Help me SAVE MONEY...???

[Chue Chang]

Do you guys fish ALL the techniques or stick to just a few that you either like, have confidence in or have the money for?

I believe I like bass fishing as much as any die hard bass fisherman but i just don't think any angler has the funds for every tackle/technique there is.

And I think I speak the truth as I have noticed many bass anglers really only stick to just a couple of techniques (4-6) all year long to catch bass.

My problem is...whenever i start a new technique and start catching bass on it...i get lots of CONFIDENCE in that technique and feel i have to have a rod/reel dedicated to it and ALL the lures and colors for that technique. I just DONT have that kind of money and have spent so much money on this and that and am beginning to be a major tackle whore. I want to keep it basic and SAVE MONEY!

How do you guys keep it basic? Which techniques should i choose...the ones I have most confidence in right? How can i save more money or keep tackle to a minimum?

Thanks.

[propgun]

Fishing on a budget is tough but can be done. I find myself sticking to the basics that work for me. Yes that mean that I'm only using 4-5 techniques and I find ways to adapt new techniques to what I have in my collection of rods an reels already. Besides does a fish really know that it is being caught on a $400 set up vs a $75 one. Now before you all start jumping my crap about how the high dollar setups are more sensitive and all that. I don't disagree with you but for someone who fishes on a budget you can find some of the lower priced rods and reel work just as well. I find myself fishing a med /light to a med /heavy rod for most of what I fish and if your fishing local waters in so cal your most likely throwing the basic. Now I have done fairly well for myself in tournaments with what I have but it's all about having confidence. Look I'll be the first to tell you 80% of my rods and reels have come from Walmart, Big 5 or Sport Chalet. Some have even come from discount sales I've found on the internet. Does that mean that I can't compete at the same level as the guy who spent $400 or more on his setups no it just means he has more money than I. Just because you spend $400 on a rod and reel setup and you may have the best of the best in electronics all that doesn't catch the fish for you. Keep it simple .

[Oldschool]

Based on your prior posts you have Irods.
Genesis 2 744c and 754c
7'4" heavy fast action
7'5" Frads rod rated for lures up to 2 oz.
What you need for 90 % of bass fish is 3 casting rods;
3 power fast action (medium)
4 power fast action ( med/hvy)
5 power fast action (heavy)
You have 2 of the 3, you may want to add the 3 power Irods, if that is your preference; lures between 1/4 to 1/2 oz lures. The 3 power rod is very versitle, not a specific application rod.
The rod you are missing is the rod your need most.
Lures; don't go over board, stick to the basics in SoCal you need shad and crawdad colors.
I fish with a purple/brown/black jig anywhere anytime.
Oxblood red flake with purple highlights soft plastics and pearl/ blue gold-silver flake worms and purple with green or red everywhere.
Swimbaits; rainbow trout colors.
Crankbaits shad and crawdad colors.
Top water, shad colors
Spinnerbaits, shad colors
KISS, keep it simple .....
Tom

[Chue Chang]

Thanks for the input guys.

Oldschool - The wheels have been turning and I too have come to the conclusion that to be successful and cover 90% of bass fishing...ALL you really need is a medium, medium heavy and heavy. I have 2 of them already. I will probably get another medium heavy rod, one medium spinning rod and 2 more reels for a total of 4 combos only.

All this time...I thought I needed 6-10 combos to be effective...but in reality...all you really need is 3-4 and you can pretty much cover all your bases. All that money I would be spending on rods and reels...will now go towards tackle!! Haha =) I will still keep the tackle simple also...KISS is definitely the way to go.

Thanks guys. Now I know what to do and save money at the same time.

[Chue Chang]

Most importantly...The NUMBER 1 way I have found to save money:

1. Stick to one brand of hard baits, plastics or jigs for each and every technique you want to fish or have confidence in. You don't have to buy 4-5 different brand names of worms, crank baits, craws, jigs, top waters etc. I used to think it would be nice to have all the different colors and baits under the SUN...BUT...if you don't have the funds, time or space for all that tackle...ITS NOT EVEN WORTH IT and you will probably end up with TOO MUCH of something you do not need and end up reselling it, giving it away or letting it take up unnecessary space.

I...for instance, have decided that I will only stick to ROBOWORM for dropshot/shakey head baits, YAMAMOTO for trailers/texas rig baits, BASSPATROL for football jigs, RAPALA for hardbaits, OWNER for hooks/terminal and SUNLINE for line. I pretty much covered MANY techniques with only 6 name brands out of hundreds of name brands in the fishing industry.

I find that its way easier to SAVE MONEY, GET ORGANIZED and CATCH MORE FISH by DEDICATING your CONFIDENCE and MONEY to ONLY 1 brand for each technique. Than...that way you don't get caught up in all the HYPE of some new lure and go buy something you do not need or have something similar already that will work just as fine or the same.

Hope this post helps someone out also because I had to learn all this stuff on my own and I wish someone would of taught me years ago. I would of SAVED SO MUCH MORE MONEY!! All the tackle shops pretty much LOVED ME than...haha =). Now...I will save and fish more than spend more.

Thanks.

[fishinman]

YOUR DREAMING. YOU WANT TO BASS FISH AND SAVE MONEY. ONLY TWO CHOICES
1. GET MARRIED YOUR WIFE WILL SPEND IT FOR YOU, NOT ON FISHING
2. QUIT BASS FISHING, FISH FOR PAN FISH OR CATFISH MUCH CHEAPER