One of the things I've started doing lately that's saved me a lot of money is only buying what I know I'm going to use, as opposed to what I want or think I might need. You'd be surprised at what that'll do for your budget.
We all have a tendency — pros are no different than recreational anglers in this respect — to buy lures we read about in magazines or hear about on the dock. Then, after we get them, we never use them.
I'm not telling you not to buy local favorites or new products. We all need to improve our inventory of baits. If you're not going forward, you're going backward. I am saying, however, to keep it under control and use common sense. Don't get stupid — like I have a few times.
If you're off on a fishing trip, it's fine to buy the local favorite. In fact it's probably smart. But you don't need a shopping cart full of them. You're only going to be there for a couple of days. Two or three hardbaits will probably be enough. One bag — two at the most — of plastics will do.
Every one of us has a collection of lures we know we're going to throw most of the time. If we replace those lures, it'll only be after a lot of trial and error. When we try something new we should do so slowly and carefully.
Two of the newest and hottest crankbaits on the market are plenty to start with. You don't need a dozen in every size and color imaginable. In most cases, that'll be a waste of money.
If you doubt what I'm saying, look around in your boat, garage, basement and tacklebox. How many unopened packages can you find? Count them and then multiply by $5. Do you see what I'm talking about? Every one of them is money wasted — hard-earned cash thrown down the drain with nothing to show for it.
Consider the current craze in plastic frogs. There's no telling how many of them are out there and in how many colors. No matter how good they look or how many fishing stories we've heard, you and I both know you'll throw your favorite make in your favorite color the next time the frog bite is on.
And, you should. It's the one you have confidence in. That means it's the one that'll catch the most bass for you. I know I'm going to fish with a Gambler Cane Toad regardless of how many fish another angler caught on a competitor's frog. So why would I buy anything other than that?
OK, fair enough — I might go out and buy a couple of others just to see what they're like. What I won't do is buy two dozen, because I know I'll never fish with them. If I'm wrong about that, I can always return to my favorite tackle shop for more. It's not that far away.
Owning the most lures isn't a badge of honor. It's a badge of wasted money.
