When referring to nets, reels, baits, lines, rods, hooks, sinkers, spears and lures, anglers call them fishing tackle or fishing equipment. The saltwater fishing gear that is attached at the end of a line is called terminal tackle and this category includes hooks, swivels, sinkers, and snaps.

The word tackle referring to fishing equipment comes from ‘takel’ which initially meant the rigging of a ship, or to put it otherwise, the gear consisting of ropes supporting a ship's masts and sails. Later the same word was recorded to have a different meaning, that of apparatus for fishing and that meaning has been preserved ever since.

The standard fishing equipment includes a rod with a line and a hook, a lure and a bait attached to the hook and a sinker. The line consists of a basic cord manufactured according to a specific pattern to be both resistant and nearly invisible for fish. When a fisherman buys fishing line he has to be sure that the stretch, the resistances and the strength of the product is suitable for the kind of fishing he has in mind. The line will be selected based on what kind of fish he/she intends to catch.

The sinker, also called a plummet, is actually a weight that helps in casting the hook and the bait as far as possible from the shoreline or from the boat that the fisherman uses. They are usually made of lead as their purpose is to get underwater quickly attracting the attention of fish to the bait. However, the lead sinkers have been banned in some parts of the world especially if they are really small. If swallowed by bird species or other fish, the lead causes the death of the animal.

Another standard type of fishing equipment is the hook. This is a device meant for attaching the bait and for impaling the fish mouth. These sharp “claws” get attached to the line; and the fisherman can choose from a large array of shapes, sizes and materials.

Last but not least, the fishing equipment relies on baits and lures for efficiency. The lure is a piece at the end of the line that resembles very much to prey both in movement and appearance. The color, motion and vibration of the lure become focal points for the fish that afterwards goes for the bait. Once the fish attacks the lure, it gets hooked. Bait, on the other hand, is the actual item attached to the hook and intended to be attacked and eaten by the fish. Bait can be natural including insects, little fish or worms, or artificial made of fabric or plastic materials.

Learn more about fishing, fishing techniques and fishing destinations here Beginner Fly Fishing and also here Bass Fishing Lures