Tackle Box Essentials

If you’re just getting into fishing, it can be a little confusing as to what you should have in your tackle box. You need some fishing lures and tackle, but what else?

Ultimate Checklist of Tackle Box Essentials (Freshwater and Saltwater)

1. Extra Fishing Line

Why would you need more fishing lines? There are several reasons!

One – You hook into the fish of a lifetime and you can’t stop it from spooling almost all of your line, only to break it off on a dock piling, bridge, or some other type of underwater structure.

You not only lost your fish but now you don’t have any more line on your reel.

Two – Have you ever heard of a bird’s nest? If not, you’ll soon find out! It’s when you cast your fishing reel and the line gets tangled all up and looks like a bird could be nesting in it.

Unless you are a skilled fisherman, chances are you’re going to need to cut and replace the line.

Three – You have a bad fishing line and never even knew it.

Even if you recently put a brand new fishing line on your reel, at some point between then and you going fishing, it could have gotten a small nick in it, causing it to snap either while casting it or fighting a fish.

There are several ways that fishing lines can become compromised and you won’t have a clue until it’s too late.

2. Backup Rod and Reel

Just like with the fishing line, several things could cause you to need another fishing reel so that you don’t have to cut your trip short and pack up and go home.

You never know when a fish might pull your rod and reel into the water, or snap your rod like a twig while you’re fighting it.

The point is, it never hurts to have an extra rod and reel on hand just in case.

3. Fishing Pliers

A good quality set of fishing pliers is a must for every angler of every skill level!

If you plan on using a braided fishing line, I would make sure that your pliers have a cutter made for cutting braid.

4. Fishing Regulations Ruler

With so many rules and regulations when it comes to which fish you can and can’t keep, it’s a good idea to keep a fishing regulations ruler for your location in your tackle box at all times.

The last thing that you want to do is get caught by the authorities with too small/big of a fish, too many fish, or a fish that you are not supposed to keep.

Not only can you get ticketed, but they could also confiscate all of your fishing gear.

5. Pocket Knife

Every tackle box should have a small pocket knife!

No need to get super fancy here! This knife is meant to stay in your tackle box and not in your pocket.

6. Fish Stringer

If you like to keep your catch, then it’s a good idea to keep a fish stringer in your tackle box.

You simply slide the stringer through the fish’s gills as you catch them and secure one end of the line to something on land and the fish go into the water, keeping them alive and fresh until you are ready to call it a day.

7. Scissors

They can come in handy for several things including cutting baits, fishing lures, fishing line, and other things.

8. Hooks and Sinkers

Having an assortment of hooks and sinkers is a must for any tackle box!

Once you have an idea of the type of fishing that you’ll primarily be doing, then go out and buy a few different sizes and weights of hooks and sinkers to start with.

9. Assortment of Lures

No tackle box would be complete without a good selection of fishing lures!

Soft Baits – There are many different types of soft plastic baits on the market. A few that you may have heard of include plastic worms, grubs, lizards, jerk baits, paddle tails, and so on.

If freshwater fishing is your thing, you need to have a couple of different colors of plastic worms.

Hard Baits – Hard baits include topwater plugs, rattletraps, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits.

Gold Spoon – One lure that is often overlooked by anglers of all skill levels is a golden spoon. While technically a hard bait, these shiny lures will catch almost any type of fish.

10. Bug Spray and Sunscreen

There is nothing worse than arriving at your favorite fishing spot only to be eaten alive by mosquitos, or no-see-ums. It’s even worse if the fish are biting!

One way to ensure that you are protected is to buy a small travel-size bottle of insect repellant and keep it in your tackle box.

Sunscreen is another item to keep in my tackle box.

Even if you apply sunscreen before you leave the house, it’s going to be less effective as the day goes on.

The last thing that you want is a bad sunburn to start the work week off with!

11. Poncho

You never know when you might need it but it’s sure nice to know it’s there for whenever you do.

12. Headlamp

If you like to get out on the water during the pre-dawn hours or stay fishing long after the sun goes down, then you need a headlamp.

They free your hands, allowing you to do what you need with complete use of your hands.

13. Cheap Polarized Sunglasses

14. First Aid Kit

When you’re dealing with pointed hooks, knives, and fish fins that poke all day long, accidents are bound to happen.

It’s always a good idea to keep a small first-aid kit in your tackle box!

Oh, and don’t forget some type of headache/pain medication.

These few items should be enough for the minor accidents that you might encounter.

15. Super Glue

Keep a tube of superglue handy in your tackle box! Not only can it be used to temporarily repair all sorts of things, including fishing rods and reels, lures, knives, sunglasses, and so on, but it can also be used to seal a bad cut in a pinch.

16. Paracord

This highly versatile string can be used for several different things, including tying down fishing gear, a stringer, a tourniquet, etc.

Keep about a 5 ft piece of paracord in my tackle box sealed in a Ziploc sandwich bag.

17. Extra Contact Lenses

If you do wear contact lenses, then you could lose a contact lens while out fishing.

18. Lens Cleaning Wipes

If you wear glasses, whether it be prescription or sunglasses when fishing, you need to pack a few lens cleaning wipes in your tackle box.

19. Face Mask

You won’t need one all of the time, but when you do, you’ll sure be glad that you packed an extra one in your tackle box.

After spending several hours in the hot sun, sunscreen dramatically loses its sun protective qualities, which can leave you exposed to the harmful rays of the sun.

20. Bobbers

This little float will bob up and down when you are getting a bite, then fully submerge when the fish has it in its mouth, swimming off with your bait.

Bobbers come in all shapes and sizes.

21. Whistle

Carry a whistle in case something happens and you might need to either attract someone or scare something off.