Tackle Box vs Tackle Bag vs Fishing Backpack
How you fish decides how you should carry tackle. Here is how boxes, bags, backpacks and slings compare for bank, boat and kayak fishing.
Fishing Gear
Fishing gear works best as a matched setup: the rod, reel and line should suit your technique, the water you fish and the species you are after. This section covers rods, reels, line, lures and baits, hooks and terminal tackle, tackle storage, fishing tools, fish finders and apparel and protection. Our guides help beginners and experienced anglers compare gear using manufacturer specifications. Fishing licenses, seasons and size limits are set by state and local agencies, so always check the current regulations where you fish. Start with our overview guides: Bass Fishing Gear Guide for Beginners, Beginner Fishing Gear Checklist, Freshwater vs Saltwater Gear: What Changes, Kayak Fishing Gear Checklist and Trout Fishing Gear Guide: Spinning and Fly Setups.
Spinning Reel Sizes Explained (1000 to 5000 and Beyond)
Reel size numbers are a rough guide, not a standard. Here is how to read them and choose a size that balances your rod and line.
How to Match a Rod, Reel and Line
A balanced setup casts better, fights fish better and tangles less. Here is how to match rod, reel and line using the ratings on your gear.
Lure Types and When Anglers Use Them
Each lure type imitates prey in a different way and suits different depths and conditions. Here is how the main families work.
Beginner Fishing Gear Checklist
Everything a new angler needs for the first trips, in order of importance, without buying gear you will not use yet.