What You Need as a Beginner
When you walk into a tackle store, you’ll see crankbaits, spinner baits, swimbaits, underspins, jig heads, spoons, wacky worms, top water baits, and a thousand other things that stores hope you’ll buy. Let’s buy a rod, reel, line, and a few basic lures to get you ready to go fishing.
Choosing the Right Fishing Rod
The biggest question is what you’re going to be fishing for. Fishing rods come in different strength levels to handle various sizes of fish:
- Ultra-Light Rods: These rods are best for fish weighing less than a pound or two. They are excellent for casting light lures and lines and detecting gentle bites from small fish.
- Heavy and Extra-Heavy Rods: Also known as “broomsticks” because they are thick and stiff. You would use these for large saltwater fish, catfish, sturgeon, or other heavy fish. Heavy rods are also helpful when fishing in thick cover like vegetation or snags.
Rod Specifications
- The weight of the rod is usually printed near the bottom of the rod.
- Most rods will display:
- Length of the rod.
- Power rating (light, medium, heavy).
- Action rating.
- Appropriate lure weight.
- Recommended line weight.
Rod Action Explained
- Fast Rod Action: Only a tiny section at the tip bends readily, while the rest of the rod remains stiff. This provides power and is ideal for detecting bites.
- Moderate Action Rod: Bends across most of the rod, offering good shock absorption but less power on a hook set. Good for crappies and panfish where a hard hook set might bend the hook or damage the fish’s mouth.
For most beginners, a medium-light or medium-power spinning rod is ideal, as it can catch various fish, such as bluegills, perch, bass, pike, walleye, carp, and even salmon.
Choosing the Right Reel
When picking a reel for your new spinning rod:
- Look at the specs listed on the reel, which will show the recommended line weights and how much line the reel can hold.
- A medium or medium-light rod pairs well with a 6 to 10 lb line reel.
- Expect to spend $40 to $50 for a decent beginner spinning reel.
Types of Fishing Lines
You’ll find three main types of fishing line in stores:
- Braided Line: Strong, sensitive, and has no memory or stretch. However, it’s visible in water, noisy through rod guides, and expensive.
- Monofilament Line: Cheap, quiet, easy to cast, and has low visibility. However, it has a lot of stretch and memory.
- Fluorocarbon Line: Low memory, less stretch, sinks faster, and has low visibility. It’s expensive and can be challenging to cast.
Recommendation for Beginners
For most beginners, monofilament line is the best choice. For a medium or medium-light rod, get 8 lb monofilament line. Berkeley Trilene XL is a great option, as it’s easy to find and affordable.
Essential Fishing Gear to Start
To start fishing, focus on a few essential items:
- Bobber
- Small hooks or jigs: Perfect for bluegill fishing.
- Bluegills have small mouths, so use small hooks.
- Small soft swimbait
- Small crankbait
- Small spinner bait
Starting with small baits is best since small and big fish can take a small bait, but most small fish will ignore a large one.
Additional Tools
- Needle-nose pliers: Useful for unhooking fish and straightening hooks.
- Line clippers: Handy for cutting the line.
Final Tips
Starting simple and learning to use a few key pieces of gear effectively will set you up for success. Check out the Sports Fea “Learn How to Fish” playlist for more tutorials on setting up and using your new gear. You’ll be catching fish in no time!
FAQs
1. What type of rod is best for beginners?
A medium-light or medium power spinning rod is ideal for beginners as it’s versatile and can handle a range of fish.
2. What is the best line for beginners to use?
Monofilament line is recommended for beginners due to its affordability, ease of use, and low visibility.
3. Why are small baits recommended for beginners?
Small baits can attract both small and large fish, giving beginners a higher chance of success in catching fish.
4. How much should I expect to spend on a beginner spinning reel?
A decent beginner spinning reel will generally cost around $40 to $50.
5. What essential tools should I have besides a rod and reel?
Be sure to have needle-nose pliers and line clippers. These are invaluable for unhooking fish and cutting lines.