Fishing is gadget-oriented! If you don’t believe this, walk through a tackle store or sporting goods department and check out the products available. Beyond rods, reels, line and lures, there is a broad array of accessories designed to make fishing more efficient and convenient. But as the old saying goes, some are designed to catch fish, while others are designed to catch fishermen. Fishing gadgets will truly range from the practical to the outlandish!
Beyond a pair of basic rod/reel outfits and bait or lures, beginners need a small collection of other items to participate in this sport. Fortunately, this “must-have” list is small and relatively inexpensive—probably no more than $50 total.
Then there are many other accessories that are handy, but not essential. If you’d like to own them and can afford them, fine. They will likely add extra pleasure to your fishing.
And finally, there are the gimmicks that should be avoided. These are made and marketed to prey on beginners’ lack of experience. These products usually come with unrealistic promises of success. Remember, nothing in fishing is guaranteed. If a product sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Save your money, and depend on using basic knowledge and practical products to catch fish.
Following are two lists. The first includes accessories that you should definitely purchase when getting into fishing. These are items that you will take and use on each outing.
The second list includes fishing accessories that are non-essential but which are practical and handy to have. These items can be purchased as your needs dictate and your finances allow.
A fisherman’s tool is a must-have for anglers. Such a tool will be used frequently to tune lures, pry hooks from fish, change hooks on a lure, and handle other chores. Some tools include a hook sharpener, knife blade, screwdriver and other useful accessories.
Besides basic tackle, anglers need a small collection of accessories to participate in this sport. On the list of necessities are a tackle box, line clippers, needlenose pliers, polarized sunglasses and sunscreen. Non-essential-but-handy extras include a fishing vest, and for stream anglers, wading shoes.
TACKLE BOX/BAG—Every fisherman must have a tackle box or bag for toting tackle and gear. In essence, this is like a portable locker. It will carry such necessities as bait/lures, extra line, terminal tack le (hooks, sinkers, floats, swivels, etc.), and other small items.
I’ve actually fished with anglers who carried their tackle in small duffle bags, or even in paper bags. What a mess, especially when the paper bags got wet! To find something, these fishermen would have to stir around looking for it. This is why a hard plastic tackle box or soft-sided tackle packer is a good investment. They have compartments and storage boxes to keep tackle organized and accessible for quick location and use.
I recommend a medium-sized box (not one that’s too large)! Select a box or packer that allows you to arrange compartments to suit your specific needs. Also, make sure your tackle box has a deep, roomy area to hold spare line, pliers, sunscreen and other extras.
As your involvement in fishing grows, you can continue adding tackle and lure boxes and arranging them for specific needs and/or species. My personal tackle packer is a soft-sided (cloth) system with individual plastic boxes, and I mix and match according to what type fishing I plan to do. I have several boxes of bass lures and tackle, one box with small jigs for pan-fish, another box of hooks, sinkers and floats, another box with stream fishing lures, another with catfish paraphernalia, etc. Then, when I’m going fishing, I choose the tackle box that I need for that day.
A sharp, thin-bladed fillet knife is useful when the time comes for cleaning and processing your catch.
FISHERMAN’S TOOL—This is a fancy name for needle-nose pliers. Some fisherman’s tools also have a hook sharpener, line/wire cutter and other built-in features. The most frequent use of a fisherman’s tool is prying hooks from fish, especially those that are embedded in the gullet. The needle-noses can reach deep into a fish’s mouth and remove a hook safely and with minimal damage. Also, a fisherman’s tool is handy for tuning lures, adding or removing a hook from a split ring and other tasks. The best fisherman’s tools come with a handy belt holder.
LINE CLIPPERS—This is an angler’s term for fingernail clippers that are used for cutting line. Buy line clippers with a lanyard for hanging the clippers around your neck. This keeps the clippers convenient for quick, easy use when changing lures, retying a frayed knot, etc.
FISHING CAP—Fishermen need a good cap to block the sun off their face and shade their eyes. Shading helps anglers see underwater to spot rocks, logs and fish. For hot weather, wear a mesh cap that’s a light color—white or tan. In cold weather, you’ll need something warmer. Also, for stream or pond fishing, a camo cap is a good choice.
POLARIZED SUNGLASSES—Sunglasses cut down on glare off the water, and polarized sun glasses actually allow you to see beneath the surface. They make it even easier to spot underwater objects that fish hang around, or to see fish themselves. Also, sun glasses protect eyes from flying objects, especially hooks. Keep sunglasses attached by a lanyard around your neck to keep from losing them when leaning over the water.
FISHERMAN’S TOWEL—This is a convenience item, but it’s very nice to have when handling fish or messy live bait.
Every angler needs a tackle box or some type of storage system to tote his lures and accessories and to keep them organized.
A rainsuit isn’t on the “must-have” list, but it’s a very handy accessory for warding off rain and spray. Even wearing a rainsuit that’s much too big is better than not having one when the sky opens up.
