The Fatigue Of A Minimalist Bass Fisherman 2024
JellyMan reply :
So I guess I have a touch of OCD... Or maybe a certifiable case, and as far as fishing goes, I like to have things as organized as possible as well as having the most minimal amount of gear and tackle as possible to make me feel as if I am being as proficient as possible.
I cannot seem to have more than 5 setups.
- Heavy cover w/braid on a 7' MH on BC
- Worms, plastics, weightless and weighted with a Co Polymer on a 7' MH on BC
- Top water w/ 12lb Mono on a 6'6 MH on BC
- Spinner baits and crank baits w/ 12lb Mono on a 7' MH on BC
- Weightless plastics for shore fishing and finesse on a 6'6 M on a spinning
Then on to tackle. Oh boy. Another crisis. I cannot seem to find a way to efficiently organize my soft plastics. I feel it is a fine line between the ease of accessing a specific bait and having them organized. I just purchased a new system that hopefully with make things easier for me. I'll let you know how it goes. I've tried boxes, Zip Locks with each bait type, and I've tried throwing everything I use in a messy pile in my tackle bag. Nothing has hit my happy spot. Hopefully this new box/file system with ease my pain finally.
It's crazy. Maybe I have problems but there is something about Bass fishing that really gets my OCD raging! I love every bit of it and I love being as efficient as possible.
Anybody else have similar issues or feel the same way? Like they "need to find a way to be as efficient as possible from organization, to accessibility, to rod and reel setups"?
flukeking reply :
Yea I have a similar problem. Fishing brings out my OCD as well. I want everything to be absolutely perfect. I just know if I don't do the least little thing right it could cause me to lose the big one.
jkarol24 reply :
Not as "crazy" as you, but I cannot stand to have more than 4 rod son the deck of the boat. If I do, i stop fishing and put a few away 
The Rooster reply :
I stress over some fishing related decisions. I'm bad when it comes to reels. I haven't found one yet I'd consider perfectly made. They get the brakes, casting ease, and comfort right, but not the total number of bearings I want to see. Or they get that right, but the brakes could be better, or they get it mechanically right but it's uncomfortable in hand, or they get it ALL right on paper but it's executed poorly. It's always something, so every reel purchase I make is a compromise. That's one example of my fishing OCD.
Then my tackle organization is off, too. I'm not a minimalist so I carry way more than I need but I want it neat and organized with no wasted space. That means jam packing lures into utility boxes, as many as 30 or more crankbaits in a 3600 size. I've got 45 spinnerbaits in a 3730. I've got about 80 Worden's Roostertails in a 3701 box and as many as 30 jerkbaits in another of the same size. I love how much I can put in such a small space, but this leads to tangled baits, which I hate. I've reorganized it 50 times at least, tried several different hard tackle boxes, but always come back to a bag. There's no way I'm downsizing. If anything, I'm constantly looking for ways to add more and keep it all in the same bag. Now I have two bags, one for hard baits and one for plastics. The hard bait bag has 12 utility boxes in different sizes in it alone. I'm probably carrying somewhere around 300 lures, not counting plastics. I actually use them also, it's not like I have baits that will never see water. I'm prone to use any one of them at any time. So there's another example of my fishing OCD.
Don't get me started on what line to use with what bait technique, on which rod, with what reel ratio. I'll be typing the rest of the night.
By the way, sorry to stir up your OCD, but spinnerbaits and crankbaits on the same rod? That's a contradiction of uses. Now I'd bet you'll be thinking about that and how to fix it.
JellyMan reply :
Well, Rooster, I see it this way, I only have about 6 spinner baits and don't use them very often. Maybe a little during spring time. Same goes with crank baits. I just done seem to use them that often. Every once in awhile. I mainly throw plastics at cover or shore or fish with jigs. Spinner bait and crank baits I use when I am not having much luck so I don't see the need for spending another $250/$300 on a spinner bait/cranking specific combo. See how this works? LOL!
