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鈥 fishing hole, make sure you鈥檝e checked your fishing tackle box. Believe us, you want to be prepared with the right stuff once you鈥檙e 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 the 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
Reader Suggestions
- Unscented soap to wash your hands before handling bait. 鈥搒uggested by Jerry Buerge
- Plastic worms and a couple of lures to attract fish. 鈥搒uggested by Andy Fox
- Magnifying glasses for aging eyes. 鈥搒uggested by Will Dwyer
- 鈥淚 like to keep a few glow sticks in my tackle box. One large one is for marking your spot or your vehicle, and some small ones are for your rod, bait box, or ice chest. I think it helps to avoid using flashlights.鈥 鈥搒uggested by Mike Tyler
Are we missing anything? What else would you put in a tackle box? Please post below!
Read Next
Read more on our Best Fishing Days page.
Catherine Boeckmann
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Small nail clippers to cut fishing line. Put clippers on a bright keychain so when you set them down you dont loose them.
Superglue and alcohol pads. Never know when you might get a cut or stabbed by a fish's fin.
Band Aids just in case you do hook yourself! Also, A good tick repellent.
I always have a fingernail clipper in my tackle box. It cuts fishing line like butter and is great for trimming excess line from knots. I got this tip from my grandfather.
I really only fish for trout. I go lake fishing with powerbait type bait. I take a bottle of fish attractant. You can use #18 or #16 treble hooks for powerbait, 2-3 LB test. Take the spray cap off the attractant bottle and throw the suction straw attached to it away. Add some Anise extract to the sauce for super Hondo sauce. Dunk the hook and bait in bottle. It must fit thru the small bottle opening or it's too much bait. You can make up 4ft+ long extra leaders, w/ bait on hook and have them soaking in bottle as you utilize a small swivel to exchange leaders. Above swivel 6 lb test is OK with a large completely filled water bobber, no air bubbles- so it sinks! (only heavy out of water). Cast 100 yards and catch a monster, Have drag off or bail open after cast / before bite. After fishing oil your needle nose plier!
I always leave the house with a few small packaged snacks and a water bottle in my back pocket. Don't forget your cell phone in case of emergency!
A cooler full of MILLER just in case I forgot to put something
in my tackle box and/or the fish aren't biting.
Always take a compass....
We always keep seeing thread &/or old cut up pieces of pants hose in our tackle box. We use it for to keep liver & other loose baits like that in the hook better.
I suggest a camera and scale. I was once forced to release a fish that was a personal record of mine and did not have my own scale nor a camera so would of had no proof or verification had someone volunteered to take 1 photo before it was released. Only picture I have but am thankful to have it. Will always wonder what that big fella weighed.
