panic box

[thinkingredneck]

I read Mike Iconelli has a panic box for when he is in trouble.  Do you guys carry a "panic box", and if you do, what is in it?

[scaleface]

No.

[MIbassyaker]

Not one box, but I always have a few panic lures distributed among my stuff when I go out:

-in-line spinner

-3"-4" curly tail grub+jighead

-4" finesse worm+slider head

-ned rig

[Smokinal]

Mine isn't a physical box, more a mental state of mind. When I struggle, I'll lean towards a TRD on a Ned head, drop shot finesse worm, small swimbait on a ball head; and I feel I can always get bit with a t-rigged worm (water color determines bait color for me) in grass in 6-10 fow

[Log Catcher]

I have to agree with @Smokinal. To me it is a state of mind. When I struggle I usually go with a grub or centipede on a Texas rig. Occasionally I go with a shaky head.

[Mike L]

No

My whole bag is a "panic box"

 

 

 

Mike

[Mobasser]

Nope

[Jigfishn10]

Nope, out to have fun, not to stress over it.

[Russ E]

I don't have a particular bag or box.

there is usually always a ned rig ready on my deck for that.

Lately I have not used it much. I prefer to target larger fish. Most of the time there are better baits for that.

It is my security bait. Just in case I am getting skunked. 

[A-Jay]

No Panic Box for me either.

I will say that I spend a good bit of time & effort ensuring I have whatever I believe I'll need and perhaps might need, with me every trip out.

If there is ever a sudden feeling of worry or fright to where I cannot think or behave calmly or reasonably, it is almost always because I realize I left 'something' at home. 

Then, there could be some panic - after all the cursing I mean.

A-Jay

 

[Spankey]

Not a true panic box but if I'm out on the rive and it a day that is not coming together. A lot of days like that over the years. I have a few things to go to to try not to get skunked.

 

I doubt Ike has a true panic box he has to go to. But than again I wouldn't be surprised if he had a little box on his boat that resembles a lunch box with his name on it and a few lures in it. Just to prank somebody.

[jbsoonerfan]

I bet it's a GIANT, I mean a GIANT BOX, FIVE POUND BOX, FIVE POUNDER!!!!!! Oh, it's not as big as I thought. Three pounds one oz, Mike.

[blckshirt98]

I carry a couple of plastics that I feel if they don't get bit, nothing will get bit.  Not a whole box, otherwise I'd just fish that box.

[Jigfishn10]

It never made sense to me. You fish in a tourney to win. You fish on the weekend to catch fish. Why would you leave your confidence bait in the box. It’s like telling a pitcher to throw his 3rd best pitch on a 3-2 count with bases loaded. 

[papajoe222]

I have a box marked 'Skunk Repelent' but I rarely reach into it. In-line spinners, hair jigs and small soft plastics like tubes comprise most of what's in there.

[HenryPF]

I have an "oh crap" setup - spinning reel, 6ft rod and 6lb line to catch at least something. My panic box was usually filled with hotdogs for bluegil but I usually eat them before they go bad.

 

I haven't used my setup in 3 years as I am too lazy to drag it out with me.

[FishTank]

Sort of....  I have my "I don't want to get skunked/the ***** has it the fan" box.   It is a medium sized double sided Plano worm box that holds a selection of "should be" no brainer baits and lures.  It has 6 bags of soft plastic, 2 spinner baits, 2 jigs, 5 crank baits, and 2 jerk baits, hooks and bullet weights.  If I can't catch a fish on the baits in that box in less than an hour, it's time to pack up and go home. 

[blckshirt98]

9 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

It never made sense to me. You fish in a tourney to win. You fish on the weekend to catch fish. Why would you leave your confidence bait in the box. It’s like telling a pitcher to throw his 3rd best pitch on a 3-2 count with bases loaded. 

I've never understood the "panic box" for similar reasons, if you know something will catch fish why not use it.  For me, it's that the confidence plastic I use is discontinued and I have a really limited supply.  I imagine some panic boxes would have some of those old-school Wiggle Warts or other hard-to-find baits.

[Fishes in trees]

I think that the whole idea of a "panic box" happened when some outdoor writer was stuck for an idea to write about.

While he was thinking, his editor spoke up and said "While you're at it, try to write a story that might sell more in-line spinners & Beetle spins."   While stressing over what to write, he "panicked",  and, EUREKA!!,  that is where the idea for a panic box came from.

[smalljaw67]

10 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

I've never understood the "panic box" for similar reasons, if you know something will catch fish why not use it.  For me, it's that the confidence plastic I use is discontinued and I have a really limited supply.  I imagine some panic boxes would have some of those old-school Wiggle Warts or other hard-to-find baits.

The reason for not using the stuff is because he is tournament fishing. The idea is to get big bites so the anglers tend to use larger baits that catch bigger fish but get fewer bites. The "panic box" Iaconelli was talking about is made up of baits that typically will catch fish even in adverse conditions but they tend to catch bluegills, crappie, and smaller bass. Tournament anglers shy away from those baits because they are typically smaller and designed to catch numbers of fish and not big fish. Before you say it, yes, they will catch big fish as well but on average they catch smaller fish more frequently so the only time they use those type of lures are when the are fishing for 3 hours and not getting any bites so they begin using lures like beetle spins, in-line spinners, and small 3" and 4" worms. 

[roadwarrior]

I don't know...

 

Seems like the general theory is to catch a limit and then upgrade.

I have never understood why you would target fish you plan to release

in a tournament.  I always go big, but still catch plenty of little ones. 

Makes no sense to me.

 

[Bankbeater]

I don’t. 

[Columbia Craw]

Isn't that what Valium is for ? 

[bassguytom]

I have a panfish box if all else fails but I never panic.

[WRB]

On March 23, 2019 at 7:11 AM, thinkingredneck said:

I read Mike Iconelli has a panic box for when he is in trouble.  Do you guys carry a "panic box", and if you do, what is in it?

Ike needs a coffin he can get into.

Tom