Do You Really Need So Much Stuff?

Lefebre makes a case for never getting rid of extra tackle

(Editor’s Note: The writer's opinions and observations expressed here are his own, and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, policies or positions of FLW.)

The answer is: Yes, I absolutely do.

People always ask me if I need all of my tackle, and they never believe me when I say that I know exactly where to find every single bait that I own. I really do. Looking at this photo, it might seem hard for some to comprehend, but when one Rapala DT 10 or one Storm Twitch Stick is misplaced, it’s only a matter of time before I notice it’s not there. And when I feel that the conditions are right for a 3/4-ounce Helsinki shad-colored Rippin’ Rap, I can find one in less than three seconds. Though my sponsors make most of the baits I depend on every day, I admit that I own a wide variety of other baits for various situations and conditions. Let’s be honest … all of us pros do.

I’ve always focused on being versatile. Going back to when I was still in high school, I wanted to learn how to catch fish on every style of lure made. And not just bass. I wanted to tangle with every species that swam in the lakes around home, large and small, and I did. I wanted to understand how fish reacted to all types of lures, when they bit certain colors and sizes, and why. That desire, along with fishing a good variety of natural lakes, rivers and impoundments, helped me to become a solid, well-rounded angler. I found that there is a time and place for everything in my arsenal, and so it grew and continues to grow.

Lures and clothes have a lot in common. Just like clothing evolves and new styles come out and old styles come back, so goes fishing lures. The difference between the two, however, is that you can outgrow your old jeans, but you can never get rid of your old baits. This gives you an obvious excuse and pure justification to hoard every single bait, both hard and soft, for as long as you shall live. So, needless to say, the longer you’re involved in this fishing game, the more “stuff” you’re probably going to accumulate. Not only is it okay to attain so much stuff, it is expected of you, and it’s completely normal. I promise.

I have many examples throughout the years of when an old bait that I’d held onto for many years got me a check or a top-five finish. One of those baits (in this photo) even got me my first Walmart FLW Tour win on Old Hickory Lake back in 2004. I caught one big fish on an old, beat-up, sentimental lure that I borrowed from my Gramps when I was 12 years old. If I didn’t have so much stuff I might not have that trophy sitting in my office today.

But all these baits in the photo are not “old.” Many are brand new, which brings me to another reason why you absolutely need so much stuff. The tackle industry is booming. Innovation is soaring. If you don’t stay caught up, you’ll simply get buried by the competition, especially the young guns.

Can you imagine not having a Yamamoto Senko in your arsenal? How about no bladed swim jigs, no Shadow Raps or none of the newest crankbait colors? You have to have the latest-and-greatest lures. You have to have all the new sizes and colors too … you just do. It’s not an addiction, like some will say. And you’re not crazy. It’s natural and totally necessary if you want to stay on top of the game. A brand-new lure helped me make the top-10 cut on Lewis Smith Lake this spring. I went on to win that event with the help of a 30-year-old bait. If I didn’t have both that “new” BX Waking Minnow and that “old” bait on the final day, history would definitely be different.

So that’s why you can take it from me: You can never have too much stuff, and if anyone tells you that you can, well, he’s just wrong.

Do you really need so much stuff? The answer is YES. You absolutely do!