Too much tackle…what would you use?

[bgaviator]

So when I got really into fishing last year I started going to Bass Pro and Amazon and ordering every kind of lure under the sun that got good reviews thinking I surely couldn’t lose if I had a bit of everything in my Arsenal. I bought a nice Bass Pro tackle bag and it has 4 of those plastic organizer boxes with it. I’ve already filled up all 4 boxes and they’re almost overflowing. Sometimes I think I have too much. A lot of the stuff I haven’t even used yet. My most productive stuff so far has been just a senko style worm fished unweighted Texas rigged for Bass, and small marabou hair jigs and crappie magnets for smaller white bass. 
 

Just curious if you could just have a handful of baits/lures, what would you be taking with you every single time for the most success?  I know lures  can change with the seasons, and some are specific to that particular time of year, but I’m assuming there are some that can work year round?   
 

sometimes I feel I’m wasting my money buying all this stuff, most of which I don’t seem to use, so that’s why I’m curious about possibly downsizing to the most universal, productive stuff. 

[Deleted account]

Yes.

[Choporoz]

A lot depends on where you fish.  In four consecutive trips, I might fish a smallie river, a clear deep, grassy lake, tidal river, and a perpetually muddy, woody reservoir.   Every time out in my kayak,  I carry more tackle than you described. 

[roadwarrior]

Too funny...

 

You don't NEED a lot, but guys collect a lot.  I probably have not fished 95% of what I own,

but I still need more.  If you want to minimize your tackle focus on where you fish and buy

just what you plan to fish on a given day.

 

Examples:

Topwater  Zara Spook, Jitterbug

Shallow Norman Fat Boy, Rage Tail Swimmer

Mid range  Bandit, Red Eye Shad

Weightless  Senko,  Fat Ika

Weighted  Cut-R,  GYCB Kut Tail, Gitzit

Jig & trailer  Black Siebert Outdoors 3/8 G-2, Rage Craw  blue flake

 

That's it to start with

[Columbia Craw]

As a reforming tackle junkie I have changed my perspective about what I buy.  I used to buy lures of all categories based on the lure looks fishy and I might find the circumstance where it will fit.  Now I know where and when I’ll be fishing and see a lure as fitting that situation.  That’s how I looked at the Megabass Dark Sleeper.  I know the exact situation where that lure will work.  And it did.  There’s no need to buy a six inch spoon.  I’ll never fish a venue where that lure is a fit.  Just my perspective.

[gim]

Years ago when I bought lures, I’d often buy 2 or 3 or 4 at a time of the same lure in a different size, weight, or color. Huge mistake especially if the lure doesn’t produce. So then I’d be stuck with 3 lures that didn’t work instead of one.

 

Nowadays, I buy one at a time. I go try it. If it’s effective, I might buy another one in a different color. Only after I have proven a lure do I buy several of them to have a variety.

[Jaderose]

Honestly I could take one spinning rod with a weightless Gammy 3/0 EWG hook tied on, one sack of Green Pumpkin Senko's, one jar of JJ's (Chartreuse) and my frog rod with a Scum Frog Trophy Series Natural Black and Green Frog tied on it and Fish happily all day and then do it again every day for a month. 

[WRB]

Your lures should compatible with your rod, reel, line and your  casting skills.

So....what rod combo are you comfortable using?

Tom

[813basstard]

Find what works..buy more of that. 
 

Don’t forget a lot of those guys we see fish for a living and fish from the Great Lakes to Florida and California so they have to have a wide variety. You probably don’t. Find something the fish bite and buy that.

 

 

[Michigander]

I have a HUGE pile of tackle that's probably never getting wet again because I found what works for me. Unfortunately, I had to buy and try a lot to find those things. Thankfully, the money I spend now is mostly on productive baits. I said mostly because I still experiment, it's fun for me.

[throttleplate]

i buy lures and plastics at closeout sales where its marked down 80%. For example berkley maxscent kingtails and the generals were regular $9.99 at fleetfarm and just this spring they were clearing out for the new spring stock and selling them for $1.74 a pack.

I stocked up on generals and kingtails and wont need to buy again for years. I also buy lures on sale and get 2 if i know i will use them in a certain lake. I have a good selection of lures and if i dont lose any which means if i lose 1 i still have 1 extra backup or more er many more of some lures.

 

The last 3 times i have been to fleetfarm was to buy packaged nuts to eat and the wife bought some plant seeds and i walked the isles of fishing lures and never touched a package and never thought "do i need that". It was such a relief and a great feeling looking at the lures and knowing i dont need squat.

[Michigander]

13 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

i buy lures and plastics at closeout sales where its marked down 80%. For example berkley maxscent kingtails and the generals were regular $9.99 at fleetfarm and just this spring they were clearing out for the new spring stock and selling them for $1.74 a pack.

