Stuff, lots and lots of stuff. Stuff is good, but always wanting more, just stuff!
Stuff is tackle, lots of tackle, and then gadgets, and then rods and reels where does it all end, and how do you stop collecting STUFF. Repeat after me, ” My name is (insert yours), and I am addicted to fishing!” They say the first step is to admit you have a problem.
Ok, that was the funny introduction to a fairly serious question. How do you know when you have enough stuff to get the job done? Can I take everything I have and be confident in landing that big fish, or getting the limit for the dinner table? When do you take a look at your lures, and finally say, I have enough to get the job done.
I have pretty much reached my limit when it comes to muskie fishing, and even pike fishing to an extent. I probably could use some more spinnerbaits here and there, but not to the point where I feel the need to rush out and raid a store of its shelves and pegs. I haven’t really dedicated the time the last two years to justify getting more “stuff”. I look at what I have and I have the basics covered; topwater, jerkbaits, big and little cranks, spinnerbaits and spoons. I have a variety of sizes to be successful depending on the season and dailey weather. Besides, you have to ask is a FIFTY DOLLAR LURE really going to catch me more fish???
There will come a point in time, when you can honestly say, “That lure has seen its prime, and it can be replaced with a better mousetrap.” In the case of walleye fishing, Lake Erie for an example, “Is the Erie Dearie or my beloved Golden Nugget, really the best option for me to have a succesful trip?” Also, someone please justify for me, paying $5.39 for a nugget, hello, its a jig with wings for pete’s sake. I’ve got just about every walleye crankbait known to man; Rapalas, Reef Runners, Bombers…etc. Looking back, what have I used the most over the years? That old favorite, that still is very effective, the original Storm Hot n Tot. I have not found another crankbait to be as effective on Erie than the tot.
So, I ll take my tots and what else to Erie? An assortment of harnesses of one form or another. The lengths vary for casting, dragging and drifting, then trolling too. The blades vary in size to accomplish the job too, sizes 2 through 5 will cover the bases, as well as the Tigers’ Curtis Granderson stretching out another triple! The Northland Baitfish Image holographic blades offer a good selection of colors, and if you look around, you can find all the sizes to make your own.
So what happens to the collection of other crankbaits? They still have their uses. They are highly effective in deep bodies of water, or work just as well trolling weedlines in the inland lakes of Michigan, Minnesota and Canada. For inland lakes, the tots and harnesses pretty much stay home, its all cranks and jigs at that point. Occasionally a stealthy 12 foot Roach or Lindy rig is most effective, with a single bead and hook tipped with a minnow, leech or crawler.
Apply it to bass fishing, as well. There are times to break out the plastics for large and smallmouth. Sometimes they prefer a crankbait, brought back at a steady retrieve, or jerked along to entice a bite from below. Spinnerbaits work in deep or shallow, colorado blades for deep, willow blades for fast and shallow applications.
Steelhead fishing, whether you go north or just up to Flat Rock on the Huron River. What do you need to get the job done, two rod and reel set ups are most effective, with these three bait offerenings. On your 8′ rod or longer, flies and small jigs tipped with waxworms and spikes. For fishing some areas, some small cranks like the Wiggle Wart, Brad’s Wigglers and Thin Fish, or the original Storm Thinfin and that Tot. Highly suggest getting the metallic colors for the steelies. For the cranks a 7 or 7 and 1/2 foot rod would be my choices.
Ok, thats some of the basic stuff you need. Its so easy to go overboard, but with a little planning and research, you can get what you need to get the job done. Stuff is stuff, stuff is good, but some stuff just works better than other stuff!
