how much tackle do you have ?

[mrpike1973]

so after watching a few summer fishing shows. it made me think how much tackle does one need. i know many people get a pleasure out of having a lot but needing 2-3 tackle bags full of stuff for a outing. i couldnt even afford that much or it would cost more than my boat. not a rant but how can anyone need that much. i just have a soft tackle bag with 5 7500 clear trays and there not full yet just need a perspective on this. thanks

[RumRiverRat]

Not enough

[traveler]

somewhere between "more than I could ever use in 2 lifetimes" and "enough to choke a horse".

[leechlake]

I have plenty of tackle I've accumulated over the years including a chest full of musky lures but my buddy's give me grief that my tackle box is in my pocket. I almost only fish walleyes and crappies; I bring a few jigs, hooks, terminal tackle and some slip bobber rigs and spare line for making rigs that's all.

[leech~~]

so after watching a few summer fishing shows. it made me think how much tackle does one need. i know many people get a pleasure out of having a lot but needing 2-3 tackle bags full of stuff for a outing. i couldnt even afford that much or it would cost more than my boat. not a rant but how can anyone need that much. i just have a soft tackle bag with 5 7500 clear trays and there not full yet just need a perspective on this. thanks

Fish with what you have and can afford to upgrade to. Who cares what others have it's not a contest. If we could tie on more then one lure at a time then maybe it would matter if you had more then one! Having fun should be the reason you fish, not to impress others! Stop watching those shows!

[neptune]

I have a walleye bag, bass bag, musky bag and and a couple extras with older stuff. My walleye bag is mainly filled with line, beads, bottom bouncers, home made rigs and a bunch of jigs. That is the bag I use 90% of the time. when you pick up a few new lures a year and rarely lose any eventually you have quite a bit of stuff. Ok so I probably buy more than a few a year. I go through a half dozen or more red crayfish colored DT6 a year. And I have more beads and spinners than I will ever use especially since my go to rig is a red hook with chartreuse bead.

[amateurfishing]

"need" is a very loosely used word but I look at it like this

do I need that crank bait? that jig? that line? that reel? maybe not right now but I could soon, and when I have been buying stuff on clearance like I have the last month, it is easier to explain to the wife AND easier for her to accept it when only $20 or so at a time. Did I need my 3 new custom ice rods in last 2 years? no, but I have proven to ice more fish with them and my new inline reels. Did I need a new fish finder 2 years ago (instead of the original 1984 HB LCR that came with it), no, but the first time my wife and I did fall trolling and had the gps to get back to the dock she absolutely loved it & raved about it and has never said a bad thing about that purchase (when she questioned the cost initially). Bottom line, if you can prove over time that you can get results with any given purchase (& buying on sale goes along way towards appreciation & thought in my house), it is always easier for me (& wife) to accept the purchase. Heck, we went to rogers on sat and I showed her all the new rapalas @ $12/ea, then we stopped at couple of clearance locals in store and she said "you wanna get anything?. Justifying cost goes along way for me. I have really loaded up on sales past 2 years for ice & open water and starting to pay dividends.

[DrJuice1980]

The guys on the shows dont need to buy their stuff, its given to them for free. If they had to purchase the gear with their own money Im positive they wouldnt have that much. The best stuff is the free stuff.

[RuKiddingMe]

The guys on the shows dont need to buy their stuff, its given to them for free. If they had to purchase the gear with their own money Im positive they wouldnt have that much. The best stuff is the free stuff.

Bingo - the cost of tackle is out of control.

[CaptainMusky]

I have always said He who dies with the most toys wins. In all seriousness though the stuff I have has been accumulated over many years.

A few cranks a year, some new hooks, spinners and beads each season to make harnesses and spinner rigs. Some new jigs. I find myself buying more than I lose each year so thats a good thing. :-)

[CANOPY SAM]

Well that's one of the real benefits of the new soft-sided, multi-piece tackle systems! I have one main bag that holds around 8-10 separate boxes. I break down the individual boxes by Hooks and Hardware, Weights, Jigs, Soft Plastics, Twister Tails/Grubs, Crankbaits, Smallmouth and Largemouth, Pike and Lake Trout, Stream Trout, Panfish, Catfish, Spoons, Floats, Ice Gear, etc., etc.. The list goes on and on. I prolly have 25 different boxes.

Then, depending on the target species I pick for the day, I only bring the individual boxes I might need.

I also have older model tackle boxes filled with old collectibles that never leave my house. Also have a big old plano box full of fishing tools, line, hardware, etc..

I love the new tackle systems. When I was a kid we had to carry around these giant boxes full of every kind of tackle even when we were just going fishing for carp and suckers! Now these tough, light systems allow you to customize and organize everything for particular species, specific applications, and on and on.

I can go out and catch fish on a plain hook with chunk of worm on it, but I love all these gorgeous lures!

You know, really beautiful lures aren't designed to catch fish, don't you? They're designed to catch FISHERMEN!

