Frugal Fishing

By Ian

Fishing can get very expensive. During my college years, I really had to save up. Even still, I caught plenty of big fish on the same amount of money that would make many fishermen scoff.  But it's very easy to catch big fish on cheap equipment. Remember, fish don't care what it costs!

Above: One of the online discount tackle shops. 

Discount fishing tackle outlets are my first tip. They are very underrated.  I have bought from them with very good results. They just sell refurbished rods, or clearance. They buy fishing rods that were sent back from customers that bought them in recent time, and select ones that  will perhaps only have a small scratch on the label, or buy overstock. Because some of these rods are not "new," they sell for much less than if they were "new." I suggest you buy from these shops online. Great prices, and very good quality all around. This tip can save you plenty of money.

Try to use soft plastic baits, such as curly tailed grubs. That cost fractions of what a hard lure, such as a crankbait, would cost. They are just as effective, and can be bought from every place that carries fishing lures. Remember, more bass tournaments have been won on soft plastics than any other lure. Soft plastics have their place. While a typical crankbait at Walmart costs $7, a pack of ten plastic worms costs $4. Think about the savings!

It doesn't take a licensed guide, a Ranger boat, and enough tackle to stock a small shop to catch big bass. It doesn't even take a trip to Toledo Bend. A trip like that would set you back several grand. t

The thing with small ponds is this: There are very few bass to compete with. The food source is concentrated, and plentiful. There are no large predatory fish. Thus, the bass there grow to enormous sizes. They have never seen a lure before, and are not as wary as bass from a pressured reservoir. Since the pond is small, you can easily see the fish if the water is clear, as well as the fish holding structure. It takes only a few casts, since the water is small, to bring out the bass. Best part of this is that these small ponds are very common in  just about any suburb. Retention ponds and golf course ponds count. The water is very fertile, and the fish there have plenty to eat. Do some hiking, and you will discover more of these small ponds. I have caught fish in the most unexpected of the places, in the smallest, most shallow water, so always look over every small pond. A beginner can easily catch a record from any of these ponds. 

The best is not a requirement. I see plenty of people wanting a 10+ bearing baitcaster before they learned their knots. A one bearing reel and rod combo from Walmart can be great from a beginner, and if you don't like fishing, or close your car door on the, it's not like losing a G. Loomis. For most people, a $40 rod and reel combo  is good enough to get you started. They come with a tackle kit, too. Cheap, and effective.

That's the end of the article. I hope you find my tips useful!

Tight lines,

Ian