Rebuilding My Tackle Box

[David the Gnome]

I just recently got back into fishing after nearly a decade of only fishing maybe once a year. I'm rebuilding my tackle box from the ground up (and my rods and reels but that's a whole other topic). Basically, what you see in the picture below is everything I've got right now. The only things not pictured are a couple stringers, a multi-tool, and a small first aid kit. These are mostly old lures that were still serviceable and assorted snap swivels, hooks, and weights (plus a selection of plastic worms of questionable vintage). 

 

I live in central Kentucky so all my fishing is either ponds, lakes, or rivers/creeks. Mostly I fish for bass and bluegill but I'm pretty close to Lake Cumberland which has "a wide variety of fish from crappie, bream, walleye, trout, spoonbill catfish, and a variety of bass such as largemouth, smallmouth, white, Kentucky or rock bass." Primarily I fish for bass though.

 

What am I missing from my tackle box and what essentials would you suggest I add?

 

[Sea NaCl]

I think that you are pretty well equipped. I suggest that you buy some poppers, spinnerbaits, jigs and maybe a squarebill or two. Good Luck!

[Big C]

Start with what you have, then buy stuff as needed.  For example if you find you really like topwaters start builing a topwater collection.  If you like crankbaits expand to spinnerbaits/chatterbaits.  I have found that when people start bass fishing they buy everything under the sun, then they find their style of fishing, and after a year or so most of what they bought the first year ends up sitting in their basement.  Find what you like to fish, then start buying stuff to suit your style. 

[Senko lover]

Senkos, poppers,  buzzbaits, and a spinnerbait or two might come in handy.

[David the Gnome]

Added two spinners, two buzzbaits, a zora spook, and one baby bass popper to round out the tackle box a little better. That should have me covered on the top water a little better at least.

[levih725]

Hey I live in Kentucky too, I live in Boyle County and I fished a tourney at Cumberland not long ago, one of your crank baits, the silver shad that is sorta fat with pink under the bill is one my partner caught all sorts of fish on, I caught all mine a chatter bait, any color seems to work with em, also try a shaky head with non-salted trick worms or non-salted bushhogs/baby bushhogs

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Poppers and hair jigs, other than that, you are pretty well set.

[David the Gnome]

Hey I live in Kentucky too, I live in Boyle County and I fished a tourney at Cumberland not long ago, one of your crank baits, the silver shad that is sorta fat with pink under the bill is one my partner caught all sorts of fish on, I caught all mine a chatter bait, any color seems to work with em, also try a shaky head with non-salted trick worms or non-salted bushhogs/baby bushhogs

Awesome, thanks for the tip!

[hatrix]

That Rapala clackin rap if that's what it is are ok. Maybe that broke back floater also as I also think that's what it is. Pretty good pond baits. Pick up some good brands of soft plastics in a few styles like worms, creatures, tubes, craws, maybe some hollow swimbaits. Get some bullet weights in different sizes and also hooks. You will be good to go. Really all you need to catch fish os soft plastics. There is never a day you can't buy a bite on them if you really try. There not like other lures and will always catch fish. If I was ever having a bad day and or really wanted to catch a fish start tossing plastics.

[levih725]

Awesome, thanks for the tip!

No problem

[jcoffman55]

some jig heads for those grubs you already have

a chrome or blue and chrome rattle trap

a super spook jr

new bag of zoom trick worms

new bag of zoom super flukes 

new bag of zoom brush hogs

should set you back about 24 bucks. 

[bigbill]

Mepps Anglia #3 silver blade gray dressed

Mepps Anglia #3 gold blade brown dressed

Mepps XD3 silver blade white dressed.

Joe's fly 1/4oz bass size firetiger apache

Joe's fly 1/4oz bass size blacknat

Joe's fly 1/4oz bass size white Miller

Mann's classic 1/4oz gold Colorado blade white skirt spinnerbaits

Mann's classic 1/4oz gold Colorado blade chartruese skirt spinnerbaits

With mister twister 4" split double tail grubs.

Bomber model A redapplecraw size 05

Bomber model A firecraw size 05

Bomber model A greencraw size 05

Bomber model A browncraw size 05

One shot of YUM scent.

[ayoung3815]

Hey just a tip that I had to learn the hard way... I am in the same boat you are ( just started getting back into bass fishing after 10 years). I had a lot of older tackle that I started using again and it was about the 3rd fish I lost when I realized that a lot of my hooks on my spoons, spinners, and crankbaits were not sharp at all anymore. So before you head out on your next fishing trip make sure to check all the hooks on your older tackle. Have fun and good luck starting back up.