But then again, I am forever looking to expand my knowledge and attempts at trying new technics so who knows what the future holds. Man am I a mess.
tomustang reply :
You need a bigger boat 
Fishes in trees reply :
Yeah, spinner baits and crank baits on the same rod wouldn't work for me. I generally throw spinner baits in shallower ( less than 6 or so feet ) water around woody or brushy cover. 17 or 20 lb line just seems more efficient to me compared to trying to throw spinner baits on 12. Way over half the time the spinner baits I'm throwing are around a half an ounce. I would snap 12 lb line every so often doing pitch and snap roll casts.
I couldn't handle 1 rod for cranks. Too many distinct cranking situations that require dedicated equipment, at least as I see it. A - square bill rod with abrasion resistant 17 or 20 lb line.
B - A deeper diving crank rod with 14 or 15 abrasion resistant line for throwing DC13 and DC16 Timber Tigers around deeper trees and bushes. I like to get down to 12 or so feet with this set up.
C - A distance cranking rig, spooled with 10 lb mono for throwing Norman DD22s or Long bill bagleys or Fat Free Shads, baits of that ilk. I like to throw these parallel to the outside edges of deeper weed lines or bounce the baits off of deeper rocky points in 15 - 20 feet of water.
D - a dedicated rod for throwing rattle baits, generally over the tops of weed beds on flats, 1 to 5 or so feet deep , roughly. I find 20 lb abrasion resistant mono or 65 lb braid most suitable for this task.
E - A dedicated rod for throwing light crank baits , like 5/16 shad raps and similar baits. Currently I am using a 6'6" light rod and a spinning reel with 12 lb. nano fill., which has the diameter of roughly 4 lb test.
I also generally carry an "all purpose" rod & reel in case I I backlash a reel or bust off a rod tip. I will carry a couple of bait casting reels as well.
I carry a drop shot rod and a bubba drop shot rod, a Shaky head rod and a bubba version of the shakey head.
I could go on buy you get the idea.
Sam reply :
JellyMan, let me tell you of your base problem. I learned this when I was teaching at the University of Richmond.
YOU KNOW TOO MUCH!
Yes. You know way too much.
When students finish a gtest early and walk out saying the test was easy, they don't know all of the material. It is those students that take up to the last minute and moan and groan as they know too much and a simple question can invoke many options for an answer.
Please consider the following:
1. Take along additional reels to change out on the rods. This will keep your rod count down but you can still adapt as necessary,.
2. Try to know the water. Clear-dirty-high-low-structure-grass-slop-wood-temperature-current.
3. Know the weather. Cold front pass-bluebird skies-cloudy-rain-wind-cold front on the way.
4. Try to have one reel of each type with flouro, mono and braid line.
5. Select plastics and baits based on the water and weather. You know what works and does not work and take only what you think works.
6. If you are bank fishing you can use your car for storage of baits and tackle. I bet you find that 99% of what you have in the car never gets used.
7. Keep a log. After a few months you will have a very good understanding of the waters you fish, the baits and techniques that work and under what weather conditions.
Let us know what you finally do and if our input helps you to be more efficiengt. Post pics of your catches.
aharris reply :
On 3/12/2013 at 12:59 PM, JellyMan said:Well, Rooster, I see it this way, I only have about 6 spinner baits and don't use them very often. Maybe a little during spring time. Same goes with crank baits. I just done seem to use them that often. Every once in awhile. I mainly throw plastics at cover or shore or fish with jigs. Spinner bait and crank baits I use when I am not having much luck so I don't see the need for spending another $250/$300 on a spinner bait/cranking specific combo. See how this works? LOL!
But then again, I am forever looking to expand my knowledge and attempts at trying new technics so who knows what the future holds. Man am I a mess.
dude you need to have more faith in the spinnerbait! On cloudy days from Feb-Dec, I have a spinnerbait tied on.
BassWhole! reply :
In a word, No.
roadwarrior reply :
I have a small tackle room with rods on a wall and tackle on peg boards and in open shelving.
Doing my homework and keeping in touch with guys that fish the same water I knew the bite
was going to be restricted to jerkbaits, Red Eye Shad and The Rig. So, for this outing all I needed
was three combos and three Plano boxes.
