Must-Have Tackle for a Beginner's Box

When you’re new to fishing, the wall of lures and tackle at the store can be paralysing. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) puts it plainly: you don’t need to spend a lot of money on fancy equipment to go fishing, and a short list of basics will equip you for your first outings. This guide follows MDC’s pages on fishing gear, rigging and bait.

Start with terminal tackle

“Terminal tackle” is the small hardware at the end of your line. MDC’s beginner list:

• Hooks: a package of size 6.
• Split shot: a “wheel” of split shot in assorted sizes - small weights you pinch onto the line to get the bait down.
• Bell sinkers: a package of three ½-ounce bell sinkers, for holding bait on the bottom.
• Bobbers: two or three. MDC suggests a small, streamlined bobber, balanced with enough split shot that a fish can pull it under without much resistance.

MDC’s rigging advice: use tackle as light as you can. On a calm day one or two split shot are often enough, and lighter weight is less likely to alert a fish that is sampling your bait.

A few lures

MDC notes that lures typically work best when they resemble prey - fish, crayfish, worms, insects, or frogs - and that bait and lure size should match the size of the fish. Its suggestions by species point to a short list of types worth carrying:

• Plastic worms - for bass.
• Jigs - for bass, crappie, walleye and (small ones) bluegill.
• Spinners and spinnerbaits - small spinners for bluegill, crappie and trout; spinnerbaits for bass.
• Crankbaits - for bass, walleye and (small ones) crappie.
• Jigging spoons - for walleye, and occasionally catfish.

Our tackle-by-species tool suggests gear for each fish, including largemouth bass and crappie.

Don’t forget bait

MDC calls a worm, or part of a night crawler, probably the best all-around bait: it catches panfish and trout as well as most larger species. Keep bait fresh, and never dump unused live bait into the water, where unwanted animals can invade (MDC). Our guide to live bait vs lures compares the two.

The tools you need

MDC’s list includes:

• Needle-nose pliers - for removing hooks; MDC also suggests hemostats.
• Fingernail clippers - for trimming line.
• A small plastic tackle box.
• A cooler or bucket, with ice in warm months, if you plan to keep fish.

Add a measuring tape or board if you plan to keep fish, so you can check legal lengths; our guide to bag and slot limits explains them. A landing net helps too: NOAA Fisheries recommends a wet, soft knotless or rubber net for fish you plan to release.

Organising it

Sort tackle by type into small compartments - hooks, weights, bobbers, lures - so you can find what you need quickly.

A note on local rules

Check your state’s regulations before you fish: whether you need a licence, and the rules on sizes, daily limits and bait for the water you fish. Missouri, for example, requires a permit for residents aged 16 to 64 and for nonresidents (MDC).

Conclusion

A beginner’s box needs size 6 hooks, split shot, a few bell sinkers, two or three bobbers, a handful of lures matched to your fish, pliers and clippers. That’s enough to catch fish.

Sources

• Missouri Department of Conservation, Fishing gear, Rigging your pole, Bait and lures and Fishing tips. Read 28 October 2026.
• NOAA Fisheries, Catch and Release Best Practices. Read 28 October 2026.

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Recommended Gear on Amazon

• Beginner tackle kit - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.
• Hook assortment - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.
• Bobber and sinker kit - browse current options and reviews on Amazon.

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