Gear you will need.
Here I will spell out in great detail, the basics of what gear you will need to get started. I will provide several options that will be age/size specific so you can customize your purchases to fit your specific needs.
Rods and Reels
The rod and the reel are the most import piece of equipment you can get, without them you are not fishing, you are just looking at water. Just like humans, rods and reels come in almost limitless varieties of sizes and shapes. Since this site is geared towards true beginners, I will point you to equipment that I believe will be best suited for getting started.
If your kid is small, there is nothing wrong with helping boost their interest with a themed rod and reel from Shakespeare. Shakespeare has been making fishing equipment for as long as I can remember and kids all over the country have enjoyed these movie and tv themed rods.
Zebco is one of the most common names in fishing and thousands if not millions of anglers have gotten their start with zebco rods and reels.
If your kid is too old to be enticed by Disney or Marvel themed fishing gear, then the 4ft starter rod and reel combo from Zebco might be the way to go.
This next rod is just over 5ft long so it would be perfect for kids perhaps 8-12 years old.
If your kid is a bit bigger or maybe you want something for an adult? This Zebco rod is just over 6ft long and can serve as a great all purpose rod.
Basic Tackle
Eagle Claw is a company that makes affordable and reasonable quality tackle and has been one of my go-to brands for over 30 years. This basic kit may have some things in it you will never use, but for the price, its hard to beat to get you started. This will get you going for the basics of live bait fishing.
If you want to try your hand at artificial lures, there is no better starter than the rooster tail. This lure has been catching fish for me since I was 8 years old and it still produces. The other ideal starter lure is a basic crappie jig. Don’t let the name fool you, it will catch way more than just crappie.
Accessories
Fish will sometimes get the hook a bit deeper into their mouth than your fingers can reach. That where a good pair of pliers can come in handy. These pliers will grab the hook even from small fish mouths and also come with a cutter for your line too! You could also go with a mini multitool, but the smaller/shorter pliers may leave you wanting on a deeply set hook.
Now that you have all this gear, you will need some way to carry it around! The classic choice is the tackle box, and no brand is more famous in the fishing world for their storage than Plano brand tackle boxes. Many though, now opt for a bag/backpack style storage for the added convenience. Piscifun and KastKing both make great options for these bags.
Additional bits and bobs
Above you have all the things you really need to get started. However, there are other things I will mention here that can make your life a bit easier when on the water. These are not necessities but rather just little added bonuses.
Since I am based in Texas, the sun can be a real problem when out on the water. A fishing shirt like this can really make a difference in keeping you cool and protected. Thin material keeps you cool and the hood keeps the sunburns away.
Being outdoors, and working with sharp things like hooks means there is always a slight risk for minor injuries. As such, a first aid kit is recommended to help address those issues should they arise.
Fishing can be messy so cleaning your hands is essential. Pond or lake water is fine for getting the big stuff on your hands but if you want to really be clean, hand sanitizing wipes are very useful.
Landing big fish can be difficult, its definitely possible to do by hand, but a net can really make it easier to get the fish in safely.
Seeing fish in the water can be a fun way to try and catch them. Polarized sunglasses can help remove some of the glare from the water and let you see a little clearer what is swimming around.
Depending on the type of fishing you are doing, you may want to keep some baitfish alive, like minnows. There are two main ways to keep minnows alive while you are fishing. There are buckets that use the water in the pond or lake to keep them alive, and there are buckets that use an aerator to keep the water they came in fresh. Both are effective but personally I prefer the aerator so that I don’t have to drag the bucket in and out of the water all the time. Additionally, if you are using live worms, a small cooler can keep them fresh longer, especially in the Texas summers.
Full disclosure: links in this article may be affiliate links and I may receive a commission based on purchases made
