stagnant plug bag

[Pete_G]

How much does the selection in your plug bag change relative to the time of year, the weather, and where you fish?

For better or worse, I really don't change much all year long. My colors change from day to night, and my daytime Pencils are exchanged for even more needles at night, but other then that not much changes. Unless it's something like the Canal that demands serious adjustment from my normal rocky coast selection my line up typically remains almost the same throughout the season.

If it's rough, maybe a bucktail or two more is added along with my trusty Super Strike Bottle Plug.

Other then that, needles to work every spot in the water column, a few metal lips, bucktails, a Redfin or Bomber, Sluggos or Real Eels on PJ WobbleHeads, and Pencils if it's light out. I don't use Darters much, but that's a function of my spots as much as anything else.

Colors are reliably white, black, herring and yellow over white.

Who changes more (or less) and why? Am I stuck in a rut or does everyone else operate the same way...

[steve24]

My bag changes quite often. Here on LI I often will fish any where from the southshore inlets to north shore backbays and montauk throughout the season.
I will always have bucktails, needles, and bombers. Darters, bottle plugs, and diving metal lips often find themselves in the bag, but not always. I try to take the minimum amount of lures I am going to need and still be able to cover all of my bases in that area.
Colors, I go by the old standby, Dark at night, light during day, although I often have a yellow or white plug in the bag at night.

[Dave]

Starting last season I try to stick more with my medium bag than the large not carrying as many plugs into the surf. I still stock this bag fairly well though. I also keep a box or two of other plugs and rubba available to cover other situations as they arise. What goes in the bag when I hit the surf depends on the location, time I'm hitting the surf and the surf conditions. Usually at least one jig, some rubba (surf hogs, slug-go's, real eels or 8" curly tails) and a wobblehead on hand for gp, at least two or three different metal lips, usually several needles 2 oz and stubby's (I really like the fat 2 ½ oz stubby), a redfin, bomber or mambo and just got a maverick. I also like to have a spook, pencil or howdy with me, when all else fails they seem to work even at night. Breachways, outflows or areas with a rip will mean a darter or two are in the bag and one of the metal lips will be some sort of a supersized diver and maybe a large wooden jointed. Big surf and high winds will bring bring out some bottleplugs, 3 ½ oz needles, night 'n' gales, a darter, diving metal lips and a heavier jig or two. Tins may find their way into the rotation at any point.
Rather similar on color selection, colors are usually black, blurple, bone, white another color with white, parrot (one of my favorites) or natural (herring, pogie or mackeral). A big moon with little or no cloud cover may mean a lighter color on some or most plugs, the darker the night the darker the colors. Yellow/white or natural colors for around sunrise/sunset and parrot for anytime.

[merch]

Although it seems like I own every plug and jig known to man I always seem to carry the same types. This is just a function of what I'm "feeling" each season. Bucktails, poppers and Danny's in white or yellow (don't forget the red head on the poppers) and a handful of storms are staples dawn till dusk. Breachways are bombers, bombers and more bombers in yellow or black at night. I rarely even needed a darter there although I always carry at least one. Night time off the rocks are black, white and yellow, bombers, BM atom jrs, bucktails, dannys and needles. I always carry a handful of rigged 9" black sluggo's and a 7" silver redfin. Yellow is my favorite for any moonlit night. Tidal rivers and estuaries are a lot easier because it's always soft plastics and small swimmers but since I started with the flyrod my load has got even lighter. I bring out the mackerel patterns in the late fall but that's about it. I usually only take what I can fit in my 7 or 14 compartment Surfcaster bag.

[T y]

I went to a 3-slot belt bag last year and the large Aquaskinz pouch. My back does a lot better after a long night now, and I can still carry more than I need.

So, with that said, my plug bug selection changes every time I change spots to suit the location and possibly rod selection (no heavy conventional with a 30 knot onshore wind if I have to cast, but still a possibility at an inlet where there's only drifting).

I don't change colors with the seasons - I'm not that sophisticated. The changes from spot to spot usually involve the water depth and whether it's an inlet or not.

Regardless of any of the above, there's usually a few black sluggos and a superstrike needle.

[rirockhound]

Depends Pete... great thread... bad thread for a Tackle store manager

I started carrying my 3 slot belt bag last year. whats in it depends on where but fishing my fav rocks it would have a redfins, 1 needle, 1 metal lip. color on the needle and metal-lip changes, the redfins stay the same all the time unless it is pitch-black new moon. add one jig, a few sluggos in the front, along with some squirmers (live or rigged) and I feel I can fish any of the conditions I might encounted. Less is more!!!

[snake slinger]

i fish eels 90% of the time. i fish plugs if theres a lot blues around,if the surf is big or if iam fishing a outflow.i carry about 6 plugs-2 refins,2 needles,yo-zuri mag darter and a danny if iam going to an outflow il swap out the danny for a darter.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by rirockhound

Depends Pete... great thread... bad thread for a Tackle store manager

I've always been pretty upfront with my opinion that I only need a small selection of plugs and just a white bucktail for fly fishing.

It's never slowed down sales, so I far from discourage discussion on the matter.

Besides, bluefish are my friends, and they're equal opportunity. Whether you like just a few plugs in basic colors or a wide variety of sizes and colors, either way you might have to replace them after an unlucky encounter with a rock or a blue.

[_CK_]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Besides, bluefish are my friends...

Bluefish = Silent Partner

[bart]

my bag stays fairly consistent at night. slug-gos, mambos/bombers, metal lips and needles. mag minnows in one spot.

during the day its dannys, pencils, and yellow mambos

colors are mostly black,yellow,white, and herring...