Fishing and hunting are two of the favorite pastimes of Americans and people all over the world. According to some recent stats, it appears that over fifty million Americans engage in sports like fishing.
For some people, angling might not seem the ideal way of passing the time. If you want to organize your first fishing trip or you want to go on one along with your life partner or a friend, you have to make sure you don’t leave some items at home. You’ll find some of these essentials listed below.
Safety-related things
With skin cancer incidence on the rise, it’s safe to say that you always have to be safe than sorry. What this means is that, should you go angling in the summer, you have to bring sunscreen along with you. Make sure that the SPF factor of the product you choose is at least 50, especially if you plan to sit in the sun for several hours on end.
Something else you have to pay attention to is your water source. If you have no stream or river nearby where you know that the water is potable, in which case you’ll only have to use a biological filter, you actually have to bring some clean water with you. Dehydration is serious, and it’s even more so for kids.
Handle sharp objects with care. Unless you have a first-aid kit in your car — which we hope that you do — the last thing you might want to do is cut yourself when you have no means of stopping the bleeding or disinfecting a wound. Use your own common sense to tell whether there are things you absolutely need with you, such as prescription medication or your insulin, if you have diabetes.
Keep your gear light
Compare your next fishing trip with a hiking adventure. The last thing you might want to do is carry a lot of hefty things from your car to the angling spot. Pack all of your essentials in easy-to-carry backpacks and make sure that your fishing equipment isn’t overly complicated, primarily if you’ve never fished before.
Most fishing magazines and forums recommend opting for a spincasting or spinning rod and reel combo instead of choosing a baitcasting one. The latter is too difficult to handle by a complete rookie and might make you feel frustrated.
Since natural bait is somewhat challenging to manage as it needs to be kept alive and fed, you might want to go for an artificial lure. Just make sure you pick the right one for the species you are targeting and the water conditions, too.
Extra tools
You’ll need nail clippers or a good fishing knife to cut your line. Other things you’re going to require when you’re out on the water range from hooks to bobbers. It is a good idea to create a checklist before leaving your home, because this way, you will ensure that you do not forget something behind, and that particular something might turn out to be essential.
