Avoiding the Bait Monkey 2024
Tizi reply :
I have been trying to avoid the bait monkey and it has been extremely difficult as of late. Every time I see the latest sale thread, there is something new that catches my eye. Can I afford that new bait? Do I really need that bait? Is it similar to something I already have? How am I going to use that bait if I buy it? It is not about affording, it is about management. I have 100s of lures that will probably never get used. I prefer to not add to that.
These are the questions I keep asking myself, then I end up buying the bait anyway. My newest plan: Identify 3 to 4 key manufacturers and stick to offerings from them. I have narrowed my choices to 6th Sense, Rapala, Strike King and Megabass. So, if the latest sale thread post is not related to one of these manufacturers, I will attempt to avoid those offerings. In addition, I have started a spreadsheet to track what I have on hand (thanks for that tip BR) so I don't buy an item I already have. I hope this works...
5/0 reply :
It is a never ending battle! For me it doesn't necessarily have to be on sale, it's a reflex action! If I see post or something online my first reaction is...I gotta have it! I'd second the narrowing manufacturers as long as the color selection is good. Sadly that doesn't always happen!
TnRiver46 reply :
It's easy to avoid the monkey when you don't have any money
Finessegenics reply :
How would you format the spreadsheet? I’d love to see anyone’s copy to because I want to try it out myself
jbsoonerfan reply :
Okay, @Tizi send me those Tactical Bassin cranks since R2S didn't make your cut! LOL
Tizi reply :
Here is what mine looks like, I just started it so it could change:
MassYak85 reply :
My method is to have in the back of my mind things I'm looking to buy short or long term. If I see one of those things go on sale it's a no brainer to swoop in and buy, if I see something on sale I didn't really want in the first place it's easy to shrug it off. Only exception is true blowout sales of like 50 percent or more, in that case I'll stock up on stuff I might already have but know I'll use, or maybe I'll try something that would normally be out of my budget if it wasn't on sale.
Again I think it's just having a mental list of things you actually want vs "sure it's on sale but I didn't want that anyways".
LargeMarge reply :
My strategy for the winter is to not buy anything until after my first fishing trip in the spring. Cuts down on the impulse buys and gives me a chance to evaluate from the water instead of my couch.
Buying too much just adds complexity given that I can only fish one at a time. I try to keep it simple.
bait__Monkey reply :
Cdn Angler reply :
I've probably bought $1,000 of tackle/rods/reels since September. A lot of items are on sale and I'm trying to expand my fishing arsenal to have a proper musky combo and to get tackle that will let me expand my techniques - ned rig, a rig, jerkbaits etc. I'm also trying to be more organized so getting bins, peg boards, tackle boxes etc.
At a certain point I expect to have enough to just replace stuff and add the odd thing here or there.
In Canada it is tough as our regular tackle shops have mostly non premium stuff. You don't find river2sea, jackall, keitech in normal stores, only specialty small places and crazy expensive. So you either buy something sub-optimal or pay a fortune. Makes it imperative to buy stuff on sale when you can.
For example a shad rap I saw today that was $15.99. A whopper plopper might be $22 and I'd have to drive 40 miles to find it.
BoatSquirrel reply :
I am with you Tizi. The temptations are constant and multiple when fishing is your passion and you are always thinking about it. I have mostly cut off the internet ordering but I find I enjoy the visit to the tackle/toy store. Got to find a way to avoid those visits.
I would encourage you to look through any tackle and donate any you will not use. The gift will mean as much to you as it will the lucky folks who get some new lures.
DanielG reply :
Hmmm.... I have hobbies and I love to fish. I'm out three or four times a week in the good season time. But, I don't understand the reason to have an overflow of multiple poles, reels, baits, etc. Yes, enough but just a huge number of items I may never use. I have a good spinning rig and a good casting rig. I make both do multiple duty, sometimes beyond what they would normally be used for. There are actually a handful of baits I use regularly. I like to try something different once and awhile but always return mostly to my confidence baits. I don't fish competitively though and I understand needing to change things up fast to keep ahead of things, but I see casual recreational anglers with more stuff than they'd ever possibly be able to use. I actually know people who have a ton of stuff they carry with them all the time and it's never gotten wet and never will be.
Sort of a mystery to me. I guess it may be an addiction. Sort of like gambling anglers or something. I'm flummoxed.
Smells like fish reply :
Don't wanna quit, ain't gonna quit! I like that spreadsheet idea though.
A-Jay reply :
After purchasing my rig, the bait monkey's voice seems to become amplified quite a bit.
It was very intimidating to say the least . . . .
A-Jay
Hewhospeaksmuchbull reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 3:46 AM, bait__Monkey said:
You mock us?
No likes for you, come back one year. You Monkey, you!
