Anyone ever "started over"? (Philosophical musings itt)

[Cgolf]

I did this once giving some softbaits I wasn't using to someone, about 1/2 to 3/4 of a Walmart bag full, because I thought I knew everything and had no use for those baits. Now many years later when I am still learning, I think where is this bait and that bait that would work perfect for a certain presentation to only realize that I had given it away. So no I will never give any stuff away until I reach the age where I am done fishing, or physically limited to what I can actually toss due to age/health 

[Raul]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

It's time to buy a boat.

Tom

 

True !

 

Man the day I got my 12 ft tub was one of the happiest times of my life, I no longer had to worry, instead of having to select which baits to carry now I was able to drag almost all my s*t with me instead of leaving it at home, of course I didn't need it, I catch fish with almost the same handful of stuff everywhere all year long, but what the hell ? Better have and not need than need and don't have, at least now I don't have to carry it on my back.

[wet_dream]

This is a refreshing thread to see, especially as a beginner. I'm on the other end of the spectrum and I don't have that much tackle (yet). While I am tempted to buy and try every lure in every color, I've tried to stick to the basics. And a lot of the decisions I've made are due to a lot of reading on these forums.

 

But experimenting and figuring out what works is part of the fun. Catching a fish on a new lure or technique always gets me pumped. I know my tackle collection will only continue to grow and one day I may have the same thought of starting over. I don't see the downside of having all these things at your disposal. Like others have said, you might end up buying some of the stuff back.

 

But I am just getting started, lol. So I guess the thought of starting over really doesn't apply to me.

[Mad Scientist]

I know exactly where you are coming from. I was in the same boat - I was snatching up all sorts of tackle just because it was on sale just to build up my arsenal, and now I have a bunch of stuff that I'll likely never use.

 

But don't sell it. Unless you're in debit over it and you need the cash to make ends meet, don't do it. The money is already spent, and you'll never recoup that investment. If you want to start over, do it. But just pack that old stuff away, and sit on it for a while. You might be surprised how much you end up using in the end. And if after a season or two you still find yourself wanting to get rid of it, THEN start selling it off.

 

That's my opinion, anyway.

[jtharris3]

I've toyed with the idea, but that's as far as it's gone. I've been fishing for my entire life and I have stuff that's been sitting around for 20 years. But, I do find that I eventually get back around to using most of the stuff that I set aside from time to time. So I don't get rid of anything unless I give it to someone who will use it or it just gets too old to use.

[fishwizzard]

Lots of good feedback, thanks guys.

 

I managed to get out to day and catch a pair of dinks out of a muddy little river.  I also went through my plastics and pulled out everything I have never fished or caught on.

Not as much stuff as I thought, but this is was a quick pass and I was merciful to some stuff that I just know will produce if given the chance.  The cleaning was needed, I found stuff I didn't remember buying, like the 10+ bags of new old stock Z-man ribbon tail worms.  Going to donate the big box and see about selling the old Zman stuff, there must be another weirdo like me out there somewhere.  

[thomas15]

There are two reasons that I have so much tackle. One is because I buy a lot (duhh), the other is that I hate losing tackle so I'm very conservative when I fish. True I don't want to lose a $30.00 lure but this year I'm going to fish harder with less expensive stuff in hopes that If I lose some it will be off set by catching more fish. But still I have no intention of buying any tackle this year. I've got plenty.

[J Francho]

I'm going to be 45 in a few weeks. I can't remember not fishing. Same thing happens to me every spring. What am I going to do with all this? 

[fishangdood]

On 05/05/2017 at 4:05 PM, Bunnielab said:

 As I am trying to get myself motivated to give my tackle corner a greatly needed cleaning, I find myself thinking "I wanna start over".  

 

I am about to begin my third year of bass fishing and only last summer/fall did I really begin to get a handle on things and feel confident.  When I would catch a fish I started to understand why I caught it, rather than just chucking a lure in and hoping for the best.   I now find myself with piles of lures, mostly plastics, that I am, if I am honest with myself, am never going to use.  Between the exuberance of a beginner and maybe a year or so of both LTB and MTB, I have so so many lures that will never see water.  And now that I am getting a hang of things and figuring out what styles and techniques I really enjoy and work in my waters, I want to buy more tackle, but it feels silly to do so when I have so much already.  I also am so distracted by wanting to try everything that I never get really good at any one thing.  

