>>800534Copypasta time
Best bet for fishing lakes and ponds, get yourself a medium weight rod and reel. 6'6" rod with a reel that holds ~150yds of 8lb or 10lb mono. Spool it up with decent 8lb monofilament line, most fishing outlets can do this for you. If you want to fish for more carp or catfish, maybe 10lb line. But 8lb is good for just about anything freshwater. You can still cast panfish lures with it and haul in bigger carp and bass.
Then grab assorted hooks, a couple bobbers, and some split shots. Pliers or a multitool are nice too. Best bet is just running nightcrawlers on a bobber and get comfortable with casting as well as seeing what you catch at these lakes. Then you can start with some lures. Ask what other people are using, or if you are catching crappie, largemouth, whatever, you could ask here for reccommendations or look elsewhere online. Watch youtube vids on how to fish the lures. Find out what works well at your lakes, and just keep going from there.
For a medium weight rod/reel combo (spinning reel of course), you can grab something for $40. But if you think you will really be into it or aren't too strapped for cash, you can buy a combo closer to $75 that will be much nicer and you won't want to replace after a couple months.
They do sell little starter kits with a couple hooks, weights, shitty bobbers, and a lure or two, but it isn't enough go last very long.
