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Fishing Gear Reviews and Buying Guides
Research-based roundups of rods, reels, line, lures, and tackle. We set our criteria first, compare what manufacturers publish, and rate every pick with the FH Score.
Latest Buying Guides
Safety note: Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket every time you paddle; federal rules require one wearable life jacket...
Note: Fishing laws are set by each state and change often. This guide gives general information and examples, not legal...
Disclaimer: This article gives general safety information for recreational anglers. It is not medical advice or a substitute for training,...
A good tackle box keeps lures organized, dry, and free of rust so you can find what you need fast....
Polarized sunglasses cut the glare bouncing off the water so you can see fish, weed edges, rocks, and stumps under...
Fishing gloves protect the backs of your hands from sun, your palms from line cuts and paddle blisters, and your...
A lure kit gives you a range of baits and terminal tackle in one purchase. It is a good way...
Most crappie are caught on small jigs: a light jig head, usually 1/32 to 1/8 oz, with a soft plastic...
Spoons are some of the simplest and most effective trout lures. A curved piece of metal wobbles and flashes like...
All Lures & Baits guides ›
A spinning rod is the most versatile rod most anglers own. It casts light lures easily, handles light line without...
A travel rod breaks down small enough for a suitcase, backpack, or car trunk, so you can fish on a...
Five saltwater spinning rods compared by job: inshore all-round, value, wide model range, heavy nearshore, and budget surf.
All Fishing Rods guides ›
Five budget baitcasting rod and reel combos compared by job, from the best all-round starter to tough, spare-tip, and IM7…
Four catfish rod and reel combos compared: budget spinning, heavy-duty 8 ft spinning, and conventional level wind for big cats.
Five kids' fishing rods and combos grouped by age, from short spincast starters for preschoolers to a full youth combo,…
All Rod & Reel Combos guides ›
Fluorocarbon line is hard for fish to see because it bends light much like water does. It also sinks, stretches...
Six monofilament lines compared by job: all-round spinning, low stretch, heavy cover, big fish, budget, and bulk spools.
Six braided lines that handle well on spinning reels, compared by job: all-round, finesse, low visibility, cover, 9-strand, and budget.
All Fishing Line guides ›
A fish scale settles the “how big was it” question and helps tournament anglers cull to their best five fish....
A fish gripper clamps a fish’s lower jaw so you can control it without touching teeth, gill plates, or a...
Many fish are lost right at the boat or bank, when the line is short and the fish makes one...
All Fishing Tools & Accessories guides ›
To attach backing to fly line, first tie the backing to the reel arbor with an arbor knot and wind...
The 9-foot 5 weight is the most common fly rod in the U.S. because it does a little of everything....
Bass eat frogs, mice, crayfish, baitfish, and big insects, so bass flies are larger and bolder than trout flies. Most...
All Fly Fishing Gear guides ›
Anglers spend hours in direct sun, often with glare coming off the water too. A good fishing shirt covers your...
Fish often bite best when the weather turns, and a good rain jacket lets you stay out. A fishing rain...
Slippery river rocks cause more falls than anything else when wading. Wading boots are built for that: stiff, supportive uppers...
All Fishing Apparel & Footwear guides ›
Safety note: Trolling motors draw high current. Install the circuit breaker or fuse the motor maker specifies, use wire of...
Safety note: Anchoring a kayak in current or wind can pull the side of the boat under and flip it....
Safety note: A life jacket only works if you wear it. Under federal rules, every person on a kayak needs...
All Boating & Kayak Gear guides ›
Spincast reels are the easiest reels to learn. You press a button, swing the rod, and release the button to...
Trolling puts a reel in a rod holder for hours, then asks it to handle a fish that hits at...
Five ultralight spinning reels compared by size, weight, drag, and line capacity for 2 to 6 lb line, trout, and…
All Fishing Reels guides ›
Minnows, shiners, and shrimp die quickly in warm, still water. An aerated bait bucket keeps oxygen in the water, and...
A fishing backpack carries your tackle, tools, water, and a jacket while leaving your hands free for rods. That matters...
Rods leaning in a garage corner get stepped on, tangled, and broken in car doors. A rod rack keeps them...
All Tackle Storage guides ›
Safety note: Check ice thickness before setting up a shelter, and follow your state agency’s guidance; a shelter with several...
Safety note: Check ice thickness before you walk out and as you go, and follow your state agency’s guidance. The...
Safety note: Tip-ups spread you out across the ice, often far from your shelter. Check ice thickness as you walk...
All Ice Fishing Gear guides ›
A bobber (or float) holds your bait at a set depth and shows you when a fish bites. It is...
A fishing swivel is a small metal connector with two rings joined by a rotating barrel or bearing. It links...
The main types of fishing weights are split shot, egg (sliding) sinkers, bullet weights, bank sinkers, pyramid sinkers, walking and...
All Terminal Tackle guides ›
How We Pick
- Criteria first. For each guide we decide what matters for that gear and that kind of fishing before we look at products.
- Compare published specs. We research manufacturer specifications and product details and note where sources disagree or data is missing.
- Pros, cons, and who should skip it. Every pick gets balanced pros and cons and a clear note on who should buy something else.
The FH Score
An editorial rating on a 10-point scale, built from five weighted criteria. It is not based on Amazon ratings, and commissions never change it.
- Performance for intended use35%
- Build quality and materials20%
- Versatility15%
- Warranty and support15%
- Value within its price tier15%
How the FH Score works ›
Who is Fishing Hacking?
Fishing Hacking publishes research-based reviews and buying guides for fishing gear, written to help you choose equipment that fits how and where you fish.
For every category we set our criteria first, then compare products using the specifications and details their manufacturers publish. See how we review.
81Buying Guides
13Categories
63Subcategories
What we cover
Rods, reels, line, lures, electronics, and the rest of the gear anglers carry, from first setups to fly and ice fishing.
How we choose
We set criteria before comparing products and hold every product in a guide to the same standard.
