Thinking about getting into fishing on the weekends to just kick back and relax for a couple of hours. What's a good fishing pole to get for starters, as well as lures and a reel?

 

That totally depends on the type of fish you're after, where you are fishing from (boat? bank? dock?) and what kind of cast you prefer.

I've was raised on open face reels spending every summer on the lake as a kid. But about 15 years ago I switched to a nice bait caster and a stiff tipped rod for lake game fish. Personally I just can't fathom going back to open face, but I also fish differently these days as well. My favorite lures are rattle traps, but I find that shiners work great pre-spawn in the lakes and in the rivers all year. I have a live pointer but at 20 bucks it's too damn expensive and hard to locate to use regularly. $4 walmart rattle traps work great for most game fish, but your good eating is going to like something smaller that zips about. Really it comes down to what the fish like. They can bite on one lure for an entire season and suddenly give up. Get a box full of cheap lures and experiment. That's really the only way.

 

As said it depends on what you're fishing for, where, and how. If you're unsure here's what I use for my general purpose fishing kits.



I prefer spin fishing. I like to always have my gear with me so I have made up a kit in every car contained in a polar creel.



Telescoping spin rod & reel

A small tackle box for lures

Rooster Tail spinners (orange with black dots) various sizes

Spinners with replaceable hook and lure and various flies to attach to the spinner

Assorted weights, swivels, and snelled hooks

Powerbait

Krill oil

Multi-tool

Gallon ziploc bags



I mostly fish from a kayak now and this is convenient to paddle around with on lakes or rivers. I fish from the shore occasionally but don't prefer it. This setup is adequate for trout, bass, spiny rays, and similar fish. I've got different gear for salmon/steelhead and for saltwater.

 

IMO, just be very mindful on the weight of string. Nothing will ruin your day more than choosing a light line and having it break while trying to fight a monster.