How Do You Guys Stock Your Bank Back Packs?

[fishinphilly]

when i don't plan on bringing a lot, ill fill up 3-4 3601 boxes because if you put plastics in it you can only fit 4-6 of each which helps you cut down but something that might help is the water color, if you know the waters gonna be clear go with natural colors (summer craw, green pumpkin) and if its muddy go with your black/blue and junebug that can help you narrow down how much you bring

[Joedodge]

That's not a bad idea. I have a lot of options to play with now for sure. Narrowing down color selection has always been difficult for me. I get in a rut with a bait and that is it lol

[fishinphilly]

That's not a bad idea. I have a lot of options to play with now for sure. Narrowing down color selection has always been difficult for me. I get in a rut with a bait and that is it lol

i have the same problem i get done fishing and wonder why my back hurts lol 

[BassinLou]

I have learned over the years to keep things simple and light!! I cover a lot of water when I bank fish. So carrying a back pack, sling pack, waist pack, etc full of stuff that more than likely will not be used, will weigh on you after a couple of hours. I know many would just place the bag on the ground and fish. But I don't fish like that. Everything is easily accessible to me in a sling pack. Picking up and putting down a bag constantly is PITA to me. If you really know your waters. You will know at any given part of year what baits will and will not work. So carry a "few" baits that have worked for you in the past during that time of year. As far as rods, i only carry one,  and spool of yozuri, for leaders. My phone, a bottle of water, scale, ruler, pliers and a rag and I am good to go. 

[Team9nine]

Simple - I don't carry a back pack. When I pond hop, I only bring whatever will fit into a jacket pocket or two. One rod, a couple basic presentations in basic colors. For me, mobility and simplicity is much more important from the bank.

 

-T9

[Joedodge]

I mean other than the basic supply's stated I know trick worms, ribbon tails, stick baits and soft plastic swim baits catch a lot of fish around me. In all the ponds. I guess I just need to stop carrying 6 colors of each type of a bait lol

[The Fisher]

I use the H2O XPRESS® Pro Tackle Bag

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress-pro-tackle-bag/pid-521801?color=Blue&N=4294713062+10001&Ntt=Fishing+bags&Ntk=All

I can put 2-3 small Plano boxes in the side pockets and then I put soft plastics in Ziploc Snack bags 6 1/2" X 3 1/4"

I put 4 plastic baits in each bag and they are so small when you compress the air out, you can carry a good selection and different colors. I put them in the main zipper compartment which is really deep.

[BassinLou]

I mean other than the basic supply's stated I know trick worms, ribbon tails, stick baits and soft plastic swim baits catch a lot of fish around me. In all the ponds. I guess I just need to stop carrying 6 colors of each type of a bait lol

 

Short answer. Yes. However, I also realize, and correct me if i am wrong. You are relatively new to bass fishing right? I can understand why you would like to carry a lot of baits. You will see over time how you will begin to carry less baits as you begin learning your waters better.  Your outing will be less tedious.  

[Joedodge]

Yep not new to fishing but totally new To bass lol. I'll start splitting bags in half maybe and cut down on the colors.

[Heron]

Yep not new to fishing but totally new To bass lol. I'll start splitting bags in half maybe and cut down on the colors.

Fear not, Joe.  This whole thing becomes much easier as you catch more fish.   You will eventually start to see some consistency in what baits become most productive versus those that are not, and you will grasp a better understanding of the conditions which stimulated that productiveness.

 

Once you get to that point,  Youll know enough to go walking the shoreline with just a handful of baits, and still get fish.  

[Joedodge]

Ahhh excelent that is the point im striving to get at. I may try only bringing certain baits with me and forcing myself to fish them and lean them.

[Bruce424]

I use a bass pro shops Xps. I can hold 4 plano 1600 boxes

-jigs

-crankbaits/topwater

-spinnerbaits

-squarebills

Then in the top opening I have my all my soft plastics In a zip lock gallon bag. My terminal is kept in a small double sided latch box. That goes in my side pocket.

I think this year I might experiment with putting my spinnerbaits in a soft sided worm binder and organizing them that way instead of a plano box.

[Cgolf]

Personally I use the "Plano Small Tackle Bag/Waist-pack" that can be had for under 20 bucks at Walmart that holds 4 3500 size boxes. I use 2 double 3500 plano boxes. One for Crankbaits and flies and the second for soft plastics. As for baits I stock known producers and a couple of different lures I want to try. I also carry a spinning rod for plastics and a baitcaster for cranks. Caught plenty of fish this way and the bag is small enough I can carry it while I am fishing. Have tried a couple of sling bags, but they always seemed to have wasted space in the bag.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Simple - I don't carry a back pack. When I pond hop, I only bring whatever will fit into a jacket pocket or two. One rod, a couple basic presentations in basic colors. For me, mobility and simplicity is much more important from the bank.

 

-T9

100% agree. I take 1-2 bags of plastics, a pack of hooks and weights, a couple of crankbaits and a Leatherman. Being able to walk along the shore of a pond, lake or river without having a tackle bag to deal with is much more enjoyable to me.

[Heron]

Personally I use the "Plano Small Tackle Bag/Waist-pack" that can be had for under 20 bucks at Walmart that holds 4 3500 size boxes. I use 2 double 3500 plano boxes. One for Crankbaits and flies and the second for soft plastics. As for baits I stock known producers and a couple of different lures I want to try. I also carry a spinning rod for plastics and a baitcaster for cranks. Caught plenty of fish this way and the bag is small enough I can carry it while I am fishing. Have tried a couple of sling bags, but they always seemed to have wasted space in the bag.

