Every part of your fishing setup serves a specific role. From the rod you pick, the reel you combine it with, and the terminal tackle you choose, they’ll all play a crucial part in what you end up catching. However, with so much stuff on the market, figuring out what to go for can be daunting, especially for novice anglers. So what’s the best type of fishing gear for beginners? Let’s find out together!
In this article, you’ll find all kinds of resources related to fishing rods, reels, types of bait, lures, and even hooks. You can read it all or navigate to the parts that interest you the most. When you’re ready scroll on!
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How to Choose Your Fishing Rod
When picking a fishing rod, you should keep two main things in mind – your budget and what kind of fishing you want to do. Setting a budget is important because there’s always a more expensive, fancier rod out there. However, for beginners, having high-end fishing gear isn’t really necessary. Rather than that, focus on getting the rod that’s going to be the most useful while fitting into your budget. To figure out what kind of rod you need, consider these four factors:
- Length. The length of your fishing rod plays a large part in how far and how precisely you’ll get to cast. Shorter rods offer more precision but a limited casting range, so you need to think carefully about the type of water you’ll be using the rod in and how you want to present your bait. For beginners, the ideal fishing rod length is typically around 7 feet. However, that also varies with the height of the angler – a tall person might be able to get away with using a longer rod, but your kids will definitely need something smaller.
- Power. Power designates the amount of pressure it takes for the fishing rod to bend. You’ll typically see the power rating printed on the rod itself, ranging from ultra-light to ultra-heavy. As you can imagine, light power rods are used for smaller fish, while the heaviest stuff is reserved for deep sea giants. So as you choose your fishing gear, consider the average size of the fish you’ll be reeling in and match the rod power to the fishery you’ll be tackling.
- Action. Rod action is often confused with power. But whereas power refers to the pressure it takes for the rod to bend, action determines where along the pole that bend happens. Action ranges from extra fast to slow. The faster the action, the closer the rod will bend to the tip, making it more sensitive. To give you an example, fast action rods are great when you need to feel your lure touch the bottom or when dealing with fish with careful first bites. Meanwhile, moderate and slow-action rods offer better casting distance and retrieval.
- Line and lure ratings. We’re slowly moving into other parts of your fishing setup but, for now, you should also know that every rod is rated for certain line sizes and lure weights. These ratings are useful indicators for whether the rod will work for the type of fishing you’re considering it for. So once again, think about what size fish you’ll be targeting, as well as the lures you intend to use to maximize the rod’s performance.
Once you’ve covered these four categories, you can consider things such as rod material. Most beginners start with fiberglass fishing gear. However, some rods are made from carbon fiber or graphite, making them lighter and therefore easier to keep casting with on those long days out. These naturally come with higher price tags so you’ll have to mind your budget.
How to Choose a Fishing Reel
Rods and reels go hand in hand and you can’t really pick one without also thinking about the other. Different kinds of rods support different reels and creating a good combo is what will ultimately ensure your fishing gear will perform to its full potential, even for beginners. There are four main types of reels to choose from:
- Spincast Reels. Spincast reels are simple to use – you just press the button to release the spool and start casting. And since they have a closed face, the line inside is protected from tangling, helping you avoid those nasty bird nests. They’re also inexpensive, but that comes at the cost of low durability, small spool size, and limited range. But while you shouldn’t expect spincast reels to get you big fish, they’re great if you’re trying to learn how to cast or want to introduce someone else to fishing.
- Spinning Reels. Compared to spincast reels, spinning reels offer a lot more variety in terms of spool capacity. They also feature far better control and casting distance. So even though it takes a while to master casting with them, spinning reels offer a lot in return. With a wide range of situations you can use them in, they’re typically the next step for anglers who’ve started off with spincast reels. In terms of price, spinning reels won’t set you back too much, as there are plenty of decent options in the $40–60 range.
- Baitcasting Reels. There’s a steady debate among anglers on whether baitcasting or spinning reels are better. The truth is that it really depends on what you want to fish for and how you want to go about it. Casting with baitcasting reels is harder to master and even experienced anglers sometimes get tangled. However, once you do get the hang of it, you’ll discover baitcasting reels offer fantastic accuracy and feel, especially with larger lures. Also, you’ll likely end up being able to make more casts than with a spinning outfit.
