What's your fishing style ?

[bilgerat]

I'm what you call a minimalist. I like to travel light, so my tackle bag is tiny compared to most. After fishing well over 30 years, I've narrowed my stuff down to what works for me. Tubes are a mainstay as there are umpteen ways to fish them. Flukes, a few hardbaits that cover all water depths and a couple of other baits round it out. My color choices are pretty basic, I stick with mostly natural tones. I carry two rigs most of the time, sometimes three. 30 seconds to tie on a new bait doesn't bother me. I always have my ul rig, that has saved the day many times. As I fish out of a kayak, this is just about a necessity anyhow, although I do the same when fishing out of my jon boat. When I bank fish, one rig and a few baits in my pocket is about it.

I don't feel like I'm missing out as I catch my share and get the occasional fatty. It works for me.

Do you "bring it all and then some" or do you go light ?

[Red]

I am like you, I pack light.  I use 4 rigs and I could name every bait in my box right now.  I have about 10-12 bags of plastics and one standard size plano box that holds jigs and a few hardbaits.  My box is really small and hold all my baits plus tools, knife, sunscreen etc etc.  When I am running low on something I just by that one thing to re-stock.  If I try something new and don't like it or it dosen't work for me, I get rid of it.

[Marty]

I'm pretty much in agreement. I carry either three or four rod-reel combos and a tackle bag with four 3600 boxes. For both hard and soft baits I carry no more than two colors, generally a darker and lighter color, and sometimes fell that's one color too many.

I've always felt that if a fish is willing hit a lure, then it would have been willing to hit any number of lures that would have been in the same place at the same time. Thus I have no need or desire to carry a huge assortment. Besides, the more lures I carry the harder it would be for me to decide what to use.

My partner's the opposite; he's a one-man tackle store, a manufacturer's dream.  ;D

[BASSclary]

I like to take as much stuff as possible because I shore fish and you only have one set of conditions, you cant move around the lake to places that "look good"

[Jigfishn10]

I keep it pretty simple. Very light with 1, possibly 2 rods. I take something that is versatile like spinnerbaits, jigs, some plastics (c-rig, drop shot, t-rig) and usually they are grubs.

I always take my favorites, the spook jr and spit'n image when the conditions say: "hey, it's top water time!".

Good thread! I'm usually in the back of the boat or bank fishing and love to hear how the "other half lives".

[backwater4]

I keep it simple also. A few spinnerbaits in different styles, same with cranks, topwaters and jerkbaits. A binder for worms, 1 for creature baits and hula grubs, 1 for tubes and reg. grubs and 1 for misc. Thats it.

[deep]

Shore fishing: One rod, a pair of scissors, two or three lures (one already tied on). Basically I don't take anything I can't carry in my pockets.

Kayak fishing: Two rods, and a tackle box.

[OHIO]

I usually carry every bait I own for some reason, but end up using 3-4 the whole time.

I usually only take two rods which doesn't make much sense either because if I take every lure, I should take every rod.

I'm glad you posted this. I'll probably try to carry a lot less now.

[evrgladesbasser]

I have a crapload of baits on my boat, but generally I only use about 5 of them. Although it's nice to have the other options when "nothings working".

Bank fishing I take only what I can carry in my pockets.... and usually have better luck. Its amazing how many ways you can wiggle your worm when that's all you got.

[SirSnookalot]

Majority of my fishing is from shore both fresh and salt. In fresh 1 spinning rod with a lure and maybe 2 or 3 others in my pocket, generally a bucktail and a spoon.

Inshore salt I wear a fanny pack with a few spoons, couple xraps, couple jigs and a top water, that's traveling heavy compared to most beach fisherman.

[islandbass]

Another subscriber to the minimalist approach. I too have arrived at similar conclusions. I might take 1-3 rods, and all can be carried with one hand, and it is either my backpack or bass bag (the one that came when I joined). I am also shorebound.

[aceman387]

During the work week i am shore bound and when i shore fish i just bring one rod and i strap on one of those Berkley waist type tackle boxes.I keep a simple lure selection mostly all soft plastics  (senkos ,brush hogs, jigs) with maybe a white pond type spinnerbait for something fast moving.I try to keep everything light weight and simple., of course in the trunk of my car it looks like a frigging mini bass pro shop.

[Shane J]

For me, it depends on what I'm fishing out of, or how many people are fishing with me. When I fish from my bass boat, or by myself in the jon boat, I bring my whole tackle bag, which is a Browning Tuto, 8 plano 3700 boxes absolutely packed to the gills with stuff. Usually, that also means 4 or 5 rods, too. When there's three guys in my boat, it can get a little crowded, so unless I'm with a buddy who needs me to provide him with everything, then I bring less stuff, and usually only two combos. When I shore fish (rarely), then two combos, and a spare bait or two get the job done. Either way, 90% of the time, I could get away with less.

[Grey Wolf]

Lighter the better. Small box of cranks , small box of spinners , two or three bags of plastics. One or two rods. This all goes into a fishing vest.

[Fishing Rhino]

As for me, I need the security blanket of just about everything.

There is really no logic to it.  Most days I fish three or four things.

I guess it's because I subscribe to the philosophy that it's better to have it, and not need it, than to need it, and not have it.

You guys who are minimalists have my utmost respect, but I need my blankie.

Except when fishing from my canoe.  Then three or four rods will do, along with a duffle bag of plano boxes that hold hooks, sinkers, jig heads, etc, and at least a half dozen bags of plastic baits and trailers.

I do carry extra gear in my truck.........just in case.

