In article ,
"Lisa" wrote:

ou gave a lot of really great suggestions but I think since, as you say,
the budget is tight, let's see if we can back it up just a bit.

What are the absolute must-haves for ANY tackle box? What is the standard
size hook? Would a small knife be useful, or perhaps small scissors? Would a
spool of line be useful or not? Are those little red and white plastic
bobbers worth having?

Pretend you're buying your child's first tackle box and you want to cover
all areas in a very general fashion, allowing him/her to choose what he/she
wants to upgrade to.

Seriously, right now he has nothing, so I really just need the basics that
all fishing folk must have.

My suggestions for the lures as opposed to the basics are because they
will be something that last (till some trophy fish makes an angler part
with them anyway). It is kind of like if he were buying some items for
the house. A nice picture that will be viewed and treasured is better
than getting the doodads to hang the picture. That is not a great
example but maybe it helps.

I consider hooks and line as expendables. I hate to lose any lure I
have. Even more if it was a gift from someone important. The line and
other items are things that he will pick up as needed.

While you can get an entry level rod and reel for about $20 or so taking
up angling more seriously that will be a limit to enjoyment. I still
suggest get him a few nice items that are flexible enough to use in
fresh or sal****er and for varied species and he will add the sundry
items along the way.

Also, the size hooks you use are completely different for nearly every
kind of angling. Line is dependent on the fishing outfit and again the
type of fishing. I am not well to do and neither are most of the folks I
fish with. However, I have probably spent a few thousand dollars on my
fishing hobby (A couple of fly outfits for salt, another for trout,
fresh water spinning outfits, 7 or 8 various sal****er outfits for flats
fish from a few pounds to over 100 pounds, TOO much tackle; Bass Pro is
on my way home). I don't even own a power boat!

That is the best I can do as a suggestion.

Good luck!

Atlanta Joe
--
"Atlanta Joe" aka Joe Webb
Flats fishing is Flat Fun!
Visit my site at http://flatsfisher.com