25 dollar question

[Bank Beater]

If you had only 25 bucks to spend at Cabelas on Bass fishing stuff, what would be your latest and greatest lure additions to your tackle box? I know that I would try to get as much BANG for the BUCK as I could with the the limited funds that many of us have. I know I would be adding some of the new plastic frogs that are out this year, maybe some of the new Storm hard/soft crankbaits.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

To really get the most out of it I would probably load up on hooks and plastics. Maybe even buy a couple packs of senkos, I have yet to try them out. For the price they are I think I do just as good with flukes and other baits.

[jeffyo45]

Booyah, is what I have to say. I know they have been out awhile now but their buzz baits work awesome. I like the 1/4 oz in white and the larger ones with the clacker blade on them. Caught many bass, northern and even a muskie on them last year. Their spinnerbaits look really nice too but have yet to try them. I am usually hard pressed to spend the extra couple of dollars on name brand spinnerbaits over the Northland ones. I also would buy Gulp plastics. Fish hold on them alot longer it seems.

[ikeslayer]

i would definitely be getting a spro frog, and maybe a new jointed x-rap. Other than that i would see what my tackle box needs replentishing in. Also i would probably buy some power pro and that would about take care of the 25 man that went fast. If i wanted more than 3 things i would probably hit the bargain cave first and then go through the normal retail then i could see what bargain cave items i wanted to chuck to get full retail things. that is my shopping stradegy. good luck. A 25 dollar gift certificate is definitley a money maker for them because if most guys are like me i would spend it and then about 25 more on top of it. dirty tricks. ike

[Guest]

I would buy 3 bags of the Pumpkin scented 7" green minnow gulps. 1 Neon green 3/4oz spinner bait and a pack of number 5 hooks for the minnows

[beeflover]

I believe about 75% of bass are caught on plastic or jigs, at least for me

bag a frogs $4 slop fishing and poppem topwater or split shot to sink slowly

1/4 oz and 1/2 oz blk/blue jigs $6, use the frogs as trailers pitch em in cover, drag em over rocks or swim them

1 bag of green pumpkin gulp minnows $3 fish wacky on 1.0 hooks $3 not weighted

bag of 4/0 hooks for frogs or texas riggin senkos $3

bag a 2/0 hooks $3 and bag of green pumpkin tubes $3 fish on bottom or use weightless as top water jerk bait or lightly weighted for underwater jerk bait

hope you have some split shot left from last year.

worms, tubes, jigs and frogs

[Daze Off]

Does Cabela's even carry that much bass fishing stuff???

[SCUMFROG]

I'd go to gander...

[katoguy]

I'm not aware of new frogs out? If you are referring to Spro in the Cabela's cataglog - not new.

Most of the competitive anglers I know are real secretive on their arsenal. They don't shop locally, but prefer mail order due to being clandestine. So I'll spend those 25 bones, but can't tell you on what!

[ikeslayer]

the spro frogs i believe were new as of last year. They look pretty sharp and i was told that the body is gaurunteed to never slip down the hook and if it does they will replace it. either way they look pretty sharp. ike

[CorynTracySellHomes]

I am with both Katoguy and Scumfrog!

I am VERY secretive on the baits I buy, I would personally go to Gander Mountain over Cabelas, but that isnt the question, so here is what I would get for $25.00.

I would buy a few new Scum Frogs, mine need to be replenished from last year! I would buy a Double Buzz bait, all mine are smoked out! (Darn Pike) A few packages of EWG worm hooks, and some Stick worm baits that are kind of like Senkos but are garlicky. (Can't say the name!!) And my $25.00 shopping spree would be Over!!

Cory Frantzick

[ikeslayer]

i am not sure what the secrets are all about? did i miss a joke or are you guys for real? did i miss something. Why would it be bad to tell what baits? ike

[CorynTracySellHomes]

No, Its not necesarialy bad.

But, some bass guys are EXTREMELY guarded of what baits they are using.

Any tournament you go to, you will never see the rods of the top finishers, those are all stowed away so as not to give an advantage to another competitor.

Cory Frantzick

[Duffman]

One reason I don't post what I use, is I figure the lesser amount of people that use it, the less bass see it, the more I've got a chance of getting a bass on it. Selfish??? Sure, but I've got no problem with other people being mum on what they use or where they use it.

I could honestly get away with only using a spinnerbait and one form of soft plastic the whole year bass fishing, I've even strayed away from topwaters because of the confidence I have using my secret bait.

Bushwac was giving me some dump while we were out winter trout fishing on how I could get by fishing the whole year using just two lures. The ______ for summer bass fishing and the _______ for ice fishing.

