Tackle Selection

[Sphynx]

Hey guys and gals, quick question for you lovely people.  I am trying to put together a smaller tackle bag setup for fishing while I'm on the 18 wheeler. So far I've decided that I could probably do well by bringing along a 7' MHF rod, paired with a 6.X:1 or 7.X:1 reel, and a 7' MM spinning rod. I have got enough room for about 3 3600 size tackle trays, plus a few bags of plastics. This will be entirely focused on bank fishing, and one of the trays will be dedicated to terminal tackle. What are the baits you folks would fill the other two boxes with? I am open to at most 1 additional rod if it is an absolute necessity, but I'd really prefer to keep this setup as stripped down as possible.

[roadwarrior]

Senko, Rage Tail Menace, Rage Hawg and Structure Bug, jigs/ Rage Tail Craw trailers

and BPS Tender Tube.

 

Spinnerbait and Rage Blade or Siebert Outdoors Foggy.

 

Sammy, PopMax or Chug Bug, Norman Fat Boy, Bandit 200 and SK Red Eye Shad.

 

[Sphynx]

Not sure if it's super helpful, but I primarily run/fish in the states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma 

[Jigfishn10]

The list from @roadwarrior is pretty spot on, I would suggest a couple of trap type baits and worms (you pick) to be t-rigged. Both will cast out further from the bank. As a well respected member here once told me. "Sometimes the fish aren't in here, but out there." Turned out to be great advice.

[NYWayfarer]

Take what you need to cover the water column. Topwater baits, some crankbaits and squarebills for shallow to deep water and some bottom baits.

[JK Jake]

There's not too much I would add to what has already been said, but jigs and soft plastic stick worms (senkos) are very good lures that can be used in a lot of different ways and in a wide variety of conditions.

[SWVABass]

Besides the styles @roadwarrior gave you I’d add buzzbait and/or whopper plopper 110

[primetime]

I would say from shore terminal tackle is the most important box, keep it organized, and in reality, you can bring some Jigs and softbaits, spinnerbaits, few topwaters and lipless cranks and be good.

 

I feel I can pretty much always get bit on some type of softbait If I have the right weights, leader, and hooks. You can bring a Senko, Fluke, swimbait, grub, finesse worm and be good all day in reality....Add in some buzzing or swimming plastics for topwater and you are good.

 

Usually weeds are an issue from shore, but hard to beat lipless cranks for covering water and locating active fish. Also don't discount the dreaded carolina Rig which gets a bad rap...Its boring when you are not catching fish like throwing anything else and not catching, but I find that a lighter 1/8-1/4 c-rig, mojo rig, split shot rig in shallow water kills fish in any scenario....You can actually fish it fast or steady, just tie a fluke behind a light weight and sweep it or reel it and it darts all over the place, feel any structure or rocks etc...Kill it and you get bit....

 

I feel like in new water, hitting ponds for a day, I do best swimming a speed worm on top along shoreline, or throwing a split shot soft bait on first breakline.....My point is plastics and terminal tackle are key. 

[rtwvumtneer6]

If you are riding solo, a tackle backpack (several options out there) might make sense.  It'll be secure while you're riding and free up your hands when you're on foot.  It also keeps me pretty well organized. I use one as a co-angler and it's one of the best purchases I've ever made.  

 

My backpack has:

1 box hard baits

1 box skirted baits

1 small box terminal

Leader material/extra line

Tools, scents, scale, sunscreen

Plastics

Water bottles/snacks wherever they fit after that ?

 

The only other thing I might have to take is a speed bag for extra plastics and rain gear.  It's pretty efficient.

[thinkingredneck]

I carry three plano boxes in a shoulder pack.  One has topwater, one middle (cranks, grubs, spinnerbaits) , and one bottom.  I admit that I mostly fish t-rigged worms or jigs from the "bottom" box.  Dark colors as the water is stained to muddy down here.  But, don't be afraid of bright colors as an option.  Some days fire tail or white is the trick.  Or merthiolate.   If the bottom is mucky, try weightless trickworms or a "Bubba shot."

 

Your rod selection is basically what I carry in my kayak.

[Joshua van Wyk]

My bag carries 3 plank boxes, I have one hardbaitbox, one jig box, and one soft plastic/hooks box. I also carry some extra packs of plastics in the other compartments. 

[Sphynx]

Great stuff so far gang. Thanks for all the input, the tackle backpack is an idea I have been seriously considering for a lot of the reasons mentioned already. Looking through my Terminal tackle box, it's becoming clear that it is the first one I'll be focusing on organizing and stocking. Should be a fun little project for this weekend.

[thinkingredneck]

Terminal tackle organization  has been hard for me to get happy with.

[Derek1]

For terminal tackle I use the 4”x9 Plano I forget what number the box is. If your tight on space in that box I used to put about 20 different plastics. Three sizes of hooks, some bullet weights. Two square bills two chatterbaits and a jig. All that and it fit in my back pocket. Knife and pliers in my other pocket and I walked the bank with two rods. Those days were simple and I caught allot of fish like that. 

[lo n slo]

[Sphynx]

58 minutes ago, thinkingredneck said:

Terminal tackle organization  has been hard for me to get happy with.

I abhor inefficiency. Organization is the only reliable and repeatable cure I have ever found to consistently reduce or eliminate it. I freely admit that it does not qualify as a terribly fun way to spend time. I often pair things like tackle box sorting with watching sports etc. I find that helps keep it from becoming too tedious.

[Derek1]

I like organizing my stuff, it just doesn’t stay that way for long. A small glass 3 ice cubes and a couple fingers of bourbon and in the basement I go. 

[Jigfishn10]

@Sphynx, are you going from town to town or state to state? If state to state are purchasing a day license? Just throwing it out there that your tackle box packing may want to include.

 

I wish you good luck

2 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

I like organizing my stuff, it just doesn’t stay that way for long. A small glass 3 ice cubes and a couple fingers of bourbon and in the basement I go. 

No 1 splash water for ya old blue eyes...?

[Sphynx]

44 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

@Sphynx, are you going from town to town or state to state? If state to state are purchasing a day license? Just throwing it out there that your tackle box packing may want to include.

 

I wish you good luck

No 1 splash water for ya old blue eyes...?

State to state, and I usually purchase annual licenses for LA (home state) and TX. The others are infrequent enough that day licenses serve me well enough, probably 85%+ of my time I spend in either TX or LA.