 

So more and more I am thinking about selling everything and starting over.   I would keep my rods and reels and the dozen or so "kits" I build in 3600 boxes for grab-n-go trips, but get rid of everything else and, once my kits become depleted, start over just a limited selection of lures to focus on.  So like, get rid of the piles of worms I have just buy a few of the "classics" and really learn them, so like buy a two colors of Trick Worms, Culprits, Robos, and Senkos.  Just those four worms could keep me busy for an entire season.  Same thing with other plastics, just pick a proven brand/color and only fish that until I learn it and develop conference.  Hardbaits will be done the same way, a few proven lures/colors.  It will be hard to get rid of it all, but if I just pick and choose I will never get rid of anything.  

 

I know I will loose a ton of money selling everything off, but I think a more or less fresh start with the bit of knowledge I now have will make me a more focused and productive fisherman.  My most productive and enjoyable days are when I bring the least amount of tackle with me, so I think I would really benefit from a refresh.  

 

Has anyone ever done something like this?  Am I crazy with cabin fever from the currently rainy weather?  

In a way I have started over by giving noobies their start.  It's probably happened at least half a dozen times.  The best experience was donating all my catfish gear to my buddy's church group.  I'm a full time basshole.

[whitwolf]

I suppose for me there have been times I wondered what to do but not often. I'm a tackle junky and I have no problem putting It on the peg board and during the coldest of months I organize, reorganize, and simply enjoy looking at what I have worked my tail off for. 

 

It's a personal choice as to whether you want to sell or give away but for me I almost always give baits away. In the end enjoy what you have, use what you have confidence In, and have fun fishing and collecting.

[lo n slo]

dibs on the worms

[KayakFish107]

I'm on the other end of the spectrum as well! If I would put everything together, I might be able to fill a 3700 box, and it would definitely not be stuffed! Haha! There's so many things I'd love to try, and wish I could afford to use, but I make do with what I've got and try to have some success. Maybe someday I hope to be in your shoes, but I'm just starting out, and get by with what I've got! 

[Cdn Angler]

Most plastics can serve a purpose somehow unless they are total trash. The only thing I can't see myself ever using is a pack of giant 7" pink worms that are thick as a finger. Even then I could probably cut it up into two ned heads. I have had some blue craws for a couple years, but I could see them getting used eventually. 

 

Hard baits that suck/you hate are a bit different and I'd find those easier to toss. Who is going to pay anything for them though? Usually nobody. 

 

I can't see any sense in chucking all your tackle. If you want to narrow your focus then set it aside. Can always revisit it in the future. 

[PourMyOwn]

I always like a zombie thread.

 

I've been fishing since 1980, I have piles of stuff too. What I did to the soft plastic was melt it into styles of baits that I actually use.

I separated them by color and made hundreds of creature type baits, jig trailers and soft jerkbaits.

[Jaderose]

I have tons of stuff.  Most days I could go out with a frog rod, my Texas Rig rod, 2 colors of Senkos, and a jar of JJ's because that's all I wind up using anyway.

[Scott F]

Seeing how this post is nearly 3 years old, I’d like to hear from fishwizzard (the OP) and see what he chose to do and how he feels about it now.

[Fishes in trees]

I 'd like to know the rest of the story.  What happened between May of 2017 and when this thread was resurrected more than 14 hours ago.   Did the guy give away most of his stuff?   Did he take the best advice out there ( i.e. get a boat so he could carry more stuff )?  Some of both?  None of the above?    In his last post the original poster said he was "gonna" donate a box of the stuff he'd culled.   Did he really do that?   I'd like to know.  If it was me I'd probably donate it to a different shelf in my fishing shed.

