Fishing Tackle

Question:
Can anyone tell me why fishing tackle is called tackle and not something like fishing gear? I am interested in the actual history of the term. Any help is appreciated thank you.

Answer:
To which I say; Think of lifting equipment as in block and tackle. A rod and reel is similar and uses the same principles of leverage as a crane and winch. The relationship becomes clearer when you think of the earliest rod and reels. The first reels were very similar to today’s fly reels. The next step in the evolution of fishing reels was the true fly reel. Next came the conventional (non level wind) reel in the 1840s. Then came the early bait casting (level wind) reel in the late 1920s. The open face spinning reel is a relatively recent invention. The Mitchell Company developed the open face spinning reel in the mid 1940s.The closed face spin casting reel was developed in the 1950s. The skirted spool open face spinning reel was developed in the early 1970s.