Deciding what to take with you!

[warmouth]

I take what will fit in a fanny pack, 3 mid size plano boxes, a small bag of bobbers, some misc soft plastics shoved in the pack in their original ziplocks, a jar of crappie nibbles, and a couple of stringers. That's it. Keep me, or me and the wife fishing for a weekend if need be.

One plano box of hard tackle loaded with weights, different size hooks and jig hooks, bober stops, bobbers, etc.

One box of hand tied jigs.

One plano box with a variety of plastics, bobby garland and tube jigs mostly that are in colors I have faith in. And the misc ziplocks of what I have recently bought to see if they make the cut to go in the plano for full time duty.

To start I either try a dark jig or a light jig (switch to opposite if no interest), then try a different size jig smaller or larger, and then decide if the fish are biting worth my effort. If they aren't biting good enough to get caught on any of that, then it's time to go weed the garden, LOL.

[CrappiePappy]

If I took "everything" I own for Crappie fishing ... just in baits & stuff, not counting rods/reels ... I couldn't take a partner (let alone their gear). Not to mention that I'd have to have a bigger boat

What I usually take is three long rods and two casting rods ... with the accompanying tackle suited to use with those rods. All that tackle is contained in one of those "push along travel luggage" deals, with the exception of a Plano box that carries my "jig & crank pushing weights". The "luggage tacklebox" weighs 20lbs and the Plano box of trolling weights weighs in at 10lbs.

Do I always "use" all that ..... uh, no. But, I've got it if I need it.

[Shad]

You touched on a problem I have - TOO MUCH TACKLE AND GEAR!! I keep telling myself that I need to simplify. I get out on the water and confusion sets in. Should I cast to them?, use a bobber?, vertical jig?, spider rig?, long line?, crankbaits?, baby shad?, crappie magnets?, curly tails?, etc etc etc. I have them all and I am ready for everything but have no clue which one to use. LOL

I think I need to go back to simple.

[wannabe fisherman]

You touched on a problem I have - TOO MUCH TACKLE AND GEAR!! I keep telling myself that I need to simplify. I get out on the water and confusion sets in. Should I cast to them?, use a bobber?, vertical jig?, spider rig?, long line?, crankbaits?, baby shad?, crappie magnets?, curly tails?, etc etc etc. I have them all and I am ready for everything but have no clue which one to use. LOL

I think I need to go back to simple.

me too and I end up remembering only how to bobber fish. it's like my mind, what little there is, just goes blank when I hit the water. They say old habits are hard to break

[Ketchn]

Simplicity has its fine points for sure ......it don't have to terribly complicated it seems to me ....pack light I say ....lol

[need2befishin]

Simplicity has its fine points for sure ......it don't have to terribly complicated it seems to me ....pack light I say ....lol

When my uncle was being my mentor back in the late 70's the only crappie jig colors at the local tackle store were white marabou and yellow marabou. The only rubber worms were green or purple, mostly the 4" ones with 2 hooks already rigged in them. We caught boatloads of fish back then. Granted, fishing pressure has went up 10,000% since then but I think sometimes the fish are less technical than we are. I'm speaking from a "hobby" frame of mind as I fish because I love fishing. Folks that earn their living off fishing have way more reason to up their arsenal. And yes, I have several boxes of jigs in all colors and styles lol

[prefers shiners]

No matter how big your boat, the storage bins will always be full....I have plenty storage so I take a lot.....but if I go with a friend in their boat, I can get by with a gallon ziplok bag with what I will use.....and, in that case I will take one 10' jig pole and one bass rod....I say, if you got the room, take it....

[Eagle 1]

keep track of what you use for a year and I promise you will give some youngun some nice tackle . I see jigs that are must have , but give away with never haved fish them . It is an addiction .

[skeetbum]

I have a big glass boat and can easily carry 10 or 12 rods. In the box. Not counting what I can sit on the deck. As big as the boat is, you'll find that you have too much out sometimes. When trolling I have the rods being used and maybe one to cast at a rising fish. Lately I have been casting and single poling a lot. A trip in the canoe a while back showed me just how little we really need to bring. Could have carried it all, and some extra's in my shirt pocket. Most times I have 6 to 8 of the medium sized Plano boxes in one compartment with different styles and colors of bodies, and 2 or 3 rods out, mostly so I don't have to retie so much. I'm getting to where I buy more of what I use a lot and don't replace older plastics that change color or haven't seen a line in a long time. I have a box now that I'll be going through and thinning down. Somebody is gonna like me when it all goes away.

[Grainraiser]

Since I fish from the bank and a boat I keep everything in a small backpack. I see no need to carry a bunch of stuff when fishing.