Can anybody recommend an "essential" lure kit?

Question

Last Sunday, I found a mysteriously abandoned package of lures and plastic worms on a lake shore, and for the heck of it decided to try out this soft plastic 2" sparkly yellow curly tail grub I found in it. I've never seriously considered using artificial bait before as I've so far been happy with fresh bait (and not afraid to get my hands dirty, LOL), but this one attracted panfish and trout at least as well as a real worm so now I want to start off with a basic collection of lures. I figure that every angler probably has his/her own opinion of what the "best" lures are but there has to be a core set of time-tested and proven lures that are reasonably likely to catch something anywhere in the world, and I'm sure that most fisherman don't lug around their entire tackle collection with them when, for instance, traveling by plane or bus. I'm definitely keeping my little yellow curly tail grub with me, but what else should I have in my kit? I don't want to go crazy with it (yet) and would prefer to keep my collection to 20 lures or less for now. I would like to include the types/colors of plastic worms people have had the best luck with, and would also like to include the most commonly used saltwater lures (for flounder, bluefish, sea bass, and porgies in particular). Thanks, folks!

Answer 1

yes .while doing so try to be very careful.

Answer 2

must-have lures(freshwater):

trout:

-lip ripperz (lit'l ripperz, z-spoon)

-mepps (aglia, little wolf, comet mino)

-kastmasters

-rapalas: CD-3 (CD=countdown)

-rooster tails

-yum troutkrilla

bass:

yum crawdad

yum buzzfrog

berkley swimshad

berkley zalamander

DON'T FORGET SCENTS!

yum garlic scent (bass)

pro-cure trophy trout scent (trout lures)

pro-cure predator scent (trout floating bait [troutkrilla] **this scent works for a variety of freshwater fish)

tight lines!

Answer 3

you know I have been looking at your question three hours and I just have to say something. In kits, assortments, grab bag stuff you always get one great lure two decent ones and the rest is all c**p. there are weight kits worth owning, there are worm hook sets worth owning (I say "worth owning" only in the pretense that you as a beginning angler focusing on artificial baits will need to use them to figure out which ones work for you in your water) and an assortment gives you the easiest way to become familiar with the many rather than the "right ones". If you want an assortment you'll get it but if you asked everyone here another question asking each one of them to list their five best baits for largemouth bass (2 for the morning, 1 for all day and 2 for the evening) you could make up a tackle box from heaven! and none of it would suck.

Answer 4

I have always had luck with a basic set of Crappie jigs, Gold kastmasters,  and spinners. I general though I have found live bat much more effective. Trout like Lil' Jakes and spinners. A Kastmaster is good for everything. A good trolling lure for Stripers especially is a Rattle-Trap.

Answer 5

sorry dude, there are fortyeleven different lures for every species of fish. I only bass fish and have well over a grand in essential lures. its worse than drugs or alcohol. the first step is admitting you have a problem.