The Best Non-Toxic Fishing Tackle of 2026
45 of the 57 fishing tackle products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 78.9% of the category, as of November 2026, and 12 score below it. The highest graded is Ugly Stik Camping World Ugly Stik Complete Spinning Kit at 85 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is fishing tackle non-toxic?
45 of the 57 fishing tackle products we graded clear our screen and 12 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on fishing tackle products in this category are microplastics, phthalates, artificial dyes, heavy metals, aluminium leaching. The highest graded here is Ugly Stik Camping World Ugly Stik Complete Spinning Kit at 85 out of 100.
Quick picks
Best overall
Ugly Stik Camping World Ugly Stik Complete Spinning KitHighest PFAS grade in the category
85 Excellent
A second brand to consider
Rapala Original FloatingThe best grade here from a brand other than the winner
85 Excellent
Why Ugly Stik Camping World Ugly Stik Complete wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 3 products it beats, so you can see exactly where the 55 points between the top and the bottom of this fishing tackle ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Fiberglass rod, plastic reel, rubber grip.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- +10Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
15risk points in total, which is a grade of 85
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure, and our graders recorded 3 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. Unknown / proprietary coating, +25 points. A coating is recorded with no disclosed chemistry. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Monofilament nylon with proprietary Teflon-family coating.
- +25Unknown / proprietary coating
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- +10Category baseline
50risk points, a grade of 50
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Braided polyethylene line with water-resistant coating.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- +10Category baseline
60risk points, a grade of 40
What puts it behind. Fluoropolymer detected, +45 points. A Teflon-family coating is recorded for this product. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Fluorocarbon polymer fishing line.
- +45Fluoropolymer detected
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- +10Category baseline
70risk points, a grade of 30
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in fishing tackle
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 57 fishing tackle products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 11 of these fishing tackle products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 37 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Phthalates
Plasticisers that keep vinyl soft and make a scent linger, usually undeclared.
Found on 1 of these fishing tackle products. NIEHS
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 4 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Heavy metals
Metals such as antimony, nickel and chromium migrating from a material into what touches it.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 2 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. ATSDR
- Aluminium leaching
Aluminium migrating out of cookware, bakeware or an antiperspirant into food or skin.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 2 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. ATSDR
The safest fishing tackle we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- Fiberglass rod, plastic reel, rubber grip
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fiberglass splinters from rod degradation
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 2
- Plastic body, tinned steel hook
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic generation from wear
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 3
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic shedding on degradation
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
- braided polyethylene fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic shedding from fiber degradation
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 5
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Nylon polymer degradation under UV/thermal stress
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 6
- Braided polyethylene fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic shedding during use
- 7
- braided polyethylene fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic shedding from abrasion
- 8
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- UV degradation and microplastic shedding
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Every fishing tackle that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk. Scored against 3 hazards that apply to this category.
| # | Fishing Tackle | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ugly Stik Camping World Ugly Stik Complete Spinning Kit | 85 | Excellent | Fiberglass rod, plastic reel, rubber grip | Fiberglass splinters from rod degradation |
| 2 | Rapala Original Floating | 85 | Excellent | Plastic body, tinned steel hook | Microplastic generation from wear |
| 3 | Berkley Trilene XL | 85 | Excellent | Monofilament nylon fishing line | Microplastic shedding on degradation |
| 4 | Berkley X5 Braid Line | 85 | Excellent | braided polyethylene fishing line | Microplastic shedding from fiber degradation |
| 5 | Fins Spectra Fishing Line Windtamer | 85 | Excellent | Monofilament nylon fishing line | Nylon polymer degradation under UV/thermal stress |
| 6 | Daiwa J-Braid Grand x8 | 85 | Excellent | Braided polyethylene fishing line | Microplastic shedding during use |
| 7 | DAIWA J-Braid x8 Braided Line Fishing | 85 | Excellent | braided polyethylene fishing line | Microplastic shedding from abrasion |
| 8 | KastKing Destron Essential Monofilament Fishing Line | 85 | Excellent | Monofilament nylon fishing line | UV degradation and microplastic shedding |
The verdict on fishing tackle
Ugly Stik Camping World Ugly Stik Complete Spinning Kit grades 85 out of 100, the highest here. It is fiberglass rod, plastic reel, rubber grip. We found no PFAS statement from the brand, so the grade rests on materials alone.
Choose Rapala Original Floating instead if you want a second option at 85 out of 100, plastic body, tinned steel hook.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The fishing tackle we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 30Poor
- 30Daiwa J-Fluoro Fluorocarbon LeaderPoor
Environmental persistence and bioaccumulation (fluorocarbon polymer)
- 30Poor
What we check on fishing tackle
- Mercury. A neurotoxic metal that concentrates in some fish and seafood. FDA/EPA
- Heavy metals. Lead, cadmium, arsenic and others that accumulate in the body. FDA
- Microplastics. Tiny plastic particles that shed from products into food and water. EPA
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The fishing tackle brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 16 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Cabela's, Daiwa, Fins, KastKing, Maxima, PowerPro, Rapala, Shakespeare, Shimano, Sufix.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in fishing tackle
Is fishing tackle PFAS free?
45 of the 57 fishing tackle products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 78.9% of the category, as of November 2026, and 12 score below it. The highest graded is Ugly Stik Camping World Ugly Stik Complete Spinning Kit at 85 out of 100. The lowest graded is Bass Pro Shops Excel Fluorocarbon Fishing Line at 30 out of 100.
Is fishing tackle non-toxic?
45 of the 57 fishing tackle products we graded clear our screen and 12 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on fishing tackle products in this category are microplastics, phthalates, artificial dyes, heavy metals, aluminium leaching. The highest graded here is Ugly Stik Camping World Ugly Stik Complete Spinning Kit at 85 out of 100.
What is the safest fishing tackle to buy?
On our grades, Ugly Stik Camping World Ugly Stik Complete Spinning Kit at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Rapala Original Floating at 85. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which fishing tackle grades best for PFAS?
Ugly Stik Camping World Ugly Stik Complete Spinning Kit, at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is fiberglass rod, plastic reel, rubber grip. The runner up is Rapala Original Floating at 85.
Which fishing tackle should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Bass Pro Shops Excel Fluorocarbon Fishing Line at 30, Daiwa J-Fluoro Fluorocarbon Leader at 30, Trilene Berkley Trilene Big Game Fluorocarbon at 30. The problem with the first is that skip, fluorocarbon line likely contains PFAS.
How can you tell if fishing tackle contains PFAS?
In this category we check for mercury, heavy metals, microplastics. A neurotoxic metal that concentrates in some fish and seafood. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.
Which fishing tackle brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 16 of the brands we scored in this category, including Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Cabela's, Daiwa, Fins, KastKing. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test fishing tackle?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
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