What All Is Needed/ Which Brands To Buy

[Polarkraft05]

Im going to make a trip to bps tomorow, and would like to stock up on the essentials. I am not a beginner fisherman, but i am a beginner "serious bass fisher"

what i have now is

7- wiggle warts

4 deep diving cranks

3 topwater (chugger type)

2 Rat l traps

a few jointed rapala's

about 6 bags of 6-8" worms

2 bags of crawfish

4 bags of various tubes

2 bags of trailers

2 spinner baits

2 bags of senkos

2 bags of creatures

2 bags of lizards

basically no weights, or hooks

What would you guys recommend me to stock up on?

hooks? style? size?

weights type size

any more lures? i know i need some jigs but dont know much about them, size style brand etc

any essential types of soft baits i need? floating worms? other types?

any other essential lures?

I realize i have a pretty good basic start up kit, but i know there is some gaps in my tackle that need to be filled, im not so much concerned about having 100 of each thing, but have some of everything that is "essential to bass fishing"

[flippin and pitchin]

I would not try to suggest anything until I knew the kinds of water you plan to fish, the species of bass and so on. So many lures are region specific and many do cross over but more info would really help. I would hate to see your good money spent on gear that won't be productive.

[Red]

Can't go wrong with a 3/8 jig.

I would also recommend a couple 3/8 to 3/4 spinnerbaits. Get the color that best matches your local forage.

Look for some Gamakatsu (sp?) hooks, 3/0 or 4/0, EWG, they are sharp and decently priced. Bullet weights in 1/8 to 1/2 should take care of all your texas rig needs.

This is general of course, like flippin and pitchin mentioned, if we know where and what kind of water your fishing you will get better info!!

Cliff

[Bass_Fanatic]

I second getting some 3/8 and 1/2 oz spinnerbaits. I like War Eagle spinnerbaits. Tandem for murky water and double willow for clear water.

Also, I would try out a pack of Strike King Rage Craws. They are my top producing plastic.

Maybe a 1/4 and 3/8 oz Cavitron Buzzbait in either white or black.

A pack of 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hooks and a pack of 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG hooks.

A 3/8 jig or two in black/blue and Bama Craw

[psuangler91]

I would grab some small bullet weights, you really don't need any bigger than 1/4 oz for t rigging. Some hooks like the other guys said, and more SENKOS!!

Do you have a boat?

[Polarkraft05]

Sorry i left out some important info, but the answers so far are greatly appreciated.

I do have a boat

Im in northern missouri

largemouth bass

fish lake mozingo, and smithville lake

small lakes, some rocks, mostly trees and some vegetation, creek channel through the lakes

what kind of jigs is it best to start with? foot ball jigs? swimming?

let me know if i left out any other vital information

[Bass_Fanatic]

Its according to what you want to do with them. Swimming jigs are deadly around shallow vegetation. Football jigs are great for rocks and flippin jigs are used for fishing wood and flipping grass. I would buy one of each. A jig is only $3 or so so go ahead and give em all a try.

[Bluebasser86]

Mozingo is a fun lake to fish. Theres a few guys on here that fish there and Smithville pretty regularly. I'd suggest getting some 1/4 and 3/8 ounce bullet weight, 3/0 and 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hooks (I like the superline version) black cavitron buzzbait in 3/8oz, some Strike King KVD 1.5's in chartruese and black back, sexy shad, and crawdad colors, and a couple tandem bladed spinnerbaits, Booyah makes a good bait that isn't too expensive, and a couple bags of "beaver" style baits. As for jigs, swimjigs through the trees and over the weeds at Mozingo can be really good but flipping jigs in the timber and football jigs along the creek channel can all work well also.

[StinkyBass]

if you are looking for a good weight, i suggest tungsten. pricey, yes. but great for sensitivity and it makes a louder click underwater. buy some 1/8 or 1/4 oz to start. you will quickly see what im talking about. great for texas rigging bottom bouncing baits.

[Fishes in trees]

If you live in northern MO and fish Smithville and Monzingo, BPS should be your second stop. Make your first stop Rogers Lures in Liberty. They know local and regional conditions as well as anyone. (You're unlikely to find this at the Olathe or Independence BPS) Talk to any of the sales help there, talk about where you're at with your fishing, what you want to get better at. They can hook you up.

My experiences with questioning BPS sales staff is that no matter what the question, you'll get a rote and simplistic answer. I shop BPS (and Cabelas in KCK) when I'm looking for something that Rogers doesn't carry.

