How to Achieve a Tackle Box Refresh

Warming water signals that it is time to pack up your ice fishing gear, put it back in storage, and grab your spring fishing tackle. Because this stuff probably has been unused since late fall, before heading out to the lake, go over your fishing equipment checklist. Fish metabolism is increasing so fish are hungry, and you want to be sure everything is ready for this opportunity. Here are several ways to approach a tackle box refresh.

1. Complete

First, do you have everything? At first glance, the tackle box essentials seem all there but what about the fishing trip safety gear such as the first aid kit, flashlight, sunscreen, and bug spray? How about the other tackle box must-haves such as assorted weights, hooks, and lures? Do you have alternate lure colors and backup lures in case you lose the hot lure to a rock? And how about the best fishing tools like long-nosed pliers, wire cutters, tape measure, and nail clippers?

2. Ready

Okay, now that you have all of your Spring fishing tackle, check that everything will work. Spring lure recommendations include inspecting and replacing any rusted hooks, split rings, snap and swivels, and aging, brittle leaders. Test the flashlight and bug spray. Examine the first aid kit for water damage and any contents that need to be replaced.

3. Sort

Arranging components during a tackle box refresh can be time consuming but the increased efficiency will pay off. For example, during the chaotic, brief window of a frenzied bite on the water, you don’t want to be reduced to several minutes of frantically shaking a pile of lures to get the right one loose. Organizing skills vary by angler styles and methods and should increase with experience. For example, I prefer to have some of my spring fishing equipment like bug spray and suntan lotion in a separate tackle bag to prevent any potential off-putting scent issues. I have also learned that some soft plastic lures “do not play well with others” by melting together or bleeding colors. When trying to determine the best fishing gear for spring, one may be tempted to remove lures that rarely even see water. However, if space is not an issue, I am fond of the old saying, “it is better to have it and not need it, than need it, and not have it.”