Cheap Fishing Tackle Guide For Beginners
In this topic we are going to get into what I believe is the best way to go about searching for or buying cheap fishing tackle, whether this be online or in store. Below will be a few take aways to consider, as there are so many options out there so hopefully this article will shine some light on the subject helping you make a more informative decision when it comes to your fishing.
Where To Start
The word cheap is something that we generally always like to here when it comes to buying something obviously because this directly correlates to us having more money in the bank after our purchase, this is true and there are certainly times when we can bag a good bargain on something we are looking to buy and get more for our money than expected.
I would suggest that when looking for fishing kit/tackle online or in store be sure to know that the more expensive it is does not necessarily mean that it is better for the purpose you intend it for but on the other hand you may have also heard of the term ” buy cheap buy twice”, I believe that these two meanings both have a time and a place so I will go into more detail.
More Expensive Tackle
It’s very easy when you are new to something like fishing or even if you are a more avid fisherman for that matter to want the best of the best when it comes to tackle/equipment that is used within your hobby, this is just human nature and there is nothing wrong with that at all, this will obviously go on what you can afford and how much you are willing to spend.
When looking for fishing tackle just bear in mind that once you get to a certain level of quality, for example brand name and price etc there is really nothing much that you will gain after a certain point that will improve your fishing, by this I mean if you buy a fishing rod for £40 as appose to one that costs a couple of hundred pound this will not mean that you are likely to land more fish but you may get a more quality piece of tackle which could last you longer and aesthetically look nicer, they will basically do the same thing and that’s catch fish, although there will be exceptions to the rule with some of the more expensive bits of tackle items that may aid your fishing slightly more than there cheaper counter part.
This goes for items such as Rods and Reels, when I first started out I decided on a sort of mid range approach where I did not go for the cheapest option but also not for the most expensive. By all means though if you have the spare cash and would like to treat yourself to some top notch tackle then go ahead just bear in mind it’s not 100% necessary to get you started nor is it needed later on in your fishing journey.
Buy Cheap Buy Twice
As the title of this sub topic suggests there is a point where opting for to cheapest tackle can definitely be bad decision, this statement comes from my own experience where I have bought items then quickly realized that I probably should have spent more cash and got something that will work perfectly and at a reasonable price instead of cheaping out, I’m in no doubt you have also been in one of those situations before in your lifetime as many of us have.
This does not stand for every single item I have purchased but I would say it does for around 80-90% of your kit. Below I have listed a few items of fishing tackle that I would recommend that you think twice before purchasing the cheapest you can find.
Rods
I would initially look at rods which land in the mid range category for example somewhere in the £35 to £80 range, this will vary slightly all depending on where you purchase from and whether you bought the Rod on sale or not but without getting too deep into the prices my main point is that you ideally do not want a cheap fishing rod that will only last a few seasons or even sessions for that matter and that can not handle reasonable size fish because remember even if you do not intend on fishing for the larger species you can still hook one every now and again so trust me you will want your tackle to be up to the test. This also goes for general wear and tear so if you go too cheap then it will simply not last.
Reels
Having a good reel is essential in my eyes you can pick up reels for dirt cheap like £5 to £15 but once again I would recommend that you stick to the more well-known brands like Shimano, Shakespeare, Fox and Daiwa for example, brands like these and others alike offer affordable tackle that looks great and is up to the test even when on a tight budget, Finding a good Reel to start you off could land in a ball park figure of lets say £25 to £40, there will be plenty of great Reels to choose from within that price range.
Rod and Reel Holdall
The reason for me specifically listing this is because this is another item in my experience that you should not scrimp on, be sure to look for a decent Holder/rod bag to store your rods and reels do not get one that has zero padding as this will be essentially useless in my eyes, you want one which provides plenty of cushion against any potential damage like one of my rods occurred because I bought a cheap one that basically just covers the rods in a fabric and does not protect it.
You have to be extra careful when it comes to such things like the eyes/rings on your rod, these can be easily bent or broken off completely as these are a very delicate part of you kit, the same goes for your reel as these are also delicate and require the right protection and care when in use and when stored, don’t be the person who turns up at the lake then to find out that your tackle has been damaged in transit or in storage because of the lack of protection for your kit.
Above I have only written about three separate items but I will be looking to add more extensive reviews on specific bits of tackle in later posts, this is just hopefully somewhere you can start and also giving you the basic idea when looking to make future purchases.
Online Tackle Shops
A good way to find cheap fishing tackle can be on eBay, there are numerous stores on there selling kit from low to high price ranges but what I really like is that you will find individual sellers that are selling tackle in the bulk so if you are just starting out lets say, you may come across some bargains and find a bulk buy where you essentially get a full setup for a lot less that the RRP price if you was to buy all the kit individually.
Buying from an individual private seller may mean that you are buying all second hand kit but if it’s good quality tackle then it will last many more years if looked after. You may have to do some of your own due diligence when opting for this route to make sure you are getting a good deal but it may pay you dividend in the long run so be sure to checkout places such as eBay, Gumtree, FB Market Place and some of the other relatable websites to see if you can save yourself a few £££.
In Store
Sometimes shopping in store can be the best way to buy anything really as it gives you chance to physically see the item your are buying, in regard to fishing kit this is no different, it’s always nice to be able to pick up and get a feel for the product this gives you a better perspective sometimes especially if you don’t know exactly what it is that you want, plus you will get in store help from a member of staff if you are in need for anymore information about a certain product I,ve had plenty of help myself from the guys at Angling Direct.
I personally will shop mostly online but there are times that I will go and see the specific item in person first to get the over all feel of it like rods etc and then maybe see if I can find it cheaper online once I’m happy with my decision, this is just another little tip that hopefully helps in the future so remember this one.
Our Conclusion
Now that you have the basics and probably have some idea on what it is that your looking for, go and checkout some of the fishing websites out there and look for reviews or better yet leave a product review on this page about a product you may have bought previously and let us all know your thoughts on it. We are looking to expand our knowledge on fishing in all aspects so if you have some information you wish to share on any of the subjects mention then please leave a comment below, we want to help you and more a like here at Lake Amenity. Thank you for reading.
martin@lakeamenity.com
