Help a noob outfit a tackle box?

[CrazyCarl]

So, I'm a noob/reentry fisherman & after the ex wife swiped all my gear & tackle (boat, too!) last year, I need to put together a new tackle box. Preferably, without wasting a bunch of money on unnecessary stuff like last time.

We'll be fishing almost exclusively on bigger reservoirs like Perry, Clinton or Hillsdale. I've got size 1000 & 2500 Shimano spinners on 6'2" L/F & 6'6" M/F rods & strung with 4# & 6# mono, respectively. She'll be using primarily a size 20 Zebco Bullet on a 5'6" L/F rod with 6# mono. We also 2 Zebco 33 Micros to hand, one on a 5' UL/F rod & one one a 5'6" L/F with 2# & 4# mono. I've got the Garmin UHD 73 Echomap & MK 70lb trolling motor.

We'll be primarily fishing crappie, though I'll be on constant lookout for bluegill & redear. Would love to have walleye for supper a bit more often & have heard whites & wipers are fun & tasty, as well. Don't care about catfish or bass really, but any stray eaters that end up on the boat are coming home. Don't care about trophies or braggin' rights, just wanna catch some fish & have a nice supper, out camping at the lake.

I think we're good to go on rods & reels. I imagine I'd want something a bit more stout for regular walleye or white/wiper fishing & am considering a baitcaster rig down the road a ways. Depending on the GF's willingness to learn a new "system", I'll either plus her up with the larger Zebco Bullet on a M/F rod or set up with the appropriate spinner or baitcaster rig.

With all that in mind, anyone wanna give me some pointers on bait types & sizes? I see a gojillion plastic baits- all the jig styles, worms, craws, bugs, minnows, etc., but no idea where to start. I'd imagine jig heads in sizes from 1/64oz up to 1/8 or 1/4oz need to be stocked & I can guess at colors, but that's it. I'm more familiar with the panfish & can probably figure that out myself, but I'm at a loss with the other species. I hear whites & wipers like shiny, rattly lures when they're on top, but no idea otherwise & have less than no idea about walleye.

I know about Ned rigging, drop shotting & Texas or Carolina rigs & know I'll need a handful of specialized items for that. No idea about trolling, though. I'd like to try/learn slip bobbers as well.

I know I'll need an assortment of hooks & sinkers & the like, along with needle nose pliers, fish grippers, bump board & landing net.

So, with all that mind, any tips or advice on good, all around baits to set me up for some multi species fun would be hugely appreciated.

[MCG1]

Marabou jigs in various sizes will catch panfish, bass, walleyes, trout, salmon.

[CrappiePappy]

1/16oz marabou Road Runners .... all white - pink/char - all chartreuse

Blade baits ... your choice of color, size, and brand (White Bass & Wipers ... casting or trolling)

for plastics I'd suggest looking at Slabanator Jigs ( Slabanator jigs - Crappie Jigs, Crappie Baits, Fishing Store )

[BuckeyeCrappie]

PM SENT TO YOU

[DockShootinJack]

Hard to Beat Bobby Garland Baby Shad as well

[CrazyCarl]

Thanks, fellas. Much appreciated. Haven't really fished since I was a kid & that strictly raggedy old farm ponds for stunted bullhead & the odd 'gill & occasionally running bank lines on a local creek for catfish. Always wanted to fish "for real" but family circumstances at the time & a career in the military put the kibosh on that until a couple years ago.

Bought a little 25hp tiller steer 15'er summer of '22 & proceeded to burn copious amounts of gas & daylight, fishing every bait & type of terrain I could think of on Truman & Pomme to catch 3 fish. I caught more fish that year in one morning of dunking jigs & day drinking with my aunt from her dock on LOZ, than I caught all summer on the other 2 lakes. Couldn't tell you if that was due to not finding fish or not offering them anything appetizing, but it was frustrating as all get out.

I definitely appreciate the tips on the maribou jigs. Never used one before in my life (nor seen one used by anyone) & was curious about them.

Slab Sauce, scents & the like? Anything there? Never imagined that would be a thing till I joined up here & just noticed Slabanator offers a few flavors/scents of baits.

[MCG1]

Slab sauce, crappie nibbles, and slabinator scent sticks can tip the scales in your favor.

[Kevin22]

For panfish
Bobbers of choice, along with splitshot, and hooks for live bait
1/32 and 1/16 heads.
Couple colors of 1.5" tubes (black/chart, blue/white)
Couple colors of bobby garland baby shad swimr (blue ice, chartreuse)
A pack of Marabou jigs in 1/32 for under bobbers

If they don't hit that, hit the bar.

For walleye and white bass
1/8, 1/4, 3/8 heads
3" curl tail grub in white and chartreuse
3" paddle tail swimbaits (i like cabelas walleye ones) in white, chartreuse, orange.

If they don't hit that, hit the bar.

Sent from my SM-A516U using Crappie.com mobile app

[Rojo]

sent you a PM

[Les Young]

Slab sauce, crappie nibbles, and slabinator scent sticks can tip the scales in your favor.