# Terminal Tackle

Terminal tackle is the hardware tied onto the end of a line — hooks, sinkers, swivels, floats, and leaders — and each piece trades a different thing: hook shape trades hooking percentage for gut-hook risk, sinker material trades sink rate for cost and legality, swivel type trades smooth rotation for price, and leader material trades invisibility for abrasion resistance.

## How it works

A hook's bend, point, and barb set how it penetrates and holds; wire gauge and shank length decide how much bait it carries and how hard it can be fought. A sinker gets bait down and holds it there: shape decides whether it anchors on bottom or slides free, and material trades density and cost against toxicity, since lead poisons wildlife and is banned in parts of the US, UK, and Canada. A swivel sits between line and leader and spins so a lure's action doesn't twist the main line; a snap lets an angler swap lures without re-tying. A float suspends bait at a set depth and signals a bite by moving; a slip float rides the line past a stop, so deep water can still be cast. A leader is a short, tougher length tied above the hook to resist abrasion or a toothy fish's teeth.

## How an expert narrows the choice

```mermaid
timeline
  section 1 · Piece of tackle
    hook : ask Hook style, Hook size : skip Sinker shape, Sinker material, Weight, How it attaches, Swivel type, Swivel material/finish, Swivel, snap, or both, Rated strength, Float style, Fixed or slip, Leader material, Leader test strength
    sinker_weight : ask Sinker shape, Sinker material : skip Hook style, Hook size, Wire gauge, Shank length, Point count, Barbed or barbless, Hook material/finish, Swivel type, Swivel material/finish, Swivel, snap, or both, Rated strength, Float style, Fixed or slip, Leader material, Leader test strength
    swivel_snap : ask Swivel type, Swivel material/finish, Rated strength : skip Hook style, Hook size, Wire gauge, Shank length, Point count, Barbed or barbless, Hook material/finish, Sinker shape, Sinker material, Weight, How it attaches, Float style, Fixed or slip, Leader material, Leader test strength
    float_bobber : ask Float style, Fixed or slip : skip Hook style, Hook size, Wire gauge, Shank length, Point count, Barbed or barbless, Hook material/finish, Sinker shape, Sinker material, Weight, How it attaches, Swivel type, Swivel material/finish, Swivel, snap, or both, Rated strength, Leader material, Leader test strength
    leader : ask Leader material, Leader test strength : skip Hook style, Hook size, Wire gauge, Shank length, Point count, Barbed or barbless, Hook material/finish, Sinker shape, Sinker material, Weight, How it attaches, Swivel type, Swivel material/finish, Swivel, snap, or both, Rated strength, Float style, Fixed or slip
  section 2 · Freshwater or saltwater
    saltwater : ask Hook material/finish, Swivel material/finish, Leader material
```

1. **Piece of tackle.** A hook, sinker, swivel, float, or leader?
   Each piece has its own job and its own spec sheet; a hook's point style has nothing to do with a sinker's material, so this fork decides which facet set to ask next.
   If hook: ask Hook style, Hook size; skip Sinker shape, Sinker material, Weight, How it attaches, Swivel type, Swivel material/finish, Swivel, snap, or both, Rated strength, Float style, Fixed or slip, Leader material, Leader test strength.
   If sinker_weight: ask Sinker shape, Sinker material; skip Hook style, Hook size, Wire gauge, Shank length, Point count, Barbed or barbless, Hook material/finish, Swivel type, Swivel material/finish, Swivel, snap, or both, Rated strength, Float style, Fixed or slip, Leader material, Leader test strength.
   If swivel_snap: ask Swivel type, Swivel material/finish, Rated strength; skip Hook style, Hook size, Wire gauge, Shank length, Point count, Barbed or barbless, Hook material/finish, Sinker shape, Sinker material, Weight, How it attaches, Float style, Fixed or slip, Leader material, Leader test strength.
   If float_bobber: ask Float style, Fixed or slip; skip Hook style, Hook size, Wire gauge, Shank length, Point count, Barbed or barbless, Hook material/finish, Sinker shape, Sinker material, Weight, How it attaches, Swivel type, Swivel material/finish, Swivel, snap, or both, Rated strength, Leader material, Leader test strength.
   If leader: ask Leader material, Leader test strength; skip Hook style, Hook size, Wire gauge, Shank length, Point count, Barbed or barbless, Hook material/finish, Sinker shape, Sinker material, Weight, How it attaches, Swivel type, Swivel material/finish, Swivel, snap, or both, Rated strength, Float style, Fixed or slip.
   Skip if already known: a query that already names 'hook', 'sinker', 'weight', 'swivel', 'float', 'bobber', or 'leader'.

