🎒 Starter Gear Packs

Medium spinning combo (rod + reel, 6ft 6in medium)

Versatile for most freshwater fish. Spinning gear is easier to cast than baitcasting for beginners.

$30-50

8lb monofilament line

Good all-around strength. Mono stretches slightly which helps prevent hook pulls on strikes.

$5-8

Assorted hook pack (sizes 4, 6, 8)

For live bait and soft plastics

$4

Split shot sinkers

Adds weight to keep bait near the bottom

$3

Bobbers (assorted)

Suspends bait at the right depth and shows strikes visually

$3

Small spinnerbait (chartreuse, 3/8oz)

Easiest lure to fish — slow retrieve catches almost everything

$4-6

Plastic worms (6in, green pumpkin)

Most versatile bass lure.

$4-6 per bag

Fishing kayak (sit-on-top preferred)

Sit-on-top kayaks are more stable and self-draining.

$300-500 used

PFD (life jacket) — REQUIRED BY LAW

Non-negotiable. Inflatable PFDs are comfortable and Coast Guard approved.

$50-120

Paddle leash

Keeps your paddle attached when fighting fish

$10

Anchor trolley kit

Lets you position the kayak sideways to the wind while anchored

$25-40

Dry bag

Protects phone, wallet, keys from water

$15-25

7ft medium-heavy spinning rod + reel

Longer rod for distance casting. Heavier action handles heavier sinkers in current.

$40-60

12-15lb monofilament

Shore anglers face more snags and need extra abrasion resistance

$6-10

Pyramid sinkers (2-4 oz)

Pyramid shape digs into bottom and holds position in current

$5

Circle hooks (2/0-5/0)

Self-sets in the corner of the mouth — less effort and better catch rates

$5

Rod pod or bank sticks

Holds rod at the right angle while you wait for a bite

$15-30

7ft medium spinning rod (fast action)

Longer than freshwater — you need distance for spooked fish on flats. Fast action loads quickly for long casts with light lures.

$50-80

2500-3000 size spinning reel

Saltwater-rated reel with a sealed drag — regular freshwater reels corrode quickly in salt

$60-100

20lb braided line with 20lb fluorocarbon leader

Braid gives sensitivity and distance; fluorocarbon leader is invisible to fish and abrasion-resistant near oysters and grass

$25-35

1/4 oz jig heads with paddle tail soft plastics

The most versatile inshore lure — works for redfish, trout, flounder, and snook

$15-20

Gold spoon (3/4 to 1 oz)

Irresistible to redfish on the flats — cast past a tailing fish and retrieve slowly

$8-12

Popping cork rig with shrimp

Suspends live or artificial shrimp at a target depth and creates noise that attracts speckled trout

$5-8

Needle-nose pliers (saltwater rated)

For dehooking fish safely and cutting braided line

$15-20

Ice auger (6 or 8 inch)

You cannot fish without drilling a hole. Hand augers work for 6 inches of ice or less; power augers for thicker ice.

$40-80 hand, $150+ power

Short ice fishing rod with inline reel (28-36 inch)

Short rods are used inside shanties and for sensitive jigging. Inline reels prevent line twist in cold temps.

$30-60 combo

6-8lb fluorocarbon line

Fluorocarbon is nearly invisible underwater and less prone to freezing than mono

$8-12

Tungsten jigs (size 10-14) in pink, chartreuse, and white

Tungsten sinks faster than lead and the thin profile is more visible in the water column. Essential for bluegill and perch.

$1-3 each

Wax worms or spikes (maggots)

The most productive ice fishing bait for panfish — tip your jig with one or two

$3-5 per container

Tip-ups (2-4)

Mechanical devices that hold your line at depth and signal with a flag when a fish takes the bait — for walleye and pike while you jig another hole

$10-20 each

Skimmer (slotted spoon)

For scooping ice chips from your hole — you will need it every 15-20 minutes in cold weather

$5-8

9ft 5-weight fly rod (beginner-friendly)

The 5-weight is the universal trout rod. 9 feet gives you line control over the water. Start with a medium-action rod — it is more forgiving.

$100-200

Large-arbor fly reel with disc drag

The reel matters less than the rod in fly fishing but get one with a smooth drag for larger fish. Make sure it balances the rod.

$60-120

Weight-forward floating line

WF line is easier to cast than double-taper for beginners. Floating line handles most trout fishing.

$40-60

9ft tapered leader (3x or 4x) and tippet

The leader transfers energy from the fly line to the fly and provides invisibility. Tippet is the final section you tie flies to.

$10-15

Assorted dry flies and nymphs

Elk Hair Caddis, Adams, Parachute Adams for dry flies. Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail, Zebra Midge for nymphs.

$15-25

Polarized sunglasses

Essential — you need to see into the water to spot fish, feeding lanes, and structure

$20-80

Waders and wading boots

Fly fishing requires getting into the stream to reach fish and manage line

$100-300 for entry-level