| One of the better ways of filling your fishing | | | | also nice to have in your tackle box, but not |
| tackle box is to figure out what your box is going | | | | necessary if you don't have a lot of room. |
| to be for. Is it going to be a general use box or | | | | Now comes the fun stuff! Putting in your gear. |
| specifically for pike, trout, walleye, pan fish, or | | | | You can put the main items in the general box |
| bass? Are you going to be using live bait or lures? | | | | and use other smaller specialty boxes for the |
| Answer those questions to get a tailor-made | | | | specific fish you are going to be catching. |
| tackle box that will suit all of your fishing needs. | | | | The general box can have a variety of sinkers, |
| The next step is to get the box. You can get | | | | hooks, o-rings, leaders, bobbers, and other fishing |
| really large complex ones all the way down to | | | | gear. The general box can also double as a live |
| small pocket-sized boxes. There are all kinds of | | | | bait tackle box, you can just grab it and be ready |
| good tackle boxes out there. A few of the good | | | | for most fishing trips. Keep a small selection of |
| name brands are Cabela's, Stren, Bass Pro, and | | | | tiny jigs, soft body lures, tiny lures, and spinners in |
| Plano. If you decide to use soft plastic baits be | | | | your general box as well. |
| sure the trays inside will resist chemicals that are | | | | If you are mainly going to fish for bass, set up a |
| in the baits. The tackle box should state this on | | | | box just for them. Plastic worms, spinner baits, |
| the label. | | | | crank baits, whatever you use should have a box |
| There are certain things you will need in any | | | | designed for them. Using a spinner bait box will |
| tackle box. Needle nose pliers with a good cutting | | | | keep your bait from getting all tangled up |
| edge would be one that you don't want to leave | | | | together and give you easy access to them. |
| out. You can get one in a department store or | | | | Your crank bait box should have individual |
| get a workman folding set with multiple tools. As | | | | compartments in order to keep the crank baits |
| these are very easy to lose, just get the more | | | | from getting all tangled together. Soft body baits |
| inexpensive ones and they will do the job just | | | | or plastic worms need to have longer |
| fine. | | | | compartments to lay out your bait and keep |
| Get a small folding knife to add to your box. One | | | | them protected. Also have compartments for |
| good brand name is Old-timer, tough but not | | | | your hooks, jigs, and sinkers for these baits. |
| expensive and will keep a sharp blade. Also a | | | | Sometimes you may need five or more tackle |
| back-up spool of line is something you will be glad | | | | boxes at one time so you will be prepared for |
| you added if you have to change a line in the | | | | whatever type of fishing you want to be doing. |
| middle of your fishing trip. | | | | Having well organized and stocked tackle boxes |
| Bug spray, hand towel, zipper bags and a small | | | | will make it much easier for those spur of the |
| first aid kit need to be in your tackle box also. | | | | moment fishing jaunts. The motto for a good |
| You may not use them all of the time, but when | | | | tackle box is to be well prepared for any |
| you need them you will be glad you included them. | | | | eventuality. Get your tackle box in order and |
| If it starts raining, just slip your cell phone in a | | | | you're ready to go! |
| zipper bag. A hand scale and tape measure are | | | | |