Bass Fishing On A Budget
My Best Money Saving Tips For Bass Fishermen!
Continuing my series of articles on Bass Fishing On A Budget I want to dive into the meat and potatoes of competitive fishing and how to save money.
Bass Fishing Expenses Just Keep On Rising!
In our last article, we went into ways to save gas money when pursuing tournament angling. I’m sure some will be left rolling their eyes at the tips and will go back to fishing the old ways until they either run themselves out of money or continue making excuses why they aren’t able to compete, but there will also be others…
Some out there are looking for every single competitive edge to save on “tuition” when learning the ins and outs of competitive bass fishing. They will take my tips and improve on them so instead of saving $500.00 a year they will perhaps save $650.00 and get an extra entry paid for raising the possibility of another money finish to continue paying to play.
In the article that follows I’m going to try to save you even more!
How To Save Money On Fishing Gear And Tackle.
Behind gas money our next highest cost to fish would likely be our tackle and gear which includes rods, reels, tackle in general, line, etc.
It was once very common for me to go to a local sporting goods store the day before my tournament and spend between $60-$100.00 to respool my lines or purchase a slightly different color crankbait, or grab an extra pack of weight pegs!
If I were to fish twenty tournaments a year (like I used to) you can see where this can add up! There are ways I’ve found to save so stay tuned…
Can A Substantial Amount Of Money Be Saved By Using The Following Tips?
Absolutely! In fact if you were to go back and retrieve your receipts from fishing tackle alone and I were to look in your boat I would likely be able to show you color combos that were only used once to several style baits, along with rods and reels that just sit in the rod locker only to be used a few times a season.
Got any crankbaits or spinnerbaits rusting in the bottom of your boat?
How about a ton of destroyed plastics that are going to go into the trash can, OR WORSE THE LAKE (Don’t Do That!)
Great! Now let’s dive into my Top Tips To Save Money On Tackle And Gear.
1.) Cut Down On Your Crankbaits
You Don’t Need 9 different colored Crankbaits That Dive Within A Foot Of Each Other!
Look, it’s pretty basic right? Red in the spring, tri color in the summer, and shad pattern in the fall! These color combos have been the same for years past and will continue to be productive for years to come.
Another thing to avoid is purchasing crankbaits that dive within 2′ of each other. Line diameter can cut down the amount of crankbaits you purchase. The absolute heaviest line I use when crankbait fishing is 15lbs test but I go all the way down to 8lbs. The rule of thumb is the lighter (thinner) the line the deeper the dive. If your diver goes 4-8ft then the heavier line will shy more towards the shallower end. If you have two crankbait rods then have one with 8lbs and the other up to 15lbs test. This will save you a ton of money in crankbaits!
I will explain more about how to save line in a bit…
2.) Simplify Your Spinnerbaits
Unless you’re on a shallow muddy lake spinnerbaits have taken a backseat to square bills and especially swimbaits but they are still a relevant tool in your tackle box.
Spinnerbaits don’t wear out easy and they are also really simple to retrieve once snagged. Honestly I don’t remember the last time I lost one…
If you’re an avid spinnerbait fisherman you might be better off purchasing only a couple of different sizes or profiles. With the remaining amount of money in your allocation, purchase blades and skirts in different patterns that could match your fishing conditions. They are extremely easy to remove and you can take your original design and completely change it within 5 minutes.
3.) Recycle Your Senkos
If there was ever a way to save money it’s definitely in the Senkos market. Molds have been created out of just about every bait available and now Gary Yamamoto has sold his design to molding companies!
Every time a fish would rip the famous stick bait apart I’d cringe knowing I’d just spent a dollar on the hookset regardless of the size of the bass. Now you can take the used up plastics and recycling them which will cut down on pollution and save you a ton of money.
The mold can be bought for less than $50.00 which you will quickly recoup but there is some work to be done…
Salt seeps through each worm when used so you need to know how much each worm weighs. Purchase a small scale and then weigh a dozen brand new out of the pack worms into a microwaveable cup. Now once you’ve accumulated a dozen shredded plastics you can add salt back to the cup after you’ve liquified them bringing them right back to their new forms once you inject them into the molds. Always keep your colors separate when recycling!
4.) Keep A Practice Box In Your Boat
When practicing I don’t like using brand new stuff out of the package. To me it’s more economical to take baits that may have been roughed up by fish whether it be a crankbait that is getting harder to tune, or hooks that have lost their bite, and throw them into a “practice box”. This will save you a lot of money especially with worm hooks and top waters that’s paint has started chipping.
They won’t cost you fish in practice and you’ll cut costs by not making as many trips to your local bait shops!
5.) Buy Your Fishing Line In Bulk
In commerce, it’s almost always better to buy in bulk and fishing is no exception! I typically save up to 50% a year on fishing line when buying them in 1,000 yard spools which I know will be used throughout the season with none going to waste. For Fluro I stick with Seaguar but my Braid options vary based on what’s on sale.
6.) Learn To Tie Blood Knots
While fly fishermen know how to tie the blood knot out of the cradle there are several bass fishermen who have yet to discover this jewel. I have a spin cast rod set with main line being braid. I will then tie a light flurocarbon leader to it winding several cranks on my reel. The braid helps with casting distance and now you have a line that can be rigged up for a drop shot, jerk bait, or weightless worm!
There are several videos online explaining the process and once you get the repetition down you’re good to go!
7.) Keep Your Reels Clean
More times than not when a reel begins winding funny or starts tightening up in all likelihood they are gunked up with dirt. I knew a professional reel cleaner that swore he’d be out of business if people only knew how simple it was to care for them.
There are many lubricants on the market but I tend to stick with Lucas Reel Oil.
8.) Carry Super Glue!
One little dot or two of this secret hack can mend up expensive swimbaits as well as keep them hanging onto your favorite jig heads!
Swimbaits have taken the fishing world by storm with demand soring fore these little bait imitators. Unfortunately the costs are soring as well. One of my fishing partners always carried glue and showed me how much longer use he could get out of his paddle tails. They were always preserved for multiple practice days. This tip alone should save you a ton of money over your fishing career!
Concluding My Best Saving Money Tips For Bass Fishermen
Fishing isn’t going to get any cheaper…One of the best ways to preserve your capital is to cut costs and when it comes to fishing there is always room for improvement. The more money you save, the more money you’ll have to put toward entry fees upping your chances for a profitable year. We will continue more articles in the future but if you wish to add more tips to the discussion, please comment below!