Tizi reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 2:54 AM, jbsoonerfan said:Okay, @Tizi send me those Tactical Bassin cranks since R2S didn't make your cut! LOL
I need to think about adding R2S. I have a bunch of their baits too, including S-wavers.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 4:08 AM, DanielG said:Hmmm.... I have hobbies and I love to fish. I'm out three or four times a week in the good season time. But, I don't understand the reason to have an overflow of multiple poles, reels, baits, etc. Yes, enough but just a huge number of items I may never use. I have a good spinning rig and a good casting rig. I make both do multiple duty, sometimes beyond what they would normally be used for. There are actually a handful of baits I use regularly. I like to try something different once and awhile but always return mostly to my confidence baits. I don't fish competitively though and I understand needing to change things up fast to keep ahead of things, but I see casual recreational anglers with more stuff than they'd ever possibly be able to use. I actually know people who have a ton of stuff they carry with them all the time and it's never gotten wet and never will be.
Sort of a mystery to me. I guess it may be an addiction. Sort of like gambling anglers or something. I'm flummoxed.
It's the same reason my girlfriend has to order an appetizer, main course, and dessert every time we go anywhere. She's obsessed with the idea of anything food related. There is no explaining it, you just gotta roll with it and move on.
Fishes in trees reply :
So, you're trying to make gear purchasing decisions based on perceived needs rather than wants. Good luck with that. I gave up trying to do that a long time ago. What I do is ask myself one simple question, i.e. "Is there a chance that this particular piece of gear will help me catch a fish? ever?" If the answer is yes, then I'm probably going to get it. If the answer is yes and it happens to be one of those times when I'm temporarily broke, then I revisit the decision sometime when I'm not broke.
r3825 reply :
Very few things in life bring me as much enjoyment as new fishing goodies in the mail, don't avoid it, embrace it!!
Michigander reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 2:18 AM, Tizi said:I have been trying to avoid the bait monkey
GReb reply :
I told my wife last week that I was good on lures this year and didn’t need anything. The next day I ordered a pile of Jackhammers and DT6s. But honestly I did need them 
Sam reply :
You cannot out-fox the Bait Monkey.
You can do whatever you want but you will never, ever, outsmart the Bait Monkey.
The Bait Monkey is watching you and he knows about you.
He knows you are a sucker for all baits, not just the ones you are going to stick with. As soon as a pro starts to hype a bait the Bait Monkey knows you will get it.
Don't despair. It is a disease we all have. The Bait Monkey rules.
Michigander reply :
Good on you, but I don't think I could restrict myself a small set of manufacturers like that. I have been restricting myself to certain baits for certain presentations. For example, only Keitech Fat Swing Impacts and Exoswims for paddle tail swim baits, only Rage Craws and Rage Bugs for craws, Snack Daddy for tubes, etc. I like VMC for light wire hooks and Owner for heavier hooks. I feel like a more refined selection of baits and terminal tackle that I am practiced with will help me choose an appropriate presentation and have confidence when fishing it.
Paul Roberts reply :
Fishing. Getting out of the house. i buy more stuff when I'm cooped up thinking about fishing.
Bankbeater reply :
It starts with a single idea and the next thing you know you’re having to add an extra room on the house, or extending the garage out.
Tizi reply :
I need a bass boat. Do I? Need? I have 2 kayaks and a 12 foot smokercraft. but a used boat I can renovate would be sweet. The monkey doesn't stop at lures...I am betting at some point that monkey is going to get me for that boat.
jbsoonerfan reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 10:02 AM, Tizi said:I need a bass boat. Do I? Need? I have 2 kayaks and a 12 foot smokercraft. but a used boat I can renovate would be sweet. The monkey doesn't stop at lures...I am betting at some point that monkey is going to get me for that boat.
Absolutely no doubt he will. I used to just go with my buddy. I had a tackle bag full of lures and 5 combos. I bought a boat and now I have a boat full of lures and 13 combos that grow by the day it seems.
But it sure is fun!
DitchPanda reply :
I just said the other day my personal bait monkey is a Silverback guerilla..no finesse or sneaky tricks just pure power and intimidation to get what he wants
I have to agree with Paul Roberts on this... I have ice for 4 to 5 months a year and out spend the other 8 months easily.
Also wanna shout out to Paul..I believe you do the NatureOfFishing channel on youtube...your videos are great..very in depth and informative
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Crankin4Bass reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 2:55 AM, Tizi said:Here is what mine looks like, I just started it so it could change:
I also keep a similar spreadsheet in google docs so I can also access it on my phone when I’m at a store. I also keep prices paid, retailer, specs, colors, depth, hook sizes, model # and color. I keep separate tabs for each type of bait.
