Does Fishing Have to Be an Expensive Hobby?

My wife rolls her eyes when she sees me head off to the tackle shop to purchase more gear. She’ll remind me how fishing doesn’t have to be that expensive of a hobby, as her uncle used to catch fish just fine with a simple rod, reel, hook and line. She doesn’t understand why I think expensive fishing rods are worth it considering that any old pole will catch a fish.

She just doesn’t get me.

My wife is right though – Fishing is only an expensive hobby if you make it one. You can catch fish all day long off of $10 worth of equipment you pick up at at tag sale. On the other hand, you could easily spend thousands of dollars each year traveling to exotic locations in search of giant fish.

As with all things in life, there’s a balance. In this article, I hope to give beginners some insight into how to strike that balance. I hope to help you avoid the “bait monkey,” and make some informed decisions about how to spend your hard-earned cash on one of life’s great necessities: fishing lures.

What is “The Bait Monkey,” Anyway?

The “Bait Monkey” is a term used to describe how fisherman will run out to the tackle shop to empty their wallets each paycheck. It’s almost like there’s some enchantress on our shoulders, singing a magical tune like the Sirens who tempted Odysseus towards the rocks. Fishing wouldn’t be half as expensive of a pastime if it wasn’t for this critter.

Thanks to the Bait Monkey, we just can’t help but spend more and more money on the latest lure! Our tackle boxes become lined with a hundred different crankbaits even though we only ever throw three. We also outfit our bass boats with the latest electronics even though we know we’re just going to cast towards the same familiar shoreline!

We are enchanted by this Bait Monkey and beyond all salvation, but it’s not too late for you!

I would implore you to do your best to keep fishing economical. Do buy quality items that will last. Don’t let the Bait Monkey guide you towards the rocks of mortgage foreclosure, divorce, or (gasp!) defaulting on your boat loan.

What Fishing Equipment Do You REALLY Need?

What, pray tell, are these quality items you so desperately need, and how will you recognize them? Well, when it comes to essential fishing equipment, it’s actually pretty simple:

1. A fishing rod. Note, it’s not worth getting an expensive rod to start. The St. Croix Triumph makes a good entry level rod. You can read my review about it here.
2. You need a reel to match the rod. If you start with a spinning rod, the reel will be much less expensive. I recommend either a Pflueger Trion or Pflueger President if you want to splurge slightly. Get it in size 30 or 35. Make sure you only put a spinning reel on a spinning rod. Read my article about why you should never mismatch here.
3. Fishing line of some sort. There’s nothing wrong with the old standard, Berkley Trilene XL. If you’re just starting out at this great sport, you’re going to go through a lot of fishing line, and this stuff isn’t expensive.
4. You need a hook for that line. No need to go crazy here. Just get something light, like an Eagle Claw long shank offset hook. They’re inexpensive, good to learn on, and work well for a drop shot.
5. Bait for the hook. You can most likely find some nightcrawlers at a nearby gas station. If you don’t want to use live bait, I’m a big fan of Gulp! products. Some days they really do live up to their boast that they outfish live bait.
6. You probably need a fishing license, but check your local regulations. Some states don’t require seniors or younger children to have one.

That’s about as complicated as it needs to be, folks. If you own, beg, borrow, or steal these six items, you can be a fisherman. I wouldn’t recommend the stealing part though. Karma is a dangerous mistress and you’re about to play with hooks.

How Much Should You Spend On Fishing Gear?

I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I know your financial situation. Only you can make the decision as to how much you want to spend on your fishing rod, reel, line, or tackle. Some people need to find tag sale steals to complete a fishing setup for $10. I’ve known others to spend over $1,000 for just one rod and reel combo.

It’s impossible for me to tell you how much to spend on your setup. That is far too situation-specific. I will try to explain how you should apportion that money. In other words, I’ll help you understand which of the five items above (rod, reel, line, hook/tackle, bait, and license) you should spend the most money on, and which ones you can skimp on and still get by.