I stocked up on generals and kingtails and wont need to buy again for years. I also buy lures on sale and get 2 if i know i will use them in a certain lake. I have a good selection of lures and if i dont lose any which means if i lose 1 i still have 1 extra backup or more er many more of some lures.

 

The last 3 times i have been to fleetfarm was to buy packaged nuts to eat and the wife bought some plant seeds and i walked the isles of fishing lures and never touched a package and never thought "do i need that". It was such a relief and a great feeling looking at the lures and knowing i dont need squat.

That's is a great feeling! Though, honestly, I'm still spending a lot. But instead of buying ten different things to try, I'm buying nine proven things and one wildcard.

[Munkin]

This year I have bought less than 12 lures to try. I came to the conclusion that I have so many already  no need to buy anymore. 

 

Now money spent on luremaking supplies is a different story. 

 

Allen 

[Mobasser]

Some really good bass fisherman rely on just a handful of well chosen lures. They're secret is that they know when and where to use them.

[Michigander]

2 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

Some really good bass fisherman rely on just a handful of well chosen lures. They're secret is that they know when and where to use them.

The trick is finding that handful of lures. I had to pay to play in both dollars and time. LoL

[Scott F]

The biggest mistake many unsuccessful fishermen make is that they think the secret to catching bass is picking the right lure or the right color to use. The secret is putting the lure properly in front of active fish. If you already have tackle boxes full of popular lures and aren’t catching, buying more lures isn’t going to change that. 

[papajoe222]

I am a tackle junkie and am starting a support group. Trust me when I say that you have a long way to go before being considered for admission.

I have 14 of those 3700 style boxes that are overflowing along with literally 100lbs of soft plastics a buzzbait box and two spinnerbait boxes that I keep in the boat or my truck for every outing. I don't want to be caught without a color, or bait style.

Of those boxes, I have one filled with what I call my favorites. There are days it's the only box I open.

I includes two different styles of cranks that run at different depths along with two suspending ones (8) baits, two Spooks, two lipless cranks, two blade baits, a few jigs (all arkie style in different weights), two in-line spinners, one in-line buzzbait, a floating and a suspending jerkbait and two hollow body frogs.  That thing is stuffed, but what I have in it will cover most conditions I may face.

[TnRiver46]

This is ironic to read, my brother was comparing fishermen to golfers today. He said “why is it they always just want the latest greatest clubs/tackle and still shoot in the 90s or catch dinks?” Let’s just say we all should have gotten into boat/tackle sales a long time ago . 
 

cane pole and live worm catches fish 

 

 

If you must use artificial lures, take plastic worms, rattle traps, and your favorite topwater for a decent downsized collection 

[DitchPanda]

I think if I had a worm, a spinner bait, a buzzbait and a jig I could catch fish most of the year no problem. That said variety is the spice of life...its always fun to throw new or different stuff. My suggestion to new guys is learn how to fish a bottom bait like a Texas rigged worm and a moving bait like a spinner bait...get good with those and you can transfer that knowledge to alot of similar baits.

[Fishin Dad]

My new theory, and I think it has some merit, is with all the fishing pressure these days, I am really trying new lures Bass might not have seen to get more bites.  At least that is my excuse to keep trying new tackle.  

[huZZah]

Out of necessity I only carry 2 rods most of the time. Setups vary but it really helps you focus on fishing. Usually take 1 casting and 1 spinning. 

[Michigander]

6 minutes ago, Fishin Dad said:

My new theory, and I think it has some merit, is with all the fishing pressure these days, I am really trying new lures Bass might not have seen to get more bites.  At least that is my excuse to keep trying new tackle.  

That's why I usually gravitated to the weird stuff. ?

[Smells like fish]

I get bored using the same lures. Buying everything out there keeps it exciting for me. 

[Kenny Yi]

2 hours ago, Michigander said:

I have a HUGE pile of tackle that's probably never getting wet again because I found what works for me. Unfortunately, I had to buy and try a lot to find those things. Thankfully, the money I spend now is mostly on productive baits. I said mostly because I still experiment, it's fun for me.

That was exactly my process of learning!  I have so many lures that I don't use anymore because I found my style.  I still have the experience and techniques should I ever need to use those lures again, but if I'm spending 4 hours then I'll bring what I like and what I know works.

[Michigander]

Just now, Kenny Yi said:

That was exactly my process of learning!  I have so many lures that I don't use anymore because I found my style.  I still have the experience and techniques should I ever need to use those lures again, but if I'm spending 4 hours then I'll bring what I like and what I know works.

Yes, I go through my old baits every spring just in case I unlocked a new technique or developed a new preference, but mostly I have what I need to be covered in a given day.