Having a towel keeps your pant legs from getting dirty. Consider purchasing a towel with a belt clip to keep it handy at all times.
SUNSCREEN—Having and using sunscreen is absolutely essential for fishermen. People who are in the sun a lot are at risk from skin cancer, which can be deadly. Before going fishing, apply sunscreen to all exposed skin (arms, hands, face, neck, ears, etc.) Use sunscreen that’s at least 15 SPF, and higher is better.
FISH STRINGER—If you will be fishing from the bank or from a boat that doesn’t have a live well, you will need a fish stringer to keep your catch. Stringers come in two types: rope stringer, and chain stringer. A rope stringer has a metal point on the end. The point is guided through a fish’s gill plate and out the mouth, and individual fish slide down the cord on top of each other. A chain stringer has individual safety-pin snaps for holding fish. A chain stringer is better for keeping fish alive. Neither type stringer is very expensive.
PFD (PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE)—Not many anglers wear a PFD when fishing off a bank, pier or bridge, but it’s still a good idea, especially if you’re not a strong swimmer. Also, a Coast Guard-certified PFD is required by law when fishing from a boat. (Always wear your life preserver when the boat is running. You don’t have to wear it when the boat is not in operation, but it must always be in your pos session.) One comfortable, convenient style PFD is the foam vest. Also, a new inflatable CO2 type vest is extremely handy. It’s so compact, you forget you have it on. But if you need it, you simply pull the lanyard, and the vest inflates instantly.
RAINSUIT—A rainsuit is obviously good for keeping you dry in a rainstorm. It’s also good for shielding against spray when riding in a boat. The best rainsuits are made from waterproof, breathable fabric like Gore-Tex, but these are expensive. For starters, consider an inexpensive polyvinyl suit that comes in a small carry pouch.
FISHING VEST/TACKLE BELT—A vest or tackle belt is extremely handy for fishing streams or ponds where you will walk a lot. You wear your tackle instead of carrying it! You can store lures, tackle and accessories in pockets or compartments. Keep your vest or belt stocked, and you’ll have everything ready when it’s time to go fishing.
Fishermen using live bait need some way to keep their bait fresh and handy. A minnow bucket, cricket cage or worm box works for most, but anglers can go fancier, like this aerated cooler for holding goldfish for catfishing.
TOTE BAG—A tote or duffle bag is handy for carrying fishing accessories that won’t fit into a tackle box. Any small bag with carry straps will do. By keeping all these accessories packed in one bag, you’re not as likely to forget something.
This fisherman’s tool includes needle-nose pliers, line cutters, knife blade, and multiple accessories ranging from bottle openers to screwdrivers.
LIVE BAIT CONTAINER—If you fish with live bait, you’ll need a minnow bucket, worm box, cricket cage or some other container to keep your bait alive and healthy.
CAMERA—If you practice catch-and-release, a camera is handy for photographing trophy fish before you let them go. This way you can prove your big fish stories. A digital camera is best, since you can download images and email them to friends.
REEL REPAIR KIT—A small reel repair kit can be a lifesaver for in-the-field repairs or adjustments. I carry a kit that includes small screwdrivers (fathead and Phillips), an adjustable wrench, and a container of reel oil. I use my kit several times a year to work on reels and to handle other small maintenance chores.
LURE RETRIEVER—If you fish from a boat, a lure retriever can save a lot of money in lost lures. If you hang your lure on an underwater object, you can position the boat directly over the lure and use a retriever to free it. Lure retrievers come in two types: a heavy weight on a string, and a collapsible pole. The pole works better, but it’s bulkier and more costly. A weight/string can be kept in a tackle box or tote bag. With either type, it only takes a few lures saved to recover the cost of the retriever.
Every year I see advertisements for fishing products that sound too good to be true. They make outlandish claims of success. “Buy this product, and load the boat. Fish can’t resist it!”
Keep your money in your pocket. As I said earlier, if a fishing lure or accessory sounds too good, it probably is. The secret to successful fishing is not buying and trying every new gimmick that hits the market. Instead, the secret to successful fishing is understanding fish habits and using a logical strategy to catch them.
Every angler needs a good fishing hat or cap. Many veterans prefer a hat that shades the ears and back of the neck.
This isn’t to say that all new fishing products are hoaxes; far from it! Many new products have legitimate value in terms of making fishing easier and more successful. (When the depthfinder first appeared, many anglers were doubtful about this “electronic wonder,” but it changed fishing forever.)
Still, don’t buy new gadgets on impulse and expect them to produce instant results. If a new product is legitimate, it’ll be around for a long time. Wait until the jury—more experienced anglers—returns a verdict. Watch for product reviews in fishing magazines and on TV shows. In some cases you can buy knowledge (via books, videos, magazines), but you can’t buy experience. It takes both these things to become a successful fisherman.
