Need Some Immediate Help With Tackle/lures

[Newbass112]

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[rockchalk06]

On 3/31/2013 at 10:53 PM, Newbass112 said:

For those who don't know, I am just getting into fishing and don't know all that much.

 

For reference, my setup is a

7.1:1 baitcast reel

7' medium-heavy rod Specs for it are: Action: Fast

Line Weight: 10-20 lbs.

Lure Weight: 3/8 - 1-1/2 oz.

 

My wifes setup is going to be a

6.4:1 baitcast reel

6'6" medium-heavy rod with fast action....we do not yet know which rod it will be.

 

We are just getting into all of this and are headed to bass pro shops tomorrow to gear up, and I need some help on a few things so I don't end up with the wrong things. We will be picking up my wifes rod and reel and tackle/lures.

What I need help on is how do I know what hooks, weights, sizes, types, etc to get? This is a headache right now to us and we want to get the right stuff.

I'll mainly be fishing plastics, jigs, texas rigged worms, lipless cranks, etc. on my 7.1:1 reel.

My wife wants to fish spinners, poppers, worms and plastics and she's opting for a 6.4:1 ratio reel.

 

So, what size/type hooks and weights should we be getting? I know some lures like lipless cranks come with hooks but the ones that don't such as plastic crawfish, worms, etc. how do I know what to get for those? And what are some good brands to go with? I also know you should be getting lures that are rated for your rod, I listed my rods lure weight specs above and will go for those in that limit, but worms add some weight along with the weights you put with them so how do you do all of this? I also have seen a lot of lures that do not specify a weight??

I guess we just don't understand how folks know what sizes and types of hooks/weights to get for their specific lures...is there some sort of trick to knowing?

 

I really appreciate the help, the last thing we want to do is spend hundreds of dollars on the wrong equipment.

 

On fishing line we planned to get Berkley trilene, 2 questions with this....what poundage should we get? And should we get mono, braid, or fluoro???

And another question, I want to fish jigs but have no idea what the difference is between casting, football head, etc etc. they have a lot of different types. I can tell you I'm not all into flipping/pitching, I like casting with different retrieves.

Bass Pro had their Fluorocarbon line on sale last week. Check that before you spend to much on fluoro. If your wife wants to use Popr's fluoro will not be the line for her. I'd say go with some Trilene XT for starters. It's cheap as I assume your both new with BC's, so if you have a backlash that has to be cut it won't be too expensive.

As for hooks, I prefer Mustad. Size and type depend on the baits used. 4/0, 3/0 and 5/0 EWG should cover most of the plastic baits.

I like jigs tubes and flukes. I'd recommend getting some jigs in greens, browns and blue/black in 1/2 oz to start with. Grab some Strike King Rage Craws or Craws of the like in the same colors as the jigs.

Grab some tubes in the same colors as above. I like the Gammy Skip Gap hooks for tubes, but a good 4/0 EWG of your choice will work.

As for flukes, I like Zooms and Strike Kings. Baby bass, white or pearl ans smoke are my favorite colors. You'll need some swivels too.

As for weights, right now with the start up costs, stick with lead weights. They are cheap. Grab a pack each in all weights from 3/16 to 1 ounce.

The hooks on most of your cranks you'll be buying will suffice for now. You can upgrade later. I'd wait until you are certain crankbaits are your thing before dumping several dollars in new hooks.

Make sure you get yourself a bass pro rewards card. It's free and you'll get points for buying stuff. They add up quick and it's all free.

That should be a small start to get you both set up. You'll add more as you go. Search Bassresource on YouTube for some good how too videos and by all means ask away here.

[rockchalk06]

Alot of knowing what weight to use on plastics depends on the plastic and the weight. For instance a rage craw with a hook and 1/4 oz weight will run about 1/2 oz total. Most medium sized plastics are going to be around 1/2 oz.

[WhiteMike1018]

Hi newbass, right now BPS is having a sale I believe so its good to stock up on some baits.