Nice,  mine is similar, but smaller still.

 

I use the "Plano 3380 Small Fish Scene Bag(Camo)."  Accomodates only 3 3500 boxes.  I typically only load two, with extra space for misc. items.

 

[Heron]

100% agree. I take 1-2 bags of plastics, a pack of hooks and weights, a couple of crankbaits and a Leatherman. Being able to walk along the shore of a pond, lake or river without having a tackle bag to deal with is much more enjoyable to me.

Agreed, much more enjoyable. 

 

I see the guys down the way, carrying 5 rods, and slinging a large duffle bag full of gear....I think to myself, naaah, that is not my preference.  

[A KGB Operative]

I use a yens fantasybag off amazon for 12 bucks. I manage to store two piano ultility boxes in there. 12 by 8. A smaller ultility box for my weights and hooks. And then I manage to get 5 bags of different types of soft plastics. Pliers go in front pouch, the fish scale goes in the back pouch.

[CHugh]

5 assorted Zoombaits as follows: 2 sets of Zoombait UV speeds, 1 pack of lizards and 1 pack of 7" flukes in case there is some biiggggg boys. Use Texas Rig on all of them.

I have a 6 part flat box, I keep two topwaters and 2 crank baits in that, along with a spool of fluro leader, 5/0 worm hooks, assorted weights.

Pair of pliers as well. Knife is kept in pocket.

I've NEVER had anything more than those items in the backpack I carry, besides food and drink.

 

Small Jansport backpack. You're in Florida and you know how bad the weeds get. We almost never use cranks or top water because we know how good the fishing is on/near weeds.

 

Sometimes I just trow a bag of zoombait in my cargo pocket, a tin of weights/hooks and spool of fluro but it depends how long/far I'll be going.
 

[Joedodge]

Yeah unfortunately my minnow cranks and rattle traps rarely see action due to the weeds and vegitation same with my chatter baits. I really think I can trim this down. Thanks so much guys

[DogBone_384]

I use a Spiderwire backpack I bought @ DSG three years ago.

It holds 4 3600 boxes and my spinnerbait box in the bottom compartment, which is plenty. I put my smaller soft baits in one side pocket & larger ones in the other.

I keep hooks, tools, and a basic 1st aid kit in the top front compartment.

The top rear compartment is plenty big for a sweatshirt or light rain coat plus other 'whatevers' you can think of.

It also has two rod holders, though you've got to remember how tall you'll be when traveling through wooded areas.

It's been great for the last 3 seasons. I use it mountain biking, walking to fishing spots, and on my kayak.

Best of luck with your choice.

[DocNsanE]

Do what I did last year- before you go out each time, leave one or more things you didn't use last time home. You'll be down to fightin' weight in no time.

This makes sense -- and at the same time I can build another bag in parallel that I can force myself to use to build confidence in baits I never seem to use!

[RanndomUndead]

So I fish the bank and carry a back pack, I have a Plano for terminal tackle and one for lures and spinners and such. But the rest of the time I fish soft plastics. That's my house to. I fish gambler swim baits, stick baits, and ribbon tail worms and trick worms. It gets a lil heavy but my question is how do you narrow down your selsction and colors. I carry up to 5 colors of each lol trying to be ready to pond hop the clean and dark water ponds. So what do yall carry and how do Ya decide on a full day of pond hoping?

I carry a large berkley  tacklebag...In it i have quite a few cranks, some 2', others 6'. 3 buzzbaits, 2 frogs, 1 popper, and some interesting grasshopper topwater i picked up but have yet to use. Then i have a decent variety of plastics, some for wacky rigs, some for texas, some for shakey head, and a couple of trailers for the 2 jigs i use. 

Also have 6/8/12 lb mono, 12lb flouro and 49 lb braid in it. Personally im not too concerned about weight, i have a 25 lb EDC that never leaves my side so ive adapted quite well.

As for colors i stick to blacks, blues, and green pumpkin, although i do have the odd bumblegum or cotton candy just incase

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I bring a decent about of stuff but it all depends on where I'm going, and the time of the year.

 

I have spots where I only bring  frogs and plastics for flipping. or I will only bring my swim bait rod and spinning rod for plastics.

 

other places I fish that are bigger like small lakes or big ponds. I'll bring more stuff with me but its always changing.

 

Almost always I have jigs, plastics, some kind of top water, and some kind of moving bait like crank, spinner, rat trap. ill carry a few different colors in each bait. and then sometimes ill throw a few random things I feel like trying out. but most of the time I can pick up what is going on in water. I have a few spots where I can get dialed in and the other ones that are tricky to figure out ill bring more stuff.

 

I always carry terminal  tackle in a Plano.

 

a scale , pliers, and tp

[Joedodge]

Wow thanks for all the replys everyone. I'm really gonna be able to dial this stuff in!!!

[J McRae]

I started out bringing the whole house with me and it got frustrating. It got to a point where I would leave my tackle in one place... Stopped that when my line broke and everything was on the other side of the pond. As some said, you'll start leaving things that wasn't used during your trips. I've narrowed it down to 1-2 Plano 3650's and around five bags of soft plastics (depending on pond).

 

Box 1: Hooks, sinkers, top water lures, spinner bait, crank bait, pliers, scissors

Box 2: Lizards, ribbon tail worms, craws, senkos (multiple colors of each)
Individual soft plastic packs include: Flukes, trick worms, and frogs

 

Soon, I'll get a bigger Plano and transfer some things so that there will be no separate packs of soft plastics to carry around and it'll be two Plano boxes only.