Utility

Session checklist

Pick what you are fishing for and how. The list below fills in the tackle figures for that species and adds the kit, the fish-welfare steps and the rules worth checking before you set off.

Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · Editorial policy

Choose

What are you fishing for?

SpeciesMethod

The full Texas Rig setup for Largemouth Bass →

Rod, reel & line

Rod: Medium to Medium-Heavy, fast action, 6.5–7.5 ftReel: 2500–3000 spinning, or a low-profile baitcasterMain line: 10–20 lb, enough for a fresh spool or a re-spool mid-sessionHooks and terminal tackle: 1/0–5/0 worm hooks; 2–1/0 trebles on hard baitsRig or lure for Texas Rig: spares, because the first one always goes on a rockLeader material and a knot you can tie properly in the cold

Bait

Bait that suits largemouth bass — it feeds on what it knows, so match the waterEnough for a full session plus a margin for lossesSomething to keep it alive, cool or dampA container for bait you decide not to use, so it does not end up in the water

Bankside kit

Landing net, the right size and wetted before you need itUnhooking mat or a large landing towel for anything heavier than a couple of poundsLong-nosed pliers or a hook remover, and line clippersRod rests, a pole support or a sand spike depending on the bankA bucket with a lanyard, and a towel you do not mind getting muddyHeadlamp or torch — sessions always end later than planned

Fish welfare

Wet your hands before touching a fish, and keep it in or over the waterUnhook quickly and with the least air exposure you can manageRevive the fish upright in calm water until it swims off under its own powerKeep your keepnet or unhooking mat in the shade and the water cool

Before you leave home

Licence or permit for the region you are fishing, and the water's own day ticketThe water's rules: barbless hooks, lead sinkers, bait limits, rig restrictions and rod numbers all varyClosed season for the species and the water — some months are no-goes for reasons of breedingWeather and, near the coast, tide times and any flood risk on the bankSomeone who knows which water you are on and when you expect to be back

Rules are not the same anywhere

Nothing on this list overrides the water you are fishing. Rod limits, bait bans, hook rules and access all differ, so read the water's own notice board or rules page before you unpack.