2. **Freshwater or saltwater.** Freshwater, saltwater, or both?
   Saltwater corrodes plain brass and bronze fast, so it pushes every piece toward stainless, black-nickel, or titanium finishes; freshwater gear can stay cheaper and lighter.
   If saltwater: ask Hook material/finish, Swivel material/finish, Leader material.
   Skip if already known: an earlier answer naming a saltwater or inshore/offshore species, or a freshwater species like bass or trout.

## What to surface

### Piece of tackle

Which terminal-tackle component this is: a hook, a sinker/weight, a swivel or snap, a float/bobber, or a leader. Each component is judged on completely different specs — a hook's point style, a sinker's material, a swivel's rotation, a float's buoyancy, a leader's abrasion resistance — so asking this first avoids asking about wire gauge on a sinker or density on a hook. [3]

Values: hook, sinker_weight, swivel_snap, float_bobber, leader.
Question to ask: A hook, sinker, swivel, float, or leader?

Used as: top-level split, filter. Data: derived from listing fields, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Derive from the product title and category breadcrumb ('Fish Hooks', 'Sinkers & Weights', 'Swivels', 'Floats & Bobbers', 'Leader Material').
Title keyword match covers nearly every listing; combo packs (e.g. a rig with a hook, swivel, and sinker pre-tied) should be tagged by their dominant named piece.

### Freshwater or saltwater

Whether the tackle is meant for freshwater, saltwater, or is rated for both. Saltwater is corrosive and often pairs with bigger, harder-fighting, or toothier fish, so it pushes hook and swivel material toward stainless or titanium and strength ratings higher; plain brass or bronze that is fine in a lake rusts or snaps fast in the ocean. [11]

Values: freshwater, saltwater, both.
Question to ask: Freshwater, saltwater, or both?

Used as: top-level split, filter. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Often stated directly ('saltwater swivel', 'freshwater hook') or implied by the finish named (stainless/black-nickel skews saltwater, bronze skews freshwater).
Keyword match the title; default unstated finishes to freshwater since it is the larger US retail segment.

### Hook size

Where the hook falls on the standard numbering scale, which runs from tiny (32) up through 1, then switches to 1/0 ("one-aught") up toward 20/0 for larger hooks (Eagle Claw's own chart tops out at 19/0; the top end varies by brand); bigger number-with-aught means a bigger hook, bigger plain number means a smaller one. Size sets what the hook can physically hold and what mouth it fits: panfish and trout need size 6–14, bass and catfish 1–5/0, and big-game species 6/0 and up. There is no cross-brand standard, so the same number differs slightly between manufacturers. [1] [7]

Values: tiny_14_to_32, small_6_to_12, medium_1_to_5, large_1_0_to_5_0, xlarge_6_0_to_20_0.
Question to ask: Tiny panfish hooks, medium bass-size, or big-game size?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title or a size dropdown ('Size 6', 'Size 2/0').
Parse the number and aught suffix from the title; bucket by the ranges above.
Chart: position on a size axis from tiny to xlarge.

