I got a $100 Dick's gift card for my birthday. I am fairly new to Bass fishing and I want to get any "must have" items I don't already have. It would be difficult to tell you what baits I have, but if you tell me what you would buy I will just buy the items I don't already have. I've bought a fair amount of tackle this year but the baitmonkey says I need more and I am afraid of what will happen if I say no to him. ;D

Since you say you are fairly new to fishing i am assuming you fish from the bank, so my opinion, and you know what they about them, is to get a float tube, this will get you away from the bank and your whole experience changes. You can always get lures later, once you know what works in your area and what someone there recommends. It also depends on what kind of fishing you like to do.

Since you say you are fairly new to fishing i am assuming you fish from the bank,

I am fishing out of a boat most of the time.  I have a good selection of lures for a beginner, but there is still a lot of empty space in my tackle bag.  I guess since I have this gift card burning a hole in my pocket,  I was wanting to try some baits that I have not used but others have had success with, and fill in essential items that I just haven't bought yet.

I pretty much STRICTLY use plastic worms man. Mainly Powerworms. I am a HUGE fan of the 10". You may not catch as many fish with them, but when you do get them, they arent small I'll tell you that. 've had great luck with the brown ones (not sure what they are called) and the 10" motoroil/red flake. I also like the 6" blue/blue flake Powerworms.

You should buy an assortment of Cavitron buzzbaits. They flat out catch fish!

if i were you I know I'd buy a Rapala JSR-7 or JSR-5, in blue silver and orange. I myself have 4 of these and they never fail me. I've always caught somethin on them.

I'd also make sure be for you go buy anything that your ok on terminal tackle so you know if you need to buy any or not.

and ummm maybe some shaky heads and some finesse worms or somethin.

Bandit crankbaits to me are a lot of bang for the buck.  Series 100 for shallow diving 2 - 5 feet, series 200 for 4 - 8 feet, and series 300 for 8 - 12 feet.  Also the footloose series for super shallow diving, 0 - 2 feet.  Available in dozens of colors, good quality hooks on them..........and they simply WORK.  Cost an average of $4.50 each.  So you could get quite a few and still have some money left over.  The 100 series is my favorite one, though I've caught more on the 200 series.  Used it for a long time until I bought enough of the 100's to use more often so that's why I got more on them.  I fish an average of 6 feet of water depth a lot and the 200 hits bottom in that depth too much and hangs up at times.  100 doesn't do that cause it doesn't dive as deep, plus the square bill on it deflects off of cover better than the rounded bill on the 200 does.  These are just awesome little crankbaits for the price.  

Thanks for all of your responses.  So far I am going to get some cavitron buzzbaits, some big worms, jointed shad raps, and some bandit crankbaits.  I am also going to get some fat Ika's since I read so many good things about them on here.  Any other suggestions?

I think you need a bag of white trash skinny dippers.  Seriously it is a swimbait from Reaction Innovations

Senkos and Roboworms!

You must have a ..... coupon.  They have $10 off $50 purchase, maybe better ones.  They usually have them in those community coupon books that are fundraisers.  Ask around.....

Senkos, Daiwa Peanuts, Zoom Plastics , Rapala DT cranks ...... wait for a sale .... something is always on sale.....

I think you need a bag of white trash skinny dippers.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;DHell I can get you some of these... my nieghbors HAHAHA ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I would stock up on soft plastics, here is what i would recommend:

Zoom super flukes in albino and green pumpkin

Zoom brush hogs in watermelon red flake

Shakey jig heads with plastic craws and finesse worms

Any brand tubes for flippin' and C-riggin'

These should get you through the summer with good success.

I made a trip to Dick's today.  They shelves were pretty bare so I didn't spend all of the money, but I couldn't leave without buying a few things.  I got a 100 series and 300 series Bandit, some green pumpkin Ikas, a Cavitron buzz bait, A Daiwa peanut and DR Minnow ( on sale for 2.99 ea), zoom horny toads and big ol monster worms,  2 red eye shads, and some other assorted weights etc. The best part  was I had a return that they would only give me store credit on so after all of this I still have $62 to spend.  the one thing they had that I forgot to get was the White trash skinny dippers ( I'll grab those on my next trip).  Hopefully they will be restocked when I go back.  None of the Rapala was on sale so I didn't buy any ( hopefully they are next time I go).  Thanks again for your advice.

You gonna like that Cavitron buzz bait

Might as well throw away all your buzzbaits....after you fish the Cavitron buzz bait you ain't gonna wanna throw any other brand.I learned the hard way today.

The smallies here annihilated my white/chart color here today.I'm not sure why they even put a red hook on the dang thing....the red is completely gone... ;D  

now i need $30 to get about 5 more of those things....