Minus the necessities like an outboard, trailer, tow vehicle, rods n reels, tackle, etc, what is the single most important piece of equipment in your bass boat?

That thing between your ears - Gerald Swindle

PFD, TM, Electronics...in that order.

plug to the boat and then lunch

trolling motor, fishfinder/chartplotter and cooler!

3 lb. lump in your head.

Lets see,

I remember when my depth finder was a weight on the end of small rope and caught lots of bass, so my $5000 worth of side scan sonars wouldn't be it.

I remember sitting on the bow with my feet hanging over the front and a paddle in one hand while fishing with the other, still caught lots of bass, so my $1,500 trolling motor is not it.

I've used long cane poles with heavy line and just dropping a lure in spots I though were holding bass, and caught lots of bass.  So my $400-$500 rod and reels are not it.

 

So, I guess I would have to agree with a few of the other, my knowledge of being able to figure how to catch fish in various conditions is more important than any thing else. 

 

Before you even left - the accurate Float plan you leave with a responsible adult; that includes names, home & cell  phone numbers of every one on the boat,  where you are going, When you plan to return, where your are launching / recovering from and leaving your rig, description of your boat, trailer & tow vehicle including tag / registration numbers of boat, truck & trailer. As well as the phone numbers of who you want that person to call (USCG, DNR, Local Police / Fire Rescue)  in the unlikely event you do not return as planned.

 

This information can help rescue professionals find you - faster.  And depending on the situation, could be kind of important.

 

A-Jay

life jacket

Trolling motor + boat plug

 

Outboard dies............as long as I have a TM and the boat floats I can fish

 

Electronics die..........as long as I have a TM and the boat floats I can fish

 

 

Proper clothing for the weather conditions

 

proper foot ware.  I see so many people fish in flip flops and just don't undersand.  For sure my #1 is a good set of sun glasses.

A pair of needle nose pliers with line cutters.  I have been stuck without anything to unhook a deeply hooked fish to many times.  They also serve as line cutters, there have been a few times where I was without anything to cut the line with, and I was using braided line that I couldn't break with my hands, so I had to look around for something with a sharp edge on peoples docks to cut line with.  Not exactly ideal, but I have learned that the edge of aluminum drain pipes are very sharp.

Does beer count as equipment??? 

There is only one answer.  I saw only one that mentioned it.  The single most important item, bar none, is a personal flotation device.

 

 

1 hour ago, Fishing Rhino said:

There is only one answer.  I saw only one that mentioned it.  The single most important item, bar none, is a personal flotation device.

 

 

+ 1. hopefully see will never get to see how well it works.

2 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

There is only one answer.  I saw only one that mentioned it.  The single most important item, bar none, is a personal flotation device.

 

 

and it's worthless if it's in the storage compartment

On January 14, 2017 at 6:49 AM, slonezp said:

and it's worthless if it's in the storage compartment

Uh oh....never got it out today. Only remembered I'd left it in the boat when I read this.