Preparing for the RoadTrip is a different challenge. Do you take everything? In my big bag I carry
everything I "might" want, but I still use the little bag for the stuff I know I will fish for one day. Pretty
simple. Store my big bag and "spares" in the SUV, take the day bag on the boat. I will be fishing as
a non-boater and bring no more than four rods per day.
Goaltender reply :
I have a bumer sticker on the back of my car that reads...
FISHING - It's NOT an addiction if you're not trying to QUIT
Paul Roberts reply :
Absolutely. You are not alone. Bass fishing just happens to be complex. Making it simple, isn't. Unless you are willing to not cover all the bases well 
.
Organization and maintenance are real and constant chores. Let up and I've got a mess or, almost as bad, don't have something when I need it.
My soft plastics are "warehoused" in large plastic boxes sorted by type: creatures, jerks, worms, grubs, tubes, etc... . Worms are sub-sorted by size, general hue, and type (swimming, stright, finesse, ...). I then use smaller "working" boxes I stock from the "warehouse" for the season and water I'm currently fishing. I bring several on any given trip -a finesse box (shaky, mojo, DS, ...), a creature/craw box, a standard worm box, a jerk box, .... Pale colors are kept within these boxes in baggies so they don't get bled into.
I actually handle all my lures this way: "Warehoused" and then pulled for the water and period, like borrowing from a library. I keep "working" box contents together for as long as those particular fishing patterns hold. The contents change and evolve over diff waters and through the season.
There is a simpler way... Commit to a few lures, like topwater say, and see what you can make happen. Just don't be upset when your buddy gets onto a DS pattern and slays em.
QuoteBut then again, I am forever looking to expand my knowledge and attempts at trying new technics so who knows what the future holds. Man am I a mess.
That's where the trouble really begins. Versatility is powerful. But that means a whole lot more stuff. I think it's worth it, as long as you drop some other hobbies along with each new tool you pick up. Just don't drop your job and family. Then you know you are in too deep. 
SENKOSAM reply :
QuoteDoing my homework and keeping in touch with guys that fish the same water I knew the bite
was going to be restricted
I think that is one important factor to even begin organizing for an outing.
I never haul all my inventory around when I know the water I'm going to hit and the particular season and time of day that specific lures have done well year after year.
It sounds like you know the lures you have confidence in and usually carry enough of in case of loss. I always carry and store my basics for the day in a few boxes and extras and less used lures stored in the car or boat compartments, if there's room. My basics box for soft plastics I have confidence in and like fishing with I store with hooks and jigheads to match in the same box. In my basic jig box I have different weight jigs with complementary trailers in the same box. Light finesse baits with hooks and sinkers or jigheads are together in their own box. A few cranks (deep, suspending and floaters) and maybe some topwater hard and soft baits (depending on time of day and season I'm fishing) are organized as to depth and speed of presentation. These are my basic; everyone has (or should have) their own.
My basic lures are rigged on rods that are ready and waiting for situations I come across without the distraction of retying. I'm probably like you - I rarely stay in one spot for more than twenty minutes and investigate different cover and depths a body of water has to offer in a certain order. The basics are always at hand and it's like having a quick reference ready when I need to switch between different lures or presentations. But you need to know the water, its bottom and seasonal patterns to begin constructing your basics boxes and which rod/reel combos. That brings me to basic rod/reel combo selections.
As far as rod length, rod action, line test and line type to have ready, the selection should also match your basic lures selection. For example, if I know I will be using long distance hook sets in pads over shallow flats, I will require a 6' 6 medium-heavy action rod and a reel filled with 20# test braid. (My local waters will certainly call for that soon!) If you know that you will be working jigs around rocks, fluorocarbon of a certain pound test and medium action rod might be a basic set-up ready and at hand. If you have a gut feeling open water schools might be near or on open water humps, you might have a medium light rod and 8# test ready for light jigs and plastics. I always do.
Again, one size does not fit all in my experience and it makes it easier to carry and have at hand what I need until I become desperate to get strange with lures and presentations I'm not comfortable or experienced using. And of course your basics boxes and rigs will change with experiences and learning alone or fishing with others.