[Team9nine]

-T9

[tholmes]

I like to take as much stuff as possible because I shore fish and you only have one set of conditions, you cant move around the lake to places that "look good"

X2^    When your ability to move around is restricted, you need to have more presentation options available. I carry a little bit of everything.

Tom

[grimlin]

Another subscriber to the minimalist approach. I too have arrived at similar conclusions. I might take 1-3 rods, and all can be carried with one hand, and it is either my backpack or bass bag (the one that came when I joined). I am also shorebound.

Same here.3 rods is pushing it for me,I usually have just 1 maybe two most of the time. I do however keep an extra backpack in the car with some extra plastic baits in there.

[I.rar]

i agree with the OP. i take as little as possible. i only own 3 rigs but ill always bring 2 with me unless im only going to be out for a little bit , then ill bring one.

my tackle bag consists of a 10" craftsman tool back with a nylon tool belt as a shoulder strap. a small double sided plano for hooks and weights and maybe some cranks if they will fit. if not , i got a separate small plano for cranks. i also carry 3-5 baits i will use for each rig. i also have a ziplock of torn/used baits that ill use too.

if im fishing with my light spinning rig , ill carry some fluke jr's , finesse worm , 4" stick baits and a couple small cranks. some leader material , pliers/diagonal cutters and a small first aid kit. most or all of it would fit into my pockets , but i like to wade sometimes so they usually stay in the bag.

im currently still in the trial and error stage of picking what works best for me. im starting to make a list of what i and the fish like and keeping those stocked. ill pick up some bags of random plastics on clearance and try those out. ill buy more if i like em. if not , they will collect dust or be given away. so far , it works for me.

[Ima Bass Ninja]

I usually take it all. Most of my stuff stays in the boat anyways, so it would be time consuming to take it all out and put it back in. Plus the wife doesn't exactly smile brightly when i have all my fishing gear laying around the house. All of my stuff consist of 7 bait casters, 2 spinning rods,  3 big boxes of crank baits, a big box with chatter baits and jigs, a spinner bait box, and 3 large ziplocs containing about 5-7  bags of plastic each. And yes, i do use a little bit of everything when i go fishing. When i actually do get to go, i usually spend all day on the water, so in times that the fish are not biting, i will practice a part of my fishing that i do not use on a regular basis(currently that would be flipping and pitching).

[Fishes in trees]

It really depends.  If I'm fishing by myself, I bring lots of stuff.  20 rods rigged isn't uncommon.  There are multiple reasons for this.  First, I like options.  Second, I hate wasting time.  Fishing tackle has a price on it.  Fishing time is priceless.  If I can save fishing time by picking up another rod already rigged and all I had to do was spend money, I'm ok with that.

Next, conditions can change moment to moment.  I can be throwing a big square bill crank, drift 50 feet or so and all of a sudden I need a deep diver.  It is much easier to pick up the deep diver rod than it is to stop and retie.  You apply that same logic to multiple fishing styles, i.e. drop shotting, spinner baits, top water,  worms, add a few specialty rods like a dedicated rattle trap rod, and a jerk bait rod and so forth and all of a sudden you've got lots of rods spread around the deck.

Other guys make comments about that all the time.  I reply that should I step on a rod and break one, I've only got myself to blame, so I'm not that worried about it.

Another reason, is that when my truck is parked back at the ramp, it should look empty.  I don't want someone looking through the window, spy some goodie and decide to bust a window.  That hasn't happened yet, but I fish some pretty isolated ramps and so it could happen.

When someone else goes fishing with me in my boat ( which doesn't happen all that much)    I cut back some to leave room for their gear.  Or if I'm fishing with one of my bosses (2 or 3 times per year)  I bring more gear cause they don't have any.

Should I fish out of someone else's boat, it is a matter for discussion, how much junk should I bring.

I fished Ozark BFL as a co-angler for a number of years, I know how to pare down and consolidate tackle should I have to.  I'm not a big fan of doing that if I don't have to.

So, to answer the question - "What is your fishing style?" - than answer is that it is variable.

[Raul]

After more than 3 decades of fishing this is my conclusion:

You don 't need boxes and boxes and boxes of lures to fish, a few well selected ones will do the job.

So I can minimalize to a couple of 3600/3700 if I have to, actually I do minimalize for the foot patrol, ain 't gonna carry all that weight on my back for miles.

But, ....... If I ain 't gonna carry it on my back for miles, the boat is gonna do it, heck ----> better have and not need than need and not have.  ;D

[bass or bass ?]

I use 7 rods, 3 baitcast, 3 spinning, 1 fly cast.

        2 tackleboxes, 1 with lures and flies, 1 with tackle hardware, and a soft plastics binder.

[Hammer 4]

I have everything from 4" worms to 89" swimbaits. I have 6 rigs to chose from, I use to take everything I had (shore) fishing. Now I select 4 to6 different methods to fish, i.e. might take selected smaller swimbaits, i.e. 6" or less, and some worms/plastics, and a couple spinnerbaits. I fish those until I'm satisfied I've done my best. If I get fish, all the better, if not, well ya can't win em all.

The next outing, I might take the big swimbaits, chatterbaits, and jigs. Some days I take only 1 rig, and 1 type of bait, I feel this way, you become more in tune/proficient at most types of fishing, heck, some days I limit myself to only 1 way to fish, i.e a DS, C rid, or a  T rig..you tend to learn fast what works, and what doesn't on any given day.

I also have a backpack that contains what some would consider, a small tackle shop full of baits, that sucker gets Heavy after a couple of hours of lugging it around..lol

[K_Mac]

I am more in Fishing Rhino's need a blankie camp. I fished the last three days. Friday and Saturday with an average of 6 rods on the deck. Sunday I had three. I put the others away but was comforted knowing I had other options if needed. :