Tackle box item

LINE

This thin, flexible strand is often wound around a spool and helps you reel in your catch once it's hooked.

A tackle box holds fishing gear, and one essential item is the fishing "line"—the thin cord used to catch fish. The clue plays it straight with no wordplay, directly naming a common object found in a tackle box. If you’ve ever gone fishing, you’d recognize this as the basic tool that connects your hook to the rod. The answer is short and fits neatly in most crossword grids.