Gear

Gear by species

Rod, reel, line and the lures that matter for each fish — pulled from the species profiles. Gear articles and tackle picks are coming here next.

Largemouth Bass

Rod 7' medium-heavy casting, fast action; 7' medium spinning for finesse
Line 15–20 lb fluorocarbon; 50 lb braid for frogs; 8–10 lb braid to 6–8 lb fluorocarbon leader for finesse

Plastic wormCreature baitFlipping or football jigHollow-body frog

Striped Bass

Rod 7'–7'6" medium-heavy spinning for boats and bays; 9'–11' heavy surf rod; 7' medium-heavy for reservoirs
Line 30–50 lb braid with a 30–50 lb fluorocarbon or mono leader; 15–20 lb for reservoir fish

Pencil popperMetal-lip swimmerSoft-plastic shad (6–9 in)Bucktail jig

Redfish (Red Drum)

Rod 7'–7'6" medium to medium-heavy spinning, fast action; 8-weight fly rod
Line 15–20 lb braid with a 20–30 lb fluorocarbon leader; 40–50 lb leader for bulls

Weedless gold spoonPaddle-tail soft plastic on jig headPopping cork rigWalk-the-dog topwater

Walleye

Rod 6'6"–7' medium-light to medium spinning, fast action; 7'–8'6" medium trolling rods
Line 8–10 lb monofilament or 10 lb braid with a 6–8 lb fluorocarbon leader

Jig (1/8–3/8 oz) with minnow or plasticMinnow-shaped crankbaitNightcrawler spinner harnessJigging spoon

Rainbow Trout

Rod 9' 5-weight fly rod; or 6'6"–7' light to ultralight spinning, fast action
Line 4–6 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon; 5X–6X tippet for flies

Inline spinnerSmall casting spoonNymph (pheasant tail, hare's ear, midge)Dry fly (parachute Adams, elk hair caddis)

Smallmouth Bass

Rod 7' medium spinning, fast action; 7' medium-heavy casting for cranks and topwater
Line 10–15 lb braid with a 6–10 lb fluorocarbon leader; 10–12 lb fluorocarbon for jerkbaits

Drop-shot finesse wormTube jigNed rigSuspending jerkbait

Black Crappie

Rod 6'–7' ultralight or light spinning; 10'–16' poles for spider rigging and dipping
Line 4–6 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon; 6–8 lb hi-vis line for spider rigs

Tube jigCurly-tail grubMarabou jigHair jig

Channel Catfish

Rod 7'–8' medium-heavy casting or spinning, moderate action
Line 15–20 lb monofilament or 30–40 lb braid

Jig and soft plasticJigging spoonCrankbait (incidental)Blade bait

Bluegill

Rod 5'–7' ultralight spinning or 3–5 weight fly rod
Line 2–4 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon

Micro tube jigHair jigInline spinnerFoam popper

Spotted Seatrout

Rod 6'6"–7'6" medium-light to medium spinning, fast action
Line 10–15 lb braid with a 15–20 lb fluorocarbon leader

Paddle-tail soft plastic on jig headPopping cork rigWalk-the-dog topwaterSuspending twitchbait

Snook

Rod 7'–7'6" medium-heavy spinning, fast action; 8–9 weight fly rod
Line 20–30 lb braid with a 30–50 lb fluorocarbon leader; 60–80 lb around bridges and jetties

Walk-the-dog topwaterSoft jerkbait (3–5 in)Paddle-tail swimbaitBucktail or flair hawk jig

Tarpon

Rod 7'–8' heavy spinning, fast action; 11–12 weight fly rod (8–9 weight for juveniles)
Line 50–65 lb braid with a 60–80 lb fluorocarbon leader; 16–20 lb class tippet with 60–80 lb shock tippet on fly

Soft-plastic swimbait (5–8 in)Tarpon fly (Toad, Cockroach, Black Death)Suspending twitchbaitJig with large soft plastic

Chinook Salmon

Rod 8'6"–10'6" medium-heavy casting or mooching rod, moderate action
Line 25–30 lb monofilament or 50–65 lb braid with a 20–40 lb leader

Flasher and flyTrolling spoonSardine-wrapped plugLarge inline spinner

Northern Pike

Rod 7'–7'6" medium-heavy to heavy casting or spinning, fast action
Line 30–50 lb braid with a 40–60 lb fluorocarbon or titanium/wire leader

Casting spoonInline bucktail spinnerSpinnerbaitSuspending jerkbait

Yellow Perch

Rod 6'–7' light or ultralight spinning, fast action; 24"–32" light ice rod
Line 4–6 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon; 2–4 lb for ice jigging

Small jigging spoonTungsten ice jigMicro soft plastic (1–2 in)Small tube jig

Summer Flounder (Fluke)