[Polarkraft05]

well i was going to stop by rogers first, but plans changed. only made it to cabelas, i bought VMC hooks, as the gamakatsu (spelling?) were very pricey, and i thought i recalled hearing that VMC was a pretty good bang for the buck. I got the Fast grip wide gap worm hooks, in 3/0 and 2/0

I also got, bullet weights stuck with the lead, got cabelas brand 1/8 ounce and 1/16 ounce

got a terminator tiny t buzz bait

as for the other things on the list, they will have to come either from rogers, or ebay. usually rogers will have some good deals from time to time, and i know ebay is much cheaper than cabelas.

[roadwarrior]

Top to Bottom:

Topwater: Rage Tail Shad & Space Monkey; MegaStrike Cavitron; Zara Spook; LC Sammy

Shallow: Bandit 100; LC RC 1.5; Mann's -1; Zoom Fluke or Sluggo;

Hollow Belly or Shadalicious

Mid range: LC RC 2.5 & 3.5; DT 6, 8 & 10; LC Staysee; KVD Red Eye Shad

Deep: DD22; DT16

Jigs: GMAN

Soft plastics: Rage Tail Thumper, Anaconda, Smokin' Rooster, Rage Hawg & Eeliminator; 5" Senko, Fat Ika & Kut Tail

Craws: Rage Tail Baby Craw, Craw & Lobster

Terminal Tackle: Gamakatsu 2/0, 3/0 & 4/0; 5/0 Moaner Stick'r & Weighted Stroker; 1/8, 1/4 & 1/2 oz bullet weights; swivels

Line: Yo-Zuri Hybrid Hybrid #6 for spinning tackle, #12 for baitcasting

That will get you started!

[Polarkraft05]

Top to Bottom:

Topwater: Rage Tail Shad & Space Monkey; MegaStrike Cavitron; Zara Spook; LC Sammy

Shallow: Bandit 100; LC RC 1.5; Mann's -1; Zoom Fluke or Sluggo;

Hollow Belly or Shadalicious

Mid range: LC RC 2.5 & 3.5; DT 6, 8 & 10; LC Staysee; KVD Red Eye Shad

Deep: DD22; DT16

Jigs: GMAN

Soft plastics: Rage Tail Thumper, Anaconda, Smokin' Rooster, Rage Hawg & Eeliminator; 5" Senko, Fat Ika & Kut Tail

Craws: Rage Tail Baby Craw, Craw & Lobster

Terminal Tackle: Gamakatsu 2/0, 3/0 & 4/0; 5/0 Moaner Stick'r & Weighted Stroker; 1/8, 1/4 & 1/2 oz bullet weights; swivels

Line: Yo-Zuri Hybrid Hybrid #6 for spinning tackle, #12 for baitcasting

That will get you started!

Now that is a good list for me to refer to. Thank you a lot. between all the posts and your list, i think ill be able to get a good selection of bass fishing lures. Now i just need all the money to buy it.

[Pete-K]

For me when I'm fishing peagravel banks, Nothing has beat Bandit crank baits in 200 and even the 300 Series. Even fishing water under 10 ft the 300 digs and catchs so many good fish its unreal. I have had more 100+ days on these baits then anything else.

Then I use jigs I pour and tie, They have fish hair and then Deer hair for the tails, along with powder paint to hold up. These have been my go to jigs for 30 years. Nothing can beat tying your own and then catching good brown fish on those. Man it makes your day.. Also been playing with making my own spinner baits for brown fish also. Used to have an old man that made them, and man they were the bomb on fish.

Pete

[Loomis24]

Top to Bottom:

Topwater: Rage Tail Shad & Space Monkey; MegaStrike Cavitron; Zara Spook; LC Sammy

Shallow: Bandit 100; LC RC 1.5; Mann's -1; Zoom Fluke or Sluggo;

Hollow Belly or Shadalicious

Mid range: LC RC 2.5 & 3.5; DT 6, 8 & 10; LC Staysee; KVD Red Eye Shad

Deep: DD22; DT16

Jigs: GMAN

Soft plastics: Rage Tail Thumper, Anaconda, Smokin' Rooster, Rage Hawg & Eeliminator; 5" Senko, Fat Ika & Kut Tail

Craws: Rage Tail Baby Craw, Craw & Lobster

Terminal Tackle: Gamakatsu 2/0, 3/0 & 4/0; 5/0 Moaner Stick'r & Weighted Stroker; 1/8, 1/4 & 1/2 oz bullet weights; swivels

Line: Yo-Zuri Hybrid Hybrid #6 for spinning tackle, #12 for baitcasting

That will get you started!

You can never go wrong buying a DD22!!