Beginners Tips: What to buy?

[cchobot]

The beginning angler can become overwhelmed with the sheer quantity of gear and accessories available out there. Once you get past choosing a rod and reel there are bags, plugs, waders, wetsuits, footwear, gloves, jackets, boga-grips, pliers, belts, D- rings, etc., etc., etc.

What are your top 5 or top 10 (in order of priority) fishing accessories after you've already purchased a rod, reel, line and lures?

[t.orlando]

1 Pliers
2 Bag
3 Waders
4 Headlight
5 Jacket

[Seajay]

Waders
Dry/semi dry top
Neo gloves
Headlamp/backup neck lite
Bug spray (essential oil lemon eucalyptus all natural)
Needle nose Pliers
Split ring pliers
Quick deploying/retracting knife
Very large cooler to keep fish fresh
Wade staff/non-penetrating gaff hook to handle fish and navigate rocks

[scottw]

Korkers would be first after rod reel, line and lures

[Tunacell]

waders
korkers
jacket/dry top
plug bag
pliars

[arden]

for ri? korkers all day, almost more important then the rod as i wouldnt even do serious scouting w/out them

thing is though if ur fishing longisland, jersy, the cape, etc waders and korkers are really not needed, especially for a beginer........

beyond a rod, reel, and hook w/bait/lure....id say the biggest thing a rookie needs is time one the water

[kevin]

waders korkers headlight neo gloves surf bag .... and time spent at the Edge listening and asking questions.

[Camel]

Waders and dry top are a must for me especially fishing at night when it tends to get quite a bit cooler. We all know being wet tends to lessen the time spent out on the rocks. Wading belt!!! Absolutely keeps you extra dry and safe when especially if you get knocked off a rock. A good headlamp is also essential tying knots, walking through woods, landing fish all good reasons to have a headlamp that is reliable it is great to have your hands free while still being able to see. Make sure you get one that is submersible like a princeton tec because they are waterproof and have gaskets inside the light that will keep a majority if not all of the water out. I made the mistake of buying a Petzl which would be great if there was no salt involved. Korkers...we all know how slippery the rocks can be and a pair of Korkers definately make a huge difference. Waterproof tape is another essential I carry in my surfbag. If you are making many repeated casts and in a sloppy wet area your hands will become soft making it really easy for mono or braid to pass through your skin. Wrap some waterproof medical tape around your casting finger and you will not run into a problem. Pliers, not only for the toothy blues but in my opinion for the cutting aspect. For many years I was a "line biter". Having a good pair of pliers with good cutters will make rigging leaders, cutting braid and retying plugs/lures that much quicker when you are in the surf. One more thing that is overlooked is carrying a cell phone. Some of us fish alone and there would be nothing worse than to be in a true emergency situation and have nothing to call someone with. You have a couple of options...one would be to put you cell phone in a pelican dry box. I have used one for a couple of seasons now and it works flawlessly, anything you put in there WILL stay dry. If you happen to fry your cell phone in the surf you may want to opt for the waterproof Gzone cell from Verizon. It works! I have gotten my phone completely soaked and it works just fine. The "essentials" are different for everyone...this is just my two cents. The important thing to remeber is think about safety, all the things that will keep you safe will keep you fishing harder and longer without risking your safety.

[DLH]

After the rod/reel, line and lures assuming you're fishing at low light in a rocky area:


Must-haves:
1. Waders
2. Korkers
3. High quality neck/head light
4. Pliers
5. Knife
6. Wading belt
7. Secret Color Darter

Nice to haves:
1. Boga
2. Dry top
3. Back up secret color darters

There is the gear you carry and then there is the safety stuff back at the truck. I like to carry a small back up light when I'm far from my truck at night, too. Also, I carry mini bolt cutters in my truck to cut a VMC if necessary. A first aid kit with some basic supplies at least--disinfectant, bandages, gauze, tape, etc. Duct tape, electrical tape, bottles of water, bug spray, oversand gear, cooler, ice, towels, and even a blanket for those nights when you have to take a quick nap at slack tide in the back of the 4runner.

If you are fishing open beaches in the daytime: Just a swimsuit, pencil popper and some pliers.

[scottw]

I'll add an extra tip top and lighter after just ending a very nice morning early because I finally figured out what the rubbing was that I kept feeling all morning,...chipped tip...could have made a quick repair and kept fishing if I'd been prepared...