The Tackle Log | Field Notes, Tide Reports & Fishing Craft

All StoriesEverything, newest first

Fishing Tips47 articles · From beginner to pro

Species Guides20 articles · Target the right fish

Gear Reviews8 articles · Rods, reels, lures

How-To5 articles · Cast, retrieve, land

Locations5 articles · Florida coast guides

Species Hubs5 articles · Field guides per fish

THIS WEEK'S BITE · LIVE

Right now in Tampa Bay · Inshore

Updated Jun 11, 12:40 AM. Data feeds from the Tackle app.

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7.6

/ 10

Solid window

Good window if you time the tide.

TIDE Low 4:35 AMFalling

MOON Waning Crescent13% illuminated

WIND7 mph ESECurrent

PRESSURE30.01Rising ↑

BAIT ACTIVITYPeak — threadfins & pilchards, beach and passes

READ BEFORE YOU GO

How to Catch Flies: Complete Guide

7 min · Tackle Team

How to Fillet a Fish: Complete Guide

7 min · Tackle Team

How to Catch a Carp: Complete Guide

7 min · Tackle Team

How to Fish for Crappie: Complete Guide

FEATUREFISHING TIPS

How to Fish for Crappie: Complete Guide

Best for: Beginner to intermediate anglers What you need: Light tackle, jigs, live bait DO THIS FIRST: Choose the right body of water with structure...

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Tackle TeamApril 12, 2026 · 7 min read

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Best Topwater Bass Lure: Complete Guide

- Lure choice: Pop-R and Zara Spook are effective options. - Best spots: Fish near vegetation, submerged structures, and current seams.

Tackle Team·Apr 11

Best Topwater Baits for Bass: Complete Guide

Best for: All skill levels What you need: Topwater baits, fishing rod, fishing line, tackle box DO THIS FIRST: Choose the right topwater bait based on...

Tackle Team·Apr 11

How to Bass Fish: Complete Guide

- Best Lures: Senko worms, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. - Where to Fish: Near structures like rocks, fallen trees, and weed beds.

Tackle Team·Apr 11

How to Catch Bass: Complete Guide

Best for: All skill levels What you need: Bass lures, fishing rod, fishing line DO THIS FIRST: Ensure your tackle is ready with sharp hooks and...

Tackle Team·Apr 11

How to Tie a Loop Knot: Complete Guide

Best for: All skill levels What you need: Fishing line, scissors, and a lure or hook DO THIS FIRST: Gather your fishing line and a hook or lure to...

Tackle Team·Apr 10

How to Tie a Hook: Complete Guide

Best for: Beginner to advanced anglers What you need: Fishing line, hooks, pliers DO THIS FIRST: Gather your tackle box and ensure you have a variety...

Tackle Team·Apr 9

How to Fish for Carp: Complete Guide

- Lure/Bait Choice: Sweet corn, dough balls, or boilies. - Where to Fish: Shallow areas near vegetation or the edges of lakes and rivers.

Tackle Team·Apr 9

Best Jigs for Bass: 7 Styles Every Angler Needs

A full breakdown of bass jigs: flipping, swim, football and finesse jigs. When to use each one and the top models on the market.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

Finesse Fishing Techniques: Catch Bass on Tough Days

Master finesse fishing for tough bass. Covers drop shot, shaky head, Ned rig, wacky rig, split shot, and light line techniques for pressured fish.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

Fishing with Worms: Everything You Need to Know

Complete guide to fishing with worms. Live worms, plastic worms, rigging methods, best species to target and pro tips for catching more fish on every trip.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

Fly Fishing for Beginners: Start Catching Fish Today

A no-nonsense guide to fly fishing for beginners. Covers gear basics, casting technique, fly selection, reading water, and your first trip plan.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

How to Fish Plastic Worms: The Bass Angler's Secret Weapon

Master plastic worm fishing with proven rigging methods, color selection, and retrieval techniques that catch bass year-round.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

How to Use Blade Baits: The Cold Water Secret

Master blade bait fishing for bass, walleye, and smallmouth in cold water. Covers the lift-and-fall technique, line tie positions, and seasonal strategies.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

How to Use Bucktail Jigs: The Most Versatile Lure in Saltwater

Master bucktail jig fishing for striped bass, fluke, bluefish and more. Covers jigging techniques, trailer combos, weight selection, and saltwater strategies.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

How to Use Crawfish Lures: Match the #1 Bass Forage

Complete guide to crawfish lures and imitations. Covers soft plastic craws, craw jig trailers, crankbaits with crawfish patterns, color matching, and seasonal strategies.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

How to Use Frog Lures for Bass: The Heavy Cover Playbook

Master frog fishing for bass in heavy cover. Covers hollow body frogs, popping frogs, walking frogs, retrieval techniques, gear setup, and when to throw a frog.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

How to Use Inline Spinners: The Ultimate Multi-Species Lure

Master inline spinner fishing for trout, bass, panfish, and pike. Covers blade types, size selection, stream techniques, and lake strategies.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

How to Use Jig Heads: The Foundation of Soft Plastic Fishing

Complete guide to jig head fishing. Covers head shapes, weight selection, soft plastic pairings, retrieval techniques, and species-specific setups.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

How to Use Popper Lures: Master the Surface Strike

Learn how to fish popper lures for explosive topwater strikes. Covers popper types, retrieval techniques, best conditions, color selection, and gear setup.

Tackle Team·Mar 30

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BY LOCATION

Destination guides, Florida coast

Local intel from captains and scientists who fish these waters every week.

Tampa Bay

Snook, reds, and the spring tarpon migration.

Sarasota

Shallow grass flats and big-fish shortcuts.

Naples

Ten Thousand Islands, pristine backwater country.

Miami

Urban flats plus offshore access in one city.

Fort Myers

Sanibel, Pine Island Sound, and the calusa maze.

THE APP BEHIND THE BLOG

Everything you just read — but personalized for your spot.

Tackle turns these articles into a real-time fishing score for your location. Tides, weather, moon, bait activity — one number, updated every hour.

Download for iPhone See how it works

★★★★★

4.9 · 10,000+ anglers

SAT · APR 20

Tampa Bay · Inshore

MR

8.4

Great fishing day

TIDE↑ 6:42p

WIND6 kt E

MOON68%

✓ Snook feeding

✓ Bait active

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