What You Need To Start Fishing

The Sport of Fishing has new people enter each year. Each person has their own reason for wanting to pickup a rod and reel and go fishing. However, each year, manypeople go out and buy their first fishing reels and rod in hopes of carrying home a boatload of fish filets.

I've created a simple list on picking your beginning rod and reel. You don't need expensive or complicated gear to start fishing. Everyone knows that fishing tackle makers design fishing tackle to catch the Fishermen's eye instead of fish. The Fishing gear I used to catch fish all those years ago still catch fish today. Just as good or better than the tackle that they try and sell you nowadays.

Tackle to catch Fish shouldn't be expensive or complicated. Simple set-ups work best for any fish. I remember a Bass fishing trip a Buddy and I took to a local lake many years ago. The weather was hot that day, even for June. We knocked off around noon and went in too load the boat when this Old Man and 2 kids came motoring up to the boat ramp.

When they were done loading their boat, I walked over to find they had a limit of Black Bass. The biggest one was 6 and a half pounds and none were under 2 pounds. I walked over and asked the Old Man what they had used for bait, seeing how my Buddy and I were skunked that morning and we had been using the latest equipment and lures on the Market. The Old Man smiled and showed me his Minnow bucket and said "We're using Bass minnows"! I also couldn't keep from noticing their very simple fishing rod and reels. Their basic fishing tackle had outfished a couple local Pro's with the latest in Rods, reels and fishing tackle!

Basic fishing tackle that you'll need to begin catching Bass is a Rod and Reel, line and bait. It's as simple as that. As for rods and reels, your local sporting goods store or Wal-Mart has more than enough tackle to get you going. I'd suggest a Rod and Reel combo like the Zebco 33 and a matching rod. Expect to pay a whopping twenty five bucks or so for such a combo.

Stay away from level wind reels to begin with. They're hard to master and expensive. Spinning reels are not as difficult to use, but you do need to know how to properly cast one or you'll end up with a mess on your hands.

Now on your equipment list comes the line. If you bought a rod and reel combo, chances are it came with line already on it. If not, or you want to change the line, then I'd suggest a 10lb line from either Stren or Trilene. You could use a more expensive line, but there's no use. These two fishing line makers offer excellent line.

Now we're turn our attention to bait selection for the beginner. Start with live bait and work your way up to artificials. Forget artificial lures when starting out. Live bait will catch more and bigger fish. When you're in the Fishing Dept. of your favorite store, look for Eagle Claw live bait hooks in the 1/0 to 3/0 sizes and get a few packs. Next try and find some weights. You can generally find the ones that come several sizes to a package. Split shot is a great weight for beginners. Next, check out the floats. I like to use the Balsa wood floats. I use the slip floats. These slide up and down the line for easy adjustment. They're held in place at the top by a knot or bobber stop. Now all that's left is checking the regulations, buying a tackle box and stringer and you're set to go!

That's your basic list you'll need to start fishing. This set up should cost you less than a $100 and once you have some experience under your belt, you'll find it's pretty easy to outfish the local Pro's. The fishing companies have made it seem like catching a Bass is nearly impossible unless you're using the latest and greatest gear on the Market. Nothing could be further from the truth. Catching a mess of fish couldn't be easier, that is, if they cooperate!