Recently I commented to my wife that I wasn't sure if I had a certain crank bait and she suggested I put a spreadsheet of all of them seperated by brand, type, color, and number I have. Thankfully she didn't enter them like she wanted to, because I have way more than I thought and some that I forgot about. So yeh it is I am emberrased by how many cranks I have, but the list will help me figure out what baits I can put together my father in law and what baits I might be able to get rid of. I will also try a few more baits this year I forgot I had! I really don't think that I suggest doing this even if it was ultimately helpful to me. It did probably shut down the crank bait monkey for a while.

5 minutes ago, cgolf said:

I really don't think that I suggest doing this even if it was ultimately helpful to me.

Too late - I've been running sheets of everything since the beginning...this is just part of my 'lures' page.

Why not?

Could work? No? Maybe? Bad idea....

Nope, no spreadsheets in fishing for me.

5 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Nope, no spreadsheets in fishing for me.

Totally agree...I'm on spread sheets all day, the last thing I want to do is more spread sheets.

Perhaps you can add a field in which you indicate which ones have been most and least effective/productive, and another field for time of year they are effective/productive if such information is still in your head. Then get rid of the ones that are not. You’re halfway there already, now that you made the spreadsheet, lol. 

8 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Why not?

Could work? No? Maybe? Bad idea....

Ummm...I can do that on my phone or tablet.

 

Go for it, man

Just now, Jigfishn10 said:

Go for it man

That photo is of my phone running Open Office for Android with my tracking spreadsheet loaded up. I also have the spreadsheet on the Tablet which also has the app.

 

So ya...I'm already doing it.

Just now, MN Fisher said:

That photo is of my phone running Open Office for Android with my tracking spreadsheet loaded up. I also have the spreadsheet on the Tablet which also has the app.

 

So ya...I'm already doing it.

I understood, man...I like it...If that works for you, I'm all for it. I'm not patient enough to sort through it like you did. My hat is tipped to you.

This is about as close as I come . . . 

#sharpieandwhitetape

A-Jay

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Too late - I've been running sheets of everything since the beginning...this is just part of my 'lures' page.

 

Wow that is a lot more detail than I have, but glad I am not the only one.

25 minutes ago, islandbass said:

Perhaps you can add a field in which you indicate which ones have been most and least effective/productive, and another field for time of year they are effective/productive if such information is still in your head. Then get rid of the ones that are not. You’re halfway there already, now that you made the spreadsheet, lol. 

 

I kind of like this idea, but right now I need a field for baits I still need to try. I know topwaters work for some, but realistically if I got rid of all mine my catch rate would go up because I am not wasting time with them.

Not a bad idea if you are gaining something from it I guess. I fish ALOT of crankbaits. I have way MORE than I need. We all probably have are favorites and most productive ones. A pattern I would not normal throw will catch my eye and I say “I’ll catch one on that” and normally I will. Next thing you know after 40 years you have a nice collection of Rappy DT’s, Bombers, Bandits or Strike King XD’s. But I can’t think of many that I’ve not caught a bass on. 
 

It’s easy for me to see and find what I’m after. My CB’s are not mixed up. I keep all my XD’s together. Same with a DT. Somewhat organized in the Plano box by size and color. My Bandits are probably laid out the best. Never been an issue. 
 

I recently picked up some Rapala, Daiwa, 6th Sense in pink. I’ve never caught or tried to catch a smallie on pink in my lifetime. With any luck I will this year. Bought pink in lure versions that are productive and I’ve always caught fish on. 

A small screenshot of my topwaters

 

11 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

This is about as close as I come . . . 

#sharpieandwhitetape

A-Jay

I love that. I am very similar. My wife’s Brother Label Maker get a work out from my stuff. Good fishing. 

Just now, Spankey said:

I love that. I am very similar. My wife’s Brother Label Maker get a work out from my stuff. Good fishing. 

Ya - I've stolen the wife's 'Brother P-Touch 1280' to label both boxes and compartments.

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Too late - I've been running sheets of everything since the beginning...this is just part of my 'lures' page.

 

This is serial killer behavior, and I mean that in the nicest way possible...

Just now, ajschn06 said:

 

This is serial killer behavior, and I mean that in the nicest way possible...

I do this to KEEP me from 'going postal' in the winter.

Just now, MN Fisher said:

I do this to KEEP me from 'going postal' in the winter.

Completely understand, fellow Minnesotan...

I keep them somewhat organized but a spread sheet would take away from my fun fishing.  

 

Tournament baits are different. They get filed to a different Plano box and are ranked by effectiveness from left to right.  I usually buy at least two of my favorites but keep them separated until one is done or lost.

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - I've stolen the wife's 'Brother P-Touch 1280' to label both boxes and compartments.

Alot of my plastics I store in Rubbermaid style containers or Flambau worm satchel type containers. Baits are In factory bags, sometimes that bag in a ziplock type bag. I label the stuff. Easy to find. And if you have to go digging it easy to find. Pretty much stored by style and manufacturer. My Z-Man stuff would not be with my 4” or 7” PowerWorms. Salty Spider Jig would not be with my kut tail worms. I know I’m anal and admit it. 

Just now, Spankey said:

Alot of my plastics I store in Rubbermaid style containers or Flambau worm satchel type containers. Baits are In factory bags, sometimes that bag in a ziplock type bag. I label the stuff. Easy to find. And if you have to go digging it easy to find. Pretty much stored by style and manufacturer. My Z-Man stuff would not be with my 4” or 7” PowerWorms. Salty Spider Jig would not be with my kut tail worms. I know I’m anal and admit it. 

Ya - I've got plastics separated by type in Plano 3607-10 boxes, in original bags. My Z-Man stuff is in a box by itself.

1 minute ago, Steveo-1969 said:

And darn proud of it too!

I honestly don't have enough crank baits (or tackle, period) to do a spreadsheet.  If I was going to keep track of all my tackle I would label it.  I don't generally have tackle that I don't use regularly.

 

I could see how it would be helpful to keep track of all this if you had a crap load of stuff.

 

I do keep track of how many times I go fishing each season and where I went.  One season I tracked all of the fish that my family caught and each species (Mother, Father, Brother, and myself).  That was a lot of work and communication so now I just keep track of my own trips each season.

 

2020 - 35 fishing trips

2021 - 32 fishing trips