What's your fishing style ?

[ChiCityBasser]

I keep 3-4 rods in my truck for use and usually 2-3 go with me when I'm out in the morning. I usually take either my spinning or baitcasting crankbait setup depending on the lake we are going to be fishing. Getting used to the baitcaster this year with cranks but not really good at it with lakes with much shore cover since I fish from the bank. One of the other setups is either for spinner baits or a plastics setup. My tackle bag is loaded for any situation but the cranks seem to be the lure that gets the most use.

Gonna have to go to a smaller bag since like others have mentioned only 5-6 cranks usually come out of the bag and I rotate the plastics in and out depending on the lake or lakes we might be hitting during the day.

[farmpond1]

When I'm fishing out of my 17 foot jon boat, it seems crowded with gear.  But when I borrowed a buddies little two man bass raider the other day, I still crammed everything on it.  I hate that feeling like I might need something I don't have.

[Hot Rod]

I'm a minimalist too!  I fill up even the minimalist of spaces in my boat with tons of tackle so its packed tight. ;D

Just kidding, my gear is well organized and easy to get to in my rig.  But I usually have at least 16 combos along, only because that's what will fit in my rod lockers easily.  I'm sure I'd have more if I had the space.

For me its just about being efficient, being able to cover water properly and presenting a bait properly.

I used to have a 12' tin boat.  One day I pulled up to the dock in that boat and a guy standing there comented about the 8 combos in my boat, "Wow, say buddy don't you think you have too many rods in that little boat?"

I responded, "I didn't know there was such a thing as 'too many rods'!" ;D

[bigfruits]

kayak - 2 to 4 rods, 2 planos, 1 worm bag for plastics

jon - 5 to 8 rods, 4 planos, 1 worm bag

[intheweeds]

I am mostly shore bound but I carry two rods and all the tackle that I own (which isn't a whole lot). I have one of those BPS backpacks and it is stuffed full. I ususally just take it off and set it on the ground when I am fishing. I have tried to down size to one rod and just a few baits but every time I do that I always wish I had something that I left behind. I guess it could just be a mental thing, knowing what I left behind. lol. I am still going to work on downsizing. I think it will make me a better fisherman.

[J Francho]

I take what I need.  That could mean 12 rods and 60 lbs. of gear, or one rod and pocket full of baits, split shot, and hooks.

[.ghoti.]

I've been on a mission for a few years to minimize the amount of tackle I carry around.

Everyone who's fished with me will tell you that I have failed miserably.

[detroit1]

I fish from my boat. 3 baitcast,5 spinning rigs. I use a tool caddy that holds about 12 cranks and 12 spinnerbaits, and about 12 rigged soft plastics/jigs. An old Plano magnum (double sided) carries the rest of my hardbaits. Add 4 binders for soft plastics, a 3600 for terminal tackle, and that is what i fish with. The other 65% of hardbaits stay home, as i change what i carry with the time of year. That's being as minimalist as i can be, after fishing and buying baits for over 30 years.

[Mr Mojo]

i usually take everything i possibly can.  if i am going to be moving around a lot i try to minimize but if its a small pond and i can get everything to it and access it easily i will unload my boat usually 10 of my rods and all tackle...i hate being without something i know i have i guess you get that way when you normally fish out of a 19 ft boat and fish constantly.

[7mm-08]

As far as rods go, I usually only take two normal setups (1 spinning, 1 bc) and one ultralight rod/reel.  On the other hand, carrying my tacklebox is like lugging a deep-cycle battery around.  I fish the same bait (frogs) probably >90% of the time.  If that doesn't work I'll throw a spinnerbait.  If things get truly desperate I throw the Terminator in-line spinner that is permanently attached to my ultralight setup.

Hmmm.....I think I need to invest in a fanny pack.