The Fishing License

Unless you’re very young, or in some cases a senior citizen, there’s no getting around the need for a fishing license.

Exact age range will vary state by state, but for the most part, younger children are exempt.

Some states will allow senior citizens to obtain a fishing license for free, but the expectation is often that they actually carry one. In other words, you need to go through the hassle of getting one, but won’t pay for it. Government, eh?.

Most states offer fishing licenses that last the entire season or shorter periods (3,5, and 7 days are common). States vary in what types of fish they’ll let you target, or even what waters you can fish in. Some states require you to pay extra for certain trout rivers or to fish in the ocean, for example.

Some states have “Free Fish Days” where they’ll let anyone try the sport without a license. This is a one-time deal and might not fit well with your plans. It’s hard to imagine any other equipment (rod, reel, etc.) that would make sense to buy if you were only going to use it once.

There’s an age old saying that “It’s called fishing, not catching,” and this saying is there for a reason. Even if your state has one of those “Free Fish Days,” I wouldn’t plan on catching something the first time out, so you should probably invest in a license so you can give this a real try.

Fishing Line

I’m a bit torn on what to recommend here. One part of me says, “If they’re new, they’re just going to get a ton of tangles or birds nests and go through a lot of line,” but the other part of me says, “They’ll have less line memory, tangles, and potentially birds nests if they get better line in the first place.” My goal is to help you make fishing less expensive of a hobby, but this is one of those darned if you do, darned if you don’t moments.

Best Fishing Line for Beginners: Monofilament

As I mentioned before, I think you should find a happy medium by sticking with Berkley Trilene XL while you’re getting started. It is a monofilament line that has been around for ages and is battle-proven. It is fairly easy to work with and reasonably priced, so you’re less likely to have trouble with it, but even if you do, you won’t waste much money if you need to respool.

Monofilament is also great because it’s safer to use around kids since it is less likely to cut them than braid, so if you’re reading this trying to learn how to take the whole family out, you can’t go wrong with Berkley Trilene XL. If you’re concerned with fishing on lighter line, read this article for some tips on helping prevent fish from breaking it.

Another Option: Braid

If you did want to use braid, I have Power Pro Spectra Fiber Braided Fishing Line spooled on most of my reels. I’ve been using it for a few years but I do have to admit that when I first started using it, I had a lot of trouble with it because I wasn’t reeling it onto the reel appropriately. It was an expensive learning curve!

(The trick to save you this same hassle and expense is simply to put on a backing of monofilament before you tie on the braid. Just reel on some monofilament first, then connect it to the braid and continue going. You won’t have an issue of your line slipping and will save yourself some cash).

Fishing Rod

If you want to prevent fishing from becoming too expensive, you need to choose your fishing rod carefully. While expensive rods are certainly worth it over time, you really don’t need anything fancy if you’re just getting started. Instead, you could use whatever you can come up with in a tag sale, or whatever you can find on sale at Amazon or elsewhere.

I do feel you’d be better off starting with a spinning rod. There are some who will tell you that only a baitcaster can cast large lures but this is only partially true. While you would probably want a baitcaster if you were going to toss huge muskie lures all day long, just about any bass lure will do perfectly well on a spinning rod and reel.

Spinning rods tends to be less expensive than baitcasting equipment, for what it’s worth. You also need to consider that entry-level baitcasting reels can be very hard to use. A $40-$60 spinning reel will serve you perfectly well, but it can be hard to find a baitcaster in that range that would work well for beginners without giving you fits.

What Spinning Rod Should I Buy?

I’d recommend that you look for a medium-heavy power, fast action spinning rod about 6’6″ to 7′ long for your first rod. I’d purchase one that has a reputation for durability as you’ll be making many mistakes as you start. A Shakespeare Ugly Stik Elite would make a good choice for a beginner.