 

Heres my top 10 baits I would be getting at bass pro shops 

 

1. Lipless Crankbaits (XPS Rattle Shad or Strike King Redeye shad are my two favorite brands) get a white colored one, a flashy one, and a redish one

 

2. Spinnerbaits (white is usually an all around good color)

 

3. Black Blue jig paired with a black trailer (any brand)

 

4. XPS Slim Dog

 

5. 2x Pack of Berkley Powerbait worms in red shad color (ive caught more fish on these than any other bait on the market)

 

6. Square bill crankbait 1.5-2.5 diving depth (luck-e-strike or strike king KVD are both good models)

 

7. Buzzbait (any brand)

 

8. Hollow Body frog (any brand)

 

9. Rage tail Shad (if you live near any type of lilly pads or vegetation these are a must) This lure is pure deadly during the warmer months...reel it in like a buzzbait and kill the action and let it float down if needed..run it across the pads..let it sink in the hole and it gets smashed..get these

 

10. X-Rap Jerkbait or a Lucky Craft pointer

 

good luck

[papajoe222]

Hook size depends a lot on personal preference and size (diameter) of the plastic bait used. EWG offset hooks are the most popular for rigging plastics. I carry everything from 1/0-6/0. If you'll be doing any finess rigging, you will likely need smaller. For weights I'd also go with an assortment from 1/8oz. to 1/2oz. bullet style in whatever material your pocketbook is comfortable with buying. Again there are specialty weights. Line is a personal preference based on application. for you, a flouro and for her either mono, or what's labeled as a co-polymer like Yo-Zuri.

Keep your selection of bait styles small until you determine your own likes. Spinnerbaits, cranks for different depths, one or two top-waters (avoid Spooks for now) and some jigs is assorted weights should give you a good start.

Have fun, and don't be intimidated by all the gear you see at BPS. You'll likely have most of it at your house once you get hooked on bassin' but for now, keep the bait monkey in the car, or get a second mortgage before you go.

[Sam]

You are new to bass fishing so please don't rush into anything.

 

Just remember that what you buy now may be obsolete in the future as you learn more about rods, reels, line and baits. Keep the old stuff for the kids and grandkids.

 

Some suggestions:

1.  Always read the rod's specifications as to line test and bait weight.

2. Don't be bashful. If you are considering a reel let the clerk put it on the rod and you and your wife note how it feels.

3. Unless the clerk is a bass fishereman, don't believe anything they say. Ask for a clerk that is a bass fisherman and can communicate with you in an intelligent manner.

4. Spinning rigs are easier to handle. Consider a spinning rig for your wife and yourself.

5. Any medium heavy rod over 6'6" is acceptable.

6. Any line you want to use is acceptable. Most pros are now using flourocarbon. Some still suscribe to the old philosophy of mono for treble hook baits and floruocarbon for everything else.

7. Keep bait selection simple: Green pumpkin and watermealon for plastics; shad and crawfish for crankbaits; chrome with black back and chrome with blue back for lipless crankbaits; white/charteuse for spinner baits and chatterbaits; and white and black for buzzbaits.

8. Hooks 1/0 and 2/0 size. Any brand of your choice.

9. Bullet weights of 1/8 and 1/4 ounce. You can go with a 3/16 if you want a little more casting distance.\

10. Needle nose pliers for both you and your wife to remove hooks.

11. Ask clerk to show you how to set the "magnets" by opening the side panel. Go for an "X" pattern with four magnets "on." If the clerk has no idea what you are talking about go to another clerk.

12. Consider purchasing a Berkley Spooling Station. Well worth the investment.

13. Have line come off the spool in a counter-clock wise manner for your spinning rig.

14. Decide what size tackle box or bag you need to carry your extra reels and tackle. Yep, one day have duplicate reels so when you or your wife don't use the Scotch tape trick and get the backlash of the century you can change out reels.

15. Pick up some MegaStrike or JJs Magic. Learn the rule: Nothing leaves the boat or bank without some type of scent on it. Use scent on all baits, especially your plastic ones.

 

A 6:1 reel speed is the middle selection. You can go faster (7:1) or slower. Yoy may want to go down a notch for your second setup. Your wife's baitcaster is perfect.

