How much wasted tackle?

[newbiedmv]

I'm sure this a repeat of someone else's post but it came to mind.

How much wasted tackle have you bought to date?

I estimate I could fill up a 5 gallon bucket. 

In fact I've never got a hit on most.

I've tried just about every type that I've seen, in multiple colors, and sizes.  Still nothing, no indication at all they worked.

To this day I have 3 or four that work.

Inline spinners (the"Y" shaped one's no)

Shallow dive slim crank baits, repallas and such

Jigs

And lastly double tails grubs.

I see the pros using the big y spinners( I really don't know the right name for them) getting hits and winning tournaments.  If that so is there strike rate 1000:1 casts?

My biggest bass yet was around 4lbs off a broken back 3" shallow dive perch colored lure back in the 90s. I still have it and still get hits using it over the hydrilla.

I get the impression that used car salesmen have nothing on a fisherman ?.... " I once caught a bass 10 feet long " ??

[Scott F]

Do you think the reason you haven’t caught fish on those lures is because the lures are no good? 

[ATA]

There is no such wasted, I have a lot but I am using them when time comes, for example I have 12" plus worms stacked here , I have them because by summer you can find them and order them overnight. So some day you going to use them when you need them.

so I call it there is no wasted tackle.

[PressuredFishing]

21 minutes ago, newbiedmv said:

I'm sure this a repeat of someone else's post but it came to mind.

How much wasted tackle have you bought to date?

I estimate I could fill up a 5 gallon bucket. 

In fact I've never got a hit on most.

I've tried just about every type that I've seen, in multiple colors, and sizes.  Still nothing, no indication at all they worked.

To this day I have 3 or four that work.

Inline spinners (the"Y" shaped one's no)

Shallow dive slim crank baits, repallas and such

Jigs

And lastly double tails grubs.

I see the pros using the big y spinners( I really don't know the right name for them) getting hits and winning tournaments.  If that so is there strike rate 1000:1 casts?

My biggest bass yet was around 4lbs off a broken back 3" shallow dive perch colored lure back in the 90s. I still have it and still get hits using it over the hydrilla.

I get the impression that used car salesmen have nothing on a fisherman ?.... " I once caught a bass 10 feet long " ??

Most non gimic lures on the market catch fish, I wouldn't say I wasted money, some lures I have not caught a fish on yet, but it's usually more of an over spending fishing issue

[DitchPanda]

If by Y spinners you mean spinnerbaits then no they are not the bait of 1000 casts. In fact they are one of the best lures ever designed. I second @Scott F in his question and will go a step further and actually say that just because you haven't caught fish on a certain bait or technique does not make them bad. Tools are designed to help us complete jobs it is not the tools job to tell us when and how to use it...that is up to the user.

[BigAngus752]

If KVD gives you the lure he won a million dollars with, you won’t catch a single fish with it unless you are casting where the fish are at and under the correct circumstances. 

[813basstard]

Some blame the arrow.

some blame the Indian. 
 

 

 

[CrashVector]

Ok m definitely guilty of this.

 

I buy a LOT of lures, then toss the ones that I find don't work for me, then go buy more of something else.

 

I figure there's no harm in it...it keeps it interesting for me to keep trying new stuff whether it works or not.

 

I have a dozen bags of each of the colors of pit bosses I like though lol

[LrgmouthShad]

25 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

say that just because you haven't caught fish on a certain bait or technique does not make them bad.

I am literally the world's worst with a jerkbait. But I know they are deadly, deadly lures. I am further certain that not just some jerkbaits, but all will more than likely catch a bass.

 

Edited to add this: So, I would say the vast majority of my wasted tackle is due to me trying a technique and finding out that it doesn't work that good for me. I just stick with what works for me but I know someone could pick up the same lures that I allow to collect dust and catch lots of fish with. 

[CrashVector]

1 minute ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I am literally the world's worst with a jerkbait. But I know they are deadly, deadly lures. I am further certain that not just some jerkbaits, but all will more than likely catch a bass.

I'm terrible with jerk baits.

[Skunkmaster-k]

Can I have your Y spinners ?

[LrgmouthShad]

7 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Can I have your Y spinners ?

Beat me to it ?

[Oklahoma Mike]

I wouldn’t say that I have any “wasted” lures, but I do have plenty of baits that don’t get used a lot and a ton of stuff that has yet to see the water. However, I do believe I will use them all at some point. Problem is, I just keep adding to the pile, so I guess the only solution is to fish more.

[Skunkmaster-k]

2 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Beat me to it ?

You snooze you lose haha 

[papajoe222]

Wasted gear? Never.................Wasted money? It sounds like you have, but don't feel bad because most of us have got caught up in the hot new lure or presentation.  I love to buy lures (you should see my crankbait collection), most of which will never get wet, but you can be sure I've caught bass on a similar lure, or I wouldn't have given them a second look.