As you’ll see in that link, the Ugly Stik Elite comes in many sizes and powers. If this was your first and only rod, I’d recommend a medium-heavy power and fast action as that will work well for spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Although not the best choice, it would be passable for crankbaits and topwater lures (including hollow-bodied frogs) as well. This makes this type of spinning rod an all-around good choice.

If this does become a hobby that you could see yourself having for life, it would eventually make sense to upgrade to a better rod, but you don’t need to do this immediately. When you’re ready, consider checking out my post where I discuss the differences between the St. Croix variants I own. They’re great rods for every price point and have never let me down. As stated above, the St. Croix Triumph is also an excellent rod for beginners.

Fishing Reel

If I only had $100 to spend on my entire fishing rod/reel combo, I would invest more money in the fishing reel than the rod (Note: this advice only pertains to a parent’s fishing rod. If I was buying for a child, I’d reverse this advice, as reels don’t hold up well to children).

A rod is a rod is a rod, frankly. A more expensive rod is only really worth it if you’re using techniques that require great sensitivity and precision. For most techniques (especially those a beginner will use), a regular rod will do just fine to hook a large fish. A reel, on the other hand, is the item that’s going to help you land that trophy.

A quality reel will work better, retrieve smoother, and come with a better drag system that will help you land larger fish. Slightly more expensive reels also tend to weigh less, which makes a big deal if you’re using it for several hours.

Trying to fish with a low-end reel isn’t much fun. They don’t have as many ball bearings, are more prone to breaking, and often have unsophisticated drag systems that can cost you fish if a big one makes a sudden run.

I can fish with a “lower end” rod (in fact, one of my favorites only cost about $50) all day, but I hate fishing with entry-level fishing reels. I don’t care if it makes my hobby a little more expensive, it isn’t as much fun fishing with a cheap reel.

This doesn’t mean that you need to break the bank, as quality companies like Plfueger offer reels in reasonable price ranges that are smooth, powerful, and will last for years with a modicum of care. The workhorse in my arsenal is the Pflueger President. It equips about 80% of my lineup.

Inexpensive Fishing Lures and Techniques to Try

If you’re not careful, you can quickly run out of money buying fishing lures. You would think that a $5 fishing lure wouldn’t be the most expensive aspect of this sport, but they add up quickly. I remember one year I headed to the local sporting goods store for their Black Friday sale. By the time I was done, the clerk asked with some trepidation: “Sir, are you ready for your total?” Never a good sign!

If you’re just getting started, or want to keep fishing inexpensive in general, I’d recommend a minimalist approach. You don’t need to purchase a dozen different types of lures, and if you did, you’d probably just find that you bounced between them too frequently to give any a chance to work, anyway.

You could minimize things to such an extent that you’re only using three types of lures and find success:

Spinnerbaits

A spinnerbait is a very simple lure with a bent wire frame that is a great lure for beginners because it is so simple to use: cast it out, and then reel it in. Spinnerbaits come in a variety of colors and sizes and price. If you’re just starting, don’t feel as though you need to buy an expensive model as an entry level spinnerbait will catch fish just as well. A Strike King Bleeding Spinnerbait is a good choice. They catch many fish, they are fairly durable, and they don’t break the bank.

An argument could be made to purchase a Terminator titanium spinnerbait (pictured below). While they are a bit more expensive, they’re made of titanium that springs back after being bit. An issue with steel spinnerbaits is that larger fish tend to demolish them and bend the frames terribly. Sometimes they can be bent back, other times they can’t. You don’t have that issue with the Terminators titanium spinnerbaits. They will, however, eventually snap from becoming brittle. It’s hard to tell when this is going to happen.

Drop Shot Hooks and Sinkers

The drop shot is hands-down my favorite rig for taking kids or beginners out and putting them on a fish. If you’re just starting and want to build your confidence, learn how to rig one of these up and fish them.