Rod 6'6"–7'6" medium to medium-heavy spinning or conventional, fast action
Line 20–30 lb braid with a 20–40 lb fluorocarbon leader

Bucktail jig (1–4 oz)Soft-plastic swimming mullet or jerk shadSpro-style flat jigTeaser fly or hook above the jig

Red Snapper

Rod 6'–7' heavy conventional boat rod, 30–50 lb class; 7' heavy spinning for live bait
Line 50–80 lb braid with a 40–80 lb fluorocarbon or mono leader

Slow-pitch jigSpeed jigLarge soft-plastic swimbait on heavy jig headKnife jig

Brown Trout

Rod 9' 5-weight fly rod (7-weight for streamers and lake-run fish); 6'6"–7' light spinning
Line Weight-forward floating line with 4X–6X tippet; sink-tip for streamers; 6–8 lb mono or fluorocarbon for spinning

Inline spinnerFloating minnow plugSmall jerkbaitMarabou jig

Muskellunge (Musky)

Rod 8'6"–9' extra-heavy casting, moderate-fast action; 7'6"–8' heavy for smaller baits
Line 80–100 lb braid with a 130–175 lb fluorocarbon or wire leader

Double-bladed bucktail spinnerGlide baitJerkbaitLarge crankbait (8–14 in)

Blue Catfish

Rod 7'6"–8' medium-heavy to heavy casting, moderate action
Line 30–50 lb monofilament or 65–80 lb braid; 40–60 lb mono leader

Large soft-plastic swimbaitJigging spoonDeep-diving crankbaitBlade bait

Bluefin Tuna

Rod 7'–8' heavy stand-up or rail rod rated 60–130 lb; 8' heavy popping rod for casting
Line 80–130 lb braid with 60–130 lb fluorocarbon topshot; 200 lb+ for giants

Flat-fall jigKnife jigLarge popperSinking stickbait

California Yellowtail

Rod 8' medium-heavy conventional for bait; 9'–10' jig stick for iron
Line 25–40 lb monofluoro or fluorocarbon for fly-lining; 40–65 lb for iron and dropper loops; 65 lb braid backing

Heavy yo-yo ironSurface ironKnife jigLarge sinking stickbait

Calico Bass

Rod 7'6"–8' medium-heavy casting with a fast tip
Line 40–65 lb braid with a 20–30 lb fluorocarbon leader; 15–20 lb mono for fly-lined bait

Soft-plastic swimbait on lead headWeedless swimbaitCreature bait Texas-riggedSurface iron

California Halibut

Rod 7'–8' medium conventional or spinning, moderate action
Line 20–30 lb braid with a 15–25 lb fluorocarbon leader

Paddle-tail swimbait on lead headBucktail jigCurly-tail grubLipless crankbait

Mahi-Mahi

Rod 7' medium-heavy spinning for casting and bailing; 20–30 lb class trolling rods
Line 20–30 lb monofilament or 30–50 lb braid with a 40–60 lb fluorocarbon leader

Rigged ballyhoo with skirtSmall trolling featherCedar plugPopper

King Mackerel

Rod 7' medium-light to medium live-bait rod with a soft tip; 9'–12' heavy spinning for piers
Line 20–30 lb monofilament or 30–50 lb braid with a fluorocarbon leader to a #4–#6 wire stinger

Large trolling spoonDeep-diving plugSkirted ballyhooDusters and skirts over dead bait

Cobia

Rod 7'–8' heavy spinning with a fast tip for casting; 7' medium-heavy conventional for bait
Line 40–65 lb braid with a 50–80 lb fluorocarbon leader

Bucktail jig with trailerSoft-plastic eelLarge paddle-tail swimbaitPopper

Yellowfin Tuna

Rod 5'6"–7' stand-up conventional, 50–80 lb class; 7'–8' heavy spinning for poppers and jigs
Line 80–130 lb braid or 60–80 lb mono topshot with a 60–130 lb fluorocarbon leader

Popper (large)Sinking stickbaitSpeed or knife jigCedar plug

Steelhead

Rod 9'6"–10'6" medium spinning or 11'–13' float rod; 7–8 weight single-hand or 12'–13'6" 6–7 weight Spey
Line 10–15 lb main line with 8–12 lb fluorocarbon leader; 8–12 lb tippet for flies

Beads (egg imitations)Marabou or jig under a floatInline spinnerCasting spoon

Coho Salmon

Rod 8'6"–9'6" medium casting or spinning; 8-weight fly rod
Line 15–20 lb monofilament or 30 lb braid with a 12–20 lb leader

Inline spinnerTwitching jigTrolling spoonHoochie behind a flasher