Help a noob outfit his tackle box. (one local store to choose from)

[Mike Z]

For my first question here I need help outfitting my tackle box with some low cost essentials to get e started. A little background... I have fished for bass maybe once or twice in my life, once with a borrowed rod and once with my own and caught maybe 3-4 fish. All other fishing has been catfish, Walleye, or Crappie. (catfish in pond by house, and the others on Lake Erie) Anyway, I want to have some adult fun now.

My selection is limited to products sold at Dick's Sporting Goods or perhaps Walmart. I have a Dick's within walking distance and 4 or 5 within 20 minutes of my house. BPS and Cabelas are literally 2-3 hours away or more.

I am on a somewhat limited budget, so buying $6 and $8 jigs won't work. At that rate I'll get to fish for 10 minutes a month. lol So if you can all suggest some necessary items stocked at Dicks that won't bust my wallet i would appreciate it. Also looking at a new reel and rod and have found some great ideas in the reel section here. Looks like a BPS Pro Qualifier might be in my future if they go on sale.-so thanks guys.

[roadwarrior]

Basic Tackle:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1258726218

8-)

[Gamec0cks5]

Gary Yamamoto SENKO

OWNER HOOKS*

if you wanna save some cash step down to some Gamakatsu hooks 2/0-4/0 offset worm hooks

Some zoom lizards & finesse worms what I did as a kid learning how to fish I would pick the colors that only had one or two packages left on the peg, so more people must be catching bass on them ;D

Maybe a spinnerbait or two.

[VolFan]

From Dick's, there's a Strike King spinnerbait that's like a house brand for them that's $3 I think, a couple of the 1/4 or 3/8 oz one's in white or white/chartrues or white/gold wil do you well.  Get some 4/0 gamakatsu (I use the G-locks) worm hooks, a pack of 1/8 or 1/4 oz worm weights, a bag of berkely powerworms in green pumpkin, red shad or you pick, and some senkos or a yum dingers or Strike king Ochos in a natural color.  Maybe a bag of a creature bait (Berkely WOlley Hawgtails come to mind) will covermos things you'd do with a jig.  That should keep you under $30.  If I were you I'd use the spinnerbaits 90% of the time in various ways, burning near the surface, slow rolling, targeting cover, yo-yo retrieve, etc, and then follow up with the soft plastics in areas where you get strikes or have obvious cover.  For someone that's new, that should cover you for a season.

[Sqvedgis]

I don't know if Dick's has clearance bins like BPS, but if they do, look in there.  I usually pull some decent small crankbaits and spinnerbaits out of those bins. 

If you have any jigs or grubs from your walleye fishing you can use those for bassin'.  When all else fails me out on the water I can always count on a grub on a 1/8 - 1/4oz jighead catching me something.

Grab a bag of zoom trick worms for shaky head fishing and pick a cheap pack of 1/8 - 1/16oz shaky head jigs. 

Grab a bag of Yum dingers 5" and a pack of 4/0 EWG worm hooks for T-rig, and a pack of 1/0 round hooks for wacky fishing.

Grab 2 flipping jigs, one 1/4oz and one 1/2oz to start, and get some zoom chunks or craws, or berkley chigger craws.

Add a hula popper or chug bug.

Otherwise don't pre-buy a ton of tackle, you'll figure out what you need as you learn and fish more.  I made the mistake of filling an entire tackle box based on someones input and I realized really quickly that I didn't need a ton of the stuff I bought.  And if you're anything like most of us on here, you'll read something or hear something and always want something new!

But if you add the couple things I suggested you'll cover most bases for under $40

[JigMe]

Dick's has a sale this week for Senko, you can get 2 packs for $10.

[J Francho]

I recommend all beginners start with moving baits.  Spinnerbaits, mid diving cranks, jig 'n grub, small paddle tail plastics.

Once they get the feel of that, and the concept of fish location, I'll teach them a "feel bait."

[Gamec0cks5]

Dick's has a sale this week for Senko, you can get 2 packs for $10.

That's a deal, man I wish we had a Dick's around here we have a BPS that has hardly any bass tackle (we are coastal) more SW than FW  >

[D4u2s0t]

why are you limited to just the local store?

If you're on a tight budget, I would check out *.com  I have been extremely succesful with their trick sticks, flukes, and brush hogs.  Very cheap, very durable baits, and I catch more fish on these vs. other more expensive baits. 

[Gangley]

Soft plastics are great, and most of the decent generic soft plastics (ZOOM, Berkely) can be bought at walmart for cheaper than Dicks, BPS, Gander, Etc.  Check Walmart, they have Gamakatsu hooks as well.  Worms and Lizards to keep it simple first.  Get a Bomber or Bandit crankbait in a couple different depths.  Get quality line as well, and learn how to tie a palomar knot, its simple, quick, and very strong.  Should be able to get a large variety of soft plastics, a few cranks, and good line for 50-75 bucks.

[I.rar]

why are you limited to just the local store?

If you're on a tight budget, I would check out *.com I have been extremely succesful with their trick sticks, flukes, and brush hogs. Very cheap, very durable baits, and I catch more fish on these vs. other more expensive baits.

x2.

also , not only check out DSG bins , but run up and down the isles and look at the tags. usually red ones or prices that end in an uncommon number (.88 , .90 , .13 etc) are on clearance.

there is also a save $10 off $25 purchase at dicks coupon floating around the net. im sure a quick yahoo search will find it. just dont tell any of these guys about it , we all know how they get when someone prints coupons off the internet  :.

