Fishing 101: Essential fishing gear for amateur anglers

Whether you’re just learning to fish or you’ve been a fisherman for decades, there are certain bits of equipment that you can’t do without. Some are obvious, but amateur anglers may not think to take some of the less obvious things on a fishing trip with them.

You don’t want to be in the water waiting for a bite that will never come because you aren’t using bait, or hook a big catch and be unable to bring it into the boat because you forgot a net! Here’s our list of essential gear for every amateur angler. Once you have these 9 things in your fishing equipment collection, you should be totally covered for your fishing trip! 

A Rod & Reel 

First up, the most obvious - a rod and reel. Shopping for these can be intimidating, because there’s a different rod and reel for every type of fishing. 

If you’re a newbie, keeping it simple is the best way to go. Look for a rod and reel combo that you can use for lure fishing and bait fishing. Something with a spinning reel (or open face) is a good idea for new fishermen. 

Make sure to choose a rod that can handle up to a 20lb line. You most likely won’t be catching bigger fish than that when you start, especially if you’re fishing in lakes or rivers. 

Fishing Line 

Fishing line comes in many varieties, including in every color! You’ll find them made from a range of different materials, as well as in different weights. 

The two lines you’ll typically see are fluorocarbon lines and monofilament lines. Fluorocarbons are resistant to abrasion, which can be useful. Monofilaments are slightly stretchy and durable. 

We recommend a monofilament line for amateur anglers, in 10lb at the minimum. 

Tackle 

You’ll need three things here: hooks, weights, and floats. 

Hooks can get surprisingly complicated! All you need to know as an amateur is to choose hooks that are NOT snelled. 

Weights keep your bait underwater! They also help you to get some distance on your cast, so you have plenty of space to reel your line in. A shot weight is a good choice. 

A float (or bobber) prevents your bait from falling all the way to the bottom of the lake, and bounces up and down when a fish bites! Any one will do. 

Live Bait or Lures 

Live bait is just like it sounds - small live fish or worms to attract the bigger fish. Lures are artificial bait, and come in a huge range of types, patterns, and colors. 

Lures can get very detailed, but amateur anglers would do well with top-water lures or spinnerbaits. If you’re fly fishing, you can try different flies or make your own. 

A Tackle Box 

You need somewhere to store all those hooks and weights and things! A good quality tackle box will keep everything in order and easy to reach. 

Look for something with many compartments that keep everything separate, and that’s durable enough to withstand a bit of water and some bumps. 

A Net 

Reeling in that 20-pounder may be exciting, but getting it into the boat may be frustrating if you don’t have a net. Using a net to bring in your catch not only makes your own life easier, but it’s also safer for the fish. 

Choose one that’s big enough to pick up a decent sized fish, and not too heavy. 

A Dehooker 

Removing the hook from the fish’s mouth can be difficult, especially if it’s flopping around. Not only that, but it can be dangerous too. It’s easy to stab yourself accidentally, and infection can set in in outdoor conditions. 

A dehooker is a tool that we consider to be essential. For the fishes’ life and your own safety and sanity, get yourself one! 

Waders/Bib 

Whether you’re fishing in the water or on the shore, your legs are going to get wet at some point. If you’re fishing on the shore, you’ll most likely have to wade into the water to grab a fish or untangle your line. 

Wet pants can ruin a fishing trip. Not only is it uncomfortable, but if it’s a cool or windy day and you didn’t bring spares, you’ll get cold very quickly. Even if you do bring spares, there’s a chance of the spare getting wet too, and you’ll have to take time out from fishing to change your pants. 

A pair of waders or a bib might seem like a big expense, but you’ll be thankful for them when you're waist-deep in a river! 

A Fishing Vest 

Even if you have your tackle neatly packed in a tackle box, a fishing vest can make your life easier. If you have specific lures that you like, or want an extra hook or weight within easy reach, it would be a great thing to have. 

It’s basically a waistcoat-type jacket with a bunch of pockets and hooks-and-loops to store, hang, and hook your smaller pieces in or on. 

Lures, weights, extra line, and even a snack bar will be close at hand for when you need them, so you don’t have to go to the trouble of opening your tackle box to find something or going back to shore if you’re out on the water. 

Conclusion 

These things are the basic essentials that every new angler should have in their fishing kit. If you have these, you can expect your fishing trips to be fairly successful, and then it’s just up to you to learn some fishing techniques to level up your game. 

It may seem like an expensive list of gear to begin your fishing hobby, but once you have these things you have the best chance of catching good-sized fish! 

Once you’re used to fishing using this equipment, you can start looking at more advanced gear, like a fish finder or sonar, different kinds of reels and lines, or even a boat or kayak. 

Lastly, don’t forget to get your fishing licence before you go! 

Kenneth Reaves is an outdoor guru who loves fishing. He has been exploring nature and having great fishing adventures since he was 5 years old. Currently, he is busy sharing his passion for exciting adventures and fishing to amateur anglers through his blog, www.perfectcaptain.com