Tackle box essentials?

[fishin-fool]

Hey all,

To make a long story short, it's only recently that I've gotten back into fishing. And I'm taking it way more seriously than I did when I was younger. I'm trying to learn as much as possible so I can have more success as I don't have a boat. Just curious as to what kinds of things you guys would consider to be ESSENTIAL to a tackle box. It can be a lure, terminal or whatever you might think no one should be without.

I'm not looking for anybody's secret lure or anything like that. Just what would you recommend that a newbie definitely have in the tackle box/bag?

-Matt

[IronWorker]

A good pair of needle nose pliers, a small pair of Xuron Brand sprue cutters and two chain saw files tightly wired together at both ends as a hook sharpener.
Sometimes if you have a fish hooked in a difficult spot you can use the Xuron Cutters to perform "minor surgery" by snipping a small section inside the fishes mouth to allow you to more easily get the hook loose.

And you do need a emergency kit somewhere in your boat with a bic lighter, fire starter material, aspirin, tobacco for stings, small flashlight, granola bars and some paper towels all this in a zip lock bag.

[jcb]

Great advice, IronWorker. Dryer lint works great for the fire starter material, none better IMO.

[DJD]

Pliers
Side cutters (cut hooks)
D&L Jigs
Cabin Creek Tubes
2/0 Hooks
1/8oz Sinkers
1/4, 1/2oz rattle traps
Bandit 100, 200 series cranks (fire tiger and shad pattern)
Sunscreen
Bandaid
Ibuprofen
That's just a few items and there are many more. If you walk creeks then you can downsize to crappie size baits too. Btw.....keep some "code brown" emergency wet wipes with you in case mother nature calls.

[RoadToad]

Trash bags!
Various size lead-heads, and some white and pink curly tail grubs to go on them.
Barrel swivels, #3 & #10, beads, & slip-sinkers.
A couple extra spools of line for tying leaders. I save the tail end after I re-spool a reel for just this purpose.
Trout hooks, 2/0 hooks, basically whatever hooks fit the fishing you're going to do.
slip bobbers.
Super-Duper lures, silver & chartreuse (my personal favorites).
Rooster tails, red and white at least, also whatever color you like.
A good multi-blade knife. I have an old Leatherman that my dad gave me that I keep in my tacklebox. Also a specialized line-cutting tool, similar to nail clippers, comes in handy.

[fishin-fool]

Some great suggestions! Several things mentioned that I hadn't thought about. Keep 'em coming.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Bottle Opener

Small flat tip and cross tip screw driver, jewellers sizes.

[ErikSmith]

Personal defense weapon. Ky is an open carry state, or opt for a concealed carry license. There areto many losers around, dont become a statistic.

[fishin-fool]

Personal defense weapon. Ky is an open carry state, or opt for a concealed carry license. There areto many losers around, dont become a statistic.

Let's keep it to fishing.

[MagikSmallie]

Let's keep it to fishing.

As far as I'm concerned this does relate to fishing. A pistol is as important to my boat supply list as a life jacket!

[fishin-fool]

As far as I'm concerned this does relate to fishing. A pistol is as important to my boat supply list as a life jacket!

Good for you.

[HURRICANEBOB]

As far as I'm concerned this does relate to fishing. A pistol is as important to my boat supply list as a life jacket!

Especially if the life jacket is made of Kevlar and bullet proof.