Disecting tackle shops

[spokanefishin]

Hey, new to bass resource. So far I'm liking it. My main problem I've noticed is that when I go shopping for new baits I just grab stuff I've seen people use in videos... Like ltb's and none of it seems to really work here in Washington. Like go into the crank bait isle..... Do you buy lipless ,  square bills, mid divers and deeps? Same fir any other bait style in stores. Anybody have ideas on what's worth getting and what's not worth getting? Keep in mind we have gills, perch, and pumpkin seeds for our "bait fish". So buying a shad colored bait doesn't help me any. I hope this makes sense, any help will be appreciated.

[j bab]

I would start buy asking other local fishermen what baits to use! Picking the brains of locals will save you an insane amount of time, and money if it keeps you from buying the whole tackle store lol.

[FreddoB]

If you have craws you can jig/trailer, most places will produce fish with Senko's (or knockoffs), chatterbaits work in a lot of places. I suppose you need to learn what they eat... Maybe there is no silver bullet!

[onetime]

2 minutes ago, j bab said:

I would start buy asking other local fishermen what baits to use! Picking the brains of locals will save you an insane amount of time, and money if it keeps you from buying the whole tackle store lol.

 

Good info here, ask locals if you can, and maybe hire a guide on your waters? You can catch bass with shad baits even if your lakes don't have any. here is a real nice chunk, caught on a....

 

 

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/06/01/largest-bass-caught-in-texas-lake-using-mcdonalds-chicken-mcnugget.html

[Ratherbfishing]

If it's anything like high school biology, you begin with a rectangle metal cake pan with about an inch and a half of paraffin in the bottom.  You'll need plenty of pins and a sharp scalpel, too.  If you don't want the tackle store staff to get rancid, you'll want to soak them in a strong solution of formaldehyde.  

[Scott F]

You need to get past the idea that having the right bait is the key to catching bass. You can throw every bait ever made but if you aren't putting them where the fish are, you will never get bit. The lures you own will catch fish when you fish them the right way, in the right place.

 

[Deleted account]

14 hours ago, Ratherbfishing said:

If it's anything like high school biology, you begin with a rectangle metal cake pan with about an inch and a half of paraffin in the bottom.  You'll need plenty of pins and a sharp scalpel, too.  If you don't want the tackle store staff to get rancid, you'll want to soak them in a strong solution of formaldehyde.  

 

LOL. I'm so glad I'm not a kid today, and tackle shops aren't small enough to shake in the face of a middle school (junior HS in my day) girl while chasing her around the classroom yelling "it's going to get you". Back then it was an apology and maybe detention. Today it would be a federal case.

 

 

[XpressJeff]

By the way E.a. Welcome to the Forum!

[MassYak85]

Everyone of us is guilty of buying something that just looks good at some point. But I think you'll be much more effective buying lures if you go in their with a mindset of what you need to accomplish. Is it the middle of the summer and your fish have been deep and finicky? I'd be in the store looking for small worms I can dropshot, light wire hooks, light fluoro etc. As opposed to just walking in and convincing yourself you need certain things or saying "That HAS to get bit, it looks too tasty!". It's like going grocery shopping when you're hungry. I've also found it dangerous to try and expand your arsenal for techniques that are out of season or you have little experience with yet, because you just don't know what you truly need and end up justifying more than you probably should.

 

And welcome!

[Pacoac10]

I'd stick to a small local bait shop and see what they stock, most don't have the retail space to put tons of eye candy out on their floor. So they have to be dailed into their local water better than a big store. After you build a knowledge base of what works on your water, then you worry about having fringe/situational baits.

[whitwolf]

Hang around the tackle shop, buy a little something everytime you go, and get to know the owner well. There will come a time when they will clue you in to what works on the local waters. They want you to come back and buy so It's been my experience that they are very helpful. In return for there advice/kindness, I am a customer In good standing and buy something everytime I go.

[A-Jay]

Lures & Baits are essentially tools & solutions to "problems"

You'll be giving yourself the best opportunity at success when you use the right tool for the job.

Occasionally there may be more than one.  Then you get to fish the one you like.

But in most every case, your lure needs to solve at least one (but often more than one) challenge.

Could be but is certainly not limited to, getting deep, staying shallow, Staying on top, working effectively in cover, 

suspending, needs to be loud, needs to be quiet, needs to flash or rattle, needs to be subtle, and I haven't even mentioned anything about color or patterns yet.  Those choices seem almost endless. 

So if you look at what "problems' you need your bait to solve, that could help lead you in the right direction as far as what baits to get & fish.

Of course, this will most likely require you to learn a bit about each type of bait you may be interested in; including how, when, where & why it's used.

Enjoy.

A-Jay