Fishing is a popular sport with people of all ages and can be a relaxing way to pass the time in the great outdoors. If you’ve been trawling the internet for what to take with you on your first fishing day trip, then you’re in the right place. We’ve outlined the basics for you below.

What kind of fishing trip are you going on?

The first thing you’re going to want to ask yourself when deciding what to take with you is what type of fishing you’re planning on doing. Sea fishing and carp fishing involve slightly different bits of kit. For the purpose of this post, we’ll be focusing on carp fishing.

What should you take?

Some of the things you take with you on your trip will be down to personal preference, such as magazines, a speaker to listen to some music, perhaps a BBQ for a hot evening meal, this post is going to focus on the essentials such as:

• Bait
  Type ‘carp bait’ into the internet and you will be awash with suggestions and people hailing their own tried and tested preferences. It can be a little overwhelming at times and the bait you use and prefer will most likely change the longer you’ve been fishing. Some people swear by simply using sweetcorn, others use dog biscuits and tiger nuts are a popular option too. Carp can also be caught with live bait such as maggots, though they’re not the best car companions.
• Food and drink
  As well as taking some food for the fish you’re going to want to remember to take plenty for yourself. Many fishing spots are fairly isolated and so bring more than you think you’ll need to avoid the trip being ruined by feeling hungry or thirsty. A thermos flask is a good idea for keeping a hot beverage warm or consider getting a little portable gas stove if you plan to drink lots of hot tea and coffee. Bring lots of high energy snacks, especially if you’re fishing in the cold as these will help to give you energy and keep you warm.
• Dry clothes
  Even if you’re going fishing in glorious sunshine the weather can change at any moment or a tangled line could cause you to end up in the water. Either way, it’s a good idea to keep a spare set of dry clothes, including pants and sock, in the car ready for when you finish so that you can have a comfortable drive home.
• A day shelter
  Be the envy of all other anglers with a day shelter. Day shelters provide shelter from high winds, rain and the glaring sun, giving you a nice place to sit back and relax. Quick and easy to erect and portable in size, they’re far more practical than taking a tent. You can check out reviews for day shelter on fishing reviews hub.
• A first aid kit
  While fishing may not immediately spring to mind as a dangerous sport, accidents can still happen when working with sharp hooks and so it’s advisable to keep at least a basic first aid kit with you.
• Your gear
  And finally, you’re going to want to take your gear, that will probably include your rod, line, hooks, bobbers, sinkers, lures, needle nose pliers and line cutters. Most anglers self confess to bringing too much gear with them on most trips but there’s no harm in that, it’s better to be over-prepared than run out of something important mid-trip.