I am a college student trying to work through college, but also enjoy bass fishing.

I usually spend, on average, $10 per week, and I want this money to go far as possible.

So does anyone have any tips on where to get tackle or gear on a budget? What off brands offer good quality and what brands do not? Any tip is appreciated.

 

I am a college student trying to work through college, but also enjoy bass fishing.

I usually spend, on average, $10 per week, and I want this money to go far as possible.

So does anyone have any tips on where to get tackle or gear on a budget? What off brands offer good quality and what brands do not? Any tip is appreciated.

 Join your college bass team or start a college bass team and take advantage of the discounts provided to college students. Also its better to spend money when things are on sale.  

Browse the Fishing Flea Market forum on this site. 

When possible, buy house brands from the big retailers rather than (pricey) name brands.

You don't need the latest, shiniest tackle to enjoy fishing,

 

Tom

Great deals in the flea market section here and other sites. 

Browse the Fishing Flea Market forum on this site. 

When possible, buy house brands from the big retailers rather than (pricey) name brands.

You don't need the latest, shiniest tackle to enjoy fishing,

 

Tom

I've been browsing that forum a lot lately but have only jumped on some football jigs which I got a good price on. Are their any house brands I should shy away from due to quality or such?

 

 Join your college bass team or start a college bass team and take advantage of the discounts provided to college students. Also its better to spend money when things are on sale.  

What places offer college discounts?

Almost every  fishing company offers some sort of a college discount if you look in the right place. Being in a bass club is usually the only way you can gain access to those discounts.

Hit up some flea markets, antique shops, garage sales and find the deals

WalMart. Watch for deals

I know you don't have them in Ohio but Academy's house brand (H20 Xpress) crankbaits are really, really nice.  They are $3-$6 with most being on the $3 side of things.  You can order them online.  

Another tip someone else just told me was to wacky rig senkos with o-rings to keep them from ripping, which in the end, will save money.

h2o express hooks, zoom soft plastics, and h20 express crankbaits. also, check out gander mountains website and they have buckets of soft plastics for 20 dollars you get like 500 pieces, and the quality isn't bad at all.

aside from the flea market on this forum (those jigs were a good deal  ) i would say you just watch for good sales at the big box stores (dick's sporting goods always has good stuff in clearance)  i rarely if ever pay full price for tackle 

Get some grubs chartruse white and black 2 inch will work .these catch fish anywhere and cheap too 10 $ will get u rolling.or zoomm super flukes white with a 3/0 gama hook

My local Walmart clears out inventory with extreme prejudice; currently they're practically giving away Gamakatsu EWG and finesse hooks, Strike King jigs, and various minnow baits.  Anywhere that sells sporting goods merits a cruise through the clearance aisle.  

 I would stick with what works - plastic worms!  Go to Walmart and buy some Yum's or other brands for $3 or $4.  If I was on a tight budget, I would not waist money on things that don't work as good as soft plastics and has

a more high chance of getting snagged and lost.  Plastic worms - cheap, effective, and they work!  

I would choose lure that you can fish multiple ways. Senko's and trick worms are pretty versatile. lipless cranks are another option. I would also put jigs in the mix as well

My local Walmart clears out inventory with extreme prejudice; currently they're practically giving away Gamakatsu EWG and finesse hooks, Strike King jigs, and various minnow baits.  Anywhere that sells sporting goods merits a cruise through the clearance aisle.

My local Wal-Mart is stingy. They hardly ever mark down fishing stuff. I do drive by a Gander Mountain once a week. I'll have to start stopping just to check their markdown rack.

gander is decent. you can buy big bags of senkos there. and there brand actually isn't to bad i got a few bags. id go with jigs, soft plastics, and then expand your hard baits over time. 

Well, I have a different take. I don't fish knock-offs or house brands.

For the most part I buy brands I trust on sale. These are true "values"

and come up all the time. Most recently a new Academy opened in

Collierville, near me. They had Rage Tail Menace, 7' Thumpers and

Anaconda on sale for 98 cents. When I left there was only a big hole

left in the display.

Overstockbaits.com every once in awhile runs a deal on Rage Tails for 1.99 & also some good deals Gary Yamamoto...

Pick baits that can use the same hook.  a 5" senko, 6" lizard, 4" tube, Sweet beaver, and a super fluke can all use a 3/0 EWG.   Also pick a hook that you can both wacky rig and dropshot with.  Cutting down on the types of hooks you use can save a lot of $, especially if you can buy bulk packs of the ones you do use.

send me a pm with your address and i'll stick some stuff in the mail to ya.  good, name brand baits, hooks etc,...that i can part with.  i've got no problem helping someone who wants to get started bass fishing and on a tight budget...

I do pretty well at local flea markets. I've realized most of the sellers around me buy entire lots of stuff at auctions the bring them to the flea markets. Half the ppl selling fishing gear don't have any clue what it is. I've picked up some brand new in box rapalas,spro frogs,rat l traps and so on for a buck or less. Just stay outta my area lol. Jk happy hunting

Brian

I do pretty well at local flea markets. I've realized most of the sellers around me buy entire lots of stuff at auctions the bring them to the flea markets. Half the ppl selling fishing gear don't have any clue what it is. I've picked up some brand new in box rapalas,spro frogs,rat l traps and so on for a buck or less. Just stay outta my area lol. Jk happy hunting

Brian

 

True in my experience, too. They will have weeded out all the obviously antique wooden plugs and slapped $25 tags on them, but your modern baits often go for a song.

 

To the OP, if you ever road trip south in the direction of Cincinnati for any reason, you should bring your birthday money and stop at Trader's World and/or Treasure Aisles flea markets in Lebanon, they are enormous.  In the meantime, those $1 spinnerbaits at Walmart will absolutely catch fish, but you should wire the skirt on as the stock rubber band deteriorates quickly.

True in my experience, too. They will have weeded out all the obviously antique wooden plugs and slapped $25 tags on them, but your modern baits often go for a song.

 

To the OP, if you ever road trip south in the direction of Cincinnati for any reason, you should bring your birthday money and stop at Trader's World and/or Treasure Aisles flea markets in Lebanon, they are enormous.  In the meantime, those $1 spinnerbaits at Walmart will absolutely catch fish, but you should wire the skirt on as the stock rubber band deteriorates quickly.

I actually used to go to Treasure Isles when it was still called Turtle Creek with my mother to sell stuff on weekends. Thanks for the tip on the spinnerbaits too. I've been buying them but have to replace many of them a couple times.