There can be a lot of things that go into your fishing experience and one way to improve your chances of catching fish is to bring the right gear. But when starting out, it can be hard to make sense of all the different types of equipment and to know when to use what. To get you started, the sections below will go through some of the common types of equipment so you can start reeling in some fish.
When talking about fishing equipment, there are two terms to know. The term tackle refers to everything that connects you (the angler) to the fish – tackle gets the hook or lure to the fish and then brings the fish to you. Rods, reels, line, bobbers, weights, hooks, and lures are tackle. A specific set of tackle is terminal tackle, which is the tackle between the rod tip and the end of the line. Navigate through the sections below to learn more about the different types of tackle, how to pack your tackle box, and other types of equipment.
- Lures
Inline spinner
- Metal blade that spins around a shaft with an animal-like hair skirt
- Runs fairly shallow but varying retrieval speed can alter depth
- Effective in all seasons
Spoons
- Metal blade with either a treble hook or single hook attached
- Wobbles when reeled in
- Effective in all seasons
Spinnerbaits
- Metal blade that spins around metal shaft with tails of animal-like hair or plastic skirt
- Run fairly shallow but varying retrieval speed can alter depth
- Effective in all seasons
Soft Plastics
- Plastic worms, crayfish, tubes, or frogs
- Use with a hook & a weight or use a jig head (see Jigs below)
- Hook can be ran through lure to keep from snagging vegetation
- Don’t add a weight if you want the lure to float
- Very effective for largemouth bass
Jigs
- Hooks with weighted heads that can be used with or without live bait or soft plastics
- Used mostly used in and around structure and cover
- Effective in all seasons
Plugs (poppers and crankbaits)
- Floating, suspending, or diving lures made of wood, metal, or plastic that imitate natural prey in appearance and/or action
- Multiple designs provide opportunities for most depths and styles of retrieval
- Effective in all seasons
- How to pack your tackle box
For a single basic fishing trip
- Spincast rod and reel combo with a light or medium action 5.5-6 ft rod
- Size 8 hooks (6+)
- Small split shot sinkers (6+)
- Pencil style spring bobbers (2+)
- Live bait: red worms and/or bee moths (24+)
- Tackle box, bag, or pack
- Needle-nose pliers (1)
- Fishing line clippers (e.g., nail clippers) (1)
- First aid items/kit
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm w SPF
- Fishing Guide
- Fishing License
For summer
Terminal tackle:
- Hooks – size 6 to 8 and 1/0 to 4/0
- Weights – 1/16 oz. and 1/8 oz. split shot and 1/8 to 1/2 oz. bullet-shaped
- Bobbers – 3/8” and 1/2” pencil-style clip on
or slip (with stopper) - Inline spinners – 1/16 oz. and 1/8 oz. in chartreuse (yellow-green color)
- Beetle spins – 1/16 oz. and 1/8 oz. in green
- Spinner baits – 1/4 oz. and 1/2 oz. in white and chartreuse
- Crankbaits – Iipless and lipped in shad, bluegill, and chartreuse
- Soft plastics
- worms and stickbaits in black and green pumpkin
- curly tail grubs in white and chartreuse
- frogs with double hook in white and green
- Jig heads
- 1/16 and 1/32 oz. “crappie”
- 1/6 and 1/10 oz. “Ned Rig” (stand-up or mushroom-style head)
Other items:
- Needle-nose pliers
- Fishing line clippers (e.g. nail clippers)
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- First aid items/kit
- Extra fishing license in a clear zipper bag
- Fishing Guide
For fall
Lures:
- Inline spinners –1/8 oz.; colors: chartreuse (yellow-green color) and white/silver
- Crankbaits – Iipless and lipped (shallow, mid-depth, and deep running); colors: shad, bluegill, and chartreuse
- Spinner baits with willow leaf blades – 1/4 oz. and 1/2 oz.; colors: white and chartreuse
- Buzz baits – 1/4 oz. and 1/2 oz.; colors: white, black, and chartreuse
- Poppers – 2-4” colors: shad, white, or silver
- Walking baits – 3-5”; color: green/black
- Crappie jigs – 1/16 oz. “crappie” jig heads with white and chartreuse curly tail grubs, 2” soft baits with single tapered tail, and 1.5” tube jigs with tentacle tails
- Bass jigs – mushroom-style jig heads (1/16 oz. with size 2 hook and 1/8 oz. with 2/0 hook) with 3-4” dark-colored soft plastic
Other items:
- Needle-nose pliers
- Fishing line clippers (e.g. nail clippers)
- Lip balm (with SPF)
- First aid items/kit
- Extra fishing license in a clear zipper bag
- Fishing Guide
- Fishing License
- Boats
Boat rentals
You can find outfitters along rivers and lakes around the state, including on several DNR properties, that offer rental opportunities. Connecting with family and friends on a boat is a great way to disconnect from the worries of the day. Don’t forget your life jacket and fishing pole! You just might catch some fish, some sunshine, and some memories.