 

You and your wife need to learn how to "balance" the rod, reel and bait so practice the following.

1. Go outside in your yard with your rods and reel rigged and ready to be fished and bring some Scotch tape with you.

2. Set drag and baitcaster's spool to the desired strengths.

3. Point baitcaster rod tip to 11:00 o'clock with bait reeled all the way to the tip of the rod.

4. Release baitcaster so bait falls to the ground slowly.

5. Adjust spool tension to allow bait to fall to ground so that spool stops when bait hits the ground.

6. Now cast the bait as far as you and your wife can with the rig.

7. Take the Scotch tape and place two pieces across the line on the spool from end to end (left to right).

This will stop any backlashes from going deeper into the line.

8. Adjust the setup when you get to the water by adjusting the spool tension.

9. Double check the drag after 10 to 15 casts to be sure it is still set where you want it. The drag is not to be set too tight so it does not move but that you can move it with 10 to 12 pounds of pressure.

10. When spooling your line you may want to run it through a wash cloth that has a Keven VanDam Lure and Line Conditioner "wet spot" to condition the line as you spool it onto your reels. Spray some additional conditioner on line on spool while spoolint.

 

 

For spinning reels DO NOT OPEN THE BAIL if the line gets twisted. And it will get twisted.

With the bail CLOSED, loosen the drag and pull the line off the reel.

Then respool the line through your fingers to keep it tight as it goes back onto the reel.

If you bring some KVD Lure and Line conditioner with you spray the line once again.

 

Your goal is to find a clerk in the fishing department that knows bass fishing. Sorry to say that Dick's stores don't have these people. The big stores like BPS, Cabela's and Academy usually have at least one person in their fishing department that fishes for bass. If you cannot find anyone who fishes for bass you are putting yourself at a distinct disadvantage when selecting your tackle.

 

You may want to consider a smaller tackle store that specailzes in fishing and who has guys who actually know how to bass fish.

 

Have a budget. It is easy to start to inch up the money ladder. The Bait Monkey will be with you so beware of the Bait Monkey.

 

What is going to drive you and your wife crazy are the number of baits, types, colors and sizes. It will take time and you will purchase some baits that will prove to be worthless but that is part of the learning curve.

 

Try to keep it simple; learn how to tie the Palamor knot; read, read and read; watch bass fishing DVDs on baits and techniques; ask questions on the Forum; go to various bass pro's sites, like Woo Daves and Hank Parker, and read their articles and advice.

 

And what ever you do don't let your wife out fish you!!!!

 

Good luck.

 

P.S. After you buy your tackle start planting the seeds for a new bass boat. Ranger, Bass Cat, Stratos and Triton have some nice ones as does Nitro!!!!

[Sam]

One clarification and three requests.

 

After casting your baitcaster rig as far as you can in your yard pull off two arm lenghts of line and then put the Scotch tape over the line on the spool.

 

Remember to "balance" your baitcaster after you change baits. It takes a few seconds and it pays lots of dividends.

 

Post pics of your catches.

 

Post stories of the ones that got away.

[Comfortably Numb]

Go spinning tackle. You will be miserable and frustrated with baitcasting gear and will be limited to heavier lures, thus eliminating lighter and weightless baits that may produce besy for you.

[roadwarrior]

Rods

 

For enthusiasts, technique specific gear is fun
to collect. However, three rigs cover all the
basics:

#1 6 1/2' or 7' MH baitcaster for jigs, some 
soft plastics and spinnerbaits

#2 6 1/2' or 7' MM baitcaster for treble hook 
lures

#3 7' MF spinning rod for lighter lures and a 
variety of techniques

 

Reels

Baitcaster:  Shimano Curado 50E

Spinning: Shimano CI4

 

Lures

 

Top water

Zara Spook

Sammy

PopMax

Rage Tail Menace

Rage Shad

MegaStrike Cavitron

 

Frog

Booyah Pad Crasher

Rage Tail Toad

 

Jerkbait

Smithwick Rogue

LC Pointer

Megabass Vision 110 FX

 

Spinnerbait

MegaStrike Strike Back

Cosmic Spinnerbait  (Siebert Outdoors)

