5 Traditional Fishing Tackle Hacks

When it comes to traditional fishing tackle, there's nothing wrong with finding different or more resourceful ways of using it. Sometimes you can save time and money by making a few modifications to traditional tackle or by using everyday household items. Check out these five traditional fishing tackle and gear hacks that just might help make your life easier.
 

1. Use wine corks as an easy and snag-free way to transport flies. This is a traditional fishing tackle hack that I picked up from fly casting instructor and illustrator, Joe Mahler. Sure, there are fly vests and fly bags that you can use, but if you prefer to fish along the shoreline with just a couple of your favorite flies, stick your flies into a wine cork, and then slip the cork into your pocket. Now you have an easy way to transport a few flies without having to worry about getting poked or snagged.

2. Add a streak of blood to your fishing lures using red nail polish. You may or may not believe in buying plugs or crankbaits accented with streaks of red. However, if you have a few old lures, why not give them a touch of red nail polish or permanent red marker to see if they happen to get a few more strikes? While the color red loses visibility in deeper water, you might be surprised by the results when fishing in shallow areas.

3. Use both sides and the middle of your soft plastic stick baits. Once you've rigged and re-rigged your soft plastic stick baits a few times and your hook will no longer hold in the plastic on one end, just flip the soft plastic stick bait around and rig it through the opposite end. Once you've used both sides, you can even get more use out of it by rigging it wacky style through the center.

4. Remove the treble hooks on your fishing lures and add circle hooks. You can help increase fish survival rates when using artificial lures by removing treble hooks and replacing them with circle hooks. Just remember not to set the hook when fishing with circle hooks — all you have to do is reel.

5. Use your nail clippers for line cutters. If you're preparing for a fishing trip and can't find your line cutter or scissors, just bring along your nail clippers instead. I can't tell you how many times I've attempted to use the line cutter on my pliers only to find it corroded or locked up, so I always keep an extra pair of nail clippers around.

Now that you have a few traditional fishing tackle hacks to try, find a new fishing spot in your state and test them out on the water.

Debbie Hanson

Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer, women’s sport fishing advocate, IGFA world record holder, and freshwater guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Florida Game & Fish Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2.com or follow her on Instagram @shefishes2.