 

In the winter time, and during the season when it is too windy or rainy or whatever other reason I make up to not go fishing that day, I cull through stuff.   Really all I'm doing is moving it from one box to another,   I'll find a few old gems and put them in the "I'm absolutely positive I'm going to try to use these next time I go pile". But really not much changes.   Yesterday I was in Walmart and thinking about throwing A-rigs and I spent $30 more or less on A- rig jigs & baits, just so I didn't have to go dig through several boxes to find old A-rig stuff I've stored somewhere.  I need to get better/ more consistent at labeling things.

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, Fishes in trees said:

I 'd like to know the rest of the story.

Click on the link to his profile, and see all his activity.  He's been active the whole time - it's not like he disappeared.

[Bird]

I started completely over, all tackle, rods and reels and a boat..........in very unappealing fashion. 

Garage fire from frayed extension cord 7 yrs ago left behind only ashes. 

 

Yes, I can laugh about it now. 

[fishwizzard]

6 hours ago, Scott F said:

Seeing how this post is nearly 3 years old, I’d like to hear from fishwizzard (the OP) and see what he chose to do and how he feels about it now.

 

I gave away about 2-3 bankers boxes worth of stuff but likely bought twice as much new stuff in the years after.  At this point the tackle mountain is big enough that I don't buy anything new unless it's a very good sale or by random luck winning an ebay auction I low-balled.  

 

I have accepted in my heart that tackle fetishism is a companion hobby to actually fishing and amuse myself trying to find the "perfect" plastic/lure/bit of tackle for a (at times highly specific) situation.  This spring I am excited to for the "Fat Ika vs Cover Craw" and "Rage Menace vs Ultra Vibe Craw" competitions.   

[Shimano_1]

I personally think you're on the right track. I've been fishing seriously for the last 10 years or so and every year I seem to thin down my selection a little more. I just did it a couple weeks ago and if I couldn't remember the last time I threw a bait, it got removed.  I kept things I knew there was a place for that maybe I wont use on my local lakes. You're absolutely right tho it all can be thinned down to a few of every type of bait in a couple colors. I still buy too much but I think a lot of that is the cabin fever. Hopefully in the next couple weeks the fishing will get me busy enough that I'm not surfing the inter web for tackle deals. I wouldn't get rid of all...or maybe any of it but maybe just put some of it up and focus on a few techniques and a few lures and just fish the heck out of em. I bring so much with me every trip and honestly over half the time I could bring a few jigs and a couple rods and do just fine. Good luck

[Michigander]

I find that I end up putting old stuff that was abandoned years back into circulation as my skill level grows. Put it in a box and look through it every spring. You might find that you just weren't ready for some baits yet.

[mcipinkie]

Getting rid of tackle aint what ya need to do

 

Me thinks thou dost think too much.

 

Probably cold up your way, else, just grab some jigs, jerk baits, Wiggle Warts and go fishin'.

 

I've been chasing them stupid green fish almost 70 years.  I have a room full of stuff, a truck full of stuff, and three boats full of stuff.  Johnny Morris calls me when his inventory gets low on Zoom Magnum Finesse worms.

 

I'm waiting on March 12 so I can go to BPS and buy more.

 

Like my partner and I tell each other when it gets tough "Shut up and fish GD it !"

[Brad Reid]

From the kayak crowd here in Texas, we occasionally post dreams of returning to the basics we used years earlier, simplifying things, a minimalist approach. Of course, this is for non-competitive fishing. I rarely go out with more than two rods, rarely use the second one. Two 3600 Plano boxes is more than enough for me, if that.

 

Say! I know a handful of anglers here that have all but stopped fishing for numbers, target big bass using large swimbaits. They don't catch many but when they do, it is photo time!!! Others sort of figure out they are finesse presentation guys only and do away with power fishing gear.

 

Others have just found they really like 3 or 4 presentations, to heck with the rest of them. I'm a bit this way, spending the majority of my time year-round with a Keitech 4" shad-like bait and I like to drop shot on lakes set up for it.

 

If you do trim down, consider contacting a local HS with a fishing team, even a college.

 

Brad

[Angry John]

Find a kid that is fishing in your area and give him a gift bag.  If your going fresh start make a big impact on a junior angler.  May also find a collage or HS team and donate.  Might be good for a tax write off.