ACCESSORIES FOR FISHING
Fishing is gadget-oriented! If you don’t believe this, walk through a tackle store or sporting goods department and check out the products. 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-and-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.
There also 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 enjoyment to your fishing.
And there also 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.
A fisherman’s tool is a must-have for anglers. Such a tool will be used frequently to tune lures, pry hook from fish, change hooks on a lure, and handle other chores. Some tools include a hook sharpener, knife blade, screwdriver, and other useful accessories.
Following are two lists. The first includes accessories that you definitely should purchase because you’ll need them. 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.
MUST-HAVE FISHING ACCESSORIES
TACKLE BOX/BAG/BACKPACK
Every fisherman must have a tackle box or bag/backpack for toting tackle and gear. In essence, this is like a portable locker. It will carry such necessities as bait and lures, extra line, terminal tackle (hooks, sinkers, floats, swivels, etc.), and other small items.
Besides basic tackle, anglers need a small collection of accessories. The list of necessities should include a tackle box, line clippers, needle-nose pliers, polarized sunglasses, and sunscreen. Non-essential but handy extras include a fishing vest, and for stream anglers, wading shoes.
Every angler needs a tackle box or some type of storage system to tote his lures and accessories and to keep them organized.
I’ve actually fished with anglers who carried their tackle in small duffel 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 of various sizes 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. A soft-sided (cloth) tackle storage system with interchangeable plastic boxes is best for this. That way you can mix and match according to the type of fishing you plan to do on a particular day. For instance, you can carry several boxes of bass lures and tackle, one box with small jigs for panfish, another box of hooks, sinkers, and floats, another box with stream-fishing lures, another with catfish tackle, etc. Next week, you might swap out the boxes of bass lures and tackle for walleye gear. Take what you need, and leave behind what you don’t need.
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 fisherman’s tool is useful for prying hooks from fish, especially those that are embedded in their gullets. The needle-nose pliers 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 (see section on artificial lures), adding or removing a hook from a split ring, and other tasks. The best fisherman’s tools come with a handy belt holder.
A sharp, thin-bladed fillet knife is useful when the time comes for cleaning and processing your catch.
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 handy for quick, easy use when changing lures, or retying a frayed line.
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 sunglasses 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, sunglasses protect eyes from flying objects, especially hooks. Keep sunglasses attached by a lanyard around your neck so you won’t lose them when leaning over the water. There are a number of lens colors that are ideal for fishing, including gray or green in sunny conditions, or amber for low-light times.
FISHERMAN’S TOWEL
This is a convenience item, but it’s very nice to have when handling fish or messy bait. 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 (Sun Protection Factor), and higher is better.
SUN-PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Clothes that protect the hands, arms, neck, and face from the harmful effects of the sun are another option for anglers who don’t like to wear sunscreen. These might include long-sleeved shirts, face masks, hoods, fingerless gloves, and broad-brimmed sun hats. A number of companies offer such clothing, and most fishing tackle stores and departments carry them. If you’re going to fish in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, however, apply sunscreen generously.
FISH STRINGER
If you’ll be fishing from the bank or from a boat that doesn’t have a live well, you’ll 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 and a metal ring on the other. The point is punched through the thin membrane of the first fish’s lower mouth, and passed through the ring. The line is then pulled through the ring until it’s snug. More fish are added in similar fashion, and slide down the cord on top of each other. A wire chain stringer has individual safety-pin snaps for holding fish. A chain stringer is better for keeping fish alive and perhaps releasing them later. Neither type of stringer is very expensive.
NONESSENTIAL, BUT RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES
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’s advisable. At the very least, it must always be readily available.) One comfortable, convenient style PFD is the foam vest. Also, the new inflatable CO2-type vests are extremely handy and you can wear one all day long without it interfering with your fishing. It’s so compact, you’ll forget you have it on. But if you need it, you simply tug on 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 such as Gore-Tex, but these are expensive. For starters, consider an inexpensive polyvinyl suit that comes in a small carry pouch. Store it in your tackle bag until you need it.
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.
A rainsuit isn’t on the must-have list, but it’s a handy accessory for warding off rain and spray. Even wearing a rainsuit that’s much too big is better than not having any when the sky opens up.
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, or a backpack, will do. By keeping all these accessories packed in one place, you’re not as likely to forget something.
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 digital camera or smartphone with camera is handy for photographing trophy fish before you let them go. This way you can prove your big fish stories. Email or text images to friends.
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.
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 (flathead 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 and 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.
This fisherman’s tool includes needle-nose pliers, line cutters, knife blade, and multiple accessories ranging from bottle openers to screwdrivers.
IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD, IT PROBABLY IS . . .
Every year I see advertisements for fishing products that seem to be nothing short of miraculous. The ads 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 noted earlier, if a fishing lure or accessory sounds too good to be true, 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.
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, on YouTube, or 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.
Every angler needs a good fishing hat or cap. Many veterans prefer a hat that shades the ears and back of the neck. Wear sun-protective clothing for head, neck, arms, and torso. Otherwise, use plenty of sunscreen for exposed areas.
