What makes a person want to fish? I’m sure most people don’t have a clue as to why they like to fish or what prompted them to do it in the first place. Whatever the reason, each year multitudes of people take up the sport of fishing. A lot of people will head off to their local sporting goods store or Big Box Store to buy their first fishing gear.
I have assembled a short Plan on selecting your first fishing gear. You don’t need expensive or complicated gear to catch a fish. It’s no secret that fishing tackle manufacturers design fishing tackle to catch the fishermen’s eye instead of fish. The Fishing gear I used to catch fish many years ago still works today. Just as good or better than the tackle on the market today.
Gear to catch Bass doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Simple set-ups work best for Bass unless you have many years of experience under your belt. 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 was loading the boat on the trailer when this Old Man and 2 kids came motoring up to the boat ramp.
When they got out, they had a huge stringer 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, 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 “Why we were using Bass Minnows and Worms”! I also couldn’t keep from noticing their very simple rod and reels. They had out fished a couple local Pro’s with simple bait and rod and reel set-ups!
The basic fishing equipment you’ll need to start catching Bass is a Rod and Reel, line and bait. That’s all there is to it. As for rods and reels, your local sporting goods store or Wal-Mart has an excellent selection. I’d suggest a Rod and Reel combo like the Zebco 33 and a matching rod. This should set you back about $25 or so.
When you’re just starting out, you want to spend your time catching fish, not fooling around with your reel. That’s why spincast reels make an excellent first reel. They’re not as complex as a level wind reel and they’re easier to master than spinning reels. There’s plenty of time for you to practice with a level wind or spinning reel, but for now, keep it simple with a spincast reel.
If your rod and reel didn’t come with line, then you’ll need to get you a spool. Your spincast reel needs what they call a limp line. Both Trilene and Stren make excellent limp lines, just make sure you read the box and make sure it’s a limp line. Most lines designed for spinning reels will work well in a spincast reel. Just remember, not all fishing line is created equal and some have specific purposes. If you get a line that is too stiff, it will not work well in your spincast reel.
Don’t get complicated with your lure selection. If you’re just wanting to catch a stringer of Bass, then live bait is your best option. Most bait stores will sell large minnows. These are generally called Bass Minnows or Bass Shiners. As for lures, keep it simple. A silver spoon such as a Johnson’s Silver Weedless Spoon is great. Also, Crappie type jigs work very well on Bass, especially the ones with action tails. Tried and true Rapala floating minnow lures have accounted for countless Bass and other Gamefish.
Now you have all you need to start fishing for Bass. See, I told you it’s not complicated. Sure, the lure and equipment manufacturers will hate you for not spending hundreds of dollars on their products, but let the next sucker buy all that junk. You just want to go out and have fun catching fish!
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