### Sinker shape

The sinker's form: split-shot, egg/barrel, bullet (worm), pyramid, bank, dipsey (egg-shaped with a wire loop), or a deep-drop weight for very deep water. Shape decides behavior on the bottom and in the rig: a pyramid digs in and anchors in current or surf, an egg sinker slides freely so a fish feels no resistance, a bullet sinker noses a soft-plastic worm through cover, and a deep-drop weight is sized in pounds to reach bottom hundreds of feet down. [2]

Values: split_shot, egg_barrel, bullet_worm, pyramid, bank, dipsey, deep_drop.
Question to ask: Does it need to anchor, slide freely, or nose through cover?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title ('Egg Sinker', 'Pyramid Sinker', 'Bullet Weight').
Title keyword match covers nearly all listings.

### Sinker material

What the weight is made of: lead, tungsten, steel, brass, bismuth, tin, or a non-toxic composite resin. Lead is cheap and dense but poisons wildlife if lost or ingested, and is banned in UK tackle under 1 oz, in all US and Canadian national parks, and in some US states; tungsten is about 1.7x denser so the same weight is noticeably smaller and transmits bottom feel better, at several times the cost. [2] [5] [6]

Values: lead, tungsten, steel, brass, bismuth, tin, composite_non_toxic.
Question to ask: Lead, or a non-toxic metal like tungsten?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title ('Tungsten Worm Weight', 'Lead Egg Sinker'); unstated almost always means lead.
Title keyword match; default to lead when unstated, since it remains the dominant low-cost material.
Chart: position on a density/cost axis, tungsten highest on both.

### Float style

The float's form: a slip float, a fixed spring float, a clip-on snap-on float, a pencil/waggler float, a round bobber, or a popping cork. A fixed float is quick to set up but limits fishing depth to the length of line above it; a slip float rides down the line through a stop so bait can be fished deep and still cast easily; a popping cork is shaped to pop and splash to call fish in, mainly in saltwater. [13] [3]

Values: slip_float, fixed_spring_float, snap_on_float, pencil_waggler, round_bobber, popping_cork.
Question to ask: Fishing shallow with a fixed float, or deep with a slip float?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title ('Slip Float', 'Snap-On Float', 'Popping Cork').
Title keyword match; default to round_bobber (the classic fixed snap-on type) when unstated.

### Leader material

What the leader is made of: monofilament, fluorocarbon, single-strand wire, multi-strand (wire-wound) wire, or titanium. Fluorocarbon is nearly invisible underwater and resists abrasion better than mono, which is why it's the default leader for line-shy fish; wire and titanium leaders exist specifically to survive the teeth of toothy fish like bluefish or mackerel that would bite through mono or fluoro in one strike. [3] [15]

Values: monofilament, fluorocarbon, single_strand_wire, multi_strand_wire, titanium.
Question to ask: Line-shy fish, or toothy fish that bite through mono?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title ('Fluorocarbon Leader', 'Steelon Wire-Wound Leader').
Title keyword match; default to monofilament, the cheapest and most common, when unstated.
Chart: position on an abrasion-resistance axis, wire and titanium highest.

### Hook style

The hook's overall shape and point geometry: circle, J-style, octopus, baitholder, offset worm, or a multi-point treble. Point style decides where the fish gets hooked and how survivable release is: a circle hook rotates into the corner of the jaw as the fish swims off and rarely guts the fish, while a J-hook needs a hard strike and is more often swallowed. Anglers choose by this before size. [4] [1]

Values: j_hook, circle_hook, octopus, baitholder, offset_worm, treble, other.
Question to ask: Circle hook, J-hook, or a treble?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title ('Circle Hook', 'Octopus Hook', 'Offset Worm Hook', 'Treble Hook').
Title keyword match; default to j_hook when the title names only a generic bait-hook pattern like Aberdeen or O'Shaughnessy.
Chart: position on a gut-hook-risk axis, J-hook highest.

### Point count

Whether the hook has a single point, two points brazed from one wire (double), or three points brazed together (treble). Trebles grab a thrashing fish from more angles and are standard on hard-body lures, but they do more tissue damage and are harder to remove, which matters where barbless or single-hook rules apply; singles are the default for live bait and catch-and-release. [1]

Values: single, double, treble.
Question to ask: A single point, or a treble?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always named directly in the title ('Treble Hook', 'Double Hook').
Title keyword match; default to single when unstated.