Michigander reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 9:53 AM, Bankbeater said:It starts with a single idea and the next thing you know you’re having to add an extra room on the house, or extending the garage out.
Yeah, the bait monkey can get totallly out of control sometimes. Heaven help your wallet if you are getting into a totally new technique!
Mbirdsley reply :
I thought I was done buying tackle but, than I got watching you tube videos about late winter/spring fishing. I realized I don’t have really tight wobble cranks ( I’m addicted to cranks and jerkbaits any how). Well 2 purchases from eBay and 2 from Walmart I know own 4 shad raps to go with red craw sr05 I allready have. I’ll be to Walmart next payday to get a couple I wanted but, didn’t want to deal with wife when she looked at the bank account. So I try to hide them with other purchases. “Sorry honey big run and prices went up on flowers and chocolate this year Valentine’s Day ya know supply and demand”
MN Fisher reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 10:13 AM, Michigander said:Yeah, the bait monkey can get totallly out of control sometimes. Heaven help your wallet if you are getting into a totally new technique!
Every time I even THINK about getting into larger swimbaits, I can hear my bank account screaming in pain.
Michigander reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 10:02 AM, Tizi said:I need a bass boat. Do I? Need? I have 2 kayaks and a 12 foot smokercraft. but a used boat I can renovate would be sweet. The monkey doesn't stop at lures...I am betting at some point that monkey is going to get me for that boat.
GreenPig reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 10:38 AM, MN Fisher said:Every time I even THINK about getting into larger swimbaits, I can hear my bank account screaming in pain.
The really good big bait slingers will often only have a couple rods and a handful of baits. I guess I'm a bad big bait slinger.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 9:53 AM, Bankbeater said:It starts with a single idea and the next thing you know you’re having to add an extra room on the house, or extending the garage out.
We laugh! But it's true.
HenryPF reply :
I am proud of myself - the bait monkey has been off my back since September of 2019... I did however buy a new boat last week...
FishTank reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 10:38 AM, MN Fisher said:Every time I even THINK about getting into larger swimbaits, I can hear my bank account screaming in pain.
So the monkey got me on swimbaits finally. I have been avoiding it until I threw a buddies Savage Gear 8in or maybe 10in swimbait and had a 5 pounder destroy it in open water. I knew then that the bait monkey had won.
I got hit for a St. Croix Mojo Musky and 13 Fishing Muse Black Swimbait rod> for reels, I got a Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast and a used Shimano Calcutta> baits, 3 Spro's, 6 Savage Gears, 2 Lucky Craft Pointer 180's and 3 Huddlestons> Line, 2 spools of Sunline Defier Armilo 22lb and 25lb.
Smells like fish reply :
I have people say to me that I shouldn't need or want a lure with the variety I have. I am always amazed at that comment. I often reply to them what I have is only a start. Do any of you feel that way? No I don't use all my lures but I feel I'll never know when I'll want to use a certain technique and what size-color-brand-depth I may need so therefore I continue to rub the monkeys belly!!!
Columbia Craw reply :
I would print out my spread sheet but that would mean a new ream of paper. A very good friend of mine decided he wanted to start bass fishing two years ago and joined the club last year. I told him to come over and go through my gear and get some ideas. He told me I was ill. I already know that.
schplurg reply :
I only have one hobby so I don't mind the monkey - yet. I invite him over for beers sometimes. Thankfully he's a cheap-skate like me, but I'm starting to earn a little more money now. Maybe he won't notice
ChrisD46 reply :
"One can never defeat the Bait Monkey - you can only hope to co-exist with him" ... I now set a limit of say $50 and then start moving things from my wish list to the cart . Then I go through several rounds of reductions in my cart until I get down to $50 - the rest goes back into my wish list which depending on the season might get called to the cart later and make the final $50 cut .
RB 77 reply :
RemyL reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 3:04 AM, MassYak85 said:My method is to have in the back of my mind things I'm looking to buy short or long term. If I see one of those things go on sale it's a no brainer to swoop in and buy, if I see something on sale I didn't really want in the first place it's easy to shrug it off. Only exception is true blowout sales of like 50 percent or more, in that case I'll stock up on stuff I might already have but know I'll use, or maybe I'll try something that would normally be out of my budget if it wasn't on sale.
Again I think it's just having a mental list of things you actually want vs "sure it's on sale but I didn't want that anyways".
This is my usual method, fishing related or not. If I wasn't actively looking for an item or at least planning the purchase, the sale is for someone else. I may be tempted, but I usually resist. The exception is stuff where I wanted it but thought it was overpriced normally. When it's suddenly at a price I feel is appropriate I'll rethink it. Very often that price has more to do with my budget than a statement about the relative value. I may think an item is absolutely worth the money, but my budget doesn't run to that tier.
