What Fishing Tackle Have You Used? A Personal Journey Through My Tackle Collection

Halfway through 2024 already? Time flies like a dream—one minute it’s the start of the year, the next I’m staring at the calendar wondering where all the days went. But for a angler like me? All that time blur melts away when I’m by the river, rod in hand. Let’s dive into my tackle journey—from random finds to a storage room full of gear I definitely don’t need, but can’t bear to part with.

How It All Started: A Random Hook (Literally)

Three years ago, I was stuck in traffic after work when I spotted a guy reeling in a fish by the roadside. That flashback hit me—childhood days with a bamboo pole, 50-cent line sets from the corner store, and my buddies and I catching a bucketful of tiny fish without a clue what we were doing. But adult life hit: sales job stress through the roof, and I thought, “Why not pick up a rod again?”

Turns out, I didn’t even have to buy one first. A friend had a pile of old rods—hand rods and sea rods—collecting dust. I’d never seen a sea rod before, thought it was a “fancy hand rod upgrade.” Grabbed one with a pre-spooled reel, watched a couple YouTube videos on line setups, and bam—next day I was fishing. Later I realized? I started with a sliding float rig without even knowing it. Total newbie luck, but it hooked me (pun totally intended).

The Great Bait Switch: From Worms to Miracle Dough

Here’s a hot take: I hate worms. Hate touching them, hate looking at them, hate the whole “sticking a squirming thing on a hook” vibe. That’s why I quit fishing as a kid—couldn’t stand the worm part. Then I heard about “pull baits” (aka dough baits). Bought a pack, mixed it with water with zero clue about the “bait-to-water ratio,” and holy cow—it stuck to the hook like glue. And it caught fish! I felt like a lost hiker who suddenly found a trail map. Game. Changer.

My First Year: No Clue, No Fancy Gear, Just Fish

First year in? I was all about the sliding float rig. Used 4-pound test line for crucian carp (tiny guys, but I caught tons). Met more anglers, started learning about rod-line matches, and borrowed a hand rod from that same friend. Spoiler: I broke it catching a big’un. Oops. But back then? I didn’t care about gear specs. Just me, a rod, and the water. Pure joy.

The “Big Fish” Obsession: When Ignorance Was Bliss

Then I caught a 5.5-pound mirror carp on my sea rod. Bell rings, I yank the reel, and boom—there it was. I was screaming like a kid on Christmas. That’s when the “big fish fever” hit. Started learning to tune floats, chasing “feel,” and… wait, why am I not catching anything now? Oh right—everyone says anglers go through this: once you learn the “rules,” you overthink everything. Work got crazy too, so my fishing was hit-or-miss for six months. Total slump.

From “Expert” to “Back to Basics”: Tackle Hoarding Begins

I went down the rabbit hole: reading every article on fish behavior, “fish highways,” you name it. Tried all the “shortcuts” for big fish, but guess what? Big fish are rare. So I circled back to traditional methods. And that’s when the shopping spree started.

Online stores, big platforms with “tasks for free gear”—I was hooked (again). Started with tiny swivels, then a fishing chair, then a tackle box. Then I learned a truth: the end of lure fishing is micro lures, the end of Taiwanese rigs is traveling light. But do I listen? No. I still sneak new gear with my “secret fishing fund” (don’t tell my partner). Who else hides tackle from their family? C’mon, raise your hand.

My Tackle Hoard: Let’s Count (Spoiler: It’s Ridiculous)

Let’s get real—my storage room is a tackle graveyard. Let’s list the chaos:

Rods & Reels

• Sea rods: 18 (all cheap, not pro)
• Lure rods: 6 (collecting dust mostly)
• Boat rod: 1 (used once, maybe)
• Hand rods: 32 (yes, 32! 1 big fish rod, 13 3.6m, 2 4.8m, 1 6.3m—rest are 4.5m I never use)
• Reels: 36 (why? I don’t even know)

Misc Gear That’s Definitely Overkill

• Fish grippers: 13 (I use 2 max)
• Floats: 53 (half are for big fish I never catch)
• Scissors: 40+ (I lose them, then buy more)
• Lure pliers: 5, hook-tying pliers: 5
• Knot picks: 4
• Carabiners for towels: 18 (different sizes, no reason)
• Landing net poles: 7 (1m to 3m)
• Landing net heads: 12 (50cm to 30cm—now I only bring the 30cm, it’s smaller)
• Rod stands: 4
• Bait trays: 5 (2 more in a box, I swear)
• Rod holder stakes: 1
• Sea rod stakes: 24 (why so many?)
• Automatic rod holders: 1
• Lanyards: 10m ×1, 5m ×1, 3m ×7
• Fishing towels: 32 (they’re cheap, okay?)
• Bait spoons: 7
• Bait poles: 1m ×4, 80cm ×3 (barely use)
• Fishing line: 70+ spools (I buy duplicates when I’m “inspired,” now they’re too thick for small fish—need 1.0lb test now)

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• Random stuff: Spawn bags, explosion hooks, string hooks, lead weights for float rigs, heat shrink tubing for custom float seats (my latest DIY project)

Quick Tips (That I Learned the Hard Way)

After all that gear chaos, here’s what actually works for me:

• Big water (rivers, lakes, sea): Sea rods are your friend—they cast far, so big fish can’t resist.
• Small water (streams, wild rivers): 3.6m hand rod for tiny fish; 5.4m if you want bigger ones.

Final Thought: Anglers Are Either Fishing, Buying Gear, or Hiding Gear

Let’s be honest: I’m either at the river, scrolling tackle stores, or hiding a new reel in the garage. My partner rolls their eyes, but hey—fishing’s my therapy. The gear? It’s part of the fun. Even if half of it’s unused, every piece has a memory: the first sea rod, the broken hand rod, the 5-pound carp that started it all.

What’s in your tackle hoard? Any gear you regret buying? Or hidden gems you can’t live without? Drop a comment—let’s swap stories. Until next time, tight lines (and don’t let your partner find your secret tackle stash).