I wrote a fairly detailed post talking about this technique (as well as other basic skills you need to take kids fishing) in my post here. I’d suggest reading through it to help you learn how to use this rig.

The only issue with this technique is that the hooks and especially the sinkers can get expensive as you’ll lose many of them. If you find them on sale, you’ll want to buy them in bulk as you’ll go through many. I can’t link you to some in good conscious because you’re going to lose so many of them, you really just want to grab whatever is on sale at the moment. The brand really doesn’t matter.

One thing you will need to consider is if you want to purchase lead sinkers or tungsten ones. Tungesten are more expensive, but I think the way the world is going, lead may not be available forever. There are already some states, like Massachusetts, that ban lead fishing sinkers.

Plastic Worms

A plastic worm is a great compliment to spinnerbaits and drop shots. You can rig these in several different ways and make them weedless if necessary by burying the hook into the worm via a method called a “Texas Rig,” or just rig them “Wacky Style” and let them sink enticingly in open pockets between weeds.

You can buy many types of worms for wacky rigging, but my favorite is the ubiquitous Yamamoto Senko. They’re pricier than some competitors, but they’re supple and just work amazingly well. I prefer them in the 4″ and 5″ sizes, and tend to buy them in various shades of green, brown, and black. You can catch some really large bass on these and they’re very easy lures for kids to use – just toss them out and let them sink. Then raise them up with a few twitches and reel in slowly before letting them sink again – most hits will come as the worm falls.

One concern with plastic worms is that they can get very expensive if you’re wacky rigging them as they tend to pull out easily from the hook. A solution is to invest in little plastic o-rings that push onto the worm as shown in the photo below. This small investment will let you get substantially more use out of the worms and will save you a lot of money in the long run. The product I linked in this paragraph comes with a handy tool for putting the o-rings on your worms as well. I carry one and recommend it.

Bait

Remember that uncle I was telling you about who never bought anything expensive to support his fishing hobby? He used bait. Bait can be free. Assuming you have a garden shovel and live anywhere near wet dirt, you can find worms and night crawlers to fish with. You can also make use of your leftovers from lunch, assuming your area doesn’t consider that littering.

You need not spend any money whatsoever on bait, and doing so would be a luxury. Of course, $2 for a box of 12 night crawlers will spare you the trouble of searching for worms on your hands and knees. I think it’s an easier pill to swallow than a $6 coffee you could make in five minutes for thirty cents.

You can also buy worms in bulk. I use Windsor Wholesale Bait and have been very happy with their service. Just make sure you have enough room in your fridge!

If you do buy worms in bulk, you’ll need to come up with some sort of carrying case for them. I like the Zebco Lil Wormcooler as it is insulated and has a handy loop that you can attach to your belt with a clip (which isn’t included). This means it’s one less thing you need to carry in your hands while you go beat the bank.

Conclusion: Fishing isn’t an Expensive Hobby… Perhaps.

Truth be told, I’ve been bitten by the bait monkey pretty badly in my life and as a result have way more tackle than I could ever use. I’ve turned fishing into a very expensive sport–much more expensive than it ever needed to be.

Fishing can be very inexpensive and you should be able to get everything you need to have a good time out there for less than $100. In fact, if I was starting, that’s exactly what I’d aim to do – get into the sport for less than $100 and then see how I like it.

So, to summarize, if you want to keep fishing inexpensive, remember that expensive rods, reels, and other gear aren’t always worth it. Instead, find an inexpensive spinning rod, match it with a decent spinning reel, put on some decent line and buy bare-bones tackle to start (or dig up your own worms).

This is what you need to go fishing. Anything else is gravy. If you keep it simple and stick to what you actually need, fishing can be one of the least expensive hobbies out there.

Hopefully this article kept a few dollars in your pocket. If you think it could help others, please consider sharing it. You also might consider purchasing my book, Fishing with Kids: A Parent’s Guide, for other advice on items you do (and don’t) need to go fishing successfully.

Thanks,

John Paxton