NorthStar Custom Baits Hidden Weight

 

Shallow

Norman Fat Boy

LC RC 2.5

Lazy Ike

GYCB Kreature

 

4'-8'

KVD Red Eye Shad

Bomber Fat Free Shad

Cotton Cordell G ay Blade

 

8'-16'

Rapala DT

DD22

Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad

 

Jigs

MegaStrike Evolution

Siebert Outdoors Big O & Storm Series

NorthStar Custom Baits Original Swim Jig & Hairy Jig

 

Trailers

Rage Tail Menace

Rage Single Tail Grub

Rage Baby Craw, Craw & Lobster

MegaStrike MegaBug

 

Soft Plastics

Rage Tail: Space Monkey, Smokin' Rooster, Hawg, Eeliminator, Cut- R, Ananconda & Thumper

GYCB: Senko & Fat Ika

MegaStrike MegaBug and Tube Craw

 

Soft Swimbaits

MegaStrike Fat Shad

Yum Money Minnow

LFT Live Magic Shad

Shadalicious

Berkley Hollow Belly

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[Newbass112]

Wow thanks for all of the responses. I didn't plan on many at bps knowing much which is why I asked everything here first.

Now on line, it was suggested I get fluoro and my wife mono. What poundage should we get? I was thinking 14 or 17 lb for myself. She doesn't know what she wants yet and we don't have her rod yet so we don't know the capacity.

Again I will be fishing worms, a lot of soft plastics, lipless cranks, possibly jigs, and so on. I love plastics.

I was leaning more tword 14lb since my rod capacity maxes out at 20, I don't want to snag, break the 20lb poundage limit and then have the rod possibly break if that makes sense.? Would rather have the line break before the rod.

On the fluoro suggestion, I really don't like the fact fluoro holds line memory..it seems like that would be very irritating. Is fluoro really the best bet for my setup? Or would mono or braided also be good? Have heard mono also holds memory, and braided line sounds like it would tear up your rod guides?

[mjseverson24]

the 14-17 lb floor would probably be a good choice for you, depending on your familiarity with a bait-caster. if you are relatively new I would go to a mono, or a braid. Braid is by far the most manageable, and sensitive, the biggest drawback is abrasion resistance and also visibility to fish. If neither of these two things concern you go with the braid, 30 lb is pretty standard. if you do go with a fluorocarbon I would suggest either stren florocast, or segar red-label. these are two of the more affordable fluorocarbon lines on the market so if/when you do get a bad backlash you wont loose a 20 dollar spool. Use a line conditioner like the KVD line conditioner to help remove memory and increase life of the line. for your wife's set up 15 lb mono should work great. dont worry about what the rod and reel say for max line capacity and ratings. as long as you set your drag properly you should have no issues with rod breakages. 

 

Mitch

[Deleted account]

I'm going to pray for you...

[The Young Gun]

I'm going to pray for you...

X2

[Newbass112]

Well, we just got back.

Talk about a headache, and nobdy there was of much help.

I am going to post everything we got, photos included on here sometime soon in the next day or so in this thread...And from there I can determine if we came out alright or if it was a bust. I think we did o.k.

Some things we could not get assistance on so we may have to make a trip to walmart or something when we find out if we need anything else.

[Deleted account]

I'm going to pray harder...

[Newbass112]

.

[Deleted account]

I have to go find a Rosary.

[Newbass112]

I have to go find a Rosary.

I didn't think we did that bad. I think another pack or two of some 4/0 and 5/0 ewg offset hooks, some more weights when I figure out which ones I need and I'll be good to go unless I missed something.

My wife though we need to find out what hooks and weights she needs for her swimbaits and help figuring out what to do since she mainly got 1/4oz lures which are under her rods specs...a minimum of 3/8oz. Unless she would be fine fishing lower weights.