### Hook material/finish

What the hook is made of and plated with: bronze, stainless steel, nickel, black nickel, red, or tin/silver, over a high-carbon steel core. Finish sets corrosion resistance and visibility: bronze is cheap but rusts fastest and suits fresh water; stainless and black nickel hold up in salt water; red hooks are marketed to mimic a wounded or bleeding baitfish. [1]

Values: bronze, stainless_steel, nickel, black_nickel, red, tin_silver, unspecified.
Question to ask: Bronze, stainless, or a colored finish?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title ('Bronze Hook', 'Stainless Circle Hook', 'Red Octopus Hook').
Title keyword match; default to bronze, the most common finish, when unstated.
Chart: position on a corrosion-resistance axis, bronze lowest.

### Swivel material/finish

What the swivel itself is made of and plated with: brass under a black, red, or brass-tone plating, or solid stainless steel. This, not the rotation mechanism, is what resists saltwater: plain brass plating pits and seizes fastest, a black- or red-plated brass swivel holds up a little longer, and stainless steel resists corrosion best, which is why saltwater-marketed swivels lean stainless. [8] [9]

Values: brass, black_plated, red_plated, stainless_steel.
Question to ask: Brass finish, or stainless for saltwater?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Stated as a 'Finish/Plating' variant option or in the title ('Stainless Steel Swivel', 'Black Barrel Swivel').
Title or variant-option keyword match; default to brass, the cheapest and most common finish, when unstated.
Chart: position on a corrosion-resistance axis, brass lowest, stainless highest.

### Weight

The sinker's mass, in ounces. Weight has to match current, depth, and casting distance without the fish feeling it: too light and the rig won't hold bottom, too heavy and a wary fish feels the resistance and drops the bait. Most rod-and-reel sinkers run under a few ounces; dedicated deep-drop weights for offshore bottom fish run one to fourteen pounds. [12] [2]

Range: 0.125 to 224 oz.
Question to ask: Roughly how deep and how strong is the current?

Used as: shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: In the title or a size dropdown, as oz or a fraction ('1/4 oz', '1/2 oz').
Parse the number directly from the title; fractions are common and must be converted.
Chart: position on a weight axis, log-scaled given the wide range.

### Wire gauge

How thick the wire the hook is made from is: fine, standard, heavy, or extra-heavy (often marked 2X or 3X). Fine wire does less damage to live bait and penetrates softer-mouthed fish more easily but can bend out on a big fish; heavy and extra-heavy wire holds under hard runs and big-game drag but needs a harder hookset. [1]

Values: fine_wire, standard, heavy, extra_heavy_2x_3x.
Question to ask: Light wire for live bait, or heavy for big fish?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: needs research, backfill cost medium. Look for it as: Sometimes in the title ('Light Wire Aberdeen', '2X Heavy'); otherwise only in the product description.
Title keyword match catches most; when absent, default to standard wire.
Chart: position on a wire-strength axis.

### Barbed or barbless

Whether the hook has a barb (the small reverse-pointing spike behind the point) or not. A barb anchors the hook so it can't slide back out, but it tears tissue going in and coming out; barbless hooks release faster and hurt a fish less, and many catch-and-release and fly waters legally require them. [1]

Values: barbed, barbless.
Question to ask: Does it need a barb, or should it be barbless?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Stated directly when barbless ('Barbless Hook'); otherwise assume barbed.
Title keyword match for 'barbless'; everything else defaults to barbed, which is the overwhelming majority of retail hooks.

