Tackle Box Essentials For Fishing Success
We all know the feeling of getting out on the water, finding the perfect fishing spot, and settling in only to realize we forgot something. Skip the hassle of going back to your car or home to grab what you missed by packing your tackle box with all the essentials! That way you can stay on the water as long as you want, or as long as it takes to catch dinner.
Boat Masters Marine is your source for all things fishing, so we’ve made this list of items you might want to include in your tackle box next time you go angling.
For more tips, or to see what we’ve got on sale, stop by our store in either Akron or Lake Milton, Ohio!
A Variety Of Lures
Lures are lures—you know that they’re a vital part of enticing a fish to bite. You also know that different lures will attract different types of fish. We recommend keeping a variety of options in your tackle box, including minnow imitations, top-water lures, spinners, and spoons, just in case your chosen spot has different fish than you initially expect. You likely have your preferences, but it never hurts to experiment with new lures in new fishing environments just to be safe.
Bobbers
Bobbers, also known as floaters, are small objects that rest on the surface of the water to indicate when something is pulling at your line. Once it sinks below the surface, it’s time to reel in whatever’s grabbed on. Most folks think of the round, red-and-white design when they think of bobbers, but these limit just how deep your line can sink, which can affect your fishing. For a bit of flexibility, try a slip bobber, which slips up and down the line a bit.
If you don’t have either of these options and you’re short on time or resources, a piece of cork with a stick in it will work just fine!
Sinkers
While the bobber helps you see if your line is getting pulled, the sinker ensures your hooks and lures will stay under the surface, since most are too light to do so on their own. These are dense and sometimes bulky items, but they can also be pretty easy to lose, so try to make sure you have extras on hand.
Sinkers nowadays are made from steel, bismuth, tungsten, and brass, but they used to exclusively be made from lead, given the metal’s density. Unfortunately, lead can poison the water and your catch. These are now banned in many places around the country, so be sure to check local law if this is your only option.
Needle-Nose Pliers
This is a small tool that won’t take up much space, but it’s incredibly useful. These precise and powerful pliers can be used to get the hook out of any fish you’ve caught. They’re also good for bending wires or removing other items that cause inconvenience. They have an awful lot of uses and it’s a small investment, so grab a pair before your next excursion!
Extra Line
If you’re an experienced angler, it’s vitally important to make sure you’ve got extra fishing line stashed away. Your line can get tangled or can break while you’re fishing, and if you don’t have extra, your fishing trip will get cut pretty short as well. If you’re fishing in rougher waters, we recommend extra-heavy duty line, but the typical thin and clear line is still best in calm inland waters.
Hooks
The classic fish hook is handy, but it doesn’t work perfectly on all fish in all situations. Keep a selection of extras in your tackle box like J-hooks and french hooks in a variety of sizes. This is extra useful in new fishing spots, keeping you prepared for any size and type of fish you might come across!
First Aid Kit
As calm as fishing can be, it’s still an outing into nature, which can be unpredictable. Prepare yourself by bringing a first aid kit. Keep it fully stocked and keep it in your tackle box to ensure you’re ready for whatever nature throws at you. Include bandages of several sizes, gauze, waterproof medical tape, tweezers, ointments, antiseptic, sunscreen, bug spray, nail clippers, petroleum jelly, painkillers, antacids, and anything else that sounds useful!
Line Cutter
Sometimes your fishing line ends up tangled in unseen obstacles of branches, and even the most experienced angler can’t untangle every knot. You’ll have no choice but to cut it. A sharp blade will do the trick, or the nail clippers in your first aid kit, but a specialized or multi-tool is always a good addition to your gear.
We hope you found these tips useful! If you want more tips or to check out fishing boats for sale, stop by Boat Masters Marine! We proudly serve Youngstown and Cleveland, Ohio.