The Avid Angler Challenge is a meme that issues a periodic challenge to frequent anglers. See the guidelines for how to answer the challenge.
For my first challenge, I wanted to learn about lure choices. Why do fisherman use the lures they do? So here it is:
If you could only use 5 lures for the rest of your life, which ones would you choose and why? Your answer should follow the following guidelines:
- A lure is anything that contains a hook, goes on a hook, or decorates a hook
- One color = one lure (i.e. one lure in 5 colors counts as 5 lures)
- One size = one lure (i.e. a 1/4 oz, 3/8 oz, and 1/2 oz jig counts as 3 lures)
- One lure can be rigged multiple ways and still be considered one lure (i.e. a plastic worm rigged wacky style, texas style, or carolina style = 1 lure)
- A trailer can count as part of a lure, but bullet 2 and 3 apply; the trailer type and color must be specified (i.e a swim jig with a trailer = 1 lure)
- You don’t have to get brand specific–unless you want to
- Live bait is allowed as a lure, but one species of live bait equals one lure (i.e. a fathead minnow, a sucker minnow, and a leech = 3 lures)
- You can assume that you will have an unlimited supply of your lures for the rest of your life
- If you typically target multiple species, you are still only allowed 5 lures for all species that you target, not 5 per species
In your response, it would help to give us some context by answering the following questions:
- What type of water do you typically fish?
- What species of fish do you typically target?
- Why did you choose the lures you did?
Please leave a comment below with your answer, or reply on your own blog using the Avid Angler Challenge Guidelines.
My answer will be posted tomorrow.
Here you go, sir: http://casualbasser.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-bare-essentials.html
[…] Avid Angler Challenge – Lure Limitation […]
My answer: http://www.journalofamnangler.com/2012/08/25/avid-angler-challenge-answer-lure-limitation/
I have to preface this with this is my 5 today. It would probably be different if I did this in May or even a week from now. But today I went with:
1/4 oz. black Honeybuzz buzzbait – with a rusty rivet. (Probably my #1 confidence bait.)
Netbait Paca Craw in green candy. I usually use them Tex rigged, flipped, stroked and swam, pegged and unpegged, and even occasionally on a shaky head.
1/4 oz. Northstar swim jig (original style) in mostly white with a little bit of color. I use a, white, pinched off, Netbait Bib Bopper as a trailer. A white paddle tail worm otherwise. (You can’t use a swim jig without a trailer, so I consider this 1 bait.)
Although the Reaction Innovations Swamp Donkey is no longer in production, I still snag a few off eBay every year. It is by far the most fish catching hollow frog I have ever used. I love that thing and have yet to find a suitable replacement. (My other #1 confidence bait 😉
For #5 I went with the trusty GYCB 5″ Senko in Green Pumpkin with a Chartreuse tip.
But MSPBass, changing your list in May or Oct misses the point of the challenge. The idea is that you must use your 5 lures for the rest of your life. It is geared toward making you really consider what you could use no matter the time of year, water conditions, or weather.
I agree with your point about trailers, though, and have updated the challenge to reflect as such.
Oh no, I got that. I was just saying that if I made that list on a different day that I might pick 1 or 2 other baits instead of the ones I did yesterday. It didn’t have to do with the seasons or water conditions. Those are 5 solid baits for me that I know I can catch bass with and feel good about those choices.
But, like many of us, I go in spurts. For instance, I’ve actually been using a ribbon tail worm for the last few years instead of a Senko. I can’t say that it catches more fish than the Senko but I do believe the Senko is more versatile (much more), so I had to go with the Senko as one of my 5 desert island baits; even though I havent been using a Senko for quite a while.
It was also hard for me to pick the Paca Craw over the GYCB Fat Ika. Again, I have been using the Paca Craw a lot these last few years but the Fat Ika is straight up deadly. I went with the Paca because it might be a little more versatile. Next week, I might have gone with the Ika. That’s all I’m saying.
Got it. It is tough, isn’t it? That’s why I called it a challenge. 🙂
Very tough.
I’m also surprised no one has said a spinnerbait yet. I don’t happen to use them much, but most other folks do. Jeremy’s Beetle Spin is close, but not exactly the same.
I’m freshwater fisher, and will target just about anything. This year though has been all about bass. So here’s my list.
1. TightlinesUV 5″ UVenko in Blue/Black – pretty all purpose and versatile.
2. Berkley Havoc Subwoofer in watermelon pearl – i like how the tail thumps on this one when the bass are aggressive and i can burn the baits by them.
3. Berkley Gulp 3″ Minnow in pink shine – multi species lure for catching whatever’s swimming nearby.
4. TightlinesUV 4″ Twin tail grup in white – another one for multi species bites.
5. Booya Pad Crasher in bullfrog – for fishing over pads and slop.
I got my list posted – http://bassinblog.richlindgren.com/2012/08/27/5-lure-challenge.aspx
Here’s my list – http://theargosgirlchronicles.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/if-i-could-only-use-5-lures-for-the-rest-of-my-life/
Here is my top 5 – http://www.aquafirefishing.com/2012/10/if-i-only-had-5-lures-to-fish-with.html