@Aaron_H That’s a great deal for the visions.  I will be stopping by there the next couple of days for some other things. Definitely looking that up!

After doing line inventory I realized I needed some 15 lb fluorocarbon for pitching plastics.

 

TW:  200 yards of 15 lb ArazX on sale for $20.  Added the bulk pack 2.75" TRDs which were on sale, some big TRDs, a mini Chatterbaits, and Berkley's Dark Sleeper knock offs which were over 50% off.  All told a little over $50 to hit free shipping.  And I even had a gift card..... 

Christmas Monkey delivered....

 

 

The BOTTOMUP baits came in 5 packs. Both great free rig baits. 

 

 

I also picked up a couple of Ryugi bait bags. These are amazing for what they are. Also not pictured are about 20 jigs from Beast Coast. 

 

More to come.  

Got the Ben and Griff’s Xmas bento from Hookup tackle. Quite a haul for $200. Retail price for all of the below is around $640! The most useful baits for me are the hard baits and jigs. I’m not sure if the swimbaits and glide baits will be used much, if at all. The raid plastic baits are interesting but at retail of I think $9.99 a package, I don’t think I’d repurchase. The whip worms look like a cross between a senko and a finesse worm. 
 

Has anyone used these swimbaits, glide baits and whip worms and had success?

That’s a good looking box…

1 hour ago, RW said:

Got the Ben and Griff’s Xmas bento from Hookup tackle. Quite a haul for $200. Retail price for all of the below is around $640! The most useful baits for me are the hard baits and jigs. I’m not sure if the swimbaits and glide baits will be used much, if at all. The raid plastic baits are interesting but at retail of I think $9.99 a package, I don’t think I’d repurchase. The whip worms look like a cross between a senko and a finesse worm. 
 

Has anyone used these swimbaits, glide baits and whip worms and had success?

 

Got the same box. I see I am not the only one that didn't get the Gizard Shad LV 500. Looked like an awesome color. 

 

On the swimbaits....The One Up Shad is a pretty good bait. I have had good luck with it. The others I have not tried but the Osakana Swimmer is supposed to be a great bait. It doesn't look like it would have much action. We will see. 

 

I have not used the Whip Worms but they look good.  I have used the Battle Hog and the Buggy Craw. I have caught fish on both.

 

The Egu Dama is a great finesse jig. I've caught several good size fish on it.

 

Looking forward to using this stuff but it's going to take a while. 

 

I forgot about that gizzard shad lv500. I wanted that too. Mine is a French pearl sakura. I don’t throw lipless much and none that color. Maybe it will be good in muddy water.
 

Thanks for the comments on the swimbaits and finesse jigs. Out of all the things in the box, I am betting I will catch more fish on the finesse jigs than anything else. They look like they are high quality.

Edited December 25, 20241 yr by RW
Typo

Yall realize how “hard” it is to spend $400 at tackle warehouse WITHOUT any big ticket items? Got $400 for Christmas and placed an order today. Bought a new rod, reel and other stuff. Once the rod/reel were in my basket, due to my military discount, I still had a little over $100 to spend. Didn’t need/want any big ticket items. Grabbed some line, hard baits, soft baits, and a pair of pliers. When you’re buying $5-10 lures, it gets very daunting to keep track! I think all in all, I got a half dozen blade baits, a few sv-3 spinnerbaits, half a dozen or so crank baits (lipless and FS), and some other stuff. I’m not complaining, but I quickly go into analysis paralysis. Will post pics when it shows up. Showed arrival on 1/6, but just got a notification that the order is being prepared for shipment…

Figured this would be the best place to take a minute and share my thoughts and prayers for the Family Budget Fisherman. Not sure I'd consider him the 'latest' bait monkey victim at this point, but if you take the time to look through some of his first videos, rod collection and aspirations when he started his channel and then compare those with what we have today you will find a man that should remind us all of how easy it is for the bait monkey to turn Walter White into Heisenberg. Stay strong my friends.

My local dick’s sporting goods had some megabass vision 110s in the buy 5 get 5 free deal. Only color they had was northern secret though.

 

There were also some rigged magdrafts included but none of the popular Shad colors.

I stopped by Academy near my daughter’s house in Cookeville, TN. They had St Croix Bass x under $100 and mojo bass for $125. My local Academy doesn’t stock them, didn’t even know they stocked them. Only about 45mins from Dale Hollow makes sense I guess…

13 hours ago, Brian11719 said:

Figured this would be the best place to take a minute and share my thoughts and prayers for the Family Budget Fisherman. Not sure I'd consider him the 'latest' bait monkey victim at this point, but if you take the time to look through some of his first videos, rod collection and aspirations when he started his channel and then compare those with what we have today you will find a man that should remind us all of how easy it is for the bait monkey to turn Walter White into Heisenberg. Stay strong my friends.

I really enjoy his channel.

