A question for bait and tackle junkies

[Spankey]

1 hour ago, Mobasser said:

I used to buy tons of baits. Now not so much. Over the course of 35+ yrs I've collected way too.much tackle. Now, I only have one style I buy a lot of: plastic worms. I love em

I hear that. I have my core plastic worms and colors. I tend to try colors and patterns that are close to but slightly different and try them. Majority of the time with success. Black happened to be the color I tried a few different variations of this year. 

[Koz]

Great responses so far. And no, I'm not someone's wife - I'm a dude

 

Personally, I think there are enough baits that are universal in type and color that I don't need 37 crankbaits in various sizes and colors. And as for plastics, in general I think a few basic colors and shapes work most of the time. Sure, there are sometimes when an oddball color, shape, or slightly different action may work for that particular moment on that particular body of water, but in general I think the basics work the majority of the time.

 

If you tournament fish or travel I can see increasing your baits based upon those specifics, but for the most part I still think for the average serious angler the basics will work just fine.

 

Again, I'm not getting on anyone's case if they like to stockpile. Every now and then I walk through BPS or Dick's and get the urge to buy something, but for the most part I go to those places looking for a specific item and keep my impulse buys to a minimum.

[Spankey]

1 minute ago, Hammer 4 said:

Pretty sure good ole Bill has his own private lake/pond, or at least he use to.

It was a bit out of line for me to comment like that. I don’t know him. Just a pretty strong feeling about how that guy fishes. No dislike or anything toward him. 

[Spankey]

7 minutes ago, Koz said:

Great responses so far. And now, I'm not someone's wife - I'm a dude

 

Personally, I think there are enough baits that are universal in type and color that I don't need 37 crankbaits in various sizes and colors. And as for plastics, in general I think a few basic colors and shapes work most of the time. Sure, there are sometimes when an oddball color, shape, or slightly different action may work for that particular moment on that particular body of water, but in general I think the basics work the majority of the time.

 

If you tournament fish or travel I can see increasing your baits based upon those specifics, but for the most part I still think for the average serious angler the basics will work just fine.

 

Again, I'm not getting on anyone's case if they like to stockpile. Every now and then I walk through BPS or Dick's and get the urge to buy something, but for the most part I go to those places looking for a specific item and keep my impulse buys to a minimum.

I think your post is cool. I don’t think you are dissing anyone. Everyone of us who has this bass bug or addiction is different. The dudes who fish in many different location I can see them having a far greater variety. Heck you can’t go by what you see hanging in Ike’s garage. That is not the norm. I’d like to have that garage though. 

[Hammer 4]

2 hours ago, Spankey said:

It was a bit out of line for me to comment like that. I don’t know him. Just a pretty strong feeling about how that guy fishes. No dislike or anything toward him. 

A long time ago during one of his shows, he stated that he did in fact fish out of his private lake. I was just adding this info. Not to say if you or anyone else felt that he was misleading his viewers, ect.

[Tizi]

I was going a little crazy recently but have "reeled" it in.  I used to buy at least 4 of crankbait X in at least 2 different colors.  Now, I think to myself, can I use something else that is similar?  If I don't do this, my fishing closet will become stuffed and unusable.  Maybe it's my wife that is smart?  She says, "buy all you want, as long as it fits in that closet."  That has been my limiting factor.

[fin]

42 minutes ago, Koz said:

Personally, I think there are enough baits that are universal in type and color that I don't need 37 crankbaits in various sizes and colors. And as for plastics, in general I think a few basic colors and shapes work most of the time. Sure, there are sometimes when an oddball color, shape, or slightly different action may work for that particular moment on that particular body of water, but in general I think the basics work the majority of the time.

I agree with most of what you're saying, but nobody is born knowing what those basics are. I think learning the basics is how many of us end up with so much "inventory".

 

I could probably dump 50% or more of my stuff and never miss it. I have accumulated a lot of stuff that doesn't work for me. I buy it, I don't catch anything with it, so it goes in a drawer/box/whatever. On the other hand, I still try new stuff and find new "basics".

 

[JediAmoeba]

11 minutes ago, fin said:

I agree with most of what you're saying, but nobody is born knowing what those basics are. I think learning the basics is how many of us end up with so much "inventory".

And this is why I have a whole box of Banjo minnows and a whole box of walking worms.

 

Not to mention every time I go out in unfavorable conditions I come home, watch youtube videos and read articles on fishing; by the time I get my mail-order, the fish have turned on and I am catching them.  

[Bird]

I'm likely a minority as I carry a very small tackle box with only proven baits, time tested.

I even have certain colors I won't stray from.

BUT I fish with a guy who keeps on his bass boat.....11 rods-reels and 7 tackle boxes the size of a microwave. 

