Fishing Lures as tools

[KSanford33]

I equate fishing lures to tools in a toolbox. And while it's nice to have all sorts of different tools, there's only so many places where a cape chisel is the best tool for the job. 

 

That being said, what fishing lures are your must have 'tools'?

[RDB]

I carry a lot of gear but if I had to narrow it down, the only must have’s for me would be something to cover the upper, middle, and lower water column.  Beyond that, a lot would depend on the lake and water conditions.  I would probably carry worms, jigs, cranks, swim jigs, and some type of topwater on every trip.

[Cbump]

Must haves winter moving forward:

 

Winter:

 1. Yum flash mob jr, 3/32 bite me shakey swim head, 4” keitech ez shiner, 3.3” keitech fat swing in middle

 

 2. MB Vision 110 jerkbaits

 

3. Ned Rig - Picasso rhino head, senkos cut in half

 

 4. Drop shot - 6” roboworm hologram Dawn 

 

Prespawn:

1. War eagle spinnerbait w/ gold and orange Colorado blades, zoom twin tail trailer

 

2. Jackhammer - Bruised green pumpkin, lfo magic Shad trailer

 

 3. 1/2 oz rattle trap, red or chrome

 

 4. 3/8 oz Dirty Jig luke clausen finesse, zoom super hog (cut down) trailer

 

Shad Spawn:

1. War eagle spinnerbait, double willow blades

 

2. Jackhammer - white

 

3. Lucky Craft LC silent 1.5, gizzard shad

 

55-60 deg water (getting ready to bed):

1. T-rig - rage bug, baby brush hog, Uv speed craw

 

Start bedding/been beat up a while:

1. T-rig - Zoom centipede

 

2. weightless senko

 

Summer: 

1. SK 5xd and 6xd

 

2. LC silent 1.5 (if I’m fishing shallow)

 

3. Same creature T-rig (if fishing shallow)

 

4. Carolina rig - lizard, brush hog (deep)

 

5. T-rig with 10”+ worm (deep)

 

6. Same drop shot

 

7. wacky rig - zoom trick or finesse worms (suspended fish)

 

Fall, <69 degree water and falling:

1. LC silent 1.5 again 

 

2. White jackhammer again

 

3. Same creature t-rig

 

Fall, 60-50 degree water and falling: 

 

1. Spro rock crawler 50, electric red craw

 

 2. Luke clausen Finesse jig again

 

 Then back to winter. 
 

I have other stuff I like to throw (swimbaits of all sizes, flukes, etc.) but these are my must haves. 

[RevoSEMIpro]

If I had to pare it down to minimal something like the following;

 

Top waters I could walk (SB105s, Canewalkers, R2S Rover 98 would all work) - bone, something dark, something chrome/flashy

1.5 size squarebills (Rapala, SK, River2Sea would all work) - a shad, a craw, and a bluegill pattern.

Mid depth cranks (Spro RK55 or 50 work) - craw and a gill pattern

Jerkbaits (Both Rerange 110s & 110Rs) - Perch, Secret Shad, and Threadfin

Bladed Jig - 3/8 and 1/2 oz - shad, bluegill, black

Rage Toad - green pumpkin/pearl belly on Owner Beast screwlocks

 

Dropshot - 2 colors each Netbait STH Finesse Crush and Keitech Easy Shiner

Keitech Swing Impact FAT 3.8s - Pro Blue and Electric Shad

5" Senkos - black and cinnamon blk/purp flake

SK Menace - 2 or three colors

Brown Pumpkin Copper Tubes - 4"

Berkley 7" Power Worms - Black and Green Pumpkin

 

Terminal tackle to rig the above to their potential.

[Bird]

If I absolutely had to, probably could get by year around on 5 baits.

 

Spinnerbait

Swim jig

Fluke 

Senko

Buzzbait

 

[LrgmouthShad]

Texas rig

Jig

Spinnerbait

 

Everything else is optional

[TOXIC]

I can’t answer for the same reason that if you go to a well seasoned mechanics toolbox you’re going to find more than a ratchet, screwdriver and hammer.  ?. I will say I’m going to have more speciality baits in my confidence areas just like a mechanic will have specialized brake tools if he does a lot of brake jobs.  Not knocking your question but if I answered honestly, I would have to list every bait I own.?