On 12/27/2024 at 4:03 PM, Smirak said:

Yall realize how “hard” it is to spend $400 at tackle warehouse WITHOUT any big ticket items? Got $400 for Christmas and placed an order today. Bought a new rod, reel and other stuff. Once the rod/reel were in my basket, due to my military discount, I still had a little over $100 to spend. Didn’t need/want any big ticket items. Grabbed some line, hard baits, soft baits, and a pair of pliers. When you’re buying $5-10 lures, it gets very daunting to keep track! I think all in all, I got a half dozen blade baits, a few sv-3 spinnerbaits, half a dozen or so crank baits (lipless and FS), and some other stuff. I’m not complaining, but I quickly go into analysis paralysis. Will post pics when it shows up. Showed arrival on 1/6, but just got a notification that the order is being prepared for shipment…

I'd be happy to accept the challenge of spending that gift card without big ticket items. If someone sends me one I'll be happy to document the journey and see where we land. 😎

As promised, here’s what the baboon did to me this year…

 

1st pic - Mrs Smirak ordered the gift cards from TW. Got the physical card so I’d have something to actually open. As discussed previously, the gift card equipment went down on like the 22nd. So, in order for me to have something to open, she painted these “gift cards” for me. She said the pelvic fins act like rudders (notice all but one is facing the wrong way 😂😂). Honestly, as much as I love the tackle, this was my favorite gift.

 

2nd pic - total haul. All either 1/2 oz or above. For some odd reason, I just don’t like throwing under 1/2 oz moving baits…I have them, I use them, but find that most of my new purchases are all 1/2oz+ and are usually the ones that get tied on first.

6th Sense Congo Craw (can’t get them locally anywhere) (5)

Damiki Vault (3)

Dr Slick split ring pliers. Initial impressions are they will be good.

A few Crush 75x flat side squarebill

A few Quake 70 lipless

Spro crawler

MB SV-3 spinner bait (2)

Keitech tungsten jig (1)

J Braid Grande x 8, 50lb

MB Orochi XX Diablo Spec-R

Tatula 103H

Some A rig wranglers

Free TShirt!

2 hours ago, Smirak said:

As promised, here’s what the baboon did to me this year…

 

1st pic - Mrs Smirak ordered the gift cards from TW. Got the physical card so I’d have something to actually open. As discussed previously, the gift card equipment went down on like the 22nd. So, in order for me to have something to open, she painted these “gift cards” for me. She said the pelvic fins act like rudders (notice all but one is facing the wrong way 😂😂). Honestly, as much as I love the tackle, this was my favorite gift.

 

2nd pic - total haul. All either 1/2 oz or above. For some odd reason, I just don’t like throwing under 1/2 oz moving baits…I have them, I use them, but find that most of my new purchases are all 1/2oz+ and are usually the ones that get tied on first.

6th Sense Congo Craw (can’t get them locally anywhere) (5)

Damiki Vault (3)

Dr Slick split ring pliers. Initial impressions are they will be good.

A few Crush 75x flat side squarebill

A few Quake 70 lipless

Spro crawler

MB SV-3 spinner bait (2)

Keitech tungsten jig (1)

J Braid Grande x 8, 50lb

MB Orochi XX Diablo Spec-R

Tatula 103H

Some A rig wranglers

Free TShirt!

 

I'd say that's a pretty nice haul! 

Just ordered an Active Target 2, 16v lithium battery with charger, and misc mounting hardware.  Waiting to see what the Lowrance Pros look like in person to see what size I am going to get. Fishing budget is blown out of the water and I still haven't bought the line or weights I need. 

 

Allen 

Ebay LC's.  I was after the MS colors (MS= Magic Scale).  Jerkbaits are Slender Pointer 97's, with the top 2 being MS Wakasagi.  2 MS KJ flat 1.5's as well 

 

Picked up 26 various Black Label balsa baits while they were discounted.

 

Grabbed 24 packs of missle crawfathers, a few of 'the 48' worms, Ned bomb worms, Gambler 7" Fat Ace and burner craws, BBB limit makers, and a couple picasso carbon chatters

 

30pks of Lake Fork Tackle chunks...

Those lake fork chunks have called out to me many times - can you give any info on action/durability look on a jig etc?

 

Thanks @KP Duty

 

Lucky Craft Jerkbaits are my favorite too.  🙂

2 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

Those lake fork chunks have called out to me many times - can you give any info on action/durability look on a jig etc?

 

Thanks @KP Duty

 

Lucky Craft Jerkbaits are my favorite too.  🙂

I just picked up some LC 97MRs in the Hook Up's 9.99 sale  

 

Also, can't go wrong with the Lake Fork Pig Claw Chunks - TW has them at 25 (3.5") or 30 (2.5") packs for $5. 

7 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

Those lake fork chunks have called out to me many times - can you give any info on action/durability look on a jig etc?

 

Thanks @KP Duty

 

Lucky Craft Jerkbaits are my favorite too.  🙂

These pig claws are nice...everything I'm looking for.  They are really soft with no salt.  Claws move with the slightest imput.  Just ordered a few more while they are $4.99.  Here is the 2.5" w/ finesse jig...

 

46 minutes ago, KP Duty said:

These pig claws are nice...everything I'm looking for.  They are really soft with no salt.  Claws move with the slightest imput.  Just ordered a few more while they are $4.99.  Here is the 2.5" w/ finesse jig...

 

 

That looks killer on there and I bet with no salt - looks incredible on the bottom - thank you!

I just received an order of 11 custom jigs from Johnny C's California Reservoir Lures. Great jigs. I really like their attention to detail with matching painted heads and weed guards.  

 

 

 

 

Anyone know of any websites that have sales going on at the moment? Bait monkey keeps poking at me and won't let go.

13 minutes ago, MinDoFmejiA said:

Anyone know of any websites that have sales going on at the moment? Bait monkey keeps poking at me and won't let go.

 

31 minutes ago, KP Duty said:

 

I forgot we had a post for it already 😅