What you need to start fishing…
There are lots of different types of fishing and each will require different equipment. If you are planning on taking your child fishing then below is a basic kit list that will work well for float fishing on lakes, ponds and even rivers in the UK. It is probably the set up you picture when someone says “let’s go fishing”. Please let me know if you think I’m missing anything or you think this is helpful (richard@anglingcompanion.co.uk)
You don’t need much to have a great day’s fishing.
Fishing licence: if you’re 13 or older you need a fishing licence. For 13-16 year olds they’re free. You can buy them online here: https://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences/buy-a-fishing-licence
Disgorgers: a disgorger is a little stick (plastic or metal) used to get hooks out of the fish. They cost pennies and are very easy to lose, so buy half a dozen. Available from any tackle shop, Amazon etc. Here’s a video about how to use one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1tmM0qp6Hk
Rod: keep it cheap (£15-25) and simple to start with. Get a 3 meter or 4 meter telescopic pole (aka a whip). For smaller children i.e. under nine, the shorter rod is easier to handle. You can get poles from anywhere that sells fishing equipment (Amazon, Decathlon, Argos, Angling Direct etc.) but I’d recommend going to your local tackle shop who should be really helpful. NB - with a pole you don’t use a reel which reduces tangles and costs.
Pole float rigs: you can make you own rigs but they are cheap to buy (£1 to £3 each) and while you’re learning this will get you fishing faster. On the winder will be attached line, float, weights and hook. All you need to do is make the line the same length (roughly) as the road and then tie the line onto the pole. Buy barbless rigs - this means the hook doesn’t have a barb making it easier to get the hook our of you/ your clothes/ the fish.
Landing net: it’s not fair to the fish to lift a large fish out of the water and swim it onto the bank. Get a cheap landing net. Anything from £7-£20 will do.
Unhooking net: lots of fisheries insist on an unhooking mat to protect the fish. A £5 job will do.
Spare barbless hooks to nylon: if you’re good at knots then you can buy packets of hooks, if you want to keep life simple get “hooks to nylon” - you’ll simply need a to attach them with a loop to loop connection (far simpler than it sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKdMzQSzY-I). Depending on what fish are in the water you are fishing and what bait you are using you will want different sizes of hook. Size 10 is considered quite large for pole fishing and 20 is quite small. Again, get barbless hooks (see above).
Bait & bait box or tub: what bait you use will depend on where you are fishing and what you are fishing for. Maggots are a great all rounder, worms will catch, tinned sweetcorn, bread (white) or tins of spam can all be very effective.
Sundries: a bottle of water, sun tan lotion, a hat, hand sanitiser, a hand towel and possibly a chair.
Tight lines!