When you are dealing with a beginning angler you want to find tackle that can be used in a variety of situations. Experienced anglers who are experts will often have specialized tackle for each situation that they will encounter. Beginners however do not have the expertise to use all of this equipment. The tackle list I will outline in this article will be gear towards the person new to our hobby.



You can buy an all purpose fishing rod for no more than twenty dollars that will be excellent in a variety of circumstances. I recommend a medium action rod that you can use to fish for pan fish as well as larger species like Catfish and Largemouth Bass. There are a variety of different manufacturers to choose from. I am partial to Cabala's rods; I believe they offer great value. You really cannot go wrong with rod selection if you stick to a medium action rod.

Your next decision if which fishing reel to purchase. The easiest reels to use are closed face spinning reels. I recommend avoiding these reels however. They are of limited effectiveness on anything but small to medium sized fish and will need to be upgraded soon to an open faced spinning reel. It take time to learn how to use an open faced reel so I feel it is best to get the learning started as soon as possible. Again there are many different manufacturers to choose from. For value I prefer Shimano reels. For thirty to fifty dollars you can purchase a fine reel that will last many years. This is a reel that can be used to catch a variety of different fish in both freshwater and saltwater.

I believe all beginning fishermen should start off using monofilament line.

There are many different kinds of line that offer a variety of huge advantages to the fisherman. Monofilament line however is the most forgiving line and definitely is a closest thing to an all purpose fishing line. I advise using ten to twelve pound test line for starting out. This line is perhaps two heavy for some species and two lights for others. It does however represent a good middle ground and is not inappropriate to use for just about any type of fishing the beginning fisherman will attempt.

When selecting a tackle box you cannot buy one too small. In the beginning you will perhaps have a box that is too big for your needs. Understand however that as you advance and grow in this hobby you will find more and more baits and tools you will need. It is best to buy the proper box for your goodies at the start rather than needing to upgrade later.

Some important tools to have in your tackle box are:

A pair of scissors, for cutting line quickly

A needle nose pliers for aid in removing the hook from a fish

A nail clippers

A tube of lubricant for your reel, this will often help when fishing in rain

A couple of stringers for keeping any fish you may want to eat

A sharp knife for cutting bait or cleaning fish

A pocket knife