We both have fun and catch fish ?

[DSTN]

1 hour ago, Koz said:

Great responses so far. And now, I'm not someone's wife - I'm a dude

 

This is exactly what someone's wife would say...haha

 

I don't think I go crazy with lures but I have way more than enough to survive a season or 3. I look at collecting lures as just an extension of the sport/hobby. Sort of like collecting baseball cards.

[FishinBuck07]

I buy because it is the only thing I mainly spend money on, fishing is all I think about and all I enjoy for the most part.  I get upset with myself sometimes when I buy stuff but the wife always makes me feel better when she says, you could be spending money on worse things!  Glad she sets me straight!  LMAO

[Harold Scoggins]

5 hours ago, Koz said:

So, why have thousands of baits and lures in your own personal storage?

Because I can.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I only stock up heavily on baits that are no longer in production, or something I use every season of the year.

 

Every year, I tell myself I'm going to try to burn through a bunch of plastics and not buy more and more, but I'm pretty sure I always end up with a net gain ?

[NorthernBasser]

Those "What's New at Tackle Warehouse" YouTube videos are the devil. 

[Yakalong]

if everyone is selling buy 

[rtwvumtneer6]

It's a heck of a lot better than my old habit...

 

And everything else that's already been said!... I'll find another place to vent about discontinued baits ??

[Dorado]

I’m with @A-Jay because buying new tackle makes me happy. And when I’m stir crazy from this extreme heat lately, I’ll pull the bins full of unopened bags of soft plastics from underneath my bed and imagine what I can combine them with as trailers or what they look like underwater Why? Because that also makes me happy 

[papajoe222]

A thousand reasons why, ergo a thousand baits. Actually, I likely have more, if you count soft plastics individually and not by the package.  ?

 

Durado, do you play with your plastics?

[Dorado]

19 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

A thousand reasons why, ergo a thousand baits. Actually, I likely have more, if you count soft plastics individually and not by the package.  ?

 

Durado, do you play with your plastics?

Lol I don’t. I was embellishing to prove a worthless point. I do equate it to when I used to collect sports cards and comic books though. So maybe it’s more of a hobby of being a lure collector. I don’t care why I do it and neither does my girlfriend haha

[Ppennin986]

Someone has to keep the industry going 

[islandbass]

@Koz I realized that early on and so I only buy what I need and most of my stuff fits in an okeechobe bag and backpack. Straggling things in a bankers box that isn’t even 1/3 full. 

 

I am not against anyone who has a ton of lures, nope, no siree. 

 

But for me, I prefer to keep it simple. I can relate on discontinued baits. I have about 3 bags of one of my favorite DS lures. I’m going to have to invest in learning to make a mold for them and learn how to pour soft plastics. 

[Koz]

6 hours ago, islandbass said:

@Koz I realized that early on and so I only buy what I need and most of my stuff fits in an okeechobe bag and backpack. Straggling things in a bankers box that isn’t even 1/3 full. 

 

I am not against anyone who has a ton of lures, nope, no siree. 

 

But for me, I prefer to keep it simple. I can relate on discontinued baits. I have about 3 bags of one of my favorite DS lures. I’m going to have to invest in learning to make a mold for them and learn how to pour soft plastics. 

 

I'm kind of the same way. I have a tackle backpack that holds 5 Plano boxes and has a big compartment for soft plastics, tools, etc. That's pretty much all I need. I have two more Plano's in the garage, each with a few old lures that I never use.

 

One thing about keeping one bag is that if I have a slow day on the water I'm never out there thinking, "I should have brought X lure instead".

 

Another thing is that I fish from the bank or sometimes a kayak, so I'm accustomed to  fishing with limited gear. If I had a boat I'd probably have more bait and tackle than I have right now. I'd wager that the anglers on BR that have the most bait and tackle are guys with boats or even tricked out kayaks with additional rod holders and storage.

[crypt]

17 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Can not speak for others, but I do it because it makes me happy. 

A-Jay 

 

this.....and nothing else.....

[Bass Junke]

10 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

A thousand reasons why, ergo a thousand baits. Actually, I likely have more, if you count soft plastics individually and not by the package.  ?

 

Durado, do you play with your plastics?

I do. I have a soft plastic fetish. During the winter months I usually have soft bait near me while watching TV. I have a Mister Twister sassy shad at my desk at work. Never know when I might need a little stress relief, or to daydream about how to rig up this piece of plastic in my hand and cast it to open water. 

 

Yes I have a problem, first step is admittance. Have we started that support group yet?

[mrpao]

If I stopped buying tackle today, I would still have enough stuff to probably last me two lifetimes.

For some reason, I don't feel like I'm alone in this.