My avatar shows me wading a local smallie river carrying two rod/ reel set ups and a basic selection of lures I knew worked that time of year. I was a mile away from the truck and you can only carry so much stuff as well as wading staff. (The other rod was resting on a nearby boulder.) The day was good - over a dozen smallies- and all I needed was four bait types.
It's all in the basics buddy!
BassinB reply :
The way I look at it is this: The only really important thing to me is to be efficient, and the only way to be really efficient is to have everything I need and nothing I don't. Everything I need is quite a bit of stuff, and so I don't beat myself up over organizing it. Stuff I don't ever use has no place in my boat, as long as things are clearly labeled, clean, and in good condition thats all the organization I need. You might look in my boat and say I am nowhere near a minimalist, and thats because in my mind being a minimalist doesn't allow me to be truly efficient.
HookSetDon reply :
On 3/12/2013 at 9:08 PM, roadwarrior said:I have a small tackle room with rods on a wall and tackle on peg boards and in open shelving.
Doing my homework and keeping in touch with guys that fish the same water I knew the bite
was going to be restricted to jerkbaits, Red Eye Shad and The Rig. So, for this outing all I needed
was three combos and three Plano boxes.
Preparing for the RoadTrip is a different challenge. Do you take everything? In my big bag I carry
everything I "might" want, but I still use the little bag for the stuff I know I will fish for one day. Pretty
simple. Store my big bag and "spares" in the SUV, take the day bag on the boat. I will be fishing as
a non-boater and bring no more than four rods per day.
I need a room like this....
vtbassin reply :
On 3/12/2013 at 10:24 PM, Goaltender said:I have a bumer sticker on the back of my car that reads...
FISHING - It's NOT an addiction if you're not trying to QUIT
I could use one of those! 
K_Mac reply :
Jellyman I live at the other end of the continuum when it comes to gear, and would likely have to build an addition to "warehouse" rods, reels, and tackle if I had the money. It's all good. Just enjoy the process.
FWIW I used the same MH-F rod for cranks and spinnerbaits until last year. Like you I didn't see the need for a dedicated crankbait rod. I lost the biggest bass I've ever seen up close using a Bandit 100 series crank last spring. If I had been using the glass rod I now use I would probably have caught a real trophy fish. Slower action rods are much more forgiving when it comes to treble hooks-esp small ones.
The Rooster reply :
.On 3/12/2013 at 12:59 PM, JellyMan said:Well, Rooster, I see it this way, I only have about 6 spinner baits and don't use them very often. Maybe a little during spring time. Same goes with crank baits. I just done seem to use them that often. Every once in awhile. I mainly throw plastics at cover or shore or fish with jigs. Spinner bait and crank baits I use when I am not having much luck so I don't see the need for spending another $250/$300 on a spinner bait/cranking specific combo. See how this works? LOL!
But then again, I am forever looking to expand my knowledge and attempts at trying new technics so who knows what the future holds. Man am I a mess.
I understand. But I'd think your heavy cover rod, or your worms and plastics rod would be a better choice for spinnerbaits. Maybe even your topwater rod, depending on what the tip action is rated at. I use a MH/F rod for my spinnerbaits. This year I added a H/F for spinnerbaits also, among other things. I want a stiffer rod for the large single hook those baits have, to drive it into those bony jaws.
Your rod you have listed as spinnerbaits and crankbaits now might be the right one if it's got the ratings I listed above, but if it is then I'd say it's wrong for crankbaits. I use a M or MH for crankbaits but with a MF tip action due to the treble hooks. I want a soft rod for those baits because trebles are small, wiry hooks that tear out too easily.
But, mainly, whatever works for you is right and if that does then stick with it. My choices are based on reading I've done and experiences I've had since then.
JellyMan reply :
On 3/13/2013 at 6:39 AM, The Rooster said:.
I understand. But I'd think your heavy cover rod, or your worms and plastics rod would be a better choice for spinnerbaits. Maybe even your topwater rod, depending on what the tip action is rated at. I use a MH/F rod for my spinnerbaits. This year I added a H/F for spinnerbaits also, among other things. I want a stiffer rod for the large single hook those baits have, to drive it into those bony jaws.