[CaptainMusky]

Well that's one of the real benefits of the new soft-sided, multi-piece tackle systems! I have one main bag that holds around 8-10 separate boxes. I break down the individual boxes by Hooks and Hardware, Weights, Jigs, Soft Plastics, Twister Tails/Grubs, Crankbaits, Smallmouth and Largemouth, Pike and Lake Trout, Stream Trout, Panfish, Catfish, Spoons, Floats, Ice Gear, etc., etc..

Then, depending on the target species I pick for the day, I only bring the individual boxes I might need.

+100. This was my single best investment a few years ago, a soft sided bag and then every so often I need to add a new Plano box to store new lures I have accumulated. Its so nice to just pick a couple trays, through them in the bag and go vs carrying a bunch a big boxes around.

[DrJuice1980]

This thread is making me want to buy more tackle and I just dropped $100 at gander on friday.

Youre right Sam, the shiny lures caught me.

[Raider4ever]

It's not a contest?!?! Thanks for telling me that now.

[leech~~]

It's not a contest?!?! Thanks for telling me that now.

I don't think there is a guy on this forum that their wives haven't already told them that each time they say they have to run up to Gander, or Cab's or Fleet or......! So, if your married, you knew!

[harvey lee]

I have all I could ever use but when I see something new well, guess I buy it I have a very understanding wife as she never a says do you really need that. She knows how much I love to fish

[Bobby Bass]

Every year I make a promise to myself not to put so much stuff in the boat but it seems by the time it comes to empty the boat I have it all back in there. Do I need 600 plastic worms, no but they don't do me much good if they are back at home and I of course need to have the right lure on hand, actually two. One for me and one for my buddy if he has enough cash on hand to buy it from me at the time

[LoonASea]

I didnt have that much tackle when I used to fish walleyes,, pike and panfish,,,then I started to fish the Great Lakes where you can run 2-3 baits ,,,Right now my biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my fishing gear for what I told her I paid for it,,,I have friends checking the obits to see if any deals are in their future

[leech~~]

I didnt have that much tackle when I used to fish walleyes,, pike and panfish,,,then I started to fish the Great Lakes where you can run 2-3 baits ,,,Right now my biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my fishing gear for what I told her I paid for it,,,I have friends checking the obits to see if any deals are in their future

Make sure she knows when the Twig Swap meet is every year will you Randy, um just in case of course!

[jmg]

Leechlake. I liked your response to the question. We were just commenting about the same thing a couple weeks ago. Too much to ever use and yet, buy more every year. When we do go to Leech Lake, we generally just need a couple of green jigs, a couple Shad Raps and a couple of rigs to catch more than when we have the hernia maker suitcases with us-soft or hard side. But, you never know when you're going to need that special color, size or action-right?

[Down Deep]

The guys on TV are salesmen pushing the tackle of whoever they have a contract with so their advice is less than objective and they get the tackle for free. While they are catching fish with them they are usually on the water at prime season, on a very good water and have a good guide along. I would agree that the TV shows are a good way to see whats new.

It's hard to know what the limits of tackle needs is. I've got a 35 year old collection and it mounts up. I also like to try different presentations and that probably adds more tackle than anything. One benefit of living in northern MN is that there are many different species of fish all requiring a different arsenal of tackle. Some species requires simple jigs and spinners, but others like bass can take a loaded box full of tackle designed for several presentations in different conditions. Hardcore musky guys are probabley the most aggressive. I've seen them on Lake Vermillion and some have a couple hundred baits on board aimed at on species.

Another thing that happens is that I'm fishing with my buddy and the fishing is tough. He pulls out a red wiggle / wiggle with green ears and starts catching fish. I go to the tackle shop the next day and buy 1/2 doze wiggle / wiggle baits with green ears and never ever catch a fish with them. So they sit in the tackle box.

I guess I buy what a need and sometimes what I want. If the wife says something I just open her walk-in closet and walk away.

[JakeJ_Mn]

I never have enough. If it's pretty, I usually buy 2 or more. My 20' boat or quad truck/20' wheelhouse aren't even close to having enough room to haul the gear "I" think I might need.

I have a hard time scaling back my "really need it gear" to fish with others.

I fish most everything that swims in fresh water and hunt turkey/grouse/waterfowl/pheasant and deer most of the year - so I spend a fair portion of my "allowance" on gear.

Those who know me think I fell of my rocker. Those who fish with me only need to show up. My other 1/2 is VERRRRRY understanding as long as her gear is up to my standards also.

I am lucky to be able to enjoy this fine earth.

Really??? Women have a walk in closet - who would have thunk it. LOL.

[tunrevir]

I have more then I need but less then I want! I fish cranks a lot and when I get a lure that is hot I will make sure I have at least 4 in my box just in case of bite offs and snags. I too, fell into the Great Lakes fishing and now have specific tackle and rods and baits to cover a wide variety of techniques. The other problem I have, I am a crankbaitaholic:). Much like a women at a shoe store, I have a hard time going into a tackle shop and not buying something!

Tunrevir~

[Northlander]

Just enough. For now thats is.

[Eric_Kruger]

my wife buys shoes and purses, I buy tackle and rods.....i look at it as an investment. a few years back i picked up some limited edition lures for a few bucks each, sold a half dozen of them on the auction site last week for almost quadruple the price.....