Fishing tackle is the hardware used to catch fish, such as rods, reels, lines, bobbers, sinkers, lures, etc. Bait refers to anything that can be hooked and used to entice a fish into biting.

Fishing sinkers are lead weights designed to keep bait near or on the bottom. Their sizes range from 1/4 ounce split shot sinkers up to 5-pound cannonball sinkers.

Rod

Rods are one of the primary tools anglers use to fish with bait or artificial lures, coming in various styles, sizes and actions depending on which fish species or techniques you intend on targeting.

Graphite rods have become more and more popular over time, while fiberglass continues to play an integral part in many applications. Some rods combine both materials for maximum versatility.

Action describes how and where a rod bends when loaded. For instance, fast action rods work best when used with heavy hook jigs that need to be driven home quickly while moderate-load rods work better for manipulating treble hook baits without forcing their hookset.

Reel

Reels are used to hold fishing line and can be operated by turning their handles. Reels come in various sizes and gear ratios; higher gear ratios enable faster bait retrieval without racing the handle or straining your wrists.

Baitcasting reels require considerable skill to operate properly and are often susceptible to backlash – where braided line slips off too fast from its spool causing it to come uncoil too rapidly, creating an unpleasant birds nest of braided thread. Modern baitcasting reels include features that help minimize or eliminate backlash while being rated according to how much line they can hold which should be printed either directly on or within its package.

Line

Modern fishing line is composed of many materials that each provide advantages for specific conditions or situations. To maximize success when fishing under these circumstances, it’s wise to stock your tackle box with various sizes, weight tests and colors of line that match up to what’s being asked of it.

Line options range from traditional monofilament for maximum versatility, to virtually invisible fluorocarbon lines with superb abrasion resistance. Selecting the ideal line for your conditions shouldn’t require an engineering degree or advanced knowledge of physics – simply use your intuition!

Leaders attached to your mainline help prevent fish from biting through or cutting the line, often made of wire woven from metal alloys such as titanium or stainless steel.

Bobbers

Bobbers are often undervalued pieces of fishing equipment. Many fishermen view bobbers simply as plastic floats that let them know when fish have taken their bait, when in reality they provide much more valuable insight than that.

Traditional bobbers are clipped to a line at a set distance above bait or lure; slip bobbers do not attach directly to it but instead use an attached part called a stop bead to restrict movement. Slip bobbers come in various shapes that impart different actions when attached directly to bait or lure, or can help anglers tailor their rig for specific conditions. Bobbers also fall under terminal tackle – anything tied onto your line other than hook and bait – making them essential additions.

Sinkers

Sinkers add weight to fishing lines and baits in order to reach bottom or any set depth more quickly. Sinkers come in various sizes and shapes – including small split shot weights that clamp onto hooks before being opened up for reuse – making them handy tools when current conditions or water depths shift suddenly.

Due to environmental regulations in certain states, many anglers now opt for brass and tungsten sinkers as non-toxic alternatives that provide similar physical designs but are much easier to use and tend not to snag. These non-toxic alternatives have similar weight distribution as lead sinkers but cost much less, are easier to handle, and don’t cause as many snags during use.

Lure

An artificial lure, also called an attractant, is used to catch fish artificially. Lures come in all shapes and sizes, from simple plastic worms to metal spoons to wooden jigs; some lures even smell or make noise like actual baitfish!

A rig is an established terminal tackle setup combining one or more hooked lures with line sections, weights, bobbers, swivels and hooks to enable fishing at various depths from neighborhood ponds to trolling offshore. These rigs can be found all around us: in backyard ponds to trolling offshore.

Weighted lures that can be fished using either a slow, steady retrieve or faster, erratic motion are commonly used to fish for species such as trout and wahoo.