### How it attaches

Whether the line ties to a fixed loop or eye molded into the sinker, slides freely through a bore drilled through it, or clips on with a snap. A fixed loop keeps the weight at a set point on the rig; a sliding/through-bore sinker lets the line move freely so a biting fish feels no resistance, which is the whole point of a Carolina or egg-sinker rig; a snap-on weight is the fastest to add or remove but can slip under a hard cast. [2]

Values: fixed_loop_eye, sliding_through_bore, snap_on_clip.
Question to ask: Should the fish feel the weight, or not?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Usually implied by the shape name (egg/barrel = sliding; dipsey/bank = fixed loop; snap-on floats-style weights = clip); confirmed only on brand spec-sheet pages, not generic retail listings.
Map from sinker_shape when attachment isn't stated directly: egg/barrel and deep-drop are almost always sliding, dipsey/bank/pyramid are almost always fixed-loop.

### Swivel type

The swivel's mechanism: a simple barrel swivel, a ball-bearing swivel, a three-way swivel with a third ring for a dropper, or a crane swivel. A barrel swivel is cheap and fine for light, intermittent loads; a ball-bearing swivel keeps spinning freely under the sustained heavy drag of trolling or big-game fighting, where a barrel swivel can bind and let line twist build up anyway. [8] [10]

Values: barrel, ball_bearing, three_way, crane.
Question to ask: Light tackle, or trolling/big-game under heavy drag?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title ('Ball Bearing Swivel', '3-Way Swivel', 'Barrel Swivel').
Title keyword match; default to barrel, the most common and cheapest type, when unstated.

### Swivel, snap, or both

Whether the item is a bare swivel, a bare snap (clip), or a swivel with a snap/split-ring already attached on one end. A snap lets an angler change a lure or leader in seconds without retying a knot; pairing it with a swivel on the other end also kills line twist in one piece, which is why most retail listings are the combined form rather than a bare swivel. [8]

Values: swivel_only, snap_only, swivel_and_snap.
Question to ask: Does it need a quick-change snap, or just the swivel?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Stated directly ('Barrel Swivel with Safety Snap', 'Interlock Snap').
Title keyword match for 'snap'; default to swivel_and_snap, the more common retail form.

### Rated strength

The swivel's breaking strength, in pounds, as marked by the manufacturer (its "lb test"). A swivel is only as strong as its weakest part, so its rating should match or exceed the line and leader it connects; undersized for the target species and it becomes the point where a big fish breaks off, not the line. [8] [11]

Range: 8 to 300 lb.
Question to ask: What line or leader strength will it connect?

Used as: shown on the card. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Usually stated directly as 'Lb. Test' in the spec table, alongside a separate 'Swivel Size' number; confirmed only on brand spec-sheet pages, not generic retail listings.
Parse the lb-test number from the spec table or title when present; otherwise map from the stated swivel size using the brand's own size chart.
Chart: position on a strength axis, log-scaled.

### Fixed or slip

Whether the float is fixed in place on the line (by a clip, spring, or peg) or slides freely until it meets a bobber stop tied onto the line. A fixed float can't be set deeper than the length of the rod and is fast to use; a slip float lets the rig be fished at any depth because the stop, not the float, sets it, and is the only practical choice once the water is deeper than the rod is long. [13]

Values: fixed, slip_with_stop.
Question to ask: Shallow water, or deeper than your rod is long?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Derive from float_style: slip_float and pencil_waggler are slip; snap_on_float, fixed_spring_float, and round_bobber are fixed.
Map from float_style; it almost always determines this directly.

### Leader test strength

The leader's breaking strength, in pounds. Leader test is usually matched to or slightly above the main line's test so the leader, not the line, takes the abrasion, and is sized to the target species' size and fight, not to the main line's visibility. [14] [15]

Range: 4 to 50 lb.
Question to ask: What size fish, and what's your main line rated?

Used as: shown on the card. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Stated directly as 'lb test' or 'break strength' in the title or spec table; confirmed only on brand spec-sheet pages, not generic retail listings.
Parse the lb number from the title when present.
Chart: position on a strength axis.