Your rod you have listed as spinnerbaits and crankbaits now might be the right one if it's got the ratings I listed above, but if it is then I'd say it's wrong for crankbaits. I use a M or MH for crankbaits but with a MF tip action due to the treble hooks. I want a soft rod for those baits because trebles are small, wiry hooks that tear out too easily.
But, mainly, whatever works for you is right and if that does then stick with it. My choices are based on reading I've done and experiences I've had since then.
I would defiantly have a cranking only rod and reel setup if I did it more. I just dont do it much. But like I said, things always change lol. My eventual goal I think will be a 6 rod/reel setup. 5 casting and 1 spinning. Heavy cover / plastics / top water / cranking / spinner bait / shore and finesse. I think I'll be set. I think...
I would like to get into a little more cranking but my jigs and plastics produce and I have a TON of confidence in them. Right along with the top water bite when it's on.
flyfisher reply :
I fish out of a kayak so I am somewhat forced to be semi organized. I carry 5 rods generally. 7'1" MF spinning, 6'8"MXF spinning, 7'MHF casting, 6'8" MHF casting and 7' MM for chucking cranks. As far as tackle goes I am not super organized but I have my boxes set up with basically 1 for top water/ frogs, 1 soft swimbaits, 1 terminal tackle, 1 cranks and two spinnerbaits boxes with the dividers cut out for bags of soft plastics. I also have a few spools of flouro for leaders if I feel like the braid is detracting from the effectiveness of a given presentation.
Seems to fit the bill for me.
JellyMan reply :
On 3/13/2013 at 10:18 AM, flyfisher said:I fish out of a kayak so I am somewhat forced to be semi organized. I carry 5 rods generally. 7'1" MF spinning, 6'8"MXF spinning, 7'MHF casting, 6'8" MHF casting and 7' MM for chucking cranks. As far as tackle goes I am not super organized but I have my boxes set up with basically 1 for top water/ frogs, 1 soft swimbaits, 1 terminal tackle, 1 cranks and two spinnerbaits boxes with the dividers cut out for bags of soft plastics. I also have a few spools of flouro for leaders if I feel like the braid is detracting from the effectiveness of a given presentation. Seems to fit the bill for me.
Similar situation but I like to have everything I need in my Veritas bag.
Here's my ride.
0119 reply :
Wifey gave me the spare bedroom to make it my office. Ive got all my tackle organized with 3700 size Planos and they live in a closet organizer. I fish the bank, kayak, and a 14ft jon boat which is really small for 2 6ft+ 300lb. guys. So I pull what lures I think will be useful for the day and pack them in a Fishpond Fly Fishermans waist pack. A few colors of each kind, but usually just topwaters, flukes and crankbaits. I dont own a spinnerbait, jig and dont like using heavier tackle for swimbaits or frogs. I have never taken more than 2 combos with me. All that may change with season, where Im fishing and for what but I always keep it down to the bare minimum on a trip and never regretted it. But the closet is bursting with choices.
Paul Roberts reply :
You think you guys are cramped for space? ... Here's my ride:
Gotta be thinking ahead.
I'm afraid I'll bust the zippers in those pockets someday.
0119 reply :
I like those retro reels Paul! Cardinal, XLT, I think a old Quantum and a Black and Gold Daiwa ?
Ratherbfishing reply :
I've given up on being organized or a minimalist. If/when I fish the bank, I just make sure I've given my pack elephant steroids in advance.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 3/14/2013 at 8:42 AM, 119 said:I like those retro reels Paul! Cardinal, XLT, I think a old Quantum and a Black and Gold Daiwa ?
Not retro, that's just my stuff.
Get good stuff, take care, and it'll last.
You almost got 'em all: Card 4, XLT, BG15, Shimano Bantam, and the new reel there is a USReels "Ray Scott" 230.
K_Mac reply :
On 3/14/2013 at 11:29 PM, Ratherbfishing said:I've given up on being organized or a minimalist. If/when I fish the bank, I just make sure I've given my pack elephant steroids in advance.
I'm afraid to take pack elephant steroids!
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 3/15/2013 at 3:03 AM, K_Mac said:I'm afraid to take pack elephant steroids!
I'm afraid I've been misquoted HOWEVER taking elephant steroids might do the trick, too.
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