[Mike Z]

D4u2s0t and sqhertz, I limit or like to limit some of my purchases to local stores because I am very hands on and don't know a whole lot about bass and the tackle yet. I don't have anything, so if I can go to the store, see it in person and see true color and texture, then I can better understand what it is you guys are talking about. I see lots of talk about such and such a color bait in pumpkinseed, but until I see it in person I really don't know what you are even talking about. Or as another example, some of the baits I see talked about here might be the same as I see with the Gulp or Berkely brand name in a similar color. Plus there is so much more available now than when I fished last and the stuff looks d**n realistic. (one package of plastic I looked at I thought were actual minnows somehow cured to be able to withstand shelf packaging.)

As to ordering over the internet, some people fish so much that they might place a $200 order and fill half their box and go through that stuff in the next month and a half. I need to buy like 1 or 2 packs of something at a time and see what works. I might buy 2 packs of the hooks mentioned here and a few packs of worms. If I spend $30 on stuff, I doubt I am going to save more by ordering over the net when I have to pay shipping.

Thanks everyone though so far for the recommendations. I have learned a lot and some of what has been mentioned I remember seeing yesterday looking around, so I am starting to get a feel for what I should be looking for, so when I come across a different brand name, I'll know what I am looking at.

-Mike

[roadwarrior]

Mike,

I suggest starting with just two baits in the

same lure class. Catch a bunch of bass, then

expand from there. Try this and save your money

for future purchases:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158577137

Good luck!

8-)

[sundog49]

Mike, I too am just getting serious about bass fishing. I have had alot of luck with the Zoom purple lizzards and the Berkley cinnamon chiggar craw. Got them both at Dick's. Also I use a white and silver rattle trap that seems to drive fish crazy one day then nothing for a few days. I just keep mixing them up and see what the fish want. Good luck. 8-)   

    Russ

[YNCBASSMAN]

BEWARE THE BAIT MONKEY!!!   

[Mike Z]

Mike,

I suggest starting with just two baits in the

same lure class. Catch a bunch of bass, then

expand from there. Try this and save your money

for future purchases:

<linky removed cause the forum software won't let me post links>

Good luck!

8-)

Roadwarrior, thanks for the link. I see you recommend maybe $20 worth of stuff and as you said, even if you don't catch anything, you learned a lot. I also looked a few posts down and someone described how to look/watch at the line and pay attention. That is great info. Looking forward to reading the rest of the pages

I also like how you advocate a lighter line. When my dad taught me, he taught me to use the lightest possible line for the fish you are going to catch. Over the years I caught a whole lot of 3-6lb Walleye, Medium sized crappie, catfish, etc on the 4lb line he always filled my reel with. Maybe 4lb test was rated low 25 years ago, but when I bought some Stren original for my rod the other day I bought 6 and 8lb test. I'm not looking to catch some saltwater monsters. ;D

[bear7625]

Most fishermen don't fill their tackle boxes in one season. We look for bargins and pick up stuff as we need it throughout the season. Roadwarrior is right. Start with a couple of baits and add to it when you get the chance.

[bigfruits]

id get a good medium power, fast action, 6'6" spinning rod and the best shimano 2500 reel you can afford. 6lb trilene xl or yo-zuri hybrid ultrasoft

my first purchase would be like this:

small 1/4oz crankbait (rapala)

2 x 1/4oz bitsy bug jigs (green craw)

1 pack of netbait tiny paca craws (for the jigs)

1 pack 4" senkos

1 pack of 1/0 gamakatsu drop/split shot hooks (to wacky rig the senkos)

small 3/8oz white spinnerbait

[bassman018]

If I was in your shoes which I was a year ago (14 year old with little money coming in) I just bought allot of soft plastics like senkos, and zoom twisty tail worms, tubes, and frogs. Why? there cheap. And productive. I like using hard lures, but simple have more succes with soft plastics. Get a couple packs of Gamakatsu EWG off set hooks in 2/0, 3/0, and 4/0. That will set you for a little bit and keep you catching fish. when you get more money you can buy a couple Bomber crankbaits and dome cheaper 3$ jigs and spinners.

[RedhookRR]

Rapala jointed Shad Rap any size and your choice of colors.

[Mike Z]

Ok following the advice of a few here, I picked up a few packs of the Gamakatsu hooks in the 4/0 as well as a few packs of the Yamamoto 5" worms in Watermelon and Red Shad. They were on sale for 2 packs/$10. Also found another store with the Fat Ika lures so I had them set aside their last pack for me. Also grabbed some Berkley Powerbait crawdads in green pumpkin since they were all 20% off and got some 1/8oz bullet weights just in case.

Found the Dick's version of the Strike King spinner baits but they were $4 each and I figured I would get the cheap plastic first and then slowly add the more expensive stuff.

Thanks all so far for the recommendations. I figure I'll lose most of this new stuff in a few hours when I get out either this weekend or next. lol

[Dockhead]

OWNER HOOKS*

if you wanna save some cash step down to some Gamakatsu hooks

Ummm, that would be movin' up...in quality.

[Hammer 4]

OWNER HOOKS*

if you wanna save some cash step down to some Gamakatsu hooks

Ummm, that would be movin' up...in quality.

Ummm, not really..

[Gamec0cks5]

id get a good medium power, fast action, 6'6" spinning rod and the best shimano 2500 reel you can afford. 6lb trilene xl or yo-zuri hybrid ultrasoft

my first purchase would be like this:

small 1/4oz crankbait (rapala)

2 x 1/4oz bitsy bug jigs (green craw)

1 pack of netbait tiny paca craws (for the jigs)

1 pack 4" senkos

1 pack of 1/0 gamakatsu drop/split shot hooks (to wacky rig the senkos)

small 3/8oz white spinnerbait

Great Suggestions especially the reel/rod suggestion. Get you a Sedona or Sahara 2500 and enjoy it for a lifetime