Great post Andrew! That's right along my line of thinking.

I'm not quite sure why people put swivels and safety pins in a fishing kit when they could just load it up with hooks.

My own random thoughts:

The basic NEEDS are:
line
hooks
split shot weights (to pull live bait down)
small bobbers might help
skill to tie hook to line

You'll need multiple hooks, weights, and bobbers since odds are that you'll get line caught up on weeds/brush and loose them.

All the other stuff is extra, though I'd buy the bring along a few nymphs suggestion.

Keep in mind that you're most likely to catch small panfish or similar - not largemouth bass. They are just as tasty and filling as big fish.

The other bit of information that is usefull is that fish feed best at sunrise & sunset, AND just like most other critters, fish tend to like edges and cover - darting out from the cover to grab food. Catfish, bullhead, & carp feed off the bottom, so instead of using a bobber you can try allowing the bait to float up from the weight that is resting on the bottom. Be careful of the catfish pectoral fins - they are sharp and leave nasty puncture wounds. You can often carefully use them to help hold the fish.

If you've never cleaned a fish before, its pretty simple:

1. Scrape off the scales - kind of like you'd shave - going against the grain of the scales.

Catfish & bullheads are usually skined - this is pretty tough without pliers

2. Cut off the head just behind the gills.

3. Cut down the belly to the back of the body cavity.

4. I always snip off the anus, as I prefer not to be eating that.

5. Rinse it all off in water and cook until meat is flakey. Be REAL careful not to swallow bones!!!!!