Aside from a rod and reel and fishing lures, anglers should stock their tackle box or fishing boat with a number of handy tools. These tools will often make fishing more enjoyable and productive, and in some cases, safer.
Pliers and Wire Cutters
Stock your tackle box with a pair of needle-nosed pliers. These pliers are handy for removing hooks from deep inside a fish's mouth and for bending hooks back into the proper position. Wire cutters are good for cutting hooks, especially when you embed a hook in human flesh. You will want to cut the hook free if the hook has gone all the way through the body part. After cutting off the barbed hook, you can pull out the shaft of the hook.
Camping Saw
Small camping saws are good for removing small tree limbs that may be in your way or that have snagged an expensive lure. Small handsaws will fit in most tackle boxes. Saw lines or wires are even more compact.
Nail Clippers
Nail clippers are very handy for cutting and trimming back fishing line. Most experienced anglers thread a fingernail clipper on a chain and wear the clipper around their neck or at their belt so it's always within reach for fast line changes.
Flashlight
A flashlight has an obvious use if you are fishing after dark, especially when you did not plan to be out after dark. Check the batteries for the flashlight before embarking on any fishing trip.
Wire, Duct Tape and Rope
Pack a few feet of flexible wire in your tackle box for various emergency uses, including boat motor repairs. Store a small roll of duct tape for emergencies as well. Always have a length of light rope, nylon or cotton, if you need to tie up to trees on a shore.
Hook Pole
Although this is a tool too big for a tackle box, it's good equipment for a fishing boat. A long pole with a hook at the end can help you pole to shore if your boat engine dies or you lose your oars. It can help recover important items in the water, such as a boat motor and car keys.
Magnets
Use magnets to pick up loose lures and other tackle from the bottom of your boat. Magnets are also good for retrieving keys and other metal items that might drop into the water.
References
- "What Fish Don't Want You to Know: An Insider's Guide to Freshwater Fishing; Frank P. Baron; 2003
- "Fishing Essentials for Dummies"; Peter Kaminsky; 2002
- "The Orvis Guide to Beginning Fly Fishing: 101 Tips for the Absolute Beginner"; The Orvis Company and Tom Rosenbauer; 2009
- "Basic Freshwater Fishing: Step-By-Step Guide to Tackle and Know-How That Catch the Favorite Fish in Your Area"; Cliff Hauptman; 1988
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