Walk into a tackle shop for the first time and it can feel like everyone’s speaking another language. Spoons that aren’t for soup. Flies that don’t fly. Something called a crankbait. Fishing tools have some genuinely strange names, and nobody hands you a dictionary at the door.
This guide takes nine of the oddest-sounding bits of gear and explains, in plain English, what each one does, where the name probably comes from and the beginner mistake to avoid. By the end, the tackle aisle should make a lot more sense.
Why fishing tools have such weird names
Most fishing terms are simply descriptions that stuck. A bobber bobs. A sinker sinks. A crankbait is something you crank. Over time, nicknames and shorthand turned into the official names printed on the packet.
Regional words add to the confusion. What American anglers call a bobber, many British anglers call a float, and a sinker is often called a “lead” or “weight” in the UK. Same gear, different words, so if you’re reading advice from overseas, keep that in mind.
1. Bobber
Where the name comes from: It bobs on the surface when a fish nibbles at your bait. Not much mystery here.
What it does: A bobber floats on the water and holds your bait at a set depth below it. When a fish takes the bait, the bobber dips, twitches or shoots under. It’s your bite alarm.
Pro tip: A slip bobber slides on your line and stops at a small knot or bead you set. That makes it easy to change your depth without re-rigging, and it’s handy when the fish are deeper than your rod is long.
Common mistake: Using a bobber that’s too big for your bait. If a fish has to drag a big float under, it may feel the resistance and let go. Use the smallest bobber that still holds your bait up. Our beginner’s guide to fishing floats covers the different types in more detail.
2. Sinker
Where the name comes from: It sinks. Refreshingly honest.
What it does: A sinker is a weight on your line that gets your bait down to where the fish are, and helps hold it there in current or wind. Sinkers come in lots of shapes, from small split shot you pinch onto the line to heavier egg and pyramid sinkers.
Common mistake: Using more weight than you need. Too much makes your bait sit unnaturally and makes bites harder to feel. Start light and add weight only if your bait won’t get down or stay put.
3. Swivel
Where the name comes from: It swivels. Two rings joined by a barrel that spins freely.
What it does: A swivel joins two pieces of line and lets them spin independently. That stops line twist, which is common with spinning lures or when bait spins in current. Snap swivels add a clip so you can change lures quickly.
Common mistake: Using a swivel that’s much heavier than your line or lure needs. A chunky swivel can spoil the action of a small lure. Match the size to the job.
4. Leader
Where the name comes from: It leads the way to the hook. It’s the last section of line before your lure or bait.
What it does: A leader is a short length of line tied between your main line and your hook or lure. Depending on the situation, it might be less visible, more resistant to rubbing on rocks, or made of wire to stand up to sharp teeth. Anglers fishing for pike and musky often use a wire or heavy leader for exactly that reason.
Common mistake: Tying the leader on with a weak knot. Your setup is only as strong as its weakest connection. Practice a reliable knot at home first.
5. Fly
Where the name comes from: Many of the original patterns imitated flying insects, and the name stuck even for patterns that look like minnows, leeches or crayfish.
What it does: A fly is a very light lure, usually made from feathers, fur and thread tied onto a hook. Because it weighs almost nothing, fly fishing uses a heavy fly line to carry it out when you cast.
Pro tip: “Match the hatch.” Look at what insects are on or around the water, then pick a fly of a similar size and color. Size often matters more than exact looks.
6. Jig
Where the name comes from: The origin is a bit murky, but the name fits the action: you make it hop and dance through the water.
What it does: A jig is a hook with a weighted head, usually dressed with a soft plastic body, hair or a skirt. You fish it by lifting and dropping your rod tip so it hops along the bottom or through the water. Jigs catch a huge range of species, from crappie and walleye to bass.
Common mistake: Jigging hard and fast all the time. Sometimes a slow, subtle lift-and-drop gets more bites. Vary it until the fish tell you what they want.
7. Spoon
Where the name comes from: It looks like the bowl of a spoon.
What it does: A spoon is a curved piece of metal that wobbles and flashes as you reel it in, a bit like a small injured baitfish. Think of it as a disco ball for fish. Spoons are popular for pike, trout, bass and many saltwater species.
Common mistake: Reeling too fast. If the spoon spins rather than wobbles, slow down and let its shape do the work.
8. Crankbait
Where the name comes from: You “crank” the reel handle to make it work.
What it does: A crankbait is a hard-bodied lure, usually with a plastic lip at the front. When you reel it in, the lip makes it dive and wobble. The size and angle of the lip roughly decide how deep it goes, and most packets list the running depth. For more on how crankbaits compare with other lures, see our beginner’s guide to fishing lures.
Pro tip: Pick a crankbait that runs at or just above the depth where you expect fish to be. Bumping it off rocks or timber can trigger strikes, too.
9. Gaff
Where the name comes from: “Gaff” is an old word for a hook, and that’s exactly what this tool is: a big hook on a handle.
What it does: A gaff is a large, sharp hook on a pole or handle, used to lift big fish into a boat, mostly in saltwater.
Handle with care: A gaff causes serious injury, so it’s only for fish you’re keeping and are allowed to keep. For any fish you plan to release, use a landing net, ideally a knotless rubber one, and wet hands. Take Me Fishing’s release guide recommends wet hands or a knotless rubberized net and keeping fish out of the water no longer than necessary. Gaffs are also restricted for some species and waters, so check your local regulations. Treat it like any sharp tool and keep the point covered when it’s not in use.
Common mistake: Reaching for a gaff out of habit. Most beginners fishing freshwater will never need one.
Your next step
You don’t need all nine fishing tools to get started. A rod, some line, a few hooks, a couple of sinkers and a bobber will catch plenty of panfish from the bank. Pick one or two tools from this list, learn what they do on your next trip, and add more as you go.
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