Three Tiers of Tackle

[JeffD]

Below is a post from my fishing blog that I am copying and pasting here, just for fun.

 

 

In an effort to keep life simple, it can be interesting to see what tackle one really needs to carry. By alternating between expanding and contracting the arsenal of baits, one can occasionally try the new hot bait that everyone is talking about and then according to the results, redefine the core set of "must have" lures. In this post I try to organize my thoughts and consider my Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 baits. These tiers are roughly defined by

 

Tier 1: Must own and will carry and use at certain times and places within the next year.

 

Tier 2: Still experimenting, but trying not to waste too much time. These might move up to Tier 1 someday.

 

Tier 3: Had enough, not spending any more money on these.

 

 

 

Tier 1

 

Crankbaits- I nearly always have some crankbaits packed from March-November. It looks like I can restrict my attention to Bandit 100 and Bandit 200 cranks. Bomber 4A cranks have performed well too, maybe in the same circumstances as the Bandit 200.

These seem to have the right size, depth coverage, and wobble for the waters I fish.

 

Tubejigs- Tubes must be the number 1 producer of all, summed over the entire year. I always have some tubes with me, but might use them less than plastic worms from June-September. After trying many tubes, I think I can narrow it down to 3.5" Strike King coffee tubes and thin-walled Zoom tubes for the colder months. Best colors are green pumpkin and black, and I like the natural goby color that is offered for the coffee tubes. Usually an Oldham wire-guarded insert is used for Zoom thin tubes, and I texpose Owner slider heads and finesse heads on the Strike King coffee tubes.

 

Buzzbaits- Gotta carry buzzbaits when fishing relatively clear water from June-early October. I just buy the cheap $1 Wal-Mart baits. They seem to work fine. Those little Strike King mini-buzzes can sometimes get more hits.

 

Zara Spook Jr- I had off and on results with spooks, but enough success to decide this is my walk-the-dog bait. They aren't as expensive as other baits in this class, and can work great.

 

Spinnerbaits- I had about given up on spinnerbaits, thinking their use was in the span of other Tier 1 alternatives, then had a terrific October with them. I believe my baits are 5/8 OZ, pretty big baits that smallies as small as 12 inches had no reservations about pounding hard. Seems like Colorado blades and willow blades are fine. I know some of the theories for situations in which one should be preferred over the other, but I'm not convinced the fish are aware of these theories.

 

Curly tailed plastic worms- A couple of months a year, my biggest producer is a 7" Berkeley power worm. These are always Texas rigged, usually with a 1/8 OZ weight, and sometimes with this "Perfect worm rig" hook that I like. Best colors are green pumpkin and red shad. I'll carry these worms from June through October. They replace tubes as #1 plastic for a couple of months. I drag them but sometimes get on a bite slowly swimming them.

 

Float and fly varieties- In the winter I carry some float and fly equipment. I can't claim to catch many fish this way, but for 2 consecutive months F&F kept my streak of at least one smallie a month alive, so I have to think of F&F as Tier 1. Honestly, I do better with the super cheap marabou jigs or little crappie tubes than I do with more expensive hair jigs, so I'll likely just pack some crappie tubes and 1/16 oz and 1/32 oz jigheads in the future.

 

Senko- Everything else in this article pertains to smallie fishing, and I also use my smallie tackle for largemouths in ponds. However, I keep Senkos around specifically for ponds. There is nothing that compares to them for fishing ponds in hot summer months. I always rig them weedless, and sometimes slither them through weeds and moss as a topwater bait, and I let them seductively fall to greater depths on clear summer afternoons. Amazing bait, and I don't believe the imitations work nearly as well. I need to start trying them wacky rigged.

 

Smoke-colored Fireline- I've kind of converged on this line for nearly 12 months a year. It can be a problem when it is very cold and ice tends to bead on it. Then mono should be used. However, I mostly use my 14 lb Fireline from April-Oct, and 10 lb Fireline in colder months. I've gotten used to how it feels, and I like how it handles on the reel.

 

Well, that's Tier 1. I think if I were restricted to those baits for life, it might be a blessing. Then I'd shift my focus to the other critical aspects of river smallie fishing, exploration, location and presentation.

 

 

Tier 2

 

These are baits I occasionally feel compelled to try, and they could certainly be added to Tier 1.

 

lipless crankbaits- There seem to be a couple of days a year when these things outfish everything. Usually that is in some summer day when fish are moving fast and I'm trying to cover a bunch of water, maybe banging them through a boulder strewn pool. Rattle Traps are consistent, so I don't often consider others in this class.

