Gear
What is fishing gear? According to dictionary.com fishing gear is “gear used in fishing.” Well, duh. So if you do a lookup on gear you get “implements, tools, or apparatus, esp. as used for a particular occupation or activity; paraphernalia: fishing gear”.
Which loosely means anything you use fishing is fishing gear. I try to differentiate just a bit more than that. To me fishing gear is pretty much anything that isn’t fishing tackle. I know, we’re talking semantics here but the classifications of gear, tackle, accessories and equipment are overly broad most of the time.
Under the loose classification of fishing gear could be anything from a spare rod tip to a houseboat. Somehow that doesn’t seem right to me. For the sake of this article rods, reels and tackle or anything that fits in a tackle box will be excluded.
So what does that leave as fishing gear. Lol, tons of stuff, clothes, life vests, nets, electronics such as GPS and fish finders, depth finders, rod holders, trolling side planers, anchors, ropes, tools, trolling motors, ice augers, ice skimmers, minnow buckets and any other things not included in the fishing tackle category but that are necessary for fishing.
You see websites with Daiwa fishing gear and even some for Shakespeare and Penn fishing gear. Lol, under their classification everything you can possibly think of for fishing is fishing gear. It’s just hard to think of hooks and bobbers as gear. They don’t really fit the classification of gear but they do fit the definition of tackle.
After you have your fishing tackle most everything else you’ll ever buy is a want, not a need. Fishing gear , for the most part, falls under the want category. Life vests are a need and be sure you buy the best ones you can afford. Don’t risk your life or your families lives to save a few bucks on life vests. Put them on your kids even when fishing from shore.
Another need is an ice chest or cooler of some kind. You can use it to keep your pop cold or your fish cold. In the hot summer time putting them on ice is the next best thing to filleting them right in the boat or on shore. I don’t know about you but I like the 50 quart plastic ones with the handles and attached lid. Just makes for easier handling and some even have wheels.
A net for netting the fish you catch is a want. Really, it is, until you lose a big fish because the line broke. Then a net changes character and becomes a need. The need being bigger commensurate with the size of the fish that was lost for want of a net.
If you have a boat another fishing gear need is a good anchor and an good anchor lowering and raising system. Hand over hand gets to be a lot of work very quickly. Besides, you can buy the anchor and system all at once as a package. You’ll be glad you got the anchor system and if you can find an electric one you’ll be even happier.
There is a ton of fishing gear for you to use. Buy the best you can afford so it will last for your lifetime and maybe your childrens.