I plan on heading to Bass Pro or any other tackle shops around to get some new bass fishin gear for this spring and summer.

So far my box has the following:

Soft Baits:

brown skirted grubs, double and single tail grubs in various colors, minnow swimbaits, lizards, watermelon and shad tiki sticks, bubblegum flukes, watermelon seed Big Critter Craws as trailers for my jigs, watermelon Flappin' Hogs, loads of worms in many colors.

Hard Baits and others

green and white spinners, red/white jig, blue/black jig, green/yellow jig, crankbaits that dive from 5' to 15', Rebel Pop-R, black/purple/yellow and white jerkbaits, broke-back minnows.

I will be fishing in lakes and large ponds out of my boat, any suggestions are appreciated!

you might want to try red eye shad,rat l traps, zara spooks, rapala original floaters, and fat ikas

Buzzbaits for sure, topwater frogs, pumpkinseed lizards, I just fell in love with hollow body swimbaits also.  You can't really go wrong no matter what you choose as each bait has its own application.  

Topwater - Rapala floaters, Rebel Pop R's, Spro or Snagproof frogs.

Midwater - 1/8 to 1/4 oz ball jigheads, rig with Mr. Twister curly tail grubs. Inline spinners in silver, gold and black.

Midwater to bottom - Senko worms, jigs with matching trailers.

All of the above affordable, proven baits. No need to break the bank now , will be plenty of time for that later......

Walk slowly down each aisle. Look carefully at each category of lure. Consider the type of fish you are targeting and the style of fishing you are most comfortable with.

Then ask yourself,and answer honestly, will I ever toss this thing in the water. If the answer is "absolutely not, buy two of 'em.

That seems to be what got me to where I am.