The sport of fishing sees new people entering into the sport all the time. Who knows what attracts a person to fishing, especially Bass fishing. Yet, each year, inumerable people go out and buy their first fishing tackle in hopes of landing a Largemouth Bass.



I've put together a simple List on buying your first fishing tackle. 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 tackle I used to catch fish many years ago still works today. Just as good or better than the tackle in the stores now.

You need to understand that most fish are predators and will eat any number of things. If it looks like a baitfish, acts like a baitfish or smells like a batifish, it's in danger of ending up on their menu. Fishing isn't nearly as complicated as many of the so-called Guru's would have you to believe. They're just trying to sell products for their Sponsors. I learned this lessons the hard way many years ago. My Buddy and I were outfished on our local lake by an Old Man and his Grandkids using nothing more than Zebco 33's and minnows.

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.

As for line, the stuff that comes on a Zebco 33 is good to start out with. If you need to replace it, get a good quality 10 pound line like Berkly Trilene or Stren. 10 pound test is good to begin with and will haul the biggest Bass out of the water with a little patience.

You're going to be looking at bait selection now. Start with live bait and work your way up to artificials. You'll catch more Bass and bigger ones on live bait. When you're in the Fishing Dept. of your favorite store, look for Eagle Claw live bait hooks in the 1/0 to 3/0 sizes and get a few packs. Next try and find some weights. You can generally find the ones that come several sizes to a package. Split shot is a great weight for beginners. Next, check out the floats. I like to use the Balsa wood floats. I use the slip floats. These slide up and down the line for easy adjustment. They're held in place at the top by a knot or bobber stop. You're now ready to head out to your fishing hole!

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!