Cutting Down/ Amping Up My Arsenal

[Fat-G]

Since I am mostly a shore fisherman, I have decided to lose some poundage off my tackle bag. Also, I think I am going to go to a tackle backpack, which would be less painful and way more convenient. The way i am going to shed some of the weight is eliminate tackle that I don't use, and re-stock on my most used, and most productive tackle. I was doing some writing/thinking earlier, and this is what I came up with:

I would definitely consider my self a big-bass angler. If I had to pick between a 50 fish day of 1-3 pounders or an eight pounder with a couple of dinks being the only fish I caught the whole day, I would easily choose the eight pounder day. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I would choose the 50 fish day, but 7 times out of 10 it's going to be the 8 pounder. Considering that, I narrowed down the lures that would catch nice fish to spinnerbaits, soft plastics, jigs, and swimbaits. Chatterbaits, buzzbaits, etc. are thrown in there too. One thing I have a good amount of but NEVER use is crankbaits. I can just leave them at home. Here are the lures I narrowed it down to that I think are most likely to catch me a good'un.

Soft plastics:

Senko-type baits

Trick worms

Flukes (I guess)

Lizards

Jigs:

I make my own, and know exactly what I want.

Swimbaits:

I have a Tru-Tungsten 4", and am about to get a couple of bigger swimbaits.

The Senko-type baits and Trick worms are the one lure that I would and do fish 12 months a year, and have the most confidene in. Period. I also have a lot of confidence that they would be the first to catch a trophy bass.

So, I am going to lose the cranks, get a ton more Senko-type baits (I actually prefer Dingers over Senkos) and Trickworms, and then be a happy man. I just feel like the cranks are just wasted weight and space.

Any suggestions for a tackle backpack?

[cmatthews6485]

Where at in richmond do you fish cause i do alot of shore fishing here to

[Raul]

Huddleston Deluxe 6" Weedless trout.

Yum Money Minnow 5" & 6"

Scratch the flukes from the list, since you say you are a big bass you don 't want Flukes, you want 6" Slug-gos.

Scratch the Trickworms from the list too, you want 10" Yum Paddle Worms

Zoom Brush Hogs

[bilgerat]

Cabela's sells very nice packs. I picked one up earlier this year. I was very impressed with the quality. These are on sale now:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20327_TGP&rid=&indexId=cat20327&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=9&parentType=index&parentId=cat20327&id=0042450

[Paul Roberts]

I didn't like the tackle packs I found in fishing stores -lotsa large pockets, few small. So I went to a backpack store with a large selection (REI) and got exactly what I wanted:

Space for 3 large plastic boxes, and an area up front (designed for pens and cell phones and stuff) with lots of smaller pockets for terminal stuff, hook sharpener, thermometer, etc...

Very pleased I spent the time looking at what's out there.

[tnbassfisher]

It just seems to me, like you might want at least a few cranks thrown in there. There are times that you might want to throw something that puts a big vibration in the water. But I guess that is all personal opinion.

[Big Bait Fishing]

go to wal-mart and get a backpack , when i went , i first grabbed some plano 370's and then headed to the backpacks . i got a good one for $20.0 it fits 3 of the 370's in the main compartment and also holds my stuffed browning jumbo plastics binder in the other compartment and then have 2 5''x9'' terminal tackle trays fit in another pocket AND in front of that pocket i stuff all my misc. stuff like pliers , scale , tape measure , scissors , and other small stuff. THEN there are two pockets on either side that i keep spools of line and the other holds my lead and tungsten weights . anyhow , you will find one at wal-mart for alot less than the backpacks sold for just fishing , just my opinion , i love mine .....  

[EdKras]

Frogs, toads, a big walking bait, and a big black jitterbug

[DMac]

Definitely pick up some Mattlures swimbaits, those will get you the big boys for sure. And to add to your list throw in some 10" worms, supersize your lizards to 8", and get some FROGS! Hope that helps

[Bass Junkie]

  My favorite  "BIG BASS" lure is a Dinger or Trick Stick................weightless t-rig, of course.

[jam1082]

so where is a good shoreline fishing spot in Richmond,va after you up your arsenal?