To be well equipped for bass fishing what should one have in his tackle box? ie...the right combination of bait.

DAS- I will call upon the available Pro Staff Members to answer your post.

Would you like to narrow this down a bit, like Smallmouths in river systems? or LMB's in Reservoirs? Otherwise, this could get expensive.

Well equipped could mean six to a dozen of everything, plus we have already touched on the rods/reels/line for many different methods. Also, we recently talked a lot about hooks. If you are looking at some of those things, you could try our search feature.

Thanks for posting. JoeMo

Well, I do a little of both river and pond fishing. Right now I pretty much use the sinko's and my shiner lure. What I would like to have is an arsenol for any type of fishing condition. Like clear sunny days, cloudy days, clear water, or clouded water, etc....

DAS,

Looks like we both have some of the same questions. A while back I asked the prostaff-- "If I were starting fishing and needed to put together a tackle kit, what would be the essential baits...baits that are versatile and can be fished in a variety of conditions." So, for the time being, check out this thread:
http://www.bassinusa.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000052

And I'm sure that some of the staff will have some good advice to add.

Rob

In general, I will post a list of things I would get if just starting out. You have to be really careful here. It is so easy to get into this sport and go overboard with buying every lure you hear guys catching fish on. Don't make that mistake. I have a ton of stuff but it is basically the same stuff. I am very serious about my brands of jigs, spinnerbaits and plastics. I rarely use any name brand stuff. I have hooked up with a bunch of small garage tackle businesses and get some really great innovative and high quality stuff. I use few topwaters and cranks.
Here is a list of things I will recommend for putting together a decent assortment of baits:
2- 1/8oz and 1/4oz Spinnerbaits- Firetiger, chart/white, white
2-1/4oz Buzzbaits- white, black
2-1/4oz rattle traps- chrome/black, smokey Joe
2-1/4oz Bandit footloose Cranks-Chart/purple, shad
1-Sammy 85- Aurora Shad
2-1/4 to 3/8oz Spit N Image-Threadfin Shad
2-1/2oz Fat Free Shad- Firetiger, Threadfin shad
4-1/8oz jig n pigs- Black/Blue/Purple
4-1/4oz jig n pigs- same
a good assortment of 4" tubes in several colors- Smoke/clear, pumpkin, watermelon etc
I like Green Eyes Worms Works Hand Dipped tubes
4" straight tailed worms either Sliders or Handpours in a few basic colors
6' Straight tailed worms
4 and 5" Senkos or Salty Stinkers stick baits
a few 3" grubs
EWG 2/0 and 3/0 hooks
A bag or two of soft jerkbaits
some brass weights.....just add water! you could most likey get all this stuff for under 130.00 or so.

Rob- Thanks for giving DAS a link to that thread. Some really good information there.

MMT- Outstanding post. A really good read on covering the necessary baits, while not going overboard on the $. Also a good idea to list qty of each.

DAS- These fellas have got you started and I am sure that other Pro Staffers will come aboard shortly. Post back and let us know how you are coming along. JoeMo

Thanks MMT- I will start building my arsenal a little at a time and I will keep the board posted as to how I'm doing. I'm glad that I found this web page.

Remember what I said, don't go overboard. Choose baits that catch fish not fisherman. If you have any questions or need the addresses of some of those smaller companies, give me a shout.

Good advice, MMT. Isn't it true that making tackle decisions over a period of time allows you to be more selective and the angler tends to assimilate the information better?

When you make any expensive purchases like Senkos or Pointers, I think it's smart to learn all you can about the product before you get to the lake, whether they are faceted glass beads or trolling motors.

I'm glad that DAS will make his purchases that way. Much obliged. JoeMo

I too agree on not going overboard, although it seems like as a person gets more into
things as it keeps growing. I'm always trying to cut back, and rearrange tackle boxes to save room. Yeah, right - it always seems to comes back within a couple of weeks later.

When fishing tournaments my partner once asked why I brought all the tackle when it was rare for me to use but a few items. This started me thinking,. I realized it was just a few items for fishing the Mississippi River tournaments in which we competed. I used one style of worm in 3 colors, one or two sizes of sinker, and one size of hook. My other lures were 2 types of crankbaits in 3 colors, and 2 sizes of spinnerbaits in one color with 3 colors of blades. Almost would fit in the pockets of some of these jungle pants.

