One of the biggest challenges for beginning anglers is figuring out which bait and tackle items they need. Mismatching hooks, sinkers and plastics can hinder success and leave fledgling fisher folks discouraged and demoralized.
The answer – fishing kits.
Several manufacturers simplify the selection process by assembling the baits and terminal tackle that allow anglers to fish with appropriately balanced items. So often, beginning anglers may have the right soft plastic bait, but the wrong hook — or vice versa.
No shame in not knowing. We learn as we go. However, fishing kits can play a key role in showing you the right types of items. From there, experiment with different brands, styles and colors to see what works for you. Trial and error paves the path to success, but fishing kits can speed up the process.
Let’s consider the advantages.
Curated Collection: Fishing is an individual activity and you should always use the baits and colors with which you have the highest confidence. However, have tackle experts assemble a collection of items for your targeted species and/or technique saves you time and typically yields a ready-to-go selection.
In some cases, such as YUM’s Christie Classics bait kit, professional anglers like Bassmaster Elite Jason Christie have a hand in selecting the items. Playing off Christie’s 2022 Bassmaster Classic title, this particular kit includes YUM Dingers (stick worms), along with the pro-designed Christie Critter, Baby Christie Critter, Christie Craw and the appropriate tackle.
Elsewhere, Missile Baits offers several technique-specific kits curated by founder and Elite veteran John Crews, along with fellow Elites Ed Loughran, Bryan Schmitt, and Caleb Sumrall. Complimenting these tournament-level technique kits, Crews also assembled a beginner-friendly Pond Fishing Kit. (https://missilebaits.store/products/kit)
You still have to catch your own fish, but it’s encouraging to know you’re fishing with the same items as accomplished types.
Organization: Usually, fishing kits are packaged in functional containers with grab-and-go simplicity. Feel free to repack for personal preference and expand into larger tackle trays/boxes/bags as your involvement grows.
Convenience: We all started somewhere, but one of the toughest parts about getting started in the sport is staring at that big retail wall of hooks and weights and jigs and floats and lures and…wow!
Where to begin?
Whether you shop online or in-store, future selections become much easier, once you’ve seen what experienced industry folks suggest.
Kit Options
Most major bait and terminal tackle brands offer some type of kits. When searching online, include your preferred species in the search parameters for focused results. Options are many, but go with established industry brands and you can count on appropriate choices and quality components.
Here are a handful of examples.
Eagle Claw Bass Tackle Kit: A bass-focused selection of hooks, jig heads, soft plastics, and hard baits. $19.99
Plano Ready Set Fish 70-Piece Starter Tackle Box Set: Spacious tackle storage with fish stringer, floats, worms, hooks, grubs and jig heads. $12.99
YUM Dinger Do-It-All Kit: Stick worms offer lots of beginner-friendly options, so YUM packs 5-inch, 4-inch, and Swimming Dingers with War Eagle shaky heads, worm weights, hooks, and a wacky tool. $34.99
Z-Man Ned Rig Kit: Equipping anglers for an easily-mastered bass technique, Z-Man includes ShroomZ jig heads and a selection of matching ElaZtech plastics. $19.99
Topwater Kings: Lurenet combines three legendary brands for a topwater selection that introduces beginners to the thrill of topwater fishing. Baits include the Rebel Pop R, Heddon Zara Puppy, Heddon Torpedo, and Arbogast Jitterbug. $49.99
Bobby Garland Crappie Deluxe Premium Kit: Stocked with the brand’s top plastic shapes, along with Bobby Garland jig heads and one Thill crappie cork. $29.99.
Eagle Claw Catfish Tackle Kit: Along with the appropriate tackle, this kit includes a hook remover, stringer, catfish skinning pliers, and bell attachments to signal bites. $19.99
(Eagle Claw’s other kit options include panfish, crappie, walleye, and saltwater collections.
Rebel Pond & Creek Family Fishing Kit: Four pre-rigged LIVEflex plastic baits, replacement baits, and spinner attachment. $9.99
Eagle Claw Pier & Jetty Kit: Hooks, weights, floats, premade leaders, and casting lures for the surf zone. $24.99
Lazer Sharp Pro Series Ice Kits: Jigs, plastic bodies, spoons, and other baits for chilly, hard water action. (Panfish, walleye and trout options.) $14.99
Zebco Ready Tackle Combo: A true all-in-one option, this kit includes a 5-foot, 6-inch spinning rod (2-piece and telescoping options), along with a tackle tray holding hooks, split shots, jigs and soft plastics. $24.99-$25.99
Most tackle kits will include rigging and fishing instructions. If you need more guidance, most major brands offer instructional videos on their websites and/or social media platforms.
Make Your Own
Whether you model a branded tackle kit, or rely on your own experience, creating your own kit is simple and fun. The tackle tray size depends on two main criteria: How much you want to carry (terminal tackle, baits) and how you’ll transport the tray — by hand, in a backpack, etc.
Like any container from wallets, to purses, to storage bins, the urge to fill space is real, so the larger your tackle tray, the more stuff you’re likely to add. Not necessarily a wrong decision, but more stuff equals more weight, so take this into consideration.
And don’t think you have to use a task-specific fishing tackle tray. Craft stores and home improvement stores offer sectioned/slotted options. In a pinch, a simple plastic utility box will hold your various terminal tackle and baits, but stay disciplined with your storage. Once you start dropping loose pieces into the larger container, you’re on your way to a disorganize mess.
One of my fondest angling memories was a post-high school trip to Boca Grande, Fla., during which I joined a couple of buddies for daily and nightly beach and backwater fishing trips. Those were simpler times with minimal budget, so we stuffed our hooks, sinkers and a few random lures into a gallon ZipLock bag.
Every time we left for a fishing trip, someone would say: “Grab the “tackle box,” and we all knew what that meant.
Sometimes, I’ll take an impromptu shore fishing trip with my expected tackle needs tucked into a big ZipLock. The container doesn’t make the fish bite or not bite, but the nostalgic vibe makes the trip more enjoyable.
