Bait

Bait can be either live or artificial, and there are plenty of varieties. You can always use the old favorite from the garden, earthworms, particularly if you have an active compost heap. If you don't have your own worms, you can buy them, or else use mealworms, grubs, kernel corn or bread balls.

Floats

Floats, or bobbers, are attached to the fishing line, and sit on the water surface. When the float dips into the water, you know a fish has taken a bite. It's best to use small floats, with just enough weight to stop the bait dragging it under the water. Pencil shaped bobbers are the most sensitive, but you can also use a round bobber which is generally easier to cast. Slip bobbers are easy to adjust and use, and are great for beginners and children.

Hooks

You can buy fishhooks in a large range of sizes and styles. If you're going to use live bait, you'll probably find it easiest to buy a variety pack, so that you get a range of hooks from size No. 6 to No. 10. If you're after bigger fish, get larger hooks. For catch and release fishing, you need to flatten the barbs on your fishhook, to minimize damage to the inside of the fish's mouth. As a general rule of thumb, work out what type of fish you're planning to catch and use a hook that's compatible with the size of the fish's mouth. If it's too small, the fish will swallow the hook, and if it's too big, the fish won't take the bait.

Sinkers or Weights

You need these to stop your line from floating on the surface of the water. You can get everything from split shot sinkers that range from tiny through to pencil size, right up to sinkers that weight a pound or more. For beginners and children, use split shot. Make sure they're lead free to protect the environment.