I've got a google doc of lures and terminal tackle and should probably turn it into a spreadsheet. I started it when I was just starting to build my kit so I wouldn't double buy while things were still in transit.
haggard reply :
Team9nine reply :
The more you know, the less you throw. Fortunately, I was exposed to some Buck Perry common sense early in the game. I’d guess about 90% of my purchases are now simply ‘restock and replace’ in nature.
king fisher reply :
When I was single, the bait monkey was my best friend he only had the hunting gear monkey for competition. I drove a junk car, wore rags for clothes, thought going to KFC was splurging for a Friday night dinner, spent most of my money, and all my spare time fishing or hunting. Then I got married, and learned that money can be spent at stores that don't even have a tackle section, a heater, good wipers, and brakes that you don't have to pump are all essential items on a car, restaurants that serves wine are a requirement for a Friday night dinner out, and their is no such thing as spare time. The bait Monkey is so scared of my wife he only dares show up at Christmas, and my birthday. The good thing is years of being friends with the bait monkey have left me with more than a lifetime supply of fishing gear.
Tizi reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 5:45 PM, ChrisD46 said:"One can never defeat the Bait Monkey - you can only hope to co-exist with him" ... I now set a limit of say $50 and then start moving things from my wish list to the cart . Then I go through several rounds of reductions in my cart until I get down to $50 - the rest goes back into my wish list which depending on the season might get called to the cart later and make the final $50 cut .
You're talking my language! A budget. I like the idea of keeping my bait monkey spend to say $100/month. This includes poles, reels, etc. If I want a $200 combo, I have to save for 2 months. At first I was thinking $50/month...not sure that is reasonable.
JediAmoeba reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 7:15 AM, GReb said:I told my wife last week that I was good on lures this year and didn’t need anything. The next day I ordered a pile of Jackhammers and DT6s. But honestly I did need them
So you lied to your wife???
The worst part is, I KNOW the high percentage things I can catch fish on more often than not...but the moment I go out and don't catch something I find myself going to the local shop or perusing tackle websites and buy something. Rather than chalk it up to a bad day or approach, I rationalize that it must be my gear.
LargeMarge reply :
On 2/14/2020 at 10:36 PM, Team9nine said:The more you know, the less you throw. Fortunately, I was exposed to some Buck Perry common sense early in the game. I’d guess about 90% of my purchases are now simply ‘restock and replace’ in nature.
How have you simplified your tackle?
Way north bass guy reply :
I did well today, was at the Toronto spring fishing and boat show with my 10 yr old. Only bought one Duo spin bait and a t-shirt for the kid. Although I did spend $250 at Bass Pro on the way there on a new front pedestal seat for the boat, but it was mostly with Christmas gift cards so I guess technically the bait monkey got my mother in law ????.
Team9nine reply :
On 2/15/2020 at 8:47 AM, LargeMarge said:How have you simplified your tackle?
I only stock stuff that has proven itself on the waters I fish, and don’t buy a bunch of other baits that will just do the same thing. On the boat, only keep a handful of different soft plastics on hand, and in just a few basic colors and brands. Just a half dozen spinnerbaits (one brand) because I rarely throw them. Only 1 brand of buzz bait; a couple Spooks, a couple poppers. Five or six frogs (Spro and Booyah). A small 3600 box of jerkbaits, mostly Megabass and Rapala. Cranks are LC squarebills, Bandit shallow runners, Poes/Rapala mid depth and Norman deep.
If I hit the water from the bank, it’s just 1 rod and reel and a couple baits tossed into my shirt pocket. You can kind of get an idea from that.
Smells like fish reply :
I've heard about all I can take! I'm gonna go lure shopping tomorrow...
Raul reply :
Avoiding the BaitMonkey ........
ROFLMAO !!!!!
ike8120 reply :
The only way to stop the bait monkey is the quit fishing and sell all your stuff. LOL
CrankFate reply :
It’s easier to avoid the baitmonkey when you have a ton of new stuff that’s still not fished because you have no time for fishing.
tander reply :
Resist the bait monkey, why, that's no fun!!
Boomstick reply :
I will never beat the bait monkey entirely, but I have been doing a wonderful job keeping him at bay when it's not black friday or I lose a productive lure in the middle of the season I would fish it in.
papajoe222 reply :
I had a way to keep the monkey occupied while I surfed through my favorite fishing sites. I found a site showing monkey porn 24/7. I'd put it up on the tube, grab my laptop and I could browse for hours without interruption. It worked for all of two seasons when a new monkey arrived. You guessed it, he's gay and they don't have a site showing gay monkey porn, so I just cut up my charge cards and the dang thing can only get me to spend cash.
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