Anyway, it made me think enough that I developed a seminar on a basic lure kit. Here is a brief summary of that kit, which should be able to fit into a fair sized soft pack bag using worms wraps, and other space saving items:
Tubes: black/red flake, watermelon, and pumpkinseed. (size 4 inch)
Plastic worms - ribbon tail action: black, watermelon, grape and pumpkinseed. (size 4 and 7 inch)
Craw worms: black/blue, black/chartreuse, and pumpkinseed. (size 4 inch)
Jig: black/blue, black/chartreuse, pumpkinseed/orange. (size 1/8 and 1/4 oz.)
Jig Trailer - plastic and/or pork: black, pumpkinseed
Jerk worms: white or shad, and watermelon. (size 5 or 6 inch)
Rattling shad style crankbaits: shad and firetiger. (size 1/4 and 1/2 oz.)
Crankbaits with bills - shallow, medium and deep: shad, firetiger, and crawfish. (size 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 oz.)
Spinnerbaits: white, white/chartreuse, and shad (size 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 oz.)

Hooks for tubes - 2/0 and 3/0 XGap style (4/0 for some bulky styles like Larew Mega
Ring Tube)

Hooks for worms - 2/0 and 3/0 offset style, I use the XPoint and Daiichi as these are
extremely sharp.

Hooks for jerk worms - 4/0 and 5/0 Copperhead (Bleeding Bait and/or Black)

Worm weights - 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 and 1/2 ounce, but my coverall is a 3/16.

Recently I found a jig head which is great for the craw worms. It is one made by Gene
Larew, which holds the worm very tight, and helps it last much longer. The only problem
is getting it off. I would recommend rigging one of each color on a separate head if
wanting to change. I use these in 1/8, 1/4 and 3/8 ounce sizes.

To top all of this off, I recommend some Kodiak Crawfish and Minnow Paste. This stuff
has proven itself time and time again to me, and the people with whom I've fished. I
really think it helped greatly when I caught the All Tackle Catch and Release World
Record Largemouth Bass for Ice Fishing a few years ago. However, we won't start
getting into the ice fishing end, as that is another subject all together.

By the way, I know the subject of a fishing log has been covered before, but keeping a log will be a great help in forming a bass fishing arsenal. I've got a computer log program which can tell exactly all the details, fed to the database, on each lure used. If that isn't possible, a written log can be equally helpful.

Hope this helps.
Dan

Thanks Dan. You've given me some great advice. Tell me though, is there software you can buy for keeping a fishing log or is there a website where I could download one?

DAS - Yes, you can get the program I use from BLS Outdoors. They actually have three - Fish Tracking System, which is the log; Sky Calc, which calculates Solunar times for wherever you are fishing; and Tournament Pro, for tournament organizations to keep track of their events, participants, and other information. You can find information on these at www.blsoutdoors.com. I really don't know if it is available in stores.
There is another log program I use called Angler's Log. However, I mainly use this for completing my World Record applications, and keeping track of information on these fish. It can be used otherwise, but I've found the BLS program to be better. Also, I'm not sure the Angler's Log is availabe anymore. It was produced by Riverware out of Rockford, Illinois. I'll have to check it out sometime.
Hope this information helps.
Dan

Yes that does help Dan. I'm going to check out that website this evening. I'll let you know how I make out. Again, thanks.

Dan- As I said to MMT and will repeat it to you, thanks for an outstanding post. We appreciate the help you provide and look forward to your next post.

Much obliged. JoeMo

PS- DAS, I hope you have more than enough info here. That's why BassinUSA is here.

Yes Joe Mo I have plenty of info from all the posts. I can't thank everyone enough who posted their advise. I have bought a few items to start off my tackle box. In fact, my girlfriend got me a book from the library(The complete book of fishing). So again, I have a lot of good advice to become a better bass fisherman. Who knows, I may be able to give some advice of my own soon on these boards.

Hi Das

If i was you i would take advise from the pro staff. Some of these guys give some great advise and it always is rite.They either used it or are still using it now. As far as these lil companies i would watch out with them. They are there just to sell.Before buying check with the pros first. I think thats the best advice to give.

Bass Wrecher-I definitely will get the advise of the pros on these boards before doing anything. The book I have doesn't try to sell anyone type of equipment, what it does is talk about the different types of rods, reels, live bait, lures, etc... So before buying anything I will get the boards advice.

I'll disagree with Bass Wreck. I have had nothing but good experiences with companies that were small mom and pop places. They always are service oriented and deliver high quality. That is the only way they can stay in business. I had a problem with two dozen stanley jigs I bought that had less than satsfactory painted heads. The skirts smelled like gasoline. I complained several times and they never got back to me. I will never buy another stanley product again.

DAS-
That's great! Another satisfied Boardmember.
Keep us advised on your progress.

And don't forget Bassin'USA if you need additional help. Be well and thanks for posting.

