Shopping for fishing equipment is always overwhelming for beginners because fishing rods, reels, and line aren’t enough to have a successful fishing trip. There are still many other vital accessories to keep in mind. That’s why the list below will help you enumerate and follow what to buy more easily:
Must-Have Fishing Gears For Beginners
1. Rod & Reel
When heading out to a nearby fishing gear store, you will be asked which rod to buy:
- Trolling rod
- Bait-casting rod
- Fly-fishing rod
- Spinning rod
Feel a bit dizzy, huh?
To find out the most suitable rod type, consider the kind of fishing you’re going to follow. To beginners, I know that some people even don’t figure out that issue yet so, the safest choice is a rod that’s 11.8” higher than your height.
Besides, it should be responsive enough (to help you feel the fish bite more easily) and have medium strength (to ably angle variable fish kinds). This combo will allow you to reel the fish out of the water more quickly.
Now is the reel! This is for winding the line and drawing in your catch, hence, it must be lightweight and easy to handle. You don’t need to go expensive with this component and for beginners, a spinning reel is the most highly-recommended because of its versatility.
You can use it while on a boat, at a pier, or from the shore.
2. Fishing Line
The next indispensable equipment is fishing line and I know that maybe your fishing rod & reel set already includes one or two rolls. However, it’s always better to carry some extras because the fishing line is really prone to break or tangled up.
It also needs to be variable in terms of weights and strengths to bear different fish species you’re after.
There are two simple, basic rules of thumb - Thin and clear fishing line is for clear waters while heavier and stronger ones are used for rough environmental conditions.
Amongst different types of fishing lines, in my opinion, the monofilament is the easiest to knot and also, most user-friendly to use.
3. Tackle Box
Tackle boxes come in different sizes and shapes, based on the fishing type you are in for (recreational or sports), the size of fish you intend to hunt for, and preferred tackling style.
Don’t just think it’s a place to store your hooks. Tackle box is a truly good way to transport all your small fishing gear without causing damage to others or losing. Moreover, it keeps everything well-organized.
For beginners, a small tackle box is good to go and this equipment doesn’t need to cost the Earth.
4. Hooks & Lures
Hooks and lures are two kinds of fishing equipment that take most space in your tackle box and it should be.
Stock up variable assortments of fish hooks so that you can catch fish in different sizes. Take note of the diverse types of hooks, there are a treble, circle, double, and single. Beginner fishers should choose the single hooks, based on my experience.
In terms of lures, this is the most favorite choice of almost anglers because of its ease to store and transport while the price is cheap and you have got various options to choose from.
In other words, lures are a good alternative for live baits if you can’t buy or catch them.
To choose the most suitable ones for your fishing trip, consider the time and weather that you intend to go. If it’s cloudy and in murky waters, dark-colored lures are a good choice. Conversely, in clear waters and on bright days, light-colored ones are ideal.
Bass fishing is the most common and if you’re a bass fisher, consider plastic worms with long tails, they are really effective.
5. Bobbers
Many beginners wonder that they should take some bobbers to their arsenal.
I vote “yes” because it’s like a mute alarm to let you know that fish is interest in your baits. When you cast a line, the bobbers will float on the water surface and when they’re sunk, that means a fish is biting the baits and it is time to reel your catch in.
The price for bobbers isn’t expensive so, it’s really a must-have for beginners. There are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing them.
Two most common uses are white plastic and round red bobbers since they can limit how deep to cast in while being really easy to attach to the fishing line. But if your preference is hooking the bobber a bit deeper into the water, choose the slip ones with elongated length.
Don’t go for too large bobbers because they are less responsive and eventually become useless if fish is biting your baits.
6. Sinkers
Opposite to bobbers, sinkers take a role of stabilizing your fishing line and making it (also bait and hook) sink deeper. Many anglers avoid using this because most old models are crafted from lead – which causes harm to the water environment.
But one good news nowadays is the upgraded versions are designed from eco-friendlier materials, such as brass, bismuth, steel, and tungsten. So, feel free to use them. Your task is to find out the water level you want hooks to go, then, choose the suitable shapes and weights.
The latest version even comes with a small split shot to keep the longer bobbers stand up in the water as well as help anglers easily clip on or off the fishing line.
7. Needle Nose Pliers
Hooks usually have sharp teeth on their ends, which might hurt you when trying to take them out of your catch. To avoid such risks, needle nose pliers are what you should equip next.
From my experience, all needle nose pliers are good at their basic function but for better durability and longer-lasting, choose stainless steel ones, especially those with an angled, bent tip so that you can easily pull or bend hooks when in need.
Things You Should Have To Avoid/Limit Tangled Fishing Line
8. Line Cutter
As mentioned above, fishing line is really easy to be tangled up or snagging, that’s why you should have a sturdy line cutter to help you quickly get rid of that mess and set up a new line.
Choose the one that’s small and compact enough to fit inside your tackle box for easier transporting and storing. Usually, my choices are either knives or nail clippers. Higher investment is a multi-purpose tool or a specialized line cutter.
9. Swivels
Some lures and baits will make the fishing line turn and spin until it’s twisted seriously. And that’s when swivels come into place to allow the latter to move and spin freely without affecting the fishing line.
There’s a loop on each end of swivels but most anglers will include a snap to save more time and effort when they want to attach many different lures, lines, and baits. But one drawback is these snaps are very prone to break, particularly when you catch bigger fish.
This is a trade-off thing but luckily enough, they are really cheap to buy.
Equip Yourself For A Safer And More Joyful Fishing Trip
10. Sunscreen
Don’t be too subjective even when you’re well-covered by layers of clothing, your skin still needs extra protection against harmful UV rays.
Slather and spray on a sun-protectant formula. In harsh summer days, it’s good to go for SPF 50 to SPF 70 sunscreen, especially on exposed skin areas like eyes, necks, and hands.
Ensure it is small enough for better portability and you also remember to use it whenever heading out to fish.
11. Sunglasses
This is another safety equipment that helps to protect your eyes significantly. UV rays are really harmful not only on your skin but also your eyes.
Harsh sunlight and glares from water surfaces are two major annoying, harmful elements causing your eyes hurt. In the worst case, creating cataract.
Take note that sunglasses for fishing are a bit more special than normal pairs - they must be anti-glare and 100% UV polarized. Such this type of glasses will also help you get better vision beneath the surface better to pinpoint the fish positions.
12. First Aid Kit
As safety is the top priority, equipping your fishing arsenal with a small, compact first aid kit is never excessive. What should be in your first aid kit?
Well, there must be some small bandages, band-aids, antibacterial ointment, and some waterproof medical tape to take care of your minor injuries when you get poked by a hook or scraped up.
Conclusion
I’d like to give you one last advice – find information about the rules and regulations of the state that you intend to go fishing to get the fishing license. Read the state’s guidelines and don’t fret, you can purchase it online.
Happy fishing!
