Based on personal experience, the first two things to go into the tackle box will be sun screen and insect repellent. Trust me, no matter how good they are biting, you do not want to be stuck getting a sun burn or carried away by mosquitoes or gnats!
So what about the tackle box itself? These come in many different shapes and sizes, ranging from hard plastic to fabric with plastic inserts. Really, it all depends on personal preference. You can grab a small inexpensive one in case you are on a budget and upgrade later. Once you are hooked on fishing, you will make that upgrade!
Accessories
Accessories that should go into the box are needle-nosed pliers, a good pair of scissors, a braid line snipper, and a good knife (pocket knife preferably). You will be glad you have pliers when trying to get a hook out of a small fish's mouth; it can be almost impossible when just using your fingers! Pliers are also needed to secure sinkers to your line. If you plan on fishing with just monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line, a good pair of scissors is fine. If you are planning on using braided line at all, you must get the braid line cutter - that stuff is incredibly hard to cut. A knife is optional, especially if you have the other tools, but a great pocket knife is always handy.
Terminal tackle
Terminal tackle refers to what will be at the end of your line (the terminus). This includes hooks, weights, swivels, etc. If you want to catch pan-fish, you will need a pack of hooks, a pack of sinkers, and bobbers. Additionally, when targeting crappie, add in some jigheads. You can catch bluegill and red ear sunfish on jigs, but you will have better luck with live bait. See a live bait breakdown here.
Lures
While they are at the end of your line, they are not considered terminal tackle. Typically, lures are associated mostly with bass fishing. Lures include soft plastics, spinner baits and spoons, hard baits such as crank baits, and top water lures.
Comments