Before a successful day on the water, you need to know what to take on a fishing trip.
Embarking on a fishing trip requires careful preparation, ensuring you have all the essentials for success and enjoyment.
From rods and reels to handy accessories, each item plays a crucial role in enhancing your fishing experience.
These items are essential to have on a fishing trip. Without them, you will either have zero success or a much harder time out on the water.
I am sure you already knew this, but yes, you are going to need to take some fishing rods and reels with you an a fishing trip.
If you are a beginner, I suggest using one or two spinning rods and reels.
Spinning setups are much easier to use and will help you avoid tangles and other difficulties that come with fishing.
One ultra light spinning combo and one medium heavy combo will cover just about any fishing situation that you will come across.
Having a good fishing backpack will make the trip much easier and more enjoyable.
You can fit all the tackle boxes, lures, fishing accessories, water bottles, snacks, and whatever else you need in a single backpack.
You can even get a fishing backpack with rod holders so that you don’t have to carry around your rods as you walk or travel around.
Within the backpack and tackle boxes, you want to have a wide variety of lures and terminal tackle so that you are prepared to catch fish in all circumstances.
From topwaters to crankbaits, from spinnerbaits to texas rigs, you want to keep as many different lure options with you on the fishing trip.
A pair of pliers are absolutely crucial for a fishing trip. It can sometimes be very difficult to take the hook out of a fish without a set of pliers.
Especially if you are using treble hooks, it is very easy to hook one of your fingers while trying to remove the hook.
Save yourself the pain and get a good pair of fishing pliers. You can also get a fishing multi tool that has a built in set of pliers.
Every time you change your lure or tie a knot, you will need to cut the line.
A pocket knife will get the job done and is easy enough to carry around.
Braid cutters work a bit better, especially when using braided line. But which ever is more convenient will work.
Getting caught without a fishing license is the fastest way to ruin a fishing trip.
I will admit, I am sometimes guilty of fishing without one, but it is much better to be safe than sorry.
They are only about 10 dollars which is very cheap compared to the price of a ticket.
Once you reel in a big catch, you want to be able to weigh it and see just how big it is.
Who knows, maybe you catch record fish. Having a fish scale makes the trip more fun and adds a competitive aspect to it.
If you are fishing for smaller species such as bass, panfish, or perch, a net might not be required.
But if you are fishing for big catfish, pike, walleye, or other large fish species, you really want to have a net with you.
These are the less essential fishing items. You can certainly get by without them, but the will improve your fishing success and overall enjoyment of the fishing trip.
Polarized sunglasses will remove the glare from the water and allow you to see below the surface much better.
This can help you spot fish or structure which will help you catch more fish.
As a kid, I never had any polarized glasses and I caught plenty of fish.
However, they certainly help out, and nowadays I never fish without them.
If you are just going on a single fishing trip, you probable won’t need a hooks sharpener.
But if you are preparing to make fishing a hobby or are going on a multi day trip, than a hook sharpener will be a great addition to your arsenal.
Dull hooks can lead to missed fish and lower hook up ratios, so it is good to have a nice hook sharpener with you so that you can quickly sharpen up the hooks.
These super cool fishing gadgets allow you to have a bluetooth fish finder right on your phone.
You cast out the portable fish finder and get the sonar imaging directly on your smart phone.
Again, I certainly did not have one of these as a kid, so they aren’t a necessity. But they are a lot of fun and can help you catch more fish.
With a thermometer, you can quickly find out the exact water temperature.
This can give you insights on how fish will be behaving. But dipping your hands in the water will give a rough estimate that is probably good enough, so it isn’t required.
A fishing sun shirt is super thin, super breathable, and most importantly, keeps your skin out of the sun.
Fishing trips can require long hours in the hot sun and these help keep you out of the sun and cool at the same time.
Here’s a beginner’s fishing checklist to help you prepare for your fishing trip:
Research the fishing spot, pack essential items such as snacks and water, arrive early to secure a good spot, and stay patient and enjoy the experience.
Consider the type of fish you’ll be targeting and the fishing conditions.
Match the rod and reel to the appropriate fishing line weight and lure weight.
Seek advice from experienced anglers or fishing professionals if unsure.
Yes, in most places, a fishing license is required if you are above the age of 16.
Check the regulations for the specific location you plan to fish, as requirements vary by state or country.
Licenses can usually be obtained online, at sporting goods stores, or local government offices.
