Fishing rigs: lines, rods, reels, and leaders
Match a fishing line, rod, reel, and leader. Compare types, then open one for sizes, methods, and when it belongs on a kit.
Lines, rods, reels, and leaders
Line, rod, reel, and leader work as one matched kit. Tabs group the four parts. Open an item for sizes, methods, and when that type belongs on the outfit.
Fishing lines
Monofilament, fluorocarbon, braid, and fly fishing line. Open a type for diameters, break strength, and when it belongs on a matched kit.
Fishing rods
Spinning, baitcasting, fly, and surf fishing rods. Open a type for length, power, and the methods it is built to fish.
Fishing reels
Spinning, baitcasting, fly, and boat fishing reels. Open a type for size, drag, and when it pairs with the rod.
Fishing leaders
Fluorocarbon, wire, tippet, and shock fishing leaders. Open a type for diameter, strength, and when it sits between line and hook.
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Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
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Fluorocarbon line
Fluorocarbon fishing line is the low-visibility main for clear water.
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Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
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Fused line
Fused fishing line is thermally bonded polyethylene, in the FireLine style: thin and almost stretch-free, but not a woven braid.
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Copolymer line
Copolymer fishing line is a nylon mix that sits between monofilament and fluorocarbon: less stretch and more scrape resistance than cheap mono.
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Leadcore line
Leadcore fishing line is a coated trolling main that sinks on its own so the lure runs deep without a downrigger on every rod.
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Wire line
Wire fishing line is a trolling main for toothy fish and deep presentations.
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Fly line
Fly line is the weighted shooting line that carries a near-weightless fly.
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Backing
Fly line backing fills the reel under the fly line so a long run does not hit the arbor.
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Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank.
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Casting rod
A casting rod is the over-reel fishing rod for baitcasting and conventional reels.
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Baitcasting rod
A baitcasting rod is the dedicated over-reel fishing rod for a low-profile or round baitcaster.
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Surfcasting rod
A surfcasting rod is the long beach fishing rod for punching bait past the breakers.
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Beach rod
A beach rod is a long spinning fishing rod for mixed surf and estuary work: still length, but shorter and lighter than a full surfcaster.
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Rock fishing rod
A rock fishing rod is a fast spinning blank for casting from ledges into swell, with extra backbone to lift fish off the stones.
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Inshore rod
An inshore rod is the salt spinning fishing rod for boat and shore work inside the bar: jigs, poppers, and live bait in one family.
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Offshore rod
An offshore rod is the one-piece boat fishing rod for deep jigging, trolling, and live bait in open salt water.
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Boat rod
A boat rod is the short, stout fishing rod for work under the hull: bottom fishing, trolling, drift, and live bait in fresh or salt.
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Trolling rod
A trolling rod is built to sit in a holder and pull a lure or bait at speed.
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Jigging rod
A jigging rod is the short, powerful fishing rod for working a metal jig up through the column, including freshwater jigging.
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Slow pitch jigging rod
A slow pitch jigging rod is a parabolic boat rod that flicks a slow-pitch jig into a wide, falling glide.
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Eging rod
An eging rod is the light, fast spinning fishing rod for squid jigs (egi).
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Feeder rod
A feeder rod is a long, quiver-tipped fishing rod for casting a feeder and watching the tip for bites.
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Match rod
A match rod is the long, light float fishing rod for waggler work on lakes and slow rivers, built for fine line and small hooks.
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Float rod
A float rod is the all-round fishing rod for a float in rivers and still water, a step down in length from match.
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Carp rod
A carp rod is the long fishing rod for feeder and bottom fishing to specimen carp, with power to cast leads and play heavy fish.
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Fly rod
A fly rod is a fishing rod sized by line weight, with a fly reel seat.
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Tenkara rod
A tenkara rod is a telescopic, reel-less fishing rod for fixed-line fly fishing in streams.
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Centerpin rod
A centerpin rod is a long, soft float fishing rod paired with a free-spool centerpin reel for trotting bait down a river.
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Pole rod
A fishing pole is a telescopic, reel-less rod for presenting a light float or rig under the tip.
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Ultralight rod
An ultralight rod is a short, very light spinning fishing rod for tiny lures and small fish.
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Travel rod
A travel rod is a multi-piece spinning fishing rod that packs into a tube for trains and flights.
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Telescopic rod
A telescopic fishing rod collapses into itself for walking and bike kits.
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Ice fishing rod
An ice fishing rod is a short stick for fishing through a hole.
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Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits.
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Baitcasting reel
A baitcasting reel sits on top of the fishing rod.
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Conventional reel
A conventional reel is the lever-drag boat fishing reel for trolling and bottom fishing.
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Round reel
A round reel is the classic cylindrical baitcast body for heavier freshwater and inshore work.
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Low profile reel
A low-profile reel is the compact baitcast body that sits in the palm for all-day casting.
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Fly reel
A fly reel is a large-arbor drum that stores backing and fly line.
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Centerpin reel
A centerpin reel is a free-spool drum for trotting a float.
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Trolling reel
A trolling reel is the dedicated lever-drag fishing reel for pulling lures behind a boat, often in a holder all day.
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Jigging reel
A jigging reel is a compact, high-speed conventional for working metal jigs.
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Electric reel
An electric reel cranks for you on deep drops and heavy fish.
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Ice fishing reel
An ice fishing reel is a small spinning or inline reel for fishing through a hole.
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Spincast reel
A spincast reel is the closed-face button fishing reel.
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Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
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Monofilament leader
A monofilament leader is a stretchy, cheap shock between main line and terminal tackle.
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Wire leader
A wire leader is the short bite-off trace for toothy fish.
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Steel leader
A steel leader is seven-strand wire: flexible enough to knot or crimp, still tooth-proof.
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Titanium leader
A titanium leader is a single-strand bite trace that springs back after a bend.
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Bite leader
A bite leader is a heavy polymer — thick fluorocarbon or monofilament — for fish that rasp rather than cut with scissors teeth.
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Shock leader
A shock leader is a thick mono or tapered section that takes the cast.
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Tippet
Tippet is the fine, replaceable end of a fly leader, sized in X so you can match the fly and the fish.
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Trace wire
A trace is a short metal or heavy hooklength on bait rigs, especially boat and beach traces.
Guides and comparisons
- Braid to Mono Knots: Double Uni and FG Knot How to join braided main line to a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. The double uni is the easy, reliable join; the FG knot is the slim, strongest one.
- Spinning Reel vs Baitcaster: Which Reel Should You Use? Spinning reels are easy and cast light lures well. Baitcasters give more control and power with heavier lures and line. How to choose.
- Spinning Reel Size Chart: Which Size Do You Need? Spinning reel sizes from 1000 to 8000 explained: line capacity, line strength, rod length and the fish each size suits.
- How to Put Braid on a Spinning Reel (Without Slipping) Braid slips on a bare spool. Use a mono backing or tape, spool it under tension, and fill to just below the lip. Step by step.
- Braid vs Mono vs Fluorocarbon: Which Fishing Line to Use Braid casts far and feels every touch, mono stretches and forgives, fluorocarbon disappears and resists abrasion. Here is when to use each.