 

Mepps aglia- Just like the lipless cranks, I always seem to have a day or two a year when fish go nutty over these. So, I never let my supply of them run completely dry.

I see no reason to keep the smaller ones around that are usually associated with smallmouth fishing. I carry #4 and #5.

 

flukes- I'll be working these as a soft jerkbait and as a topwater (or just under surface) bait in 2011 to try them out for Tier 1. So far it isn't looking good, but we'll get a month-by-month look at them, and try to find the right spots. So many people do well with flukes, either weightless or weighted, that they need to be investigated.

 

hard jerkbaits- This is a classic bait that I just can't get working for me. So many anglers advocate them that I'm sure I'll still try in the fall and spring. Maybe I'm not patient enough with them.

 

 

Tier 3

 

Here are the baits I'm done considering, for the moment.

 

grubs-I've tried these throughout the years, but a tube or plastic worms always seemed to be a better option.

 

poppers-buzzbaits and spooks span my topwater needs

 

swimjigs- No evidence a cast with these wouldn't be better spent casting some Tier 1 bait.

 

swimbaits-look interesting, but have never produced better than Tier 1 alternatives.

 

creature baits- I think the funny creatures are meant to appeal to fishermen more than fish, and the worms and tubes will do just fine.

[Guest rich mc]

im always interested in what other others have in tackle. thought id see the rebel craw on yout top tier. i also have some rob folder 1/8 buzz baits that still work when im casting the spinning rod. i gave away most of my bottom tier tackle to make more room. rich

[dansgonefishing]

The last couple of years I have been using a Poor Boy Jr., copper flake goby on either a standard jig head or a slider jig head with a great deal of success. I started using these after a Smallmouth seminar by Ralph Steiger on Lake Michigan Smallmouth. They stay on the hook very well and depending on the active forage they might be mistaken for a crawfish or madtoms.

Dan

[Guest Don R]

Great post Jeff! I find myself carrying way too much stuff. Your list gives any angler a good starting point. It also reminds seasoned anglers to try things they haven't for a while. Thanks

[Norm M]

If the lure doesn't get wet, get rid of it. If you don't catch fish with it and lack confidence in it, get rid of it. However before you write off a lure think carefully about how you used it and think about alternative ways to employ it or even simplyly modifying the speed at which you used it.

[Guest]

Would the Rebel craw be close to the Bandit 100 ? I would use them about the same. I don't know if Rebel makes a craw similar to the 200 and 300 Bandit I know they had some with longer bills. The Bandit probably has bigger hooks and weighs a little more, you can cast further get better hook ups. I fished the Rebel for a long time sometimes the split rings would give out but they may have changed them. I caught a lot of fish on the Rebel craw it's small size reminds me of the 500 series spoonplugs I've been throwing lately have to take them out and fish them side by side. I really like having a set of lures that work at specific depths so that you can work an area thoroughly from top to bottom. Good lure.

Phil F

[JeffD]

Would the Rebel craw be close to the Bandit 100 ? I would use them about the same. I don't know if Rebel makes a craw similar to the 200 and 300 Bandit I know they had some with longer bills. The Bandit probably has bigger hooks and weighs a little more, you can cast further get better hook ups. I fished the Rebel for a long time sometimes the split rings would give out but they may have changed them. I caught a lot of fish on the Rebel craw it's small size reminds me of the 500 series spoonplugs I've been throwing lately have to take them out and fish them side by side. I really like having a set of lures that work at specific depths so that you can work an area thoroughly from top to bottom. Good lure.

Phil F

 

You were right Phil, Bandit makes a crankbait that is shallower than the 100, and the bill is like you described. I found it in some Bass Pro Shops catalog. The spoonplugs sure shake up the whole system. You seem to be making them work better than crankbaits, and they sure are easy to crank. I'll see if I can come close to replicating your success. I guess according to my system, they are Tier 2 experimental baits . Sorry to Buck Perry, maybe I should accept them on faith.

[Steve S.]

This post reminds me of the old cliche, "One man's junk is another man's treasure" or vice versa.

 

I focus more on improving my knowledge of locating and patterning bass, and fly fishing has certainly increased the challenges of presenting.

 

I'm all for getting rid of the surplus junk.

[Guest Don R]

I'm all for getting rid of the surplus junk.

 

Do you accept checks?

[Guest]

This post makes me want to post 7 levels of hell... what's the worst conditions you fished under and still caught fish ?

Phil f

[Norm M]

This post makes me want to post 7 levels of hell... what's the worst conditions you fished under and still caught fish ?

Phil f

Well, we were prolly fishing together and I wouldn't be surprised if the black cloud named Gary was involoved.