Table of Contents
Fishing License
It’s crucial to check whether you’ll need a fishing license to fish in your area. It’s generally appropriate to get the license so that you don’t have to fall on the wrong side of the law (and risk the cost of a ticket).
The main aim of a fishing license is to help in maintaining the fisheries and so it’s not very expensive. Generally, a fishing license can cost an annual fee ranging between $20 and $40 depending on your area. You might need two licenses for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
Fishing Rod and Reel
Unless you’re planning to go net fishing, you’ll need a fishing rod and reel. This is central to your fishing success and it’s where you’ll spend a big chunk of your money. While there are high-quality rods that can cost more than $300, you don’t have to buy them.
Instead, you can choose a simple fishing rod that costs around $40. Better still, there’s minimal difference between them for beginners, as they’ll catch fish as long as you know what to do and use the right technique.
While there are different types of fishing rods out there, spinning rods tend to be cheaper thanks to their simplicity. A spinning rod may not be the best, but you can consider it if you’re starting and want to keep your fishing costs as low as possible.
Fishing Line
Needless to say, your fishing rod will not work with a fishing line. There are a lot of options to choose from but you don’t have to go for the most expensive fishing lines.
As a beginner, it’s advisable to go for a simple but versatile fishing line that can work perfectly for most fish species. With that in mind, you can choose a fluorocarbon line, a braided line or a monofilament line.
Personally, I’d go with a braided line because it is strong and casts better. This means that you’ll not be frustrated while on the water because the fishing line keeps breaking.
The only downside with a braided line is that it’s very visible and fish will easily detect it, which might lower your chances of making a good catch. If this is a major concern, you can choose a fluorocarbon line that’s generally invisible to the fish. No matter the type of line that you choose, a simple but effective fishing line should averagely cost you around $30.
Fishing Lures
It’s almost impossible to catch fish without appropriate lures or baits. Taking some time to dig up worms in your back garden before your fishing trip may be the cheapest option. However, it all depends on the type of fish you’re targeting. You can also choose to buy various baits from your nearest tackle shop and you’ll be good to go.
When it comes to artificial lures, you have a plethora of options to choose from. But you should always keep in mind that what works today may not work tomorrow so you should try a wide range of lures. With time, you’ll have various types of artificial lures that can work in almost every fishing situation.
While you can toss all your lures in a plastic bag and set off, a serious angler should get a tackle box to carry and keep your lures, as well as other fishing gear. You can consider starting with around 4 lures and a tackle box at an affordable cost of $30.
Things to Avoid
There are a few things that you should avoid if you want to make fishing an affordable hobby. For instance, you don’t have to own a boat to enjoy fishing. A proper fishing boat may cost over $40,000. This is a cost that you don’t have to incur to enjoy fishing. Simply put, just avoid a boat if you want to fish cheaply.
You don’t have to buy nightcrawlers to enjoy fishing. They can be very expensive and are not a must-have in your fishing adventure. Instead, dig up worms from your back garden and you’ll save a lot of money that you’d otherwise spend on nightcrawlers.
There’s no need to buy any expensive fishing gear just to enjoy fishing. For example, you don’t have to spend over $300 dollars on a fishing rod to enjoy fishing. If anything, our ancestors used sticks and still caught a lot of fish. For this reason, just go for something you can afford as long as it’s necessary and in good working condition.
Last but not least, you don’t have to pack your truck and hit the road just to go fishing. The traveling costs can make your fishing hobby expensive. The best thing to do is to find a nice fishing spot in your local area where you can enjoy angling.
This spot may not be the best but it is better than no fishing at all. To this end, let’s reiterate that fishing can be a very expensive hobby but it doesn’t have to.
As a thrilling adventure, you can still enjoy fishing even on a very low budget. With about $150, you can find all the fishing gear that you need. After all, it’s all about enjoying yourself and having some good and memorable times out on the water.
Recent Articles
