Guide to Your Tackle Box and Accessories

If you are interested in taking up fishing then you will find a vast range of equipment available both in stories and online. Knowing what you actually need to buy for the type of fishing you want to do, and what you can do without at this stage, can be difficult unless you seek some advice. This guide will give you a brief overview of the basic types of kit and accessories that are on offer.

The most obvious starting points are the rod and the reel. If you are a complete beginner, or you are buying equipment for a child, then you should stick to the most basic versions.

You should also get some tackle. The essentials you will need are some hooks, bobbles and sinkers. You will also need some line. A pair of needle nose pliers will come in handy, and you may want to buy a net, although it is not essential to buy one at this stage. If you do decide to get a net then don’t try to save money or space by getting one that’s too small. You can easily lose a large fish by trying to fit it into a little net. Once you are more experienced you can buy differently sized nets to use when you are fishing for different types of fish.

There are many choices of specially designed clothes for fishing. You will find that a broad brimmed hat and a pair of sunglasses will be useful when you are outside fishing for a long time, as they will protect you from the sun. In rainy weather you will need a waterproof coat or jacket in order to stay comfortable, or you can get a special waterproof suit to keep you dry. A pair of gloves will come in very useful, while having a vest with many different pockets can be worthwhile. A pair of waders will also be a good investment. You can get thigh or chest high versions.

There are many other items that you may want to get for yourself, but you won’t need to buy them all straight away. Some scissors and forceps can be useful. A flashlight is a good idea as you will likely be out early in the morning or late in the evening. Some wading shoes and a fishing belt may also be convenient. You may find that a gaff will come in useful, and a pocket thermometer is likely to be a good buy. A high quality fisherman’s knife and a sharpener can be a good buy, while you will certainly need a good tackle bag or box to keep everything well organized.

You may decide to buy an electronic device which will alert you to any bites on your line. You thread the line through the alarm and it will give you a signal to catch your attention when there is a fish at the other end. This is not a necessary investment though, so don’t spend too much on it before you’ve even tried fishing without one.

If you will often be fishing from a boat then a life vest will be worth spending some money on.