- Fly Reels. The three types of reels we mentioned so far all refer to conventional fishing, but as you probably know, fly rods come with their own special kind. Fly fishing reels are tailor-made to cast ultralight lures. They’re built to allow the weighted line to come off the reel smoothly and to counterbalance the fly rod. Compared to casting with conventional gear, fly fishing is a completely different skill. So if you’re a beginner, focus on learning one or the other, rather than trying to tackle both at once.
Like with rods, the materials used in fishing reels will influence their price tags. But while reels are certainly very important, most anglers will tell you it’s actually the quality of your fishing rod that should take precedence if you’re shopping on a budget. Ultimately, all reels are prone to wear and tear, but a good, comfortable rod can serve you a lifetime. So consider that as you plan your purchase.
Fishing Line Basics
The next piece in the fishing gear puzzle is choosing the right line to spool your reel with. As we mentioned earlier in the article, each rod is marked with the line rating it supports. You’ll use that as the main reference when picking out your line, however, there are still a few different types you can choose from. Here they are:
- Monofilament. Inexpensive and reliable, mono is the standard choice of fishing line for most anglers around the world. It’s easy to cast and tie knots with, and it’s also fairly durable. Compared to other types of fishing lines, monofilament is stretchy. This is an advantage when fighting large fish, but it’s also a drawback since that stretchiness makes the line less sensitive. Mono lines also tend to twist, leading anglers to use swivels, which are visible to fish in clear waters.
- Braided. Compared to mono, braided lines have no stretch to them, offering superior sensitivity. They’re also strong, very abrasion-resistant, and fantastic for casting. However, they’re also very slippery, making them more difficult to tie knots with. In fact, many standard knots you’d use with mono will slip when used with a braided line. They also bear a heftier price tag.
- Fluorocarbon. In terms of stretchiness, a fluorocarbon line falls somewhere between mono and braided. It’s easy to set the hook with but it offers a somewhat lower level of sensitivity compared to a braided line. What’s great about fluorocarbon lines, however, is that they’re invisible underwater, making them a popular choice for leader material. This type of line also sinks faster than the others, which is great when you need your lure to be near the bottom but a drawback if you’re trying to fish topwater.
For beginners, monofilament is the most common choice of line to spool your fishing gear with. It’s the most forgiving and the cheapest to replace. But you can also learn about a few rigs you’d like to try out and see what type of line other anglers use for them.
How to Choose Bait and Lures
Once you have your rod and reel, all spooled with the line of your choice, it’s time to delve into the stuff that makes the fish bite. The world of baits and lures is vast and what you’ll use will vary both between fish species and the fisheries they reside in. From bread pieces to custom-made fly lures, there are a thousand ways to get that bite. Check out some of the following articles to help you decide what to go for:
Fishing Hooks 101
Fishing hooks come in a variety of sizes and types. The size of the hook is the first thing you’ll look at when choosing what to use. You basically want to go for something the fish you’re targeting will be able to eat. Pick a hook that’s too big and you won’t be able to hook your fish. Go for something too small and the fish will be more likely to swallow the hook, leading to deep hooking.
Another thing to consider is the type of hook and whether you’re allowed to use all the different shapes in the waters you want to fish in. Treble and J-hooks are illegal in certain situations, such as when reef fishing in Florida. Some waters even prohibit the use of barbed hooks, so it’s always a good idea to get familiar with how the regulations work. For more information on fishing hooks and how to pick the right one, have a look at the article below:
What else should I know?
Whatever fishing gear you end up putting together, you’ll have to maintain it if you want it to last. Luckily, it’s not a lot of work and you only need a few basic ingredients such as oil, soap, and clean water. For a rundown of how to keep everything neat and tidy, have a look at our article on fishing gear maintenance for beginners.
Over time, you might also get the chance to travel and explore other fisheries around the globe. For those situations, we’ve prepared some tips on how to bring your fishing gear along. However, once you’re there, you can also consider booking a charter and experiencing how the locals fish. In general, charter fishing is a fantastic way to get an introduction to angling. After all, nothing beats learning from a pro!
