Hello all, I have been lurking for a while and love the site. I live in central California and this past year I have really started to love fishing here in the reservoirs and canals. I have always went with someone else who had the tackle, gear etc. Well I need to lose some weight and thought fishing would be a good way to start, even just getting out and doing something healthy. I decided to stock my own tackle box! I bought a smaller size over the shoulder box from Walmart and really not sure where to start in the tackle department. Mostly what I plan to fish are stripers,channel cat, trout,bluegill,crappie,small/large mouth bass and carp. What I am asking of you folks is some recommendations on what to stock my box with. I already have a rod and reel so that is covered. Just need the tackle. I appreciate the help in advance!

Your gonna need a bigger tackle bag!  Even remaining conservative, by the time you obtain a modest arsonal, it won't all fit in a small bag.  And if your serious about fishing, you'll need room for when the bait monkey strikes.  I would suggest what you have along with a large tackel bag.  Each time you go out, you can re-outfit out of the big bag depending on what you are gonna target.

Crappie/Bluegill: bobbers, live bait hooks,small split shot sinkers, 1 1/2" twister tails, tube style bodies, 1/16 jigs heads, various crappie jigs (marabou),etc.

Bass: French spinners (Mepp's kit?), single and double bladed spinner baits, assortment of lipless and diving baits, soft platics; senkos, creature baits, tubes, 5/16 bullet weights, ewg 3/0-5/0 hooks, etc.

There's just too much to mention, read through the many articles, and check over the tackle forum here on BR.  Lot's of good info.

you can check into bass bro etc they have some starter kits or even better would be to hit up a local buddy to guide ya on what works well in the area my # 1 bait is a white zoom super fluke rigged with a daiichi copper head hook or wide gap worm hook topped off with some megastrike

If you do go into a store, don't get overwhelmed by the huge assortment of different colors/shapes/sizes/etc etc. There are a TON of different lures and baits that you can buy. Depending on your budget, you may just want to start off by picking a few items in smaller numbers. Work with those for a while to learn how they work in the water. Luckily soft plastics are really cheap for the most part. You can very quickly stock a box with a ton of them. On average you're looking at 3-5 bucks for a bag of them. Senko's are a little bit more pricey, but well worth the cost (6.99 or so I believe). As far as colors go, pick three or four so you can cover yourself for a days worth of fishing. Lighter, middle ground, dark. Make sure you toss a chartreuse in there somewhere.

Don't be afraid to use the search feature on the forums here.  There is a ridiculous amount of good information floating around on pretty much every different type of tackle that one could want.

id keep the colors basic for plastics:

black or black/blue for muddy water

green pumpkin for stained water

watermelon for clear

id buy some 4" and 5" senkos, 6" zoom trick worms, and some 3" netbait paca craws for jig trailers to use with some 1/4oz bitsy bug jigs (cheap and very productive). buy some 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 oz worm weights for the trick worms (you can fish them weightless too). buy some 2/0, 3/0 and 4/0 gamakatsu ewg hooks for the senkos and trick worms.

inline spinners are good for all kinds of fish.

buy some small crankbaits. rapala are a good value. i like jointed minnows. small rebel brand crawfish cranks are great for panfish.

get a white spinner bait. 3/8 oz

this is how i would stock a small tackle box. good luck!

Your gonna need a bigger tackle bag!  Even remaining conservative, by the time you obtain a modest arsonal, it won't all fit in a small bag.  And if your serious about fishing, you'll need room for when the bait monkey strikes.  I would suggest what you have along with a large tackel bag.  Each time you go out, you can re-outfit out of the big bag depending on what you are gonna target.

Crappie/Bluegill: bobbers, live bait hooks,small split shot sinkers, 1 1/2" twister tails, tube style bodies, 1/16 jigs heads, various crappie jigs (marabou),etc.

Bass: French spinners (Mepp's kit?), single and double bladed spinner baits, assortment of lipless and diving baits, soft platics; senkos, creature baits, tubes, 5/16 bullet weights, ewg 3/0-5/0 hooks, etc.

There's just too much to mention, read through the many articles, and check over the tackle forum here on BR.  Lot's of good info.

I agree with everything you said. But, the last thing you want to do is overstock. I would just stay with basic baits that have been recommended to you. Good luck!

Dylan

4/0 Extra Wide Gap (EWG) hooks

5" Gary Yamamoto Senko's Black & Red Shad

5" Senko Watermelon with Red Flake

3/8 oz Strike King Burner Spinner in Sexy Shad

White or Black Cavitron Buzz Bait

Spot Remover 1/8 oz

Berkley Finesse Worm or Roboworm in Black

Pliers

Swiss Army knife little knife with scissors

Suffix 8 lb elite

This setup will catch bass... and cost you about $80 out the door.

Have at it and let us know how you do...

Your gonna need a bigger tackle bag! Even remaining conservative, by the time you obtain a modest arsonal, it won't all fit in a small bag. And if your serious about fishing, you'll need room for when the bait monkey strikes. I would suggest what you have along with a large tackel bag. Each time you go out, you can re-outfit out of the big bag depending on what you are gonna target.

Crappie/Bluegill: bobbers, live bait hooks,small split shot sinkers, 1 1/2" twister tails, tube style bodies, 1/16 jigs heads, various crappie jigs (marabou),etc.

Bass: French spinners (Mepp's kit?), single and double bladed spinner baits, assortment of lipless and diving baits, soft platics; senkos, creature baits, tubes, 5/16 bullet weights, ewg 3/0-5/0 hooks, etc.

There's just too much to mention, read through the many articles, and check over the tackle forum here on BR. Lot's of good info.

Thanks for the info, I got a smaller bag due to the spots where ill be fishing. I have to hike down into a very large and rocky reservoir. and I think it would just be a PITA to carry a large box down where ill be going MOSTLY. Once I am more experience I do plan on building up my tackle aresenal, but at the moment I am just trying to get going on my budget. which is around 150 bucks out the door. and thats for everything I need. Just pick up my stuff and go. I really appreciate all your guys' help. I am very excited to get out there and hook one on my own.

::edit:: also the two rod/reel combos I have are: 1 shakespear spinning reel with a "Lite Pro" rod which is an Ugly Stick 7 foot. The other is an Abu Garcia Ambassadueur 5000 reel with another 7 foot rod which is medium action Ugly Stick. It seems alot heavier and all around bigger then the Lite Pro which is also a medium action. I am curious what you guys use to Lube your reels also. These have been sitting for about a year and need a lube. Would WD-40 work or is that a no no.

If you are going to hiking down through rocks and such, consider getting a backpack. Cabela's makes several different fishing backpacks, but really, any one will do. Just get some Plano utility boxes for your tackle and you're set.

That will leave your hands free for balance and support while you are hiking down to your spot. Safety first