First off, let me be clear, I don’t know much about shopping — that is, going into stores and buying things unless those things are hunting and fishing things. I know even less about buying “online” or whatever it is called when you order stuff with your device. That being said, every year about this time, someone will ask me, “What’s a good gift I can get for someone who wants to get into fishing?” or “What should I get my husband who likes to fish a lot?”

The answers to these questions are far more involved than you might expect, especially if you are not real involved in fishing yourself. If you are dealing with someone who is already big into fishing, it’s probably best to ask that person what specifically they would like to have and forget the surprise; better yet, how about a nice fat gift card at Bass Pro. I suspect that buying fishing equipment for a seasoned angler would be a lot like a man trying to surprise his wife with a bunch of new clothes at Christmas; most of us know better.

When it comes to buying fishing equipment, a good place to start is to find out what the person you are buying for likes to fish for, that is what species of fish — bass, pike, trout, panfish, etc.? By the way, you can use several different types of rods and reels for all of these species, and they all work, so it’s a matter of preference. When it comes to rods and reels, size is a critical factor. One of the biggest reasons why some folks don’t catch as many fish as they should is because they are using the wrong rod and reel for the species they are after. One of the situations where this is most obvious is when fishing for panfish — bluegills, crappies, perch, and the like; this is where a smaller, lighter, or even ultralight open-faced spinning outfit is a must and not a heavy bass-sized rig. These light outfits make feeling a strike much more likely.

If one is pursuing bigger fish like bass, pike, muskies, and walleyes, then larger outfits are needed with stronger drag systems and heavier lines to prevent breakoffs.

For this type of fishing, one might also want to consider casting equipment. Casting equipment is much more specialized, and like fly fishing equipment, it would be wise to have an experienced person along when making a purchase.

When it comes to pursuing trout, here again, there are several good possibilities; a medium to light open-faced spinning outfit is one of the most popular choices, but a fly-fishing outfit is also a good trout outfit.

Frankly, when it comes to buying fly fishing equipment, I highly recommend that anyone new to this technique should also consult with a knowledgeable fly fisherman. Here again, it would be wise to take an experienced fly fisherman along when you plan to purchase equipment.

If you think buying rods and reels is complicated, you are in for a real treat when it comes to buying artificial lures. I follow this lure thing pretty closely, but new stuff is coming along so fast it’s hard to keep up. Here again, lures must match the rods and reels to be most effective.

I’ve hardly scratched the surface when it comes to acquiring new fishing equipment; certainly, a fishing license would be a solid gift idea, and maybe the best approach for other equipment is a gift card with a hefty price tag.