When somebody finds something they have a lot of success and confidence with. Don't expect them to spill the beans, especially on a forum such as this.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Duff-Please don't take this wrong... I think that it is possible for fish to "get smart" to a lure.. but I think it has to be huge numbers.. Think about it.. everybody throws white spinnerbaits... yet, I catch a heck of a lot of fish on a white spinnerbait.. Black/Blue jig... everybody has black/blue jigs!!!! yet.. catches a ton of fish!

Presentation is the key!..

[svttom01]

A pack of Gamakatsu's and a pack of 4" tube jigs, one pack of Berkley ribbon tail worms, a dark colored jig, a white jig, and a double willow spinnerbait.

[Bobby Bass]

25.00...Off to Gander and spend it on spinner baits never have enough spinner baits to start spring with.

[Duffman]

Quote:

---

Think about it.. everybody throws white spinnerbaits... yet, I catch a heck of a lot of fish on a white spinnerbait.. Black/Blue jig... everybody has black/blue jigs!!!! yet.. catches a ton of fish!

---

I hear ya, two of my biggest bass last year came on spinnerbaits, but that was way up north. You can still get plenty of bass here in the metro on spinnerbaits, but it seems the bigger girls have become a little conditioned to them.

10 yrs ago, the metro sure seemed to have quite the hot spinnerbait bite, but now everybody uses them and I think I have percieved a slight downturn on that's lures effectiveness. Plus, your average joe fisherman(2-3 times a yr) is probably not into tossing the black/blue jig, but they'll sure have a spinnerbait or two in thier arsenel. And although most of us here are C&R guys, if a bass doesn't learn it's lesson after the first few times caught, sooner or later it'll end up in someones frypan. Especially here in the metro. Just some observations from spending time on the water.

Yep, it's all about the presentation, but the reason I opened my trap in this thread was that I've got no problem with people keeping thier secret methods secret. I'm not into the tourneys, and I'm pretty competitive, but the only thing I'm trying to top is my past catches. I tell the rookie guys I take out fishing to keep the rod tips low when we pass other boats, cause I don't want someone seeing our presentations.

$25 bucks to spend?? I'd stock up on some line for the upcoming season.

[ikeslayer]

I never really looked at it that way before as far as keeping it a secret. However i am reminded of a verse in the good book of fishers of men that says, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun" So there really are no secrets. I would agree though that probably the less people you tell about your 'secret' lure then the more confidence you have in it and without confidence in what you are fishing you might as well chum with bread. ike

[katoguy]

The "white spinnerbait" is such a generic term. Way too many variations of spinnerbaits. Single, double, triple, or quad blades. Colorado, willow, Indiana blades, or combo. Blade size and color. Long arm or short. Head profile. Titanium frame? Trailer?

Yes, it comes down to presentation.

Maybe I'll spend the 25 bucks on black/blue worms. (size, profile, manufacturer is still a secret - not that it will necessarily help me load the livewell )

[Daze Off]

Bought a few Spro frogs already - can't wait to get them wet...hope they catch as many fish as anglers....

Daze Off

[Wayne Ek]

I think my $25 would go towards 2 spinner-baits, a bag of worms, then hooks, worm weights and a pack of 2/0 hooks. But, I firmly believe there are NO SECRET BAITS... period end of story, unless you are using leeches or redtails. I fish alot of tournaments, and yes if I have a good bag on a two day tournament, the first day, I may put my rods in the locker, sometimes. My .02 cents worth is catching fish is all about locating fish, once you locate them you can almost always make them bite, it maybe only 3 or 4 bites per day, or you could hit an active school and have a field day. After finding fish I think the next most important part of the puzzle is presentation... which is better left for a differant thread, as I do not want Deitz to learn all my secrets for bass and bullheads

[katoguy]

So you are in agreement that one lure may trigger these fish you just located, others may not.

Hence, YES THAT IS THE SECRET. (the lure that is triggering fish now based on current conditions - I'll keep my rods covered with a lure wrap or in the rod box).

[CorynTracySellHomes]

I agree Kato.......

Watch before any tournament the amount of guys walking along docks trying to sneak a peak at what someone is using.

Cory Frantzick

[Bank Beater]

Plastics, spinners, and secrets are what I think I will use the gift card for, LOL!! Seriously, thanks for the info on what a couple bucks could go towards. Limited funds for an unlimited passion for Bass, but I guess that's how it goes.

One more Question though, is spending the money on a name brand spinnerbait worth it? Or will the generic work just as well? Thanks for the info!