Question for all you bass guys......

[devo024]

Long story short, my tackle box was stolen last year right at the end of the year.:sad: I was hoping I just forgot it at my brothers cottage, but no luck. I had about 15 years worth of stuff in there, and now I need to replace it. Where do you guys think I should start? I still have my poles and reels, but nothing else. (A few soft plastics, but those are panfish size) I dont have enough money to go out and replace everything in there, so what do you guys think are the 5 most important lures or plastics to get first? Im thinking I need some kind of crawdad things for the Grand, its pretty rocky where I fish, but for lures I had a few favorites and a few I never used. Thanks for the help guys.:)

Also, anyone ever have any luck claiming something like this on homeowners ins.? I know some people would just say to go and replace it, but I figure I had well over $500 worth of stuff in there, and I cant afford to replace much of it now.:sad:

[RyGuy525]

Some insurance plans you can I know I can if something gets stolen. I would say get a couple spinnerbaits a couple packs of senkos and if you want a crawfish bait i would say go with the Yum crawdad.

[slowpoke]

One of my best lures is a jerk bait (long A). I won't go bass fishing without one. The other would be a Texas rigged lizard. I would add these to my list. Sorry about you lost. I would be devastaded if that happen to me. It would take more then $1000 to replace my tackle bag. Good luck.

[waterfoul]

Some insurance plans you can I know I can if something gets stolen. I would say get a couple spinnerbaits a couple packs of senkos and if you want a crawfish bait i would say go with the Yum crawdad.

Was it in your car? I had my box stolen from the trunk of my car (along with about $2000 worth of stereo) years ago. Got it cxovered under my comprehensive policy. I probably had $1000 worth of gear in it... they just had me make a list to the best of my memory and they cut me a check, minus deductable of course.

Senkos
spinnerbaits
jerkbaits
scumfrog
lipless cranks

[thedude]

Terminal tackle:
get some offset worm hooks 1/0 thru 3/0
get some worm weights 1/4oz thru 1/2oz
get some 1/8-1/4oz tube jig heads
get some 1/4 oz chompers stand-up jig heads (for hula grubs)
barrel swivels

for plastics on the grand - i would look into sinkos/yum dingers, tubes, chompers hula grubs, sweet beavers.

for hard baits - white spinnerbait, white buzzbait, a couple crankbaits ( i like bandits in root beer or craw colors).

colors depend on water clarity in you area - over here the river is muddy and not much visibility - but i think it gets better as you go up stream.
The general rule of thumb for plastics is:
murky/low vis - stick w/ black/blues and other dark colors, use bigger baits that move lots of water, scented baits help also.

clear water - stick w/ natural colors - smoke, salt& pepper, pumpkin, watermellon etc.

[devo024]

Waterfoul, it wasn't in my car, but it was on my brothers property. It was either left in the small rowboat which was pulled up on his lawn, or just sitting by the edge of the lake on his lawn. Cant believe I left it out, but as this is allmost a private lake (the public boat launch SUCKS), I wasnt too worried. Im guessing I had well over 100 lures alone in there, not to mention all the soft plastics, sinkers, bobbers, line, ect. ect. ect. I would think $500 is a conservative estimate. I had a box of Mepps spinners in there that Im sure they dont make anymore, got them when I raided my dads tackle box after he passed away when I was 14, so that was over 20 years ago. I am waiting for the yard sale season to start, mabey I can replace some of the stuff that way.

Slowpoke, yeah Im pretty upset about it, I even considered not fishing this year. (yeah, right) Took my little boy who is 5 out yesterday for an hour, he couldnt understand why dad didnt have all his stuff he had last year.

[Brown duck]

I would have to agree with the Yum Crawdad - I use the baby crawdads a lot - its the first lure I go to every time - if it doesn't produce, they aren't biting. I like the watermelon and also the camo (blue w/red and metallic flecks), but that could just be the streams I fish.

[redneckman]

I would say you need 5 packs of senkos. Thats it.


Redneckman

[MSTRB8R]

Tubes are great and cheap. Also jerk baits like a rattlin' rogue, senko, spinnerbaits, and some topwater. That should put ya from top to bottom in the water column also. Too bad about your stuff, I feel your pain! Check out some garage sales and also e-bay. Ya just never know. You might even get your old stuff back.lol.:smile-mad

[jstfish48162]

devo024...PM me your address and i'll send you some replacement baits.....mainly tubes (with heads) and some hula-grubs. i also have a TON of 4" worms that you can have.

P.S......no charge of course.

[MSTRB8R]

Round of applause for that one!!! devo24, make sure you use that one as an example to your 5-year-old of how good people can be.;)

[devo024]

You guys are the best!! Thanks for all the help.

jstfish, pm sent and I cant thank you enough, and that will help show the little boy that for every bad guy out there there are also good ones:D


MST, I told my brother and his wife and kids to check yard sales up there at their cottage, looking for my tackle box. It has some stickers on it that would make it easy to identify. Hope they find it so I can have a talk with whoever is selling it.

Senkos are on the list, thanks again for all the help.

My son didnt have school today, and on my way to work I still drive by his school. It looks like they are having a big yard sale in the parking lot of school, and I sure thought I saw someone setting out a fishing pole. Looks like I know what Im doing at lunch today.

[waterfoul]

I stop at garage sales for one reason and one reason alone:

There is usually a MILF sitting there selling stuff! LOL!!

No really, I'm always on the lookout for someone who just doesn't understand what great fishing gear is worth!

[devo024]

There is usually a MILF sitting there selling stuff! LOL!!



Now THATS what Im talkin about!!!:lol:

[jstfish48162]

hope what i sent helps you and your son get the ball rolling on the season. i have more of those 4" worms, if you have some luck with them. let me know, i'll be happy to send some more your way.....take care....:fish:

[Hammerin' Hank]

For most Michigan lakes you can get by with the hardware for and a few bags of green/watermelon green/green-red flake tubes, or Trick Worm type worms, a few bags of same color Senko type worms, along with a 1/2 ounce spinner bait (Secret Weapon spinners are my personal fav., interchangeable blades make one bait into many). That's not to say cranks, jigs and the rest won't catch, it only means if I had a limited amount to take with me this is what I would bring.

SEan