Tackle Box Essentials

Fishing is an excellent hobby for the spring and summer seasons, which is why so many fishing boat owners are getting themselves out on the water to toss their lines in. However, you can’t go fishing successfully without doing some preparatory work, which includes ensuring that you’ve got all the essentials you’ll need before you go. You won’t want to be stuck out on the lake with no more line or have an injury that needs addressing!

That’s where this guide should come in handy. Dunfords of Havelock is your Ontario fishing boat dealer. Read on to learn more about what you should carry in your tackle box so that you’re always prepared on your fishing trips.

Lures, Bobbers & Sinkers

You should stock your tackle box with an array of these three items. Lures to have on hand include top-water lures, spinners, spoons and minnow imitations. Try out different lures for different situations to see what works best. You may have a favorite type of lure already or you may be using live bait, but it’s always good to be prepared for every eventuality.

Bobbers, also called floaters, alert you to when you have a fish on the line. These items traditionally look like round red-and-white orbs, but they can vary widely. Slip bobbers slide up and down the fishing line, letting you get your hook deeper into the water. You can also use a simple cork with a stick in it, too!

Sinkers are designed to help your hook and bait or lure sink deeper into the water. These items are often too light to sink very far on their own, so a small weight is attached to the hook to help draw it down. Sinkers were traditionally made from lead because it’s heavy, but due to this metal’s toxicity, manufacturers use steel, brass, tungsten or bismuth these days.

Needle-Nosed Pliers

A good sturdy pair of needle-nosed pliers will help you out of a jam for sure. Use this tool to remove hooks from freshly-caught fish, bend wires or remove splinters in your boat. Pliers are a generally handy tool to have, so make sure you invest in a pair for your tackle box!

Extra Line

Fishing line can get snarled or tangled around all kinds of stuff, from underwater logs to parts of your boat. A particularly powerful fish on your line can even snap it! This is why you’ll want to make sure you have some extra line in your tackle box. Buy heavy-duty line for fishing in deep, choppy waters, and lightweight line for calmer lakes and rivers.

Spare Hooks

You’ll also want to have some spare hooks with you in case you lose one or you need a certain type for the fish you want to catch. You’ll want to have J-hooks, french hooks and many different sizes ready to go so that you can catch all different types of fish.

First-Aid Kit

A well-stocked first-aid kit should be a top priority for anyone heading out into the wilderness. You’ll want to have ointments, creams, bandages, gauze, waterproof medical tape, nail clippers (which can also be used to cut your line!), petroleum jelly, painkillers, antacids, sunscreen and bug spray with you, along with any medications you may use on a regular basis.

We hope our list of items proves useful to you in packing your fishing boat well. Visit our dealership in Havelock to take a look at our fine selection of new and used fishing boats for sale. Dunfords of Havelock proudly serves the cities of Peterborough, Belleville and Kawartha, Ontario.