How Many Baits Do You Really Need?

[*Hootie]

Keep in mind, you're getting suggestions based on the type of water these guys fish. Make sure you are buying based on your water. Example, the lake I fish has almost zero visability. A jerkbait is virtually useless. Also, hardly any rocks, mostly wood, so I forget the football jigs.

Hootie

[gulfcaptain]

Have to agree with Hootie on exact recomendations.  If you had success last year expand on those.  It's hard to give ideas without knowng your equipment as well.  If you're fishing a ML spinning rod, then you're not gonna be fishing frogs in the slop but  a dropshot is always a good bet, roostertail's, and a floating rapala are 3 areas you can fish on spinning rods and catch almost anything.  But then if you're fishing MH baitcasting set-up those are a bit light for that set-up.  The more you fish, the more you will learn.  Try each year to pick up a new set-up with a technique or two in mind that that gear will work for and read as many articles on here as you can and try to apply that to areas you fish.

[ColdSVT]

When i was in high school i did well with one rod and a handful of baits

Berkely lighting rod 6'6 m

shimano symetry 3000

That combo ran about 80 bucks out the door back then

a few bags of ribbon tail power worms

culprit ribbon tails

a few buzzbaits

a few spinner baits

a few rapala husky jerks

a zara spook

and a wiggle wart

Line was berkely trimax10#

Caught a ton of fish in ponds, lakes and river with that

Now 20 years later i have 12 combos and three tackle boxes overflowing lol

[eyedabassman]

I look at it this way= If I don't have them I can't fish them!  

[Sam]

Baits are like rods.

 

You never have enough!!!!

 

Start our collection today.

 

The Bait Monkey loves you.

[Brian-S]

Can't go wrong with a few plastics, sticks are easy to start out with! Couple colors like Green Pumpkin, watermelon red, or Black and blue and go from there! A small jig with a craw as a trailer and as many said a frog. You'll learn a lot and grown your arsenal from there

Good Luck! 

Brian 

[Choporoz]

Head down to the local tackle shop.

Ask questions.  Specific questions...not just "what should I buy?"  But, "What do guys find successful around here for pre-spawn largemouth in xxx lake (or local river, or whatever.)"   Talk to the other fishermen -- not just the guy trying to sell you stuff.   And then listen.  And listen.  And ask followup questions.  And read Bass Resource.  It can get a little overwhelming, but read more, just the same.  And watch BassResource's videos.  You'll learn not only what to use, but see just how to use it. 

[*Hootie]

Head down to the local tackle shop.

Ask questions.  Specific questions...not just "what should I buy?"  But, "What do guys find successful around here for pre-spawn largemouth in xxx lake (or local river, or whatever.)"   Talk to the other fishermen -- not just the guy trying to sell you stuff.   And then listen.  And listen.  And ask followup questions.  And read Bass Resource.  It can get a little overwhelming, but read more, just the same.  And watch glenn's videos.  You'll learn not only what to use, but see just how to use it. 

 

 

^ This,.......Ask,....Fish,....Read.

 

Hootie

[roadwarrior]

Maybe a good place to start would be breaking down the water column with some

basic lures:

 

Topwater: Popper (PopR); walking lure (Zara Spook, LC Sammy); soft plastic (Rage Tail Menace);

MegaStrike Cavitron

 

Shallow: Spinnerbait, Chatterbait, Norman Fat Boy, Bandit 200, Siebert Outdoors Swim Jig/ Menace

 

Mid range: Red Eye Shad, DT6, Rapala Shadow Rap

 

Bottom contact: GYCB Senko and Fat Ika; Rage Tail Craw, Lizard and Thumper; MegaStrike MegaTube

Craw rigged on a ShakE2

 

 

 

[Fuese54]

if you're like me, you can never have enough baits. but some basic things you'll want are

soft plastics and hooks (stick baits and finesse worms are a great option)

spinnerbaits/buzzbaits

crankbaits

frogs or other topwater

soft plastics are probably the most versatile, but the key to success in any bait is to have confidence

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

When I leave home with just these Im good for a days outing.

 

You should be prepared to fish whatever depth you find them at: Top / suspended / bottom. The examples in this post are a good start. 

[Heron]

Hello. I'm getting ready to go fishing this upcoming spring and summer, and I need some new baits! I barely had any baits last year, since I was new to fishing. I was wondering, what are some great all around lures to have to cover most situations while bass fishing? Also, how many baits do you really need, because I see people with a TON, and was wondering if you could be just as successfull with a much smaller variety? ( i'm asking this because im a kid and don't have a huge budget for tons of tackle like some people!) thank you, and all opinions are appreciated!

You can fish successfully with a smaller variety of baits, only after you have established which baits have produced most consistently under most conditions.

 

This requires time to figure out.

[Master Bait'r]

Pit bosses & trick worms (for t rig w/ or w/o weight, c rig)

Z man zinkers (wacky, neko or Ned rig, drop shot)

Bento minnows (t rig, drop shot)

Jitterbug of some kind or popper

Squarebill crank

Deep diver crank

Suspending jerkbait

Ned rig jigheads

O rings for wacky rig

Nail weight for Neko rig

Bullet weights & stoppers for weighted T rig and C rig

#4 EWG hooks

Weedless wacky hook

Drop shot weight set

At least one football type creature jig

All of that could be in your hands for probably $50ish (maybe a little more) and you could hit any depth with a couple good looks once you figure everything out.

Just scratching the surface though of course

[1234567]

Keep in mind its not always how many different baits, but how you present it.....a stick bait/fluke can be flipped, dragged, hopped, jerked, wacky and even used as a topwater.  If your budget is limited look for baits that can be versatile.   The presentation is more important sometimes depending on the mood of the fish....if they're active they'll eat quickly once they've located your bait.  If they're more neutral a slower presentation can entice them better sometimes. 

The advice given has been good, but keep it simple.  It's hard to go wrong with a zoom super fluke, most days this will catch you some fish, just remember to try different retrieves to get them to bite.

[roadwarrior]

Simple and effective:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass/

[Bruce424]

just get baits to cover all of the water column topwater, then 2-5 range(squarebills spinnerbaits swimjigs), 6-10 range(medium crankbaits weightless worms)  then bottom baits(Carolina rigs jigs texas rigged plastics)

[Robeng]

Get good at a few types of lures and presentations before jumping to the next lure.  It is so very tempting to keep buying new baits every time the latest one is released at ICAST or a tournament or I see on WFN.

Go slow.  The ton of baits will perhaps develop over time.

Just enjoy yourself and gain confidence in each lure type and presentation.

Have fun.

[papajoe222]

Check your personal messages

[Penguino]

Senko

Texas rigged worm

Buzzbait or Frog or Popper

Mid-Range Crank

Swim Jigs or Football Jigs

Deep crank

Jerkbait

And a pack of craws.

 

This pretty much all I carry when I am fishing from the bank, when I can only carry essentials.

[Brnnoser6983]

It is all in the perspective of the person. I feel I never can have to much. Others go out with a single 3600 and that's all they need.

Get what you'll use, and what you feel you need.