Starting From Scratch 2025

Ringonu reply :

Hi all. I have been lurking on these forums and getting reintroduced back into fishing. I have since been buying gear like crazy since Christmas because I started with pretty much nothing. I still have some purchases to make such as a quality rod and reel (mine are crap but work). Below is the tackle I purchased. I am going to put my buying on hold until I can get out and use this stuff.

For reference I will be bank fishing for small and largemouth in water that is anything from clear to muddy in lakes and rivers. Southwest OH.

Senkos - various colors

Hula Grubs - various colors

Super fluke - various colors

Bitsy tubes - various colors

Paca chunk(?) trailer - various colors

Booyah boo jig - black and blue - never fished with a jig

Booyah spinner - 3/8 and 1/2 oz white and white/chartreuse

Zara rattlin' spook - bone

Zara puppy - bone, bull frog

Heddon torpedo - larger size - was one of my go- to lure back 10+ years ago

Rapala classic minnow - black and silver - my other former go-to lure

KVD 1.5 - sexy shad and black back chartreuse - never fished a crank like this so more learning

2/0-4/0 gamakatsu ewg offset hook

2/0 wacky hooks

Wacky rig

3/8oz standup jig heads (for hula's)

Tube jig heads - can't remember the size

I'm sure there's more terminal tackle I missed.

I think this is a good start. I know I don't have any medium or deep cranks, buzzbaits, frogs, etc...

I am going to try out what I have and see what happens. If I decide fishing isn't what it used to be I am not out too much.

This will all be carried in a Spiderwire sling pack ($18 at field and stream) and two waterproof flambeau containers.

Hope this helps anyone getting into or back into fishing. Now I need start on my catfish setup...

Dwight Hottle reply :

Welcome to bass resource. The only omission I saw from your list is a scale so you won't be wondering how much your bass weigh. Good luck out there.

Ringonu reply :

A scale and measuring tape are on my short list. I am doing catch and release but weight would be good to know. I also have a waterproof digital camera just in case.

HoosierHawgs reply :

I saw that you want to purchase a good rod/reel... Do you have a price range in mind?

Brnnoser6983 reply :

Welcome back into fishing and into the forum.

It is a rocky road to start from beginning. But great because you can customize your box to exactly what you are fishing.

Ringonu reply :

I currently have two spinning setups. One is a whuppin stick 7ft combo from cabelas. It was a gift. The other is an old zebco spinner I used back in the day with a new 6' ugly stick. Those are going to work for now. Eventually i want to try a baitcast. Will probably end up wth a BPS pro qualifier reel. Not sure on the rod yet

HoosierHawgs reply :

On 1/27/2015 at 12:01 AM, Ringonu said:
I currently have two spinning setups. One is a whuppin stick 7ft combo from cabelas. It was a gift. The other is an old zebco spinner I used back in the day with a new 6' ugly stick. Those are going to work for now. Eventually i want to try a baitcast. Will probably end up wth a BPS pro qualifier reel. Not sure on the rod yet

If you want to pick up a PQ, they are gonna go on sale *supposedly* during the spring classic for $50. It would be a great starter reel at the price. At $100-$150 there are a ton of quality options that don't offer the shiny bling, but they offer great performance. Lew's Speed Spool, Daiwa Tatula, Pinnacle Producer and Optimus reels, Abu Garcia Revo S and Revo SX, Quantum Energy, Pflueger Supreme, are all good options.

Senko lover reply :

Looks like you are off to a fun 2015! Enjoy fishing and check in here for info.

Darren. reply :

Welcome aboard!

If you can't afford a scale yet, a good idea would

be to have a tape measure of sorts - like the ones

used in sewing - that you can get girth and length.

Flexible for the girth. Or you could have a "rope" that

you have pre-measured/marked that you can measure

afterward.

There is an estimate calculator here, and elsewhere on

the web.

Ringonu reply :

I have a 2ft sewing type measure. I hope to have a reason to use it. Thanks for all the great info on this site. Keep it up!

rippin-lips reply :

Add a pair of needle nose pliers and scissors to your bag. Sometimes you need the pliers to get hooks out. Especially the trebles on cranks. The scissors to cut line.

Ringonu reply :

Thanks. Now if you could just make it spring. Going to start driving around to find the good fishing spots. Lived in OH for 10 years and have yet to drop a line in the water. Better late than never.

rippin-lips reply :

On 1/27/2015 at 5:04 AM, Ringonu said:
Thanks. Now if you could just make it spring. Going to start driving around to find the good fishing spots. Lived in OH for 10 years and have yet to drop a line in the water. Better late than never.

Also take a look on Google Earth. There could be places near you that you aren't even aware of.

ABW reply :

I'd also learn how to take out a gut hook too, if you don't know how.

Ringonu reply :

I used to fish 4-5 days a week back in high school (miss those days) so I know how to fish. Just had all my old gear "donated" to my siblings and family while in college. That and I moved to a new state and never took the time to get out there. 2015 is the year

thomas15 reply :

On 1/27/2015 at 5:04 AM, Ringonu said:
Thanks. Now if you could just make it spring. Going to start driving around to find the good fishing spots. Lived in OH for 10 years and have yet to drop a line in the water. Better late than never.

Same here, moved to PA in 2004 (from NJ). Believe it or not, I used to fish for and catch LMB almost every day. When we first moved to PA I tried but had no luck.

Last summer we decided it's time to get back. Like starting all over again, literally feel like a beginner. Went full bore though, got a boat and restocked my tackle box. It's basically out of control now, I picked up 3 new bait cast rigs, a few spinner rigs, and a bunch of tackle to go along with the boat. This year I'm going to spend some real quality time hunting for Mr. Bass.

