To complete your kit you can also obtain a number of additional items, some necessary, some optional. Those described here are by no means a comprehensive list, but cover the basics.
The following items fall into the category of ‘essential’ or ‘highly desirable’ fishing equipment.
Plummets
These are small weighted devices incorporating either a strip of cork or a hinge to hold the hook while lowering the tackle into the swim to check the depth. These are inexpensive items, and it is useful to have a few as they are easily lost or mislaid when you need them.
Float Caps
As explained in the section on river floats, you will need some plastic or silicon tubing in various thicknesses to attach floats to the line. These are described as ‘Float Caps’ or ‘Float Rubbers’ the latter because they were made of rubber before modern materials were available.
You can either buy a packet of pre-cut tubing in mixed sizes, or obtain lengths of plastic or silicon tubing to cut to size when needed.
Float Adapters
These are devices designed to slip over the bottom of ‘bottom-only’ floats so that if you want to change to a different float during a session you can do so without having to take everything apart.
They are not an essential item by any means as most floats will incorporate a ring for attaching them to the line, but they can save time if a change in conditions means you need to use a heavier float, and they are quite inexpensive.
Some are moulded in one piece from silicon or plastic, and others incorporate a swivel. I’ve never found much difference in use, so either will do, but it is advisable to get some in different sizes to accommodate different thicknesses of float.
Leger Stops
These are designed to be used to prevent a leger weight or swimfeeder from sliding all of the way down the line to the hook. An alternative method is to pinch a piece of shot on the line. Personally I don’t find them necessary, while others swear by them as they believe they are less likely to damage fine line. The choice is yours, but if you’re on a tight budget they are not essential.
Swivels
Swivels are devices that are attached to the line in some situations to prevent the line twisting and in some long distance casting situations they can help to avoid tangles. Having a few in your tackle box can be useful, but they are not essential for most general coarse fishing.
They are relatively cheap, and available in a wide range of sizes. For coarse fishing you don’t need the very large or very small ones and a few of about 5 to 6 mm will cover those situations where you may need them.
Accessories
The following accessories will be useful as part of your fishing kit:
- A small pair of scissors will be useful for cutting line etc.
- A small penknife has a variety of uses as you will discover.
- Nail clippers are a cheap alternative to specialised line cutters for trimming knots.
- A small pair of pliers can be useful for tackle repairs and loosening corroded screw threads on extending banksticks and umbrellas.
Specialist Fishing items
There are many specialised items that can be purchased, and whilst not necessarily essential these may be useful.
Beads
Hard beads made of plastic, and soft beads made of rubber or silicon can be useful in constructing rigs for legering.
Silicon Tubing
Silicon tubing is sometimes used in rig construction as well as for attaching floats to line.
Hair rig stops
These are small ‘pegs’ used to anchor a bait to the line using a ‘hair rig’. A hair rig is a term used to describe a tackle arrangement where the bait is not attached to the hook itself, but to a ‘hair’ of line or other material. At one time hair rigs were only used for carp fishing, but they are now popular for other species such as Barbel.
Bait Bands
These are silicon bands available in a range of sizes that can be used to attach hard baits such pellets, or large baits such as bread flake to the hook.
Baiting Needle
If you intend to use hair rigs a baiting needle with a small hook near the point will be needed to thread baits such as boilies or soft pellets on to the ‘hair’.