Bass Wrecker, there are a number of excellent Board Members who are not currently part of our Pro Staff, however they really contribute an incredible amount of great ideas and techniques. And when most of the Pro Staff is out competing or on the seminar trail, these fellas make my job easier. I urge you to read all the posts. I take notes from a lot of these guys.

OK gentlemen, let's go back to work! JoeMo

Das, For all the variances you are requesting regarding tackle needed you would need a jumbo tackle box. There are however some baits that work well in clear or stained water. Spinnerbaits are always a good bet, in stained water try chartreuse skirts, with a gold blade, for clear water use pearl or white skirts with smaller silver blades, and fish them fast, look for reation strikes. One bait too often overlooked in clear water is the in-line spinner, I use the Rooster Tail brand in white body with a silver blade in a size three or four. Fish the bait with a steady swimming motion, do not impart any other action. Shallow crankbaits, like the Tiber Tiger DC 1-2 are great in shallow water clear or stained, fish them at a moderate speed. Never leave home without some 6" purple plastic worms, number three bass hooks and 1/4 ounce weights, works in all condidtions. Soft plastic jerk baits are also effective. Fish them without a weight, splash them across the surface, slowly. white, pearl and even red can be effective. Buy spinnerbaits that have a snap swivel on the blade, then you can easily change the blade size and color as well as changing the skirt color. In clear water never use a stinger hook. Hope this helps, Johnnie Crain Iowa Prostaff

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Thanks for the great advice Jonnie. This board is great!!

You guys are forgetting the most important pieces of tackle you should own. Muskie Baits! I always carry an assortment of these anywhere I go. They are excellent baits when you are looking for that trophy fish. I usually like to throw them way past dark (1 a.m. to about 4 a.m.) or in the middle of the day with blue bird skies. I admit you probably wont catch numbers of fish, but the size is almost always there. Also not to mention the explosions you will have, they will stop your heart.

Here are some of my personal favorites.

Muskie Jitterbug
Suick Muskie Thriller 10 inch
Strike King magnum king spinnerbait
The biggest Bill Lewis trap you can buy
Poes Giant Jackpot
Mepps Muskie Killer
Hellraiser Cherry Twist
Jointed and non jointed Beleiver

Also you will need a rod capible of throwing baits up to 2 oz. Not including the workout this will give you, but in the end if you are consistent then it will pay off. Trust me.

Lunker Dave

Dave,
You absolutely scare the "S" out of me sometimes!!!!
Ukey 28

John- I'm glad to see you posting on the Website. And a dynamite post it was. Keep it up. I owe you one.

Frank- Great comment! Who writes your material?

Seriously, I wonder what the odds are that you'll catch big fish with that arsenal.
Most of us find it hard to get out of the tourney mindset- first, the limit and then the kicker! Because of that, I find that I rarely get a chance to fish for the big guys.

Speaking of big guys, the Danbury News-Times told of a number of big Pike caught a few weeks ago in Bantam, CT River and either Lilly or Zoar. (Maybe Dave was up there.)

Were you, Lunker Dave? Bass Wishes, JoeMo

Joe:

That is one of the reasons why most people dont throw those baits. It is becuase people are in a tournament mindset, and want to try their best to have a limit of keeper fish. Also people are scared to get skunked or outfished by their partner. It is true that all of these things will happen to you when you start to throw these lures.

The main question is that can your self-esteem and confidence in your fishing ability get over the fact you might end up fishless? I have basically gotten over it. It still bugs me sometimes, but for the most part I just dont care. I am out looking for one fish, and wether my partner understands it or not I dont know.

Also do you want to invest the money and effort to buy and throw these baits? I have personally paid big dollars for some of these lures. Not to mention the rod, and I find that most times I just come home tired and worn out. Most of the time with only 1 10 inch fish all day caught on a lure of the same size. Is the end worth the means?

Is it worth it? Yes, and I would not trade the days that I fished this way for nothing. Because like the lotto "hey you never know".

P.S. Unfortunately it was not me with the big Pike, this time.

Lunker Dave

Dave- I can appreciate your going this way. As you said, it can be a very long day/days but there is always that anticipation that this is THE day!

My friend Bill Bartik is what I would call "One of the last of the great Lunker Hunters" He would sit in his boat like California's Bill Murphy and wait for them to move up. 35 years ago, he would describe making multi-angled casts to the same piece of structure until he finally caught that bass. He also was the first person who could tell me how the bass he had caught related to the structure. He had the patience to do it in all kinds of weather also.

I hope you will prove to be as successful as he has. Good luck, JoeMo