Tackle Box Essentials
THE NOVICE NINE
1 ) Line –
You have a few options here including mono, braid and fluorocarbon. However for most applications, my first choice is the classic Stren (mono). Introduced in 1958, it was probably the single most important advancement in the fishing industry. It is the most versatile of the 3 and out preformed all other line types when I was testing the Glaucus Hand Line Survival Card.
2 ) Hooks –
Again lots of options here, but for almost everything freshwater I turn to this old favorite. The snell knot used to tie the leaders to the hooks provides an even, straight pull during the “hook-set” and the baitholder barbs on the shaft help keep your bait in place. The only real hassle with these is finding a good way to store them in your tackle box. Check out (Extras & Upgrades) for storage solutions.
5 ) Bait –
With bait fishing we are relying on scent and color to entice the fish as opposed to artificial lures/ flies that rely on color and presentation. These two types are nice to have in your box because they have a relatively long shelf life in comparison to live bait. However, do not forget to stock up on night-crawlers before your next outing.
Note: An old-timer once advised me to mix Alka-Seltzer in with the power-bait. He claimed the bubbles that this mixture produced helped in water with low visibility. I have never tried this nor am I suggesting you try, but man that guy caught a lot of fish.
EXTRAS & UPGRADES
Coming soon