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Walking down the fishing aisle for the first time is overwhelming. There are thousands of lures, a dozen kinds of line, and hooks in sizes that make no sense. The good news: you need surprisingly little to start catching fish.
This checklist covers everything a beginner needs for freshwater fishing for bass, trout, panfish and catfish, split into what’s essential and what’s nice to have.
[TREV: a quick line about what’s always in your own tackle bag.]
The essentials
1. Rod and reel combo
A 6′ to 7′ medium-power spinning combo handles almost everything. See our full guide: Best Spinning Rod and Reel Combos for Beginners.
Our top pick: Ugly Stik GX2 combo
2. Fishing line
8 to 10 lb monofilament is forgiving, cheap and easy to tie. Many combos come pre-spooled; if yours doesn’t, grab a spool.
Berkley Trilene XL monofilament
3. Hooks
Get an assortment. Size 6 to 8 for panfish and trout bait, size 1 to 2/0 for bass, and circle hooks for catfish.
4. Sinkers (weights)
Split shot for light rigs and egg or bank sinkers for fishing bait on the bottom.
Split shot and sinker assortments
5. Bobbers (floats)
A few clip-on round bobbers and a couple of slip bobbers. Watching a bobber disappear is still the most fun way to catch a fish.
6. A small lure starter kit
You don’t need a hundred lures. Start with:
- Soft plastic worms (5″ to 7″) for bass
- Inline spinners (like the Mepps or Panther Martin) for trout and panfish
- A couple of crankbaits
- Small jigs and grubs for crappie and bluegill
Freshwater lure starter kits
Mepps inline spinners
7. Bait
If you’re fishing live bait you can buy worms locally. For trout, a jar of PowerBait is a classic.
8. Fishing pliers
For removing hooks safely and crimping split shot. Get a pair with a line cutter built in.
Fishing pliers with line cutter
9. Tackle box
Something to keep all of the above organized. A single utility box (Plano 3700 size) is plenty for a beginner.
10. Fishing license
Not on Amazon, but don’t skip it. Buy one through your state’s wildlife agency website before you go.
Nice to have
- Polarized sunglasses let you see into the water and protect your eyes from hooks. Polarized fishing sunglasses
- Landing net makes landing bigger fish much easier. Rubber-mesh landing nets (rubber mesh is gentler on fish).
- Fish grip and scale for quick, safe photos. Fish lip grips
- Folding chair for bank fishing. Folding fishing chairs
- Rod holder for bait fishing. Bank rod holders
- Sun protection: a wide-brim hat, sunscreen and a UPF shirt.
- Small cooler for drinks, bait and snacks.
Printable checklist
- ☐ Rod and reel combo
- ☐ Line (8 to 10 lb mono)
- ☐ Hooks (assorted)
- ☐ Sinkers
- ☐ Bobbers
- ☐ Starter lures
- ☐ Bait
- ☐ Pliers with line cutter
- ☐ Tackle box
- ☐ Fishing license
- ☐ Polarized sunglasses
- ☐ Net
- ☐ Hat, sunscreen, water
The bottom line
You can get everything on the essentials list without spending much. Start simple, learn what the fish in your local water like, and add gear as you go. Ready to pick a rod? Start with our beginner spinning combo guide.