[Choporoz]

3 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

I equate fishing lures to tools in a toolbox. And while it's nice to have all sorts of different tools, there's only so many places where a cape chisel is the best tool for the job. 

 

That being said, what fishing lures are your must have 'tools'?

I have no clue what a cape chisel is, but if you had room for it in the truck, but left it at the shop because there was only a 3% chance you'd need it at the job site....then just maybe you're going to do a lesser job with that cape-less chisel you brought...not to mention the fact that just the act of not bringing it raised those odds to about 70%

[Columbia Craw]

It’s not about the tool.  It’s understanding what the tool can do and how and when to apply it. 

[KSanford33]

26 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

I can’t answer for the same reason that if you go to a well seasoned mechanics toolbox you’re going to find more than a ratchet, screwdriver and hammer.  ?. I will say I’m going to have more speciality baits in my confidence areas just like a mechanic will have specialized brake tools if he does a lot of brake jobs.  Not knocking your question but if I answered honestly, I would have to list every bait I own.?

That’s an excellent answer. Thanks. 

 

5 minutes ago, Columbia Craw said:

It’s not about the tool.  It’s understanding what the tool can do and how and when to apply it. 

This is a great answer as well. Like the old saying goes, to the mechanic with only a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. 

[Columbia Craw]

And, If it doesn’t fit.... get a bigger hammer.

[DitchPanda]

Spinnerbait, Buzzbait,popper and a few different types of Texas rigged worms are my absolute bare minimum. Maybe a Ned rig as well..I catch alot of fish on that thing.

[GRiver]

Texas rig= soft plastics 

topwater= poppers and spooks

if there is any room left in this “tool box” a few rattle traps type baits. 

[Basser2021]

Creature bait

Crankbait 

Spinnerbait

Stickbait

PLastic craw

[scaleface]

My big five are 

T rigged worm

spinnerbait

buzzbait

Crankbait , lipless , square and deep divers 

jig

honorable mention all the rest .

[DitchPanda]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

My big five are 

T rigged worm

spinnerbait

buzzbait

Crankbait , lipless , square and deep divers 

jig

honorable mention all the rest .

Yeah right dude...all you throw anymore is a spinner bait and a Texas rigged dinger!

[softwateronly]

I really enjoy throwing 8 rods with different baits tied up and choosing the right tool for the job, but the reality of my home lake is all I need is a 1/2oz Dirty Jigs SC Flippin Jig in 420, a reaction innovation sweet beaver in tramp stamp, a R2S 120mm D walker in silver side, and a pack of DJ Alabama Bream skirts.  I'm pretty sure I could catch bass from ice out to ice in, dragging, hopping or swimming.  I would sure miss everything else on the slow days though.

 

scott

[Mobasser]

Plastic worm- hammer.           Jig- Crescent wrench.              Spinnerbait- screwdriver.

[the reel ess]

I saw G-Man using the DT 16 crankbait bill as a spoon to eat with. Does that count?

[Choporoz]

50 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I saw G-Man using the DT 16 crankbait bill as a spoon to eat with. Does that count?

Lol...wow...good thing he now carries Dude Wipes

[Big Rick]

On 7/6/2022 at 2:41 PM, Columbia Craw said:

It’s not about the tool.  It’s understanding what the tool can do and how and when to apply it. 

I totally concur!  I have 8 kids to prove it!!

[Bankbeater]

Jig and craw

Plastic worm

Shallow running crankbait.

[Boomstick]

On 7/6/2022 at 11:41 AM, KSanford33 said:

I equate fishing lures to tools in a toolbox. And while it's nice to have all sorts of different tools, there's only so many places where a cape chisel is the best tool for the job. 

 

That being said, what fishing lures are your must have 'tools'?

Well I carry a box of jigs of various types and terminal tackle with me on my kayak on all times, since I almost always fish various combinations of soft plastics or jigs.