What You Need to Start Fishing Today
I recently decided to stop making excuses for why I couldn't live out my dream of coastal living, and started taking active steps to explore my love for watersports. First on the docket... fishing! I made plans to go with a friend to one of the lakes near Pittsburgh one weekend. I woke up that morning stoked to get started, then realized one super important part - I had no fishing gear. None. And even worse, I didn't know the first thing about what I needed to catch a fish day one.
Luckily, my dad is an avid outdoorsman and fishing enthusiast who has been fishing for over 30 years. So today, lets review the basics about what you need to start fishing today. Below are the six essentials for fishing (and hopefully catching) on day one.
There are a lot of intricacies associated with what you use to catch fish depending on your geographical location, salt vs fresh water, size of the body of water you are fishing, whether you are on the shore or in a boat, and what kind of fish you are trying to catch. This is the bare minimum list of things that I think you would need to catch blue gill and perch in a small lake from the shore in Western Pennsylvania.
Fishing rod (with reel and fishing line)
Some might think this is obvious, but honestly, the first time I walked through the fishing rod aisle at the store, I was completely overwhelmed. There are many different types of rods, some with reels and some without, some that can be broken down for easier storage and travel and some that are meant to be one solid pole. There are also a multitude of reels and fishing line - talk about decision fatigue.
I would recommend starting out with a spinning rod and reel combo. Combo rods typically come set up with fishing line so that all you have to do is add a hook and then you are set. Don't start out super expensive - my first rod was $20 and worked great.
Some popular fishing rod brands include Shakespeare, Ugly Stik, Falcon, Berkley, Okuma
Hook
Most rods and reel combos do not have the hook pre-attached. For this, I would recommend reading my upcoming post regarding common fishing knots and how to tie hooks to the line. Or you can look up the many youtube videos on this topic. Hooks are sold based on size and their intended use. They come in many different sizes w/ different styles and colors.
I would recommend something like this: Eagle Claw Baitholder size 6 or 8.
Many other types of hooks exist, but for this you really just want something small and plain given the likely small size of the blue gill or perch located near the shore. If you are attempting to catch larger fish, you should adjust your hook size to increase the likelihood of hooking the fish.
Bobber
When you are starting out, the easiest way to fish is by throwing out a line with a bobber on it and waiting for it to dip into the water - meaning you hopefully have a fish on the other end. Bobbers come in many shapes and sizes, and there is probably no right or wrong way to go about using them. Generally you should clip the bobber about 1 foot from the hook and then you're set.
Regular spherical bobbers are great for first timers. Pencil bobbers are generally going to be more sensitive to movement of the fish and so are also an excellent choice, especially if your goal is to catch something on your first day.
Bait
The type of bait you use is going to be specific to the region you're in and what you're fishing for. In general, I recommend live bait over plastic or dead bait. When you're just starting out, there is no need to buy the smelly bait-enhancers from big companies like Gulp and Powerbait.
Nightcrawlers (worms) and meal worms are generally my go to's in these situations. Generally there are bait stores arroudn the lake you are fishing or can pick some up from your local outdoors store on the way there.
Pliers
So you've caught your first fish, and now it on your hook and you can't get it out. This scenario is why having a good set of pliers, hopefully that also have some type of line-cutting tool, is essential for fishing.
I bought a cheap set from Dunham's and have been using them since.
Fishing License
Depending on your state and local requirements, you will need a fishing license from the local gaming commission prior to putting bait on the hook or casting your line. Information can be found on your state's game commission website.
In Pennsylvania, you can purchase a fishing license online through PA Fish and Boat Commission site: https://www.fishandboat.com/Pages/default.aspx
Things that aren't essential but make for a much better experience:
folding chair
hat
sunscreen and bug spray
cooler with drinks and snacks
a bag for garbage
This is the exact setup I used to get started fishing and I caught a fish the very first time I went out. This is a list of the bare minimum equipment required to go fishing. I recommend starting small and only buying what you need while you get your feet wet and then jumping into the big tackle boxes after you've gotten some experience. That way you aren't wasting your money on things you will never use. Happy fishing!