Fishing tools for US anglers

Build the Right Fishing Setup

Choose your species, technique and fishing conditions to get a practical rod, reel, line and hook setup.

What are you fishing for?

Pick a species to start your setup.

Practical recommendations · Clear reasoning · Honest ranges

Not fishing for one of these? Start from a different question.

Several anglers fish from the shore and a small boat on a misty, tree-lined river.

Fishing tools

A complete setup, or help with one piece of tackle. Pick the question you came with.

All tools

Fishing Setup Builder

Build a complete setup — rod, reel, line, leader and hook — from your target species and technique.

Build my setup

Hook Size Finder

Find the right hook size for your species, bait and technique.

Find my hook size

Reel Size Finder

Choose a reel size that matches your rod, line and fishing style.

Find my reel size

Line Selector

Choose line type, strength and leader.

Choose my line

Fishing Knot Finder

Choose a practical knot for a hook, lure, swivel, leader, or line-to-line connection.

Find my knot

Rod Selector

Understand rod length, power and action, and get all three for your setup.

Find my rod

Example setup

Bass · Plastic worm · Spinning

Rod: 6'6"–7'Medium power · Fast action
Reel: 2500–3000Spinning reel
Main line: 10–15 lbBraided line
Leader: 8–12 lbFluorocarbon
Hook: 1/0–3/0Offset worm hook

See why this setup works

Fishing charts and guides

The numbers behind common tackle choices, explained simply.

Fishing Hook Size Chart

Every size from #28 to 12/0 with what each one is used for, and why the same number differs between brands.

Read the guide

Fishing Reel Size Chart

Spinning, baitcasting, conventional and fly reel classes with typical line capacity and what each size is for.

Read the guide

Fishing Line Size Chart

Pound test against typical diameter for mono, fluorocarbon and braid, and how to compare them fairly.

Read the guide

Fishing Rod Size Guide

What length, power and action each control, and how to read the specs printed on a blank.

Read the guide

Species guides

Where each fish holds, how it feeds, and setups for the ways it is actually caught.

All species guides

Practical fishing advice

How these recommendations are built

Simple: A few questions, then a practical starting point you can adjust for your water.
Practical: Ranges you can actually use standing in a tackle shop, with the reasoning behind each part.
Honest about sizing: Hook sizes and reel classes are manufacturer conventions, not standards. We say so where it matters.
Ranges, not false precision: There is no single correct fishing setup. Every recommendation comes with what would change it, and combinations anglers do not fish are explained rather than answered.

Image sources and credits