[Micro]

I have way too much stuff.  Rarely use most of it.  My problem is I like to try new things.  So I've accumulated a lot of stuff over the years.  I don't tournament fish.  So I'm not in competition with anyone.  I go out and fsih old reliables to pick up some fish, then I'll try something unorthodox that may or may not work.  But you don't know if you try.  I usually take 5-6 rods with me on my boat, 1 or 2 when I bank fish. 

I fish for fun.  If I ain't having fun, I stop. 

[B-Dozer]

I have way too much stuff. Rarely use most of it. My problem is I like to try new things. So I've accumulated a lot of stuff over the years. I don't tournament fish. So I'm not in competition with anyone. I go out and fsih old reliables to pick up some fish, then I'll try something unorthodox that may or may not work. But you don't know if you try. I usually take 5-6 rods with me on my boat, 1 or 2 when I bank fish.

I fish for fun. If I ain't having fun, I stop.

Sounds like my style too! Just throw in some flyrods, it's all good, fun hasn't stopped yet.

[bassfisherjk]

I am a minimalist also,3 rod/reel combo's 1 tacklebox.I fish out of a smaller boat,so I try to keep clutter down.

[Glenn]

Our boat is a floating tacklebox. LOL!  We bring it all and then some!  Problem is, we like to try the latest and greatest, which often means stuff that's not even available yet. It's fun to try them all out.

In addition, when we're in a tournament, you just never know what will be THE thing that will get them to bite.  So between the two of us, we're throwing a huge variety of lures throughout the day in order to "figure it out" (be it size, color, presentation, sound, etc).  I'd hate to lose because we either didn't try it or left it at home.

Bottom line: being flexible is key, and having a lot of tackle on board affords a lot of flexibility.

Works for us! 

[bassinbob54]

Since my boat is my tackle box i pretty much carry everything i need and a lot i dont..

[BASSclary]

Also, for my conservative alter ego, i'll shore fish at Curtis Lake with just 1 jig combo and 1 football head w/trailer, and 1 swim jig w/trailer.

[FishingBuds]

Relaxed is my style now, I use to tourney fish. always running to the fishing events on the weekends, always fighting to put in personal days at work so I can go, catch the fish, burn it in and keep it if it was the size and speed off to find another fish and burn it to the boat again. not to mention sweaten out a boat payment.

now its me, my son, our customed 14 foot jon, two poles each, all the bait you'll need and way back in the tree shaded all electric no crowded pits, fishen with time with no boat payment 8-)

[BrianSnat]

I have a huge tackle box without an empty slot in any tray. A lot of my stuff is dups though. When I find a bait I like I will buy it in multiple sizes and colors and will usually have at least 2-3 of my favorite colors.

There are a few lures in there that I very rarely use, but I hang on to them simply because I have room for them and ya never know when I might use them.

Though my trays are generally sorted by type, a tray of spinners and spoons, a tray of topwater lures, a tray of crankbaits, a tray of jigs,  I have one tray that has a few of each. If I'm going light, either shore fishing, in my canoe, while camping or otherwise traveling I take out the mixed tray and bring it with me.

So most of the time, when in my bassin' boat, I'm a walking tackle store, but I can and do go light when necessary.

[piscicidal]

Minimalist is not my style.  I'm a maximalist! 

I bring 10rods in the boat with me and that's because my rod holders won't fit 12 (I've tried...)  On a typical day I will use at least eight of the rods I brought. I like all the different techniques involved in bass fishing. I love the challenge of "solving the riddle" of trying to figure out where the fish are and what they want to bite on a particular day.

If bass fishing involved launching a spinnerbait into the lily pads and catching a bunch of fish every day, I'd do something else.

[dockman]

I've literally bought every type of F2 scented bait that YUM offers and have had success with EVERY product. Other than that, just give me a spinner and a popper and I'll have a good day.

[Baker06]

It depends on if I am fishing from shore or out of the boat. If I am in the boat I take everything. If I am on shore and I know the pond or lake I will normally rigg up 2 or 3 rods with something I know works there but I still bring the rest of the tackle and leave it in the truck incase I want to change something.