The Top 5 Essential Bass Fishing Gear Pieces to Get Started Fast and Cheap

Let's take a trip down the fishing gear aisle to get you outfitted with the top 5 most essential pieces of bass fishing gear to get started - fast and inexpensive. Once you start bringing the bacon - or fish - home, then you will see a return on your investment real quick.

1. Fishing pole - you will need a pole you can handle well. It is personal preference whether you want a spinning combo or a spincast combo. Pole combos or buying a pole and reel separately can range from as little as $10 for a combo if you catch a clearance or a store closing up into the hundreds. If you are intimidated by the spinning combo or have arthritis, carpal tunnel, etc. then go for the spincast. If you are quick with your hands and enjoy precision and control when casting and reeling in, go for the spinning combo.

I recommend the Shakespeare Microspin Spinning Combo for him ($19.98) or the Shakespeare Ladyfish Spinning Combo for her ($17.48) which are both stocked at Walmart. I have used them both and seen hundreds of bass caught with them. They are light and offer great precision.

If you prefer or need a spincast, then Zebco 11 Micro Flatboard Fishing Combo ($17.53) for a lightweight rod, the Zebco 606 Flatboard Fishing Combo with Tackle Wallet (sale $13.36, regular $20.56) for a 7' rod, or the Shakespeare Ladies Fishing Kit ($17.96) would be recommended, all are available at Walmart and come with tackle kits to get you started.

2. Fishing Net - this an essential piece of gear that prevents losing the catch right before you get it on land or in the boat. A net with strong netting that has a 2 foot to 6 foot handle will be perfect for most situations. I have two nets because I like to have the right one to reach where I need it to reach.

I recommend the Frabill net available at Walmart for around $10, they have various sizes and lengths. Purchase the net that has strong netting and will be big enough to handle the job, yet not so big that it is inconvenient to lug it around. Nets range from $5 to $50+ depending on the length, durability, material, and whether they fold compact. Some of the newer nets also float which is nice feature in case you drop in the water - there is a EGO Trout Net which floats for around $13 on Amazon.com online and this would work for bass also.

3. Fishing Gloves - gloves are great for getting a nice slip free hold on the fish as well as preventing the fins from stabbing your hands. I use a pair of Renegade gloves that I bought at Walmart which are perfect, they are a neutral gray color and have the pierce resistance material on the hands. They are the perfect weight and thickness so that you can still tie your line and change tackle with complete ease. This pair is also very flexible, the pair I have can fit an XL man's hands down to a small woman's hands with ease. At Walmart, they run in the $5 to $10 range.

Amazon.com online sell a pair of blue and gray Tsunami Sure Grip Utility Fishing Gloves Large for $7.99 which are very similar to my Renegade pair. These have a puncture resistance latex gripping surface.

With fishing gloves, you will find fillet gloves, pierce resistant gloves, and bulkier gloves ranging from $5 up to $50. When selecting gloves, make sure that they fit well enough that you have full use of your hands and are able t tie knots in your line and change lures. With fishing gloves it is not about looks, it is about usefulness and durability.

4. Tackle box - boxes or water-resistant bags keep your gear together. I have tried the big plastic tackle boxes and the water resistant material tackle bags. I prefer the tackle bags because are not able to crack, rust, or break apart if they get knocked off the bed of my truck. The tackle bags allow me the room inside to pack larger kits of lures if I want and they have pouches on the sides that are convenient for line and other gear.

I would recommend the Berkley Strap-on Tackle Box which is $16.95 and eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping from Amazon.com online. The Strap-on Tackle Box can hold all the basic supplies including a small tackle kit. You can pick and choose what you need for your trip from your main box and then put it in the Strap-on so you can fish hands free, convenient and easy.

5. Lure kit - kits are a great cost effective way to get the most for your dollar. I usually use a lure with a hook and attach a little piece of fresh bait to the hook my lure is on. The pieces in kits can range from 4 pieces to over 100 and usually include weights, hooks, and other items. The kits will provide many different color lures which will allow you to test out the various colors in different water depths, you will be able to find out what works best in your fishing spot.

Walmart has a 277 Lindy Little Joe Panfish Lure Kit for $14.96 which work especially well when trolling. Another excellent bass kit that offer a variety of pieces to for the angler that is the Danielson Multipiece Bass Kit available for $8.95 on Amazon.com.

Once you try out different grubs, lures, worms, and bait in your fishing areas, you will get a feel for what is worth investing more in. Certain colors and jigs work well in shallow areas and don't get a bite in other waters. The kits offer low cost flexibility to try different lures in your territory before investing too much.

I have personal experience bass fishing over the years with these products in Florida and Tennessee. Spending between $40 and $70 to get all your gear that will last years to come is a small investment over the long haul. If you catch a big bass or a bunch of small ones, I would love to see your successes so drop me a line by sending me a picture of your catch and I will be happy to post it on my website in the fishing section which is listed in the resources here. Now you get going fishing, you hear? You sure don't want to miss that big one!