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I've been doing my best to not buy any new tackle as I have new tackle that's never been out of the box. Last year I mostly bought replacement tackle such as Senkos and Zoom Super Flukes. Although I did buy a bunch of frogs to experiment with when I was making Homemade Whopper Frogs. Last year the only new lures I bought were 2 Berkely Choppos and 2 Whopper Plopper 75's; both worked awesome. The WP 75 my favorite Whopper Plopper and the Choppo also worked well and at 1/2 the cost of the WP. I'm a topwater fanatic am willing to accept 2 topwater bites over 10 regular bites. My favorite topwaters are the Whopper Plopper and Homemade Whopper Frog/Teckel Sprinker Frog. This year I only bought Senkos and what I needed to make Homemade Whopper Frogs. I had to buy Homemade Whopper Frog parts because I gave all of mine away to friends because they were working so well. I hope I bought enough! At least I can say I finally beat the Bait Monkey.

It seems that every year I'd find some new lure that I wanted to try, whether it be a new lure or old lure that has been out for a long time that I just discovered I always usually bought a lure or two that I'd never had or tried before. Last year I bought quite a few things, Teckel Sprinker frogs, chatterbaits, new spinnerbait brands, Whopper Ploppers, and quite a few hollow body frogs to experiment on to make my own Teckel Sprinker frogs. This year I really only bought the new Booyah Toad Runner and a Ninja Grass Blade for my Minn Kota Ulterra. I didn't buy any new rods or reels this year or any other fishing tackle or gear. I think I've finally achieved fishing tackle and gear fulfillment. I don't want to purchase anything more and I definitely don't need anything else as I have new lures in the box still. For Topwater: 1.) Whopper Ploppers 2.) Homemade Sprinker Teckel Frog (weedless Whopper Plopper/paddle tail frogs) For Underwater: 1.) Wacky Rigged Senko 2.) Nose-hooked Zoom Super Fluke I also use spinnerbaits quite often which and want to try some of the chatterbaits I have. What I have now has consistently worked pretty well in the lakes I fish. I do need to get better at fishing deeper though but I have lures for that too. But I really don't feel the desire to buy anything else....which is weird for me. lol. Maybe I finally beat the dreaded Bait Monkey! Anyone else reached Fishing Tackle and Gear Fulfillment?

Need help. The bait monkey is whispering in my ear that I need more stuff. I'm trying to ignore it as best I can but I'm weak! Ive got plenty of soft plastics, worms, craws, Senko, swimbait, frogs and such. 1 topwater popper, 2 spinnerbaits, squarebill, lipless, is there anything as a bank fisherman I should have in my arsenal that I have not mentioned? Its like going to the grocery store with no list, you wind up buying a bunch of crap! Thanks

Hey guys, I don’t know what it is, but I have this incessant desire to buy some high-end fishing rods. The rods I have in mind are NRX 803c JWR, NRX 854c JWR, and a GLX 843c MBR. I’m seriously on the brink of ordering all three at once. I’ve never owned a G. Loomis rod because of the high price, but always wanted one for the longest time. It’s still a high price for me today; I know it’s going to be a big hit on my wallet, but I can’t help it. Overall, I know logically that it’s a stupid decision if I bought these rods because I have more than enough gear than I need to catch bass… it’s just dumb.. but I’m sure some of you guys can empathize. I know that the new Conquest rods are out, but at $700 pop, I’d rather not, when I could get 3 high end rods that’ll cover more techniques for just a little more. The only contention I have with the NRX is.. how does hold up to the rods today? They were launched in 2010, that’s 7 years ago. I’m sure technology has improved some since that time, but I also know that graphite technology does not get as quickly outdated like reels. Technologically, for graphite to improve significantly it takes a much longer time imo than reels. So, I’m fairly confident that it will still hold it’s own today, but wanted to hear your guy’s opinion on it.

