What's in your bass tackle box ?

A quick question for the bass fishermen in the group ...

I used to fish for bass a lot when I was in high school/college  - mostly nearby farm ponds in the spring and summer. Usually a few reaction baits like RatLTraps and swimbaits, and a few spinnerbaits or Beetle Spins were all that you needed to be successful. I literally haven't fished for bass in fifteen years and have recently been thinking that I'd like take advantage of the local lakes like Berryessa or Clear Lake again. Needless to say, I need to greatly update/replace my bass tackle to do so.

So, say a person had a hundred dollars to spend. What would be your go-to baits to put together a spring-fall bass tackle box ? Any input would be really helpful.

4 in hula grub green pumpkin with black flake on weedless football jig. Work it slow around rocky points.  Baby brush hogs and Sencos work good too

Lipless crankbaits like the Strike King Redeye Shad and the Spro Aruku Shad for sure.  Ripbaits are also a great bet this time of year.  And I agree, you cannot go wrong with 5" Yamamoto Senkos.  Any color will work as long as it's Green Pumpkin!

I never go to Clear Lake w/o Senkos. A swim bait is in the arsenal too, though I tire of throwing them, the big ones that is. There have been times when a smaller swim bait was the ticket though. Spinnerbaits, frogs and buzz baits are also in the bag. I'm not good at using crank baits though there have been times when jerking a plug worked great. Don't forget the dropshot rig with a Roboworm and some shakeyhead worm rigs.
I want to get better at jig fishing and throwing crank baits.

All of the above, and then some. I probably have 5lbs of plastics all shapes, sizes and colors. If after 15 min no bites I swap to something else. Crank baits for sure this time of year. Incoming tide by the banks is a good bet. Cover as much water as possible. Smooth retrieve. Try to work just outside the grassline. Good luck. It'll really start picking up in a few weeks.

SPOOKS and FROGS because Topwater rules.

Alabama rigs at Clear Lake.  Why throw just one swimbait, when you can toss three at a time.

Senkos.  They never seem to fail me, so I've never felt the need to branch out.

A quick question for the bass fishermen in the group ...



So, say a person had a hundred dollars to spend. What would be your go-to baits to put together a spring-fall bass tackle box ? Any input would be really helpful.

Well first I would say a hundred dollars won't go far these days, but for spring time bass which would be spawning time I like to use soft plastic baits to mention a few would be Zoom brush hogs, nail weighted trick worms, Yamamoto creature baits, senkos, Robo worms, zipper worms, I could go on with much more. you also have surface baits last fall I had a blast using Whopper Ploppers, Rouge baits also jerk baits. Spinner baits Buzz baits and so on .The plastic baits work year round. too. Some of the baits can cost from 10.00 two 15.00 bucks each a bag of plastics can be 6.00 to 8.00 bucks and don't forget hooks and weights for your plastics.
Your going to need a second job. But whatever you use have a good time doing it and please if you would release any bass over 5lbs. Chances are its a female ready to spawn.

Good luck   
   

Every box needs some jigs. Bass love those craw dads .

Every box needs some jigs. Bass love those craw dads .

+1 I forgot to mention it.

Also Chattich if you want to hook up Hennessey is my home lake

5"senko watermelon with black n red flake

Spinner bait 3/8oz chartreuse white

Black red brown 1/4oz rattling jig with red craw trailer

Super spook chartreuse white

Square bill crank bait 1-4 ft dive depth ,1 in red craw and 1 in shad pattern

From spring to fall you will catch bass where ever you go

5" senko light green pumpkin small red flake
5" senko green pumpkin red and black flake
5" senko green pumpkin black flake

6" roboworm morning dawn (2 packs)
6" roboworm shad

6" zoom lizard green pumpkin
6" zoom lizard chartreuse green pumpkin

Garlic pen orange one side chartreuse other side
Drop shot weights
Wacky rig hooks
Drop shot hooks
Carolina weights
Ewg hook

Camera.

Cold water or spawn....Jigs, if you learn these correctly they are awesome.
Any temp... plastics are effective, dark colors for dark water, light colors for clear water is a good rule of thumb. Carolina or Texas rigged weedless.
Spinners in warmer water and when bait fish are around.
Crank/jerk baits warmer temp or for around cover when fish are holding or suspended.
Poppers floating jerk baits buzz baits for top water action..

Plastics really work well year round. Berkley Gulp, YUM and other scented baits are great. The fish hold these baits for awhile. I have had them come all the way to the boat without being hooked. The bigger more dense plastics cast well without weights and drop nicely.

So good plastics, a couple spinners with willow and Colorado blade. A light skirt and a dark  one with gold blades one with silver and one with combo. 4 or 5 inch suspending crank baits. And a popper or two should get you started and meet your budget.