What to bring?

[JWall14]

I am going on a trip to New Hampshire (Conway) and was wondering if anyone has any ideas on what tackle to bring. I can bring a 3600 box and a bag of plastics. What is a good general selection of summer baits that you would travel with?

[Sam]

JWall, I think you will receive better input if you repost in the Northeastern section of the Forum.

 

I have no idea what bodies of water are in New Hampshire or what types of bait fish are available.

 

Being from south Louisiana all I can suggest is you bring lots of very warm clothes as the temperature may be below 70*. 

[LionHeart]

Spinner baits and topwater for early morning, Texas rig stuff for after 9 A.M.

[jbsoonerfan]

1 3600 box and a bag of plastics? Not enough room in the Prius for anything else? Seems like a limited amount to me.

[JWall14]

1 hour ago, jbsoonerfan said:

1 3600 box and a bag of plastics? Not enough room in the Prius for anything else? Seems like a limited amount to me.

We’re flying and I am limited on space so...

[jbsoonerfan]

I would pack a couple less shirts and more tackle. 

[NHBull]

Craw is the chow for bass in this area.

In addition to the normal TRIG and Wacky and Neco and Ned.....jigs and chatterbait should have a place in the plano. Since you will be shallow a rat, WP, or popper would start most of my mornings.  Good luck and I am sure one of our friends in ME will chime in

[Derek1]

Just pack your hardbaits. Buy some plastics when you get here, there cheap enough to leave a few behind if you have to. 

[Choporoz]

10 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I would pack a couple less shirts and more tackle. 

LOL...right....I take more than that when I walk from the car 20 feet to the bank.  $25 for another checked bag seems a small price to pay sometimes

[Fishes in trees]

I would bring money.  It is my guess that there are some tackle shops somewhere near where you're going that would have a much better idea of what works and what doesn't.  Another option might be to ship gear ahead, and have it waiting for you. I've known guys who went to Canada and that was the best option for them - when they arrived at the lodge, all their gear was waiting for them - and for a modest fee the lodge managers would ship the gear back at the end of the trip.  I wouldn't do this with any gear that I would genuinely miss if it disappeared.

 

I've had 2 buddies who went to Brazil to fish for Peacock Bass.  Bringing all the gear that they wanted to bring priced out at being just too expensive.  The tour manager that my buds booked through told them to ship any gear they wanted ahead of time ( a couple of months ahead of time ). That's what they did and while it wasn't exactly cheap, it was cheaper than traveling with all their gear and their stuff was waiting for them when they got to the Amazon.

 

They each broke a couple of rods on fish, but it wasn't a trip breaker because they had shipped half a dozen extra rods ahead.  They shipped a lot of extra line and lures ahead also.   It was an extra expense, but who wants to go on a trip of a lifetime and not have all the gear you might want or need to fish with?  The only gear that they refused to ship and travel with was their reels.

 

So there is an option - ship your stuff to New Hampshire and at the conclusion of your trip compensate the lodge manager to ship it back.

[Ohio Joe]

 

I’d definitely budget to buy some gear once you’re there. I always like tackle shopping in new places. You might pick up a local favorite that works for you back home.

 

I’d pack what you like to fish at home and have confidence in. Think versatility vs specialized techniques unless you’ve scouted the lake already and have a solid plan of attack.

 

If I were packing for a trip of opportunity like this I’d let my rod choice dictate what tackle I bring. For  a shore-bound trip in the northeast and my fishing style I’d expect to pack a 6-7’ medium spinning rod with a 2500ish sized reel w/ 10lb braid and a spool of 8 lb fluoro for leaders. Maybe some 10lb mono for leaders for top water but I’d probably just run straight braid for those.

 

Bait wise I’d look at 

1. A pack of dark (black, grape, etc) zoom trick worms w/ some 2/0 offset hooks and 1/8 oz worm weights

2. Some ned rig gear (shroom heads and zinkerz are what I use most of the time)

3. Some keitech easy shiners. You can fish these on the shroom heads or bring some 1/8oz ball heads or your jig head of choice.

4. A very few cranks baits. Probably shad raps, shallow shadraps, and maybe some strike king KVD 1.0s.

5. A popper or two

6. A couple inline spinners (mepps, rooster tail, etc.)

7. 1-2 spinnerbaits, one white, one other color of choice.

8. A small black buzz bait.

9. Maybe some finesse jigs although I don’t have confidence in them so I don’t fish them much.

 

That should fit in a 3600 aside from the trick worms as your one bag of plastics and you should be able to catch something almost anywhere with that selection.

 

If I we’re looking at streams/rivers or targeting smallmouth I’d definitely bring some tubes and soft craws as well. I’ve done well with gitzit tubes and rage craws.

 

If you were talking Florida I’d be looking at very different list but that should get you into some fish.

 

Now, typing that list was easy enough but I know if I were actually packing I’d be finding a way to bring double that and probably another rod but it wouldn’t be necessary if I was only going to get a few hours to walk a shoreline somewhere.

[JWall14]

Thanks guys! Lots of good ideas. Yes this is a fishing trip but not a very serious one. More like catch tons of fish and have fun. No fishing lodge or guide trips. Just wading and exploring river and lakes!