New to lure fishing? Here’s what you need — and more importantly, what you don’t.
This list is built around UK freshwater conditions: canals, rivers, reservoirs. Target species: perch, pike, zander, chub. It’s designed to get you fishing well without overcomplicating or overspending.
Rod and Reel
Rod: A 6–7ft spinning rod rated for 2–10g or 5–20g is your starting point. Fast or medium-fast action — you want to feel bites and work small lures. Don’t go too heavy; a 30g-rated pike rod will kill the action on small perch lures.
Reel: A 2000–2500 size spinning reel with a smooth drag. At this stage, the quality of the drag matters more than the number of bearings. Something in the £30–£60 range from Shimano or Daiwa will do the job.
Line and Leader
Mainline: 8–15lb braid, 0.06–0.10mm diameter. Braid gives you sensitivity and a direct connection — critical for feeling drop shot bites or bottom contact on a jig.
Leader: 6–10lb fluorocarbon, 40–60cm. Virtually invisible underwater, abrasion resistant, and protects your mainline from teeth and snags. For pike, go heavier — 20–30lb fluorocarbon or a short wire trace.
Soft Plastics
Start with a small, focused selection rather than filling a box with random lures. You want:
- A paddletail swimbait (4–5cm) — the most versatile soft plastic in UK freshwater. Works on a jig head, counts as a search bait, triggers perch and zander consistently.
- A creature bait or grub — for drop shot and ned rigs. Compact, subtle action, deadly on finicky fish.
- A worm or stick bait — drop shot staple. Works year-round on perch.
Our StrikeStarter Kits are built specifically around this logic. Each kit contains a hand-selected combination of Maverick Tackle soft plastics in proven UK colours, matched to the right hook and weight options:
- Light — perch, chub, trout. Sub-5g, finesse rigs.
- Medium — deeper venues, zander, larger perch.
- Heavy (Pike) — bigger profiles, stronger terminal tackle.
They’re handmade, field-tested, and designed for UK water conditions — not repackaged generic imports.
Terminal Tackle
- Jig heads: 1–5g, hook size 6–10. Buy a variety — you’ll quickly learn which weights suit your local water.
- Drop shot hooks: Size 8–12, wide gape. Offset point hooks grip soft plastics better.
- Drop shot weights: 3–10g. Teardrop or round, with line clip.
- Snap swivels: Optional but handy for quick lure changes.
Tools and Accessories
- Forceps or long-nose pliers — for unhooking quickly and safely. Essential for pike.
- Rubber mesh landing net — protects fish slime coat and scales. Don’t skip this.
- Polarised sunglasses — you’ll spot structure, track your lure, and see fish following. Genuinely changes how you fish.
- Compact sling bag or vest — stay mobile. You should be moving every 10–15 minutes until you locate fish.
What to Wear
Nothing fancy. Grip-sole boots or trail shoes, waterproof outer layer, warm mid-layer. The single most useful item of clothing for lure fishing is a pair of decent polarised sunglasses — they earn their place every single session.
The Quick Reference Checklist
| Item | Spec |
|---|---|
| Rod | 6–7ft spinning, 2–10g or 5–20g |
| Reel | 2000–2500 size |
| Mainline | 8–15lb braid |
| Leader | 6–10lb fluorocarbon (20–30lb or wire for pike) |
| Soft plastics | Paddletail, creature, worm — see StrikeStarter Kits |
| Jig heads | 1–5g assorted |
| Drop shot kit | Hooks size 8–12, weights 3–10g |
| Net | Rubber mesh landing net |
| Tools | Forceps or pliers |
| Eyewear | Polarised sunglasses |
One Last Thing
The biggest beginner mistake isn’t wrong gear — it’s staying in one spot too long. Lure fishing is an active discipline. Cover water, change depth, vary retrieve until you find a pattern. The gear list above will serve you well. The movement habit will catch you fish.