When the lakes freeze and you can’t fish, apparently the only logical thing to do is buy more gear.

I told myself I wouldn’t buy anything this winter… and somehow ended up with another rod and reel.

Starting to think this might be a problem.

How much gear do you guys usually end up buying during the off-season?

No off season here in Ga.. So I distribute my purchases across the whole year.

Winter is when I become a tackle speculator. After catching all the online videos and watching the new fishing shows, it always seems to bring new baits or terminal tackle used in 2025 up. With that, I speculate as to the how, when and where they would really pay off. So it’s time to place the orders. And I’m always watching for Sieberts special releases and jump on that.

All year in the south. Gotta keep em replenished

2 hours ago, GreenPig said:

No off season here in Ga.. So I distribute my purchases across the whole year.

I’m jealous honestly.

2 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

Winter is when I become a tackle speculator. After catching all the online videos and watching the new fishing shows, it always seems to bring new baits or terminal tackle used in 2025 up. With that, I speculate as to the how, when and where they would really pay off. So it’s time to place the orders. And I’m always watching for Sieberts special releases and jump on that.

I do keep an eye on Siebert’s special releases sometimes too — their attention to detail is really solid.

Out of curiosity — how much did winter end up costing you this year? I think I’m at around $600 this winter already.

My largest purchases each year tend to be fishing line, and replacement hooks.

You just profiled me perfectly. Lotta deliveries this winter. And after watching me weigh treble hooks and split rings this winter, my wife has given up any hope that she didn’t marry a nerd.

Dealing with frozen water is resolved by buying new lures and gazing and fondling them while fantasying about all the lunkers they will catch come spring. I probably spend more than the GDP of some countries!

I call the UPS man my Santa Claus in Brown!

Things are a bit different in Florida. No cabin fever here. We fish year round so its not the cold that causes us to stock up on lures.

For me its all those clearance bins in the various stores.

I walked into Mudhole the other day and first thing in my face walking in front door was a large clearance bin of lifelike shad or shiner like rubber lures. $2 per bag.

And over in Bitter's, old John Bitter over the years has kind of run a side tackle business inside of his retail business. John buys estate sale finds of old fishing tackle and then brings this into Bitters to give us fishermen access to all those fantastic classic old lures gramps used way back when for like $2 each. Need an old balsa wood Rapala minnow lure? New on the shelf made of plastic. Walk into Bitters and dig through his old timey lure boxes and its heaven on earth. No other place like it.

Ollie's has been draining the wallet lately and surprisingly so has Ace Hardware who sells some fishing tackle and quite often runs 50% off or more sales and I grab some of that stuff.

So for me way down here in Florida its not the cold draining our wallets. Its those year round clearance deals for me.

What I recently ran into at MudHole... 10 bags is just not enough! Not at $2 per bag.

I spent 1.5 weeks pay on gear this winter… really just Jan/Feb. I am done for now, maybe.

Just line, hooks, sinkers, and plastics here nowadays. Basically just items that need replenishing.

I don't really buy hardbaits, reels, or rods anymore unless something breaks. I have enough of those already.

What’s this winter you speak of? I buy year-round. As a matter of fact, there’s a daylight savings bento box for $99 AM tomorrow morning on THU.

Considering the massive drop in my fishing budget - plus I don't really need anything....I think my spending is gonna be my license and maybe a few packs of plastics that I can get at a good discount...so maybe $50 total.....

This winter I decided I needed a bunch of PD Chopper jigs after they’ve been out of stock for a year. Had to get some 5” spark shad to go with. Curiousity got the best of me on some Megabass stuff, namely got my first X10 rod (Jade Python) a few days ago and grabbed a bunch of the IXI Blowly cranks to try.

Also picked up a good bunch of the new OSP blitz max plus and a few of the new raid SKM flatsides.

Almost ready for the season, I’ll probably grab one or two of the new bigger Karashi when it comes out other than that should be done with winter purchases.

Hello @Ryan_Z and Welcome to Bass Resource.

It's pretty clear you're new here.

A-Jay

I can relate. Picked up a few spools of the new Ginclear fluoro and some hair jigs today. Oh, and a second hand Collins 1/4 oz football jig mold. No amount of venting made my Bugmolds mold pour correctly.

Welcome @Ryan_Z I see you’re at amateur level baitmonkey status 😊

Let’s see,

New Terrova trolling motor

Two Edge Rods

12-15 new swim/glide baits

Several spools of new assorted lines and terminal tackle

and…..

My lake never freezes, but the ice in my cocktail glass has been responsible for more than one ice induced tackle purchase.

I can fish year round but do tend to stock up after Christmas using gift cards from Christmas and birthday which is New Years Eve. Also sometime find sales prior to new gear coming out in spring.

Cabin fever can cause some "I'm definitely going to need that" purchases. This year it was the PD Chopper, 5in Spark Shads, jig trailer refills, a couple of Bentos from the Hook Up Tackle, and a P5 Mark 56.

56 minutes ago, FishTank said:

Cabin fever can cause some "I'm definitely going to need that" purchases. This year it was the PD Chopper, 5in Spark Shads, jig trailer refills, a couple of Bentos from the Hook Up Tackle, and a P5 Mark 56.

You will love the Mark 56. One of my favorite rods to fish.

13 minutes ago, Jerkbait22 said:

You will love the Mark 56. One of my favorite rods to fish.

I was debating between that and the Monstrous but it was sold out and there seems to be a lot of positive talk around the Mark 56. I'm hoping it will be here by this weekend.

8 hours ago, FishTank said:

I was debating between that and the Monstrous but it was sold out and there seems to be a lot of positive talk around the Mark 56. I'm hoping it will be here by this weekend.

What are you planning to throw on it

1 hour ago, Jerkbait22 said:

What are you planning to throw on it

Glides, big crankbaits, PD Chopper with a 5in Spark Shad, and some big topwater.