Monofilament is still the smartest first spool for most anglers. How to choose the right mono and where each type of line performs best.

Braided line has almost no stretch, so you feel every tap, and packs more strength into a thinner diameter than nylon.

Metal lures cast far, sink fast and trigger strikes. Here are five types of metal fishing lure, from slugs to jigs, and how to choose the right one.

Hard-body lures cast well and trigger reaction strikes. Here are five types, from shallow minnows to lipless vibes, and how to choose the right one.

A rod bag or case protects long, fragile rods from transport knocks for very little outlay. Compare soft sleeves, padded holdalls, hard tubes and racks.

The jig head decides how your soft plastic sinks, swims and hooks up. Here is how to match weight, shape and hook to the water in front of you.

The leader takes all the abuse your main line is not built for. Get it right and you feel more bites and lose fewer fish.

A sharp, purpose-made line cutter turns a frustrating fumble with braid into a clean snip, and it costs very little.

A good tackle box turns a tangle of hooks and lures into a grab-and-go system. Here are the main storage styles and five options to compare.

A decent bait board turns the messiest part of fishing into a quick, clean job.