First time

[S.A. Boggs]

For the first time in 30 years I am going to go fishing. Looking this weekend @ fishing gear and trying to trade for a small boat. Any suggestion on gear for fresh water lake fishing. I use to have an "Ugly Stick" and looking at another one.
Sam

[Dan in NH]

Ugly Sticks are still good, I own a few. For reels I have Daiwa and Shimano and like them both and personally don't spend over 50 on reels. there is so much fishing gear available now everyone will have a different opinion on what is best. what I have works for me. Good luck and have fun.

[Allen]

Don't overdo it. Years ago I went fishing with a friend and a relative. We used a 300' trammel net in Mobile Bay (salt). We caught over 300 fish in about a 4 hour outing mostly flounder and mullet. We were exhausted when we returned. Guess what we had to do then? Clean 300+ fish. I realize your type fishing is much different but my point is it is tiring.

[RED]

Reels are your biggest problem to find good inexpensive ones is largely a matter of where it was made. Some of the very recent hi-dollar reels from China may be OK but the majority are absolute junk. I use exclusively USA made vintage Penn reels for heavy work and trolling. The Swedish made ABU and Garcia reels may be old but you can still buy good ones on ebay for under $50 if you work at it. For a limited time there were some reels made in Japan that were ok... but even those are now made in China. Swedish made Zebco/Garcia Cardinal 3 and 4 spinning reels are outstanding (the green ones)... if you are lucky enough to find one for sale.

Good luck!

[Allen]

Used a Zebco 33 during my youth. When I stated fishing again when my kids were young I bought a Zebco 888. I like them.

[Vern Humphrey]

Go to Wal Mart or a similar store and buy a cheap rod and reel set. When you wear that out, you'll know a lot more than you do now, and be better qualified to make your selection of a replacement.

[pcox]

Lew's Speed Stick, 6ft-6in. Lews Speed Spool. Not too expensive and durable enough.

[Ken The Kanuck]

Sam,

Given the spring season now, this seems to be the garage sale season around here. Garage sales are great places to get fishing gear at a good price. IN my mind there is only 1 item you need buy new and that is the line. Almost every reel is easy to take apart and lubricate, the rod is pretty much a visual/bend inspection, the lures/bait are a matter of what works where you are fishing. A good diamond grit sharpener is a great investment in my books.

Tight Lines

KTK

[JB White]

Sam, what is your target? Walleye, Bass or Northern/Muskie etc? Small boat as in 'puddle jumper'? Pan fishing? It all makes a difference. Not likely to hook a Crappie on a Muskie lure, and it's really tough landing a Northern with a Crappie rig and ultralight rod. <-- Did it once and it was a long hard fight.

[S.A. Boggs]

Sam, what is your target? Walleye, Bass or Northern/Muskie etc? Small boat as in 'puddle jumper'? Pan fishing? It all makes a difference. Not likely to hook a Crappie on a Muskie lure, and it's really tough landing a Northern with a Crappie rig and ultralight rod. <-- Did it once and it was a long hard fight.

Pan fish mainly with large Bass and Cat's thrown in. Small boat as in a 10' with swivel seats using a trolling motor as propulsion as our lakes aren't too big. Just enough for Wolf and I to have fun with. It is not that I have not fished before, used to do the Mighty Ohio, back waters and ponds. Strip mine ponds were hard to get too, humongous big mouth bass as few fished them due to copperheads and a few rattlers. One of my buddies use to toss M80's in front of the path, never saw a snake...of course that was 50 years ago! I started fishing with a bamboo pole and a bent safety pin with dug wigglers, man that was fun fishing! I don't hunt/fish for sport but for the freezer, if I can have some fun along the way so much better the trip.
Sam

[JB White]

Go with a light to medium 6' rod. Someone mentioned Diawa rigs and I have a couple of those myself. You can pan fish and still work a bass lure without problems. It won't break the bank either if you're uncertain about getting into it too deep. Some #8 hooks and a pocketful of bobbers and you're all set. Don't let wolf eat the worms.

[S.A. Boggs]

Go with a light to medium 6' rod. Someone mentioned Diawa rigs and I have a couple of those myself. You can pan fish and still work a bass lure without problems. It won't break the bank either if you're uncertain about getting into it too deep. Some #8 hooks and a pocketful of bobbers and you're all set. Don't let wolf eat the worms.

Don't have to worry about Wolf eating, now rolling in them that she will do.
Sam

[Allen]

At least you are fresh water fishing. We have that here too but we also have the worlds nicest white sand beaches. That attracts numerous MF's to our area and they bring their stupid events like the cold water dip in the middle of the winter and what's going on now: the 2018 mullet toss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOGjvBChkRc

[PWC]

Best memories I have are fishing with my father. 10 or 12 ft cane pole, 12 ft John punt boat (flat on both ends) in the bed of a pickup, and using one paddle to skull along. Didn't have far to go in Mississippi to find fishable water; here in AZ you have to have a big boat and trailer and 150 horse engine to get away from the dock and all the jet skis and water skiers.

[Former Cav]

I caught more fish with my cheap ZEBCO then any of by abbu garcias, and shakespears, etc.
darn thing was given to me as a graduation present. It was from Labelles catalog showroom (remember them?) for about 20 bucks complete, rod and real. Open faced real.
caught some 5-1/2 large mouth bass, sunnies, crappies, northern pikes, etc.