### Shank length

How long the straight section between the eye and the bend is, relative to a standard hook of that size: short, standard, long (2X), or extra-long (3X+). A long shank is easier to unhook and holds a worm or minnow straight; a short shank sits closer to the bend for a stronger, more direct hookset and suits jigs and flies where profile matters more than bait-holding. [1]

Values: short, standard, long_2x, extra_long_3x_plus.
Question to ask: Standard shank, or extra-long for easy unhooking?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Usually in the title ('2X Long Shank', '3XL').
Title keyword match for XL/2X/3X markers; default to standard when absent.

## Numbers worth computing

| Metric | Formula | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Size for the same weight, vs. lead (ratio) | `1 / (tungsten_density_g_cm3 / lead_density_g_cm3)` | An expert checking a tungsten weight's size against a familiar lead weight divides the densities to predict how much smaller the same weight will be, rather than trusting the listed dimensions alone. [5] [6] |

## What you give up

- Tungsten packs the same weight into about 60% of the volume of lead and transmits bottom feel better, but it costs several times as much and lead remains the default for anglers who aren't chasing that edge. [2] [5] Board branch: "Smaller and more sensitive, much pricier".
- A ball-bearing swivel keeps turning freely under the constant heavy load of trolling or fighting big fish, where a cheaper barrel swivel can bind; most light, intermittent-load fishing never needs the upgrade. [8] [10] Board branch: "Keeps spinning under heavy drag, costs and weighs more".

## Words you will meet

- **Gap (or gape)**. The distance across the opening between a hook's point and its shank; it sets how thick a bite the hook can catch.
- **Shank**. The straight section of a hook between the eye and the bend, which carries the pulling force from the line.
- **Barb**. The small backward-pointing spike behind a hook's point that stops it sliding back out once it's set.
- **Aught**. The "/0" in a hook size like 3/0, read "three-aught"; on this side of the scale, a bigger number means a bigger hook.
- **Circle hook**. A hook bent back into a near-circle so it slides out of the throat and catches the corner of the mouth instead of the gut.
- **Treble hook**. Three hook points brazed to one eye, standard on hard-body lures for a wider chance of a solid hookset.
- **Swivel**. A connector with a free-spinning joint that stops a lure's action from twisting the main line.
- **Snap**. A clip on a swivel or leader that lets an angler change a lure in seconds without retying a knot.
- **Split ring**. A small, tightly wound double loop of wire used to attach a hook or swivel to a lure without tying directly to it.
- **Leader**. A short length of tougher or less visible line tied between the main line and the hook or lure.
- **Fluorocarbon**. A nearly invisible-underwater line material used mainly for leaders, more abrasion-resistant than nylon monofilament.
- **Lb test (break strength)**. The pull, in pounds, a line, leader, or swivel is rated to survive before it breaks.
- **Tungsten**. A very dense metal used for sinkers and jig heads so the same weight takes up less space than lead.
- **Slip float**. A float that rides freely on the line down to a bobber stop, so it can be fished deeper than the rod is long.
- **Octopus hook**. A short-shank, round-bend hook with a turned-up eye, commonly used for live bait and rigging soft plastics.
- **Baitholder hook**. A hook with small barbs or slices cut into the shank to stop live or cut bait sliding off.
- **Offset worm hook**. A hook with a kink near the eye that lets a soft-plastic worm sit straight and ride weedless.
- **Crane swivel**. A small, lightweight swivel shaped like a barrel swivel but built for fly and light-tackle leaders, not heavy loads.
- **Dropper**. A short side-line tied off a three-way swivel's extra ring to hang a second bait or sinker off the main rig.
- **Bank sinker**. A teardrop-shaped lead weight with a built-in loop, shaped to resist rolling in current when fished from a bank or shore.
- **Waggler**. A slim float that rides mostly underwater, cast by its own weight; standard in UK-style coarse fishing.