 

 

If anyone would like to be the beneficiary of my crankbait, topwater, spinnerbait, or rod collection, send your name address, which type of gear along with $50 to cover the cost of changing my will to.................

 

 

[TnRiver46]

Oh my gosh where do I start. I have wasted enough to fill way more than a 5 gallon bucket! In fact several times I have put all my gear into a 5 gallon bucket and went fishing in the rain. On these occasions I subsequently  ruined an entire 5 gallon bucket of tackle, and I’ve only done that like 4 dozen times or so. I have AT LEAST 5-6 clear plano boxes full of hard baits that are completely wasted, for some reason I keep it thinking I can replace hooks and split rings and salvage them. Then there’s the soft plastics! I have bags upon bags upon bags of them that have gotten wet on wade trips and swolled into some crazy shapes. I even caught some fish at the local rock quarry with some deformed worms the Day, so those weren’t wasted . Do needle nose pliers count as tackle? I’ve wasted every single pair of those I’ve ever bought. Well I guess I used them a few times before they rusted shut so not a complete waste. 
 

but here’s my all time favorite: 

 

who doesn’t love organizing all their terminal tackle into a single box? Well I’ve learned to never do that again. Want to ruin all your hooks and jigheads at the same time? Put them all in the same box and fish in the rain 

[islandbass]

From what you’re describing, I’m going to guess you’re relatively new to bass fishing or fishing in general. 
 

This means you have to pay your dues. Put in the time needed to learn ways to fish different lures and the nuances each has, and the conditions they offer higher percentages in catching fish. Also, you can’t catch fish if they aren’t where your targeting them. You have to pay your dues in learning not just fish patterns but patterns of the seasons. 
 

I’m not sure if by wasted you really mean non productive. Many of us have those lures that have yet to produce for us personally. We just still haven’t cracked the code. All in due time. 
 

I’ll give you some perspective. I started fishing going in cold turkey in 2004. My first bass was caught on a Rapala floating minnow. 
 

Naturally, I expanded my reportoire. Spinnerbaits (I think you mean spinnerbaits when said inline spinner), buzz baits, senkos, jigs, other soft plastics like brush hogs, etc.  
 

First spinnerbait and buzzbait caught bass? 2018. 
 

First senko (5” t-rigged weight less)? 2019

 

First brush hog t-rigged with or without a weight? 2021. 
 

So I finally cracked the code for those lures. I put in my time and paid my dues. Every one has to also. 
 

Of course, I used other lures and techniques as a crutch, as I’d try those mentioned above, back off on them, but still tried to learn from each and every failed attempt. 
 

Just hang in there. It will come. 
 

My next lure to crack? The jig (tradition skirt and pig) - coming in 2021. I’m a coming for you, accursed jig!  You’re mine next year, lol. 

 

[Munkin]

15 minutes ago, Oklahoma Mike said:

I wouldn’t say that I have any “wasted” lures, but I do have plenty of baits that don’t get used a lot and a ton of stuff that has yet to see the water. However, I do believe I will use them all at some point. Problem is, I just keep adding to the pile, so I guess the only solution is to fish more.

Same boat! I figured I will use all the lures I have bought by 2135.

 

Allen 

[islandbass]

26 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Can I have your Y spinners ?

Darn! I meant to ask that too, lol. 

[LrgmouthShad]

Wait did OP send a kissy face at the end there? My goodness, I didn't send it back.

 

?. Love you boo

[Smells like fish]

Wasted tackle? What a terrible thing to say. I have a few pieces that simply hasn’t had their day yet, that’s all. 

[Boomstick]

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

Do you think the reason you haven’t caught fish on those lures is because the lures are no good? 

I have a lot of tackle that has yet to land me a fish, although not an entire group of tackle. The largest offender is certain model crankbaits. While I don't doubt they work (a few years ago I took recommendations from people and filled my box, so I have a lot that have worked for some people!) I think it's just that I found some of them work so well in certain situations that I gravitate towards them more often than not.

[newbiedmv]

Hey, I didn't have my glasses on. I thought it was another smiley face.. blame Android google.

 

Yeah, it's just I don't have the right touch with the others.

I've watched guys catch 4 bass on the exact same lure that I didn't get even any interest in. I'd imitate there presentation as best I could,, still nothing. I'd switch and catch 3 pretty fast.

I had a crankbait that was perfect until a little 6" tiger musky crushed it (or I did with a log...long story, but it sliced a scar on my arm). I've never found it since. 1/2" black fat head shallow dive. I guess it don't help that I'm 80% color blind.

I'll fill up more buckets I'm sure.

[Boomstick]

31 minutes ago, islandbass said:

My next lure to crack? The jig (tradition skirt and pig) - coming in 2021. I’m a coming for you, accursed jig!  You’re mine next year, lol. 

Jig fishing is addictive. Once you get that first fish, it's on!

[islandbass]

2 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

Jig fishing is addictive. Once you get that first fish, it's on!

I can’t wait!!! This jig monkey has been on my back for far too long.