Need help with the NYT Strands puzzle for Wednesday, April 29, 2026? The theme is “Fish or cut bait”, and the puzzle is about the essentials used to land a catch. The spangram is TACKLE.
Below, the clues progress from a gentle nudge to the complete answer list, so stop reading whenever you have enough help.
April 29 Strands hints
This puzzle is identified by answer archives as Strands #787. The official theme clue is “Fish or cut bait.” If that phrase is not enough, the more direct hint is:
Essentials for landing a catch
That should point toward equipment and accessories used for fishing. There are eight theme words plus one spangram.
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Spangram hint
The six-letter spangram is a general term for the fishing-related items in the puzzle. It connects two opposite sides of the Strands board.
Reveal the spangram
TACKLE
The normal Strands board uses a 6-by-8 letter grid. The spangram explains the shared category, while the remaining theme words are individual examples from that category. If you need the game’s built-in help, Strands can unlock assistance after you find three valid non-theme words. The exact route through the grid is not important; players can discover the entries in different orders.
April 29, 2026 Strands answers
Spoiler warning: The complete answer list appears below.
- BOBBER
- COOLER
- HOOK
- LURE
- PLIERS
- REEL
- SWIVEL
- WEIGHT
Along with the spangram TACKLE, these words make up the full set of nine entries. They cover fishing equipment and useful fishing accessories: a bobber floats on the water, a hook and lure help attract and catch fish, a reel manages fishing line, and a swivel, weight, and pliers serve practical rigging or handling purposes. A cooler rounds out the equipment theme.
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For the published answer listing and completed-grid reference, see the Forbes Strands answer guide. The theme, spangram, and answer set are also reported consistently by other puzzle-answer references.
Opening letters and answer order
One published guide gives these opening letters in its left-to-right, top-to-bottom presentation order:
RE, HO, BO, WE, TA, LU, PL, SW, CO
Those initials can help confirm a partly completed board, but they do not represent a required solving order. The listed answers above are presented as a readable answer list, not as instructions for how every player will encounter the words.
Optional fishing connection
If this puzzle’s theme has prompted you to explore the real-world category, a fishing tackle kit may bundle several related basics such as lures, hooks, weights, and accessories. It is entirely optional and has no role in solving Strands; the connection is simply that TACKLE is this puzzle’s spangram.
Why the year matters
The original title is yearless, but this answer set is for April 29, 2026. That date can be confused with the April 29, 2025 Strands puzzle, which was listed separately as #422. Including the year is therefore important when saving or sharing the answer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Strands spangram for April 29, 2026?
The spangram is TACKLE.
What is the theme for NYT Strands on April 29, 2026?
The theme clue is “Fish or cut bait,” with the supporting hint “Essentials for landing a catch.”
How many theme words are in the April 29 Strands puzzle?
There are eight theme words, plus the spangram TACKLE.
What are the April 29, 2026 Strands answers?
The answers are BOBBER, COOLER, HOOK, LURE, PLIERS, REEL, SWIVEL, and WEIGHT. The spangram is TACKLE.
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The Bottom Line
The April 29, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle (#787) is about fishing gear. Its spangram is TACKLE, and the eight theme words are BOBBER, COOLER, HOOK, LURE, PLIERS, REEL, SWIVEL, and WEIGHT.
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