To catch fish, you will need to rig your fishing line with hooks, weights and bobbers. These items are called terminal tackle.
Tackle loaner stations provide free gear to borrow. In addition to a rod and reel, you’ll get a tackle box full of terminal tackle to use. Keep in mind you need a valid Pennsylvania fishing license to borrow gear.
If you’re ready to fill your own tackle box, you’ll find plenty of terminal tackle options at sporting goods stores or tackle shops. Most stores will have kits to help you get started. These kits range in size and price, but most will include hooks, weights, bobbers and other useful tackle. You can also get kits designed for specific species you might be targeting.
There are many ways to rig your fishing line, but an easy setup includes only hooks, weights and bobbers.
Hooks
Hooks come in different sizes to catch fish of different sizes. You’ll want to start with a baitholder-style hook, which is great for live bait like earthworms. Read more about baits and lures. If you’re catch-and-release fishing, try to find barbless hooks.
Some hooks come with line already attached. These are called snelled hooks.
Weights
Also called split-shot or sinkers, weights help keep your bait or lure weighed down in the water to be easily seen by the fish. They come in different sizes and are usually made of soft metal to wrap around the fishing line. The more weight you add to your line, the deeper your bait will sit in the water. If you want to fish higher up in the water, add less weight.
Bobbers
A bobber is a floating piece that will “bob” or move when a fish pulls your fishing line. You can also place your bobber higher or lower on the fishing line to keep your bait higher or lower in the water for fish to see.
Other tackle to consider
You’ll be able to catch fish with a simple rig consisting of just hooks, weights and bobbers, but you might want to consider adding a snap swivel to your line. Snap swivels prevent the line from becoming tangled and make it easy to put on new snelled hooks because you don’t have to tie a knot every time.
Adding a good set of pliers and a pair of clippers to your tackle box will make your life a lot easier, too.