## Where we made a call

- Circle hooks lower released-fish mortality versus J-hooks by hooking the jaw, not the gut. (confidence medium). Wikipedia's circle-hook article cites a single peer-reviewed review (Cooke & Suski 2004); the underlying study itself was not independently fetched this run. [4]

## References

1. [Fish hook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_hook) (primer). Supports: Defines eye, shank, bend, barb, point, gap/gape, and bite; Hook sizing runs 32 (smallest) up to 1, then 1/0 up to 20/0 (largest), inconsistent across brands; Barbless hooks ease catch-and-release but anchor less securely; Wire gauge, shank length, single/double/treble configurations are standard descriptors.
2. [Fishing sinker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_sinker) (primer). Supports: Lists pyramid, egg/barrel, split-shot, bullet, dipsey, bank, and deep-drop shapes and their uses; Lead is banned under 1 oz in the UK, in some US states, and in all US/Canadian national parks; Tungsten is 'just under twice' as dense as lead and costlier; Deep-drop weights range from one to fourteen pounds.
3. [Fishing tackle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_tackle) (primer). Supports: Defines terminal tackle as hooks, leaders, floats, sinkers/feeders, swivels, and attached snaps/split rings; Describes the swivel sinker preventing line twist; Fluorocarbon is the least-visible modern line material; braided lines are called superlines.
4. [Circle hook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_hook) (primer). Supports: Circle hooks rotate to hook the jaw/mouth corner rather than the gut, citing Cooke & Suski 2004; No angler strike is needed to set a circle hook, unlike a J-hook.
5. [Tungsten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tungsten) (primer). Supports: Density of tungsten is 19.254 g/cm³ at 20°C.
6. [Lead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead) (primer). Supports: Density of lead is 11.348 g/cm³ at 20°C.
7. [Understanding Hook Sizes](https://blog.eagleclaw.com/fishing-made-simple/understanding-hook-sizes) (specialist review). Supports: Hooks are sized 32 to 1 (smaller as the number grows), then 1/0 to 19/0 (larger as the number grows).
8. [Eagle Claw Barrel Swivel with Safety Snap](https://eagleclaw.com/products/eagle-claw-barrel-swivel-with-safety-snap) (spec sheet). Supports: Brass barrel swivel, size 16, is rated 8 lb test; Swivel sizes 1 through 20 map to one lb-test spec table; Safety-snap swivels are sold as a combined swivel-and-snap piece; Made from high-quality brass, available in brass, black, and red plated finishes.
9. [Eagle Claw Barrel Swivels](https://eagleclaw.com/products/eagle-claw-barrel-swivels) (spec sheet). Supports: Made from high-quality brass with durable plated finishes; Finish/Plating variant option lists brass and black; A stainless-steel barrel swivel variant (SKU 090SS) is sold on the same site.
10. [Eagle Claw Ball Bearing Swivels with Coastlock Snaps](https://eagleclaw.com/products/eagle-claw-ball-bearing-swivels-with-coastlock-snaps) (spec sheet). Supports: Ball-bearing swivel, size 0, is rated 15 lb test.
11. [Lazer Sharp Heavy Saltwater Swivel](https://eagleclaw.com/products/lazer-sharp-heavy-saltwater-swivel) (spec sheet). Supports: Heavy saltwater swivel, size 4, is rated 300 lb test; Marketed specifically for saltwater use.
12. [Eagle Claw Egg Sinkers](https://eagleclaw.com/products/eagle-claw-egg-sinkers) (spec sheet). Supports: Egg sinker weights run from 1/8 oz up to 8 oz across the standard size run.
13. [Eagle Claw Floats collection](https://eagleclaw.com/collections/floats) (spec sheet). Supports: Lists slip floats, fixed spring floats, snap-on floats, pencil floats, and round panfish floats as the retail style set.
14. [Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon Leader Material](https://www.berkley-fishing.com/collections/leaders/products/vanish-fluorocarbon-leader-material-1285541) (spec sheet). Supports: Fluorocarbon leader is sold from 4 lb up to 50 lb test.
15. [Berkley Steelon Wire-Wound Leaders](https://www.berkley-fishing.com/collections/leaders/products/steelon-wire-wound-leaders-1285570) (spec sheet). Supports: Wire-wound leader is sold at 20, 30, and 45 lb test; Marketed on strength for toothy-fish terminal tackle.