Other than that, hey it was our first buy

[11justin22]

A rods weight is basically a "guide" saying that the rod was designed to optimally through a certain amount of weight. Most people will occasional go over, usually not even realizing it. No big deal 99% of the time. Too much over and u can break the rod. On the opposite side when the weight is under the rod won't "load" correctly on the back swing and the lure can't be thrown as far. Part of throwing with a baitcaster is getting the rod to load up and sling shot the bait. I wouldn't worry about the 1/4 baits and just use them realizing it may be difficult to throw them as far as a heavier bait. Before u head out somewhere practice with something heavier so u can get a feel for how the rod and reel works because it will be much more difficult with lighter lures.

[Comfortably Numb]

Get her a spinning rod and reel. The baitcaster is going to be a disaster and make you both miserable. Then she can use those lighter lures. 6'6" medium action graphite. MH is overkill for where you fish and once again womt cast the lighter lures well.

 

You both should have spinning setups and who ever told you to get baitcasters is totaly wrong. Learn how to FISH first. That is tough and frustrating enough than to worry about getting the bait to the fish without difficulties and time spent picking out backlashed. I can and have taken newbies fishing and given them a spinning rod and a Senko. They learn to cast and catch fish in 1/2 hour. If I gave them a baitcaster with the same Senko it would take weeks to learn and they would still backlash.

 

The Fin S fish is a jerkbait and not a swim bait and should be used weightless and probably with that 2/0 ewg hook.

[gallowaypt]

I have to go find a Rosary.

I think he's just praying for you because the bait mOnkey can smell fresh blood! But seriously though, you def. need some weighted swim bait hooks, and an assortment of bullet weights. I'll tx rig with 1/16 oz to 1/2 oz

[Newbass112]

Get her a spinning rod and reel. The baitcaster is going to be a disaster and make you both miserable. Then she can use those lighter lures. 6'6" medium action graphite. MH is overkill for where you fish and once again womt cast the lighter lures well.

 

You both should have spinning setups and who ever told you to get baitcasters is totaly wrong. Learn how to FISH first. That is tough and frustrating enough than to worry about getting the bait to the fish without difficulties and time spent picking out backlashed. I can and have taken newbies fishing and given them a spinning rod and a Senko. They learn to cast and catch fish in 1/2 hour. If I gave them a baitcaster with the same Senko it would take weeks to learn and they would still backlash.

 

The Fin S fish is a jerkbait and not a swim bait and should be used weightless and probably with that 2/0 ewg hook.

 

Well we both came from cheap spinning setups, nearly every person I have talked with said baitcasters are worth learning. We've spent the money on good baitcasting setups, whether it was a poor choice or not it's done. For the type fishing we are going to be doing we were recommended medium heavy rods from a lot of places and people so that's what we went with. Learning to use baitcasters should be worth it and we look to see it through. The help we have received on here is great. We do have a friend who might be able to come out with us and help out with learning these casters too

[rockchalk06]

I've tried all kinds of swimbait hooks and found I like the Moaner Strokers the best.

http://www.moanerhooks.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=68_66

If a spinner bait is listed at 1/2 or a jig listed at 1/2 oz, that's just the weighted head. The hook, skirt, trailer and blades will shoot it up to 3/4 or so. Keep that in mine with all baits of all sizes.

It's been posted here that you guys should try a spinning reel. Keep that in mind. Bait casters can be difficult but also great to have. If you find that you have trouble with them, try a spinning reel or watch this video

 

[Brian6428]

I didn't think we did that bad. I think another pack or two of some 4/0 and 5/0 ewg offset hooks, some more weights when I figure out which ones I need and I'll be good to go unless I missed something.

My wife though we need to find out what hooks and weights she needs for her swimbaits and help figuring out what to do since she mainly got 1/4oz lures which are under her rods specs...a minimum of 3/8oz. Unless she would be fine fishing lower weights.

Other than that, hey it was our first buy

I think you got some excellent lures to learn with as well as learn what you like to fish. I wish I had started with lures like this instead of blowing a lot of money on a lot of gimmicks. Good choices and good luck!

[Newbass112]

Thanks again everyone who has threw their input out, it has been an immense help. After all of the responses in this thread and after having a few gentleman help me out through private messaging I think we have a really good understanding of everything to get us going. Now it's time to take it to the water and practice, have fun, and catch some fish!