Hey Bass Resource,

 

If I could only have 5 baits to fish with these are the 5 Must Have Baits in my boat!

 

Hope you all like it!  James Niggemeyer

 

 

I like and agree with your choices!

 

 

However, I would make a few adjustments.  These suggestions are especially for

lakes and rivers where smallmouth are an option. Specific examples are Pickwick,

Kentucky Lake, Bull Shoals and Table Rock.

 

Instead of a square bill, I would substitute a Bandit 200.

 

Because five baits is a constraint, I'm ditching my favorite bait of all time and

swapping a Kut Tail for the Senko. (I don't think I would ever actually do this,

but in this scenario I want a weighted worm as an option).  I NEVER fish a Senko

wacky or weighted.

 

Instead of a Rage Swimmer I would opt for a RES.  

 

So, if you want to expand your "minimal box" to eight, there you have it!

 

Oops!

I guess I can't get to five...Left out the Menace...

If it's just five I will have to do without the Bandit.

2 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

I like and agree with your choices!

 

 

However, I would make a few adjustments.  These suggestions are especially for

lakes and rivers where smallmouth are an option. Specific examples are Pickwick,

Kentucky Lake, Bull Shoals and Table Rock.

 

Instead of a square bill, I would substitute a Bandit 200.

 

Because five baits is a constraint, I'm ditching my favorite bait of all time and

swapping a Kut Tail for the Senko. (I don't think I would ever actually do this,

but in this scenario I want a weighted worm as an option).  I NEVER fish a Senko

wacky or weighted.

 

Instead of a Rage Swimmer I would opt for a RES.  

 

So, if you want to expand your "minimal box" to eight, there you have it!

 

Oops!

I guess I can't get to five...Left out the Menace...

If it's just five I will have to do without the Bandit.

Menace is a jig trailer so sounds like a freebie to me!

 

I'd take:

 

1. Jig

2. Bladed Jig

3. Swimbait

4. Frog

5. Squarebill

 

In all honesty I could get away with the top 3, and for the most part I do.  

The Menace rigged with a 1/4 oz bullet  weight is my #1 smallmouth lure.

 

Not too dissimilar from mine. I probably would replace both the chatterbait and paddle tail swimbait with a spinnerbait and then add a drop shot or ned rig if it was me.

 

One thing I will note, if a spinnerbait isn't working for me and it's dirty water then that might turn into a chatterbait and if it's clearer water then I'll try a paddletail swimbait instead, so overall I feel we're very close.

Is a soft stickbait what we used to call a plastic worm, or is there some distinction?

1 hour ago, billmac said:

Is a soft stickbait what we used to call a plastic worm, or is there some distinction?

Basically a senko in this case.

1). A junebug or black worm

2). a senko W/M red

3). a Zara spook

4). a zoom fluke W/M red

5). HB frog

 

These are what I use in Florida the most.

On 12/3/2020 at 3:25 PM, ajschn06 said:

Menace is a jig trailer so sounds like a freebie to me!

 

I'd take:

 

1. Jig

2. Bladed Jig

3. Swimbait

4. Frog

5. Squarebill

 

In all honesty I could get away with the top 3, and for the most part I do.  

I’ll take your suggestions to a T, but would remove the crank bait in favor of the trick worm. I’m too addicted to shakey head to do without it!