OK - kind of going the opposite way of other posts I see about avoiding the bait monkey - I'm holding a banana for him - "here monkey, monkey, monkey"... Planning on placing an online order in the near future and was looking for some suggestions for items I should be adding (a few new lures to try this year). I feel that I am pretty well set for rods and reels - so no suggestions there please. A bit about myself. I fish mainly from a kayak and occasionally from shore - mainly in lakes/ponds/very slow rivers in the Kawartha Lakes area of Ontario. I generally fish shallow - 10 feet and under and prefer to be firing baits around and under docks. My standard set up is to take three rods with me - to keep everything manageable. In most cases, I will have the following tied on: a search bait (chatterbait most often, but possibly a spinnerbait or crankbait/squarebill) something finesse - normally an unweighted senko or drop shot something for bottom contact - jig, texas rig or shaky head I will be trying the Ned rig for the first time this year. I have a few spots locally where I can get tackle, but unfortunately (maybe fortunately) they do not seem to have many of the items I see people recommending in various posts. The nearest big fish store is more than an hour away and being in Canada tends to have much less selection than those in the US... Anyways - some items that I am considering: *** *** Elites - 3/8oz - really want to try to compare with others that I use (SK Hack Attack mainly) Z Man Finess Schroomz heads - light sizes - the stores near me only seem to have 1/5oz LC Rattle In 1.5 RT Crankbait - TO Gill Xcite XB-1 Squarebill - Copper Green Shad and/or Sexy Shad Little John 50 Crankbait - Chartreuse Black Back and/or Rootbeer Chartreuse and/or Spooky Nasty Luck-E-Strike Rattler Crankbait - Sunfish or Sunfish 2 6th Sense Crush 50X - Baby Bluegill and/or Ghost Threadfin Shad I would love to get others thoughts on the above or other items that I should be considering in general. Thanks in advance, Skippy

I am really beginning to dislike that darn bait monkey. I've just recently come back to fishing after a 3+ year absence and all ready the BM has gotten me into trouble! I have a perfectly good spinning outfit, and the fact that I really have no idea what I'm doing I should be satisfied just to be getting into the swing of things again. But noooooooo, BM says I need to upgrade my stuff, I need to spend over 200 dollars on new equipment and lures. ( Oh, by the way, I don't even have a fishing license yet) If that hairy beast tells my wife what I did I am going to tie him to the end of my line and go Shark Fishing. Oh wait, if I do that I'm going to need a stronger Rod and reel. DAM_ YOU BAIT MONKEY!!!

I'm headed up to the St. Croix Rod factory this afternoon after work and I just got paid. I have a feeling the bait monkey is going to be hard to defeat today!

The moment when you think you have enough lures and soft plastics that danged ol bait monkey rears his ugly head. We have run across some out of this world bargains lately! I'm talking GYCB, Yum brand, Strike King, and other various brands of soft plastics for $2 a pack.. yes I said $2 a pack!! And Rapala crankbaits for $3 each! Not to mention a little gas station close by that has all their fishing tackle and equipment for 25% off, and up to 50% off if you buy $50 or more worth of stuff! We got two Abu Garcia Cardinal spinning reels that were originally like $54 for half off! My husband purchased every Gamakatsu hook the gas station had.. lol. So we have like literally $150 worth of Gamakatsu hooks (G lock EWG, offset EWG, worm hooks, etc) for half off.. they were original prices of $4 for a pack 8 I think. We couldn't pass it up. Hooks are something you use plenty off, as are soft plastics so we have loaded up lately. Have spent more money than I care to even think about, but we have every lure, every color for every condition that could possibly arise. I am beyond pleased. Gotta love the bait monkey.

So, I am fighting with common sense and my wallet on buying a new Revo Rocket. I'm looking for a review if you have one. I'm down in Louisiana and everyone flips and pitchs down here, except me. Granted, I have a 200E7 with the bearings polished and upgraded drag. Thank you DVT!!! But, the Rocket at 9 to 1, Ugh! Sexy, maybe it is the uniqueness of that high a speed plus 20# of drag........Mmmmm... Any reviews? THanks, Wdy