I received the email below from Bob:

Good Morning,
I was on your website and thought that I would write to you for your suggestions and recommendations. It is the Christmas season so I am sure there are a lot of deals out there as well. If you have recommendations as to where to purchase for the best buy that would be an added plus.

I live on a small freshwater lake (Honeoye Lake) in upstate NY http://www.fishingnotes.com/lakeinfo.php?id=23327 and would like to get into fishing. I am a “novice” in the fishing department so that is why I am writing. Our lake is great for large/small mouth bass, walleye, perch and sunfish. What would be your recommendations as brand and models to purchase and why you recommend these:

· Fishing rod –
· Fishing reel –
· Specific Lures for fishing –

Thanks again for your help. Have a great day.

Bob

This is my response – What do you think?

Hi Bob

For someone just starting fishing and wanting to fish for a variety of species you mentioned I would get a mid-range priced spinning outfit. I like the Shimano Sedona reel. They are about $60 and I have four I have used for years and they have held up well. Team it with a medium action fast taper rod like the Browning Cherrywood rod for about $25. There are much more expensive rods and I really like St. Croix, but to start a cheaper rod will serve you and you can get a better idea of what you like.

I have both listed on my rod and reel page from Bass Pro Shops at

https://fishing-about.com/my-favorite-rod-and-reelfishing-products/

I use fluorocarbon line but for a beginner I would recommend a line like the Trilene XL in eight to ten pound test. Be careful putting it on and it it is twisted let it out behind a boat slowly moving and reel it in slowly or if you don’t have a boat you can untwist it by stretching it out on the ground and reeling it in slowly.

https://fishing-about.com/fishing-line-i-use-and-like/

For lures, keep it simple. A jig head worm and a weightless Senko and small jig and pig all catch smallmouth and largemouth.

https://fishing-about.com/soft-plastic-baits-i-use-and-like/

I would add a couple of small spinnerbaits and crankbaits, too. And a small top water popper like the Rico or Pop-R are good.

https://fishing-about.com/crankbaits-i-like-and-use/

For pan fish live bait is hard to beat and an outfit like this will let you rig a hook and small slit shot to fish them. You might want to drop down to six or even four pound line for them. And if your water is real clear and not much cover, I would fish for bass with six pound line, too.

Hope this helps – let me know if you have other questions.

Ronnie