Senko lover reply :

On 1/27/2015 at 6:14 AM, asianboywonder said:
I'd also learn how to take out a gut hook too, if you don't know how.

Lol there's only one way to learn: the hard way! I used to nightcrawler fish for bream, and boy those suckers can get it deep!

Ringonu reply :

I am working on getting a boat or pontoon. I've been told we have to sell our camper to fund a boat so I'm probabaly not getting a boat anytime soon. Looks like a kayak may be in my near future. Whatever it takes to get on the water. Even if fishing ain't what it used to be I will put a boat or yak to good use.

zachb34 reply :

On 1/30/2015 at 11:52 PM, Ringonu said:
I am working on getting a boat or pontoon. I've been told we have to sell our camper to fund a boat so I'm probabaly not getting a boat anytime soon. Looks like a kayak may be in my near future. Whatever it takes to get on the water. Even if fishing ain't what it used to be I will put a boat or yak to good use.

Check out the bass raider thread going on in the boat section on the forums. Depending what you want to do they may be a better and also cheap way to get on the water.

Ringonu reply :

Looked at the bass raiders and similar and never cared for them. I will be loading and unloading on my own so adding a trailer and such I might as well get a jon boat. I'm a long way from a boat since I love my camper. I could probably talk my way into a yak since we have room to store it.

HoosierHawgs reply :

On 1/31/2015 at 3:22 AM, Ringonu said:
Looked at the bass raiders and similar and never cared for them. I will be loading and unloading on my own so adding a trailer and such I might as well get a jon boat. I'm a long way from a boat since I love my camper. I could probably talk my way into a yak since we have room to store it.

The camper and yak would go hand in hand. Noting better than camping, headed out in the yak, and frying some fish up for dinner!

Jazzybass reply :

Additional recommendations: Some plastic worms (black,junebug, maybe chartreuse for SMB) bullet sinkers, #2 offset worm hooks, a small sharpening stone, small o rings for your Senko baits to help them last longer.

For many years I had a Radisson Sportspal canoe. It weighs 48 lbs or so and can be carried on top of the car using foam blocks. Very easy to paddle or add a trolling motor.

Good fishing!

Ringonu reply :

Thanks for the advice. I bought the wacky tool with rings. I used to fish with worms and never had any luck. I was likely fishing them wrong. I will likely add them to my arsenal. I will be hitting up the spring classic so I'm sure I will find more to buy.

Ringonu reply :

I am hoping to hit up the spring classic on Friday. I've got a little shopping list to round out my gear purchases.

Pro Qualifier 6.4

Pro Qualifier 7.1

MH/F 7' rod

M/F or MH/F 6'6" rod

BPS ultralight glass rod to pair with a diawa minicast i was given. It'll make fighting bluegill fun

A 50 pack or two of stick-o's. At 9.97/pack that's worth trying them.

Going to pair the 7' rod with the 7.1 reel and the 6'6" with the 6.4 and use that combo as an all purpose. Thinking either the old carbonlite rod depending on availability. If not then either a BPS Tourney Special or a Lightning Rod Shock.

I am on somewhat of a budget and I think these combos would be good for someone like me who has never ised a baitcaster. Worse case scenario is I don't like them and get my money back out of them.

I guess this is fun part about starting from scratch, all the research and shopping.

HoosierHawgs reply :

On 2/2/2015 at 10:05 PM, Ringonu said:

I am hoping to hit up the spring classic on Friday. I've got a little shopping list to round out my gear purchases.

Pro Qualifier 6.4

Pro Qualifier 7.1

MH/F 7' rod

M/F or MH/F 6'6" rod

BPS ultralight glass rod to pair with a diawa minicast i was given. It'll make fighting bluegill fun

A 50 pack or two of stick-o's. At 9.97/pack that's worth trying them.

Going to pair the 7' rod with the 7.1 reel and the 6'6" with the 6.4 and use that combo as an all purpose. Thinking either the old carbonlite rod depending on availability. If not then either a BPS Tourney Special or a Lightning Rod Shock.

I am on somewhat of a budget and I think these combos would be good for someone like me who has never ised a baitcaster. Worse case scenario is I don't like them and get my money back out of them.

I guess this is fun part about starting from scratch, all the research and shopping.

Berkley rods are really solid for tue price. I would not hesitate to buy another Shock. I bought one used for 25 bones, which is a steal. They're Lightning IM6 and Cherrywood are pretty good little bass rods as well.

Ncbassmaster25 reply :

if you are looking for a quality rod abu garcia vengeance, veritas, sellus are really good and affordable also as for reel lews, abu garcia pro max and silver max, daiwa laguna. check out ***.com there you can search for rods based on price range and length. catfish setups i would go to with abu garcia 5600 rcx reel they are my personal favorite for catfishing matched with a 7'6 medium heavy or heavy rod and i use 30 pound spiderwire braid with a 20lb flurocarbon leader or wire leader for muskies.

Ringonu reply :

Well, i don't usually do things halfway and fishing is no exception. I had all intentions to fish from the bank or possibly a kayak. That all changed when I had the opportunity to sell my camper and buy a boat.

I will do anoter post in the show off your ride topic. I ended up with a 1989 Sea Nymph tournament 155. The previous owner had decks on the front and back. Can't find another like it when searching. Has a 1989 25hp Johnson. The inside looks like new with fresh carpet and solid floors. Very little storage and no rod storage. I will have to remedy that. Will have pics up once I pick it up. Can't wait to get it on the water again.

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