Fishing enthusiasts are everywhere. In fact, it’s such a popular pastime that as many as 40 million get out there for a spot of angling each and every year. Equally ideal as a hobby or sport to enjoy on your own or with the family, fishing is something that gives you a reason to get out and enjoy nature. Sounds good, right? However, getting started can be a bit tricky when you’re not sure about which fishing supplies you need. 

That’s something that we go some way to helping you with here, as we detail our supplies checklist and for clarity, we’re talking about freshwater fishing here. So, why not pour yourself a soft drink, sit back and relax as we talk you through the things you’ll need. 

Ok, so the following is a basic list of what we call ‘necessities’ needed to get out there and fish. It’s certainly not an exhaustive list.

❖ A state fishing licence - Before you can do anything, you’ll need to go and get a state fishing licence legally in the US. Don’t worry too much though, as it’s nice and easy to obtain online and will only take a few minutes. A nice added side effect of getting a licence is that the money you pay goes directly towards helping support conservation. 

❖ A fishing rod and reel - a bit of an obvious one, this one, but we need to cover it. It’s best to get some advice from your local tackle shop about which one to buy, as your height, experience, what you’re fishing for and other variables will dictate which one is best for you. 

❖ Some fishing weights - something that’s required to keep your hook in the water beneath your float or cork bobber. 

❖ Fish hooks - another of the most obvious types of fishing supplies you’ll need, but as you’ll find out, you’re best off going for size 6-10 size hooks.

❖ Some live bait or lures - as the fish aren’t going to simply jump onto your hook. Lures are exactly what they sound like in that they lure fish into thinking that there’s something tasty sitting in the water waiting for them to gobble it up.

Now, as you can see, this is a very, very basic list of fishing supplies, but it will be enough to get you started - fishing at least. There are some other things you’ll need like suitable clothes, a tackle back to put everything in, a hat and a nice comfy chair to sit by the riverside on.

It goes without saying that safety should take centre stage in terms of importance on your fishing trip, especially if your family has come along with you. Take a first aid kit with you for starters and if you’re fishing out in a boat, everybody in it should be wearing a life preserver. The same goes if you’re wading, as it’s easy to fall over and get into trouble.

Also, good anglers are respectful of their natural environment. So, we’d recommend always practicing good conservation and always take your trash away with you. Don’t leave hooks, lines or any equipment behind either, as they can easily harm local wildlife. 

Our fishing supplies guide is a very basic one, that’s for sure, but it’s really aimed at beginners anyway. However, if you follow the info in it, you’ll be set up to enjoy one of the most widely enjoyed hobbies around. We appreciate you taking the time to look at our little blog and we hope you’ve found it useful.