TackleChoice

Fishing tool

Fishing Setup Builder

Answer five short questions and get a complete setup for your next trip: rod, reel, main line, leader and hook, with the reasoning behind every part.

Step 3 of 5

Step 1 of 5

What are you fishing for?

Step 2 of 5

Fresh or salt water?

Step 3 of 5

How are you fishing?
Start over No sign-up. Nothing is saved.

How this tool works

Your answers are matched against a rules table built from published tackle guidance and manufacturer specifications, then adjusted for water type, bait and experience level. A small set of hand-written rules covers the combinations where that arithmetic would give a poor answer.

The same rules produce every recommendation on this site, so a species page and this tool can never disagree. Nothing is generated on the fly by a language model, and nothing is influenced by a product. Read the methodology.

  • It gives you ranges, not a shopping listEvery part comes back as a working range. Two anglers on the same lake can both be right with different tackle, and the tool tells you what would move the answer.
  • It does not know your waterClarity, cover, current and the average size of fish where you fish all matter. The result page lists the variables that would push you up or down a step.
  • Nothing is savedYour answers travel in the address bar so you can bookmark or share a result. There is no account and no stored history.

Reference charts

The numbers behind these recommendations, with what each size is actually used for.

Browse the guides

Related tools

Hook Size Finder

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

1 min No signup Open tool

Reel Size Finder

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

1 min No signup Open tool

Line Selector

Choose line type, strength and leader.

1 min No signup Open tool

Rod Selector

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

1 min No signup Open tool

Related guides

  • Fishing Hook Size ChartEvery size from #28 to 12/0 with what each one is used for, and why the same number differs between brands.
  • Fishing Reel Size ChartSpinning, baitcasting, conventional and fly reel classes with typical line capacity and what each size is for.
  • Fishing Line Size ChartPound test against typical diameter for mono, fluorocarbon and braid, and how to compare them fairly.
  • Fishing Rod Size GuideWhat length, power and action each control, and how to read the specs printed on a blank.

Hook sizes by species