to hold my tackle like large swivels, bobbers, sinkers,clampers, tools so I can take it out and see at a glance what I need. What bait is up to the fisherman. I like live, my g'son likes plastic. We try to get plastic that is like the bait around where we fish. Of course after every trip I clean everything up and replace things used, especially after having the grandkids along..lol
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