This guide gathers our fishing gear articles in one place: reels and baitcasters, rods and combos, fishing line, hooks and knots, and tackle and tools. Each section lists the related articles with a short note on what each one covers.
Related guide: our fishing bait guide.
Part of Fishing for Beginners: Complete Guide.
Reels and baitcasters
- How to use a baitcaster: Covers baitcaster parts and setup, casting, common issues, maintenance and tips for beginners.
- Line amount for baitcasters: Covers why line amount matters, factors to consider and steps for spooling.
- Reels for pike fishing: Covers choosing a reel for pike, including drag, gear ratio and line capacity.
- How baitcasters work: Covers the inner workings of a baitcaster, including the spool, line, handle and gear system.
- Reels and water damage: Covers whether reels can get wet, rain, causes of water damage and signs to look for.
- Spooling a baitcaster: Covers why spooling matters, choosing line and the steps to spool a baitcaster.
- Baitcaster versus spinning reel: Compares baitcaster and spinning reels, including advantages and disadvantages of each.
- Reel size for bass: Covers reel sizes, factors to consider and reels recommended for bass fishing.
- Spinning reels for bass: Covers factors in choosing a spinning reel for bass and a list of reels.
- Spinning reel size for surf: Covers spinning reel sizes for surf fishing, factors to consider and recommendations.
- Freshwater reels in saltwater: Covers the risks of using freshwater reels in saltwater, such as corrosion and a shorter lifespan.
- Chatterbait gear ratio: Covers gear ratio for chatterbait fishing, including low gear ratios and when they are used.
Rods and combos
- Fishing rod holders: Covers how to pick a rod holder, including mounting type, material and adjustability.
- 7-foot medium-light rods: Covers medium-light action and a list of 7-foot spinning and casting rods.
- Fishing rod types: Covers rod components, a chart of rod types and uses, and choosing a rod.
- Surf fishing rods: Covers types of surf fishing rods, choosing rod length and a list of picks.
- Summer fishing gear: Covers rods for summer, including spinning, baitcasting and fly rods, plus reels and accessories.
- Rod and reel combos: Covers why choose a combo, including convenience, compatibility and ease of use.
- Bass fishing combos: Covers what to look for in a bass combo and a list of five combos.
Line, hooks and knots
- Does fishing line go bad: Covers monofilament, fluorocarbon and braided line, with maintenance tips.
- Swimbait hook size: Covers choosing a swimbait hook, including swimbait size and depth and conditions.
- Hook size for cobia: Covers hook size in cobia fishing, factors to consider and recommended sizes.
- How often to change line: Covers why changing line matters and how line types such as monofilament and fluorocarbon differ.
- Does line color matter: Covers whether line color matters and matching line color to conditions and species.
- Hook size for flathead catfish: Covers hook size for flathead catfish, factors to consider and recommendations.
- Choosing a fishing hook size: Covers hook sizes for trout, bass and other fish.
- Fishing knots: Covers common knots such as the improved clinch, Palomar and loop knots.
- Bass fishing weights: Covers types of bass fishing weights, factors in selecting one, and how to rig and use them.
Tackle and tools
- Fishing tackle boxes: Covers a list of tackle boxes and how to pick one, including capacity and durability.
- Using fishing sonar: Covers sonar technology, including single-beam and dual-beam systems, and how to use it.
