I've got a 7 day trip planed for the middle of Aug up around darky and just want to know what are the MUST HAVES. Please list that one thing you would never leave at home bait and tackle or camping gear. But mostly bait and tackle.

Gulp
jig

Which gulp and which jig?  

Here is an excellent resource:
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I'd start there. If you need more specific info, maybe let the helpful folks around here out by letting them know what you're planning on fishing for, if you prefer casting or trolling, etc..

I'd say that either a yellow headed 1/4- 3/8 jig with white twister tail ( gulp) whatever or a white jig head with yellow tail would catch all of the Grand Slam on any given day. I've done it more than once, and I'm far from a good fisherman ;D

I've caught fish with this combo, jigging/trolling, and casting from shore/boat and bouncing on the rock bottom, rigged weedless.

A TARP, never leave home without it. Even a cheap plastic one can save the day.

1/4 oz. jig heads, yellow twister tail, June entry permit

A deep water Rapala Fire-Tiger Jointed Shad-Rap.  Size 5 - 7. Don't leave home without it... :)

This year, the X-Rap Deep Shad pattern in the largest size was smokin' hot for me and anyone else in my party who fished with one.  Caught the grand slam on them (lakers, bass, walleye, pike).  They get down to about 20' on a troll and down to about 10' when casting.

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Silver and olive green were the hottest colors, with firetiger a close 3rd.

On my second trip (just returned) I rarely fished with anything else, which is highly unusual for me.  Whenever I did, I started catching fewer fish, mostly.

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I done the slam with it on a number of trips. Alas, my last one now swims with a 36" pike in Glenn Lake (WCPP).

On spring trips, I've done the slam with yellow or white jig heads with 5" grub ... both with cast and trolled.

dd

wrote on Jul 29^th, 2010 at 4:39am:

I've got a 7 day trip planed for the middle of Aug up around darky and just want to know what are the MUST HAVES. Please list that one thing you would never leave at home bait and tackle or camping gear. But mostly bait and tackle.

For the middle of August you must have lures that dive to 15 feet or more, 20' being preferable while trolling. You will catch all four species trolling at that depth in August. Also go big. Don't be afraid to troll lures that are 6" or more. For Shad Raps go size 8 or 9. The Yo-Zuri in the large size is also good. I also like Deep Reef Runners and Deep Thundersticks in the largest sizes.
The lakers I caught in Darky this year in late July were burping up 7" smelt. A blue and chrome Deep Reef Runner was the go to lure.
And then there is the Betts Jig Spinner in size 3. Gold is my favorite and I add a 1/4 oz. jig with a heavy duty wide gap hook coupled with a 4 or 5 inch bright white grub. This combo will outfish a standard jig and grub especially when fished in current. This can also be trolled but usually I use it for probing various depths in and around current. With a little practice this lure can be fished in some very snaggy areas and actually get hung up less than a plain jig head.

Sierra...got to admit, that firetiger would be #2 on my list ;)

Yo-zuri Crystal Minnow, Silver Vibrax #3, lead-bismuth if yah can find it, jigs(black) @ rubber leaches w, rock hopper in various...deeper means heavier. Good luck

I think my must haves are not lures at all but extra spools. I have to have a couple spare spools of line for my reels. That gives me 4, 6, 8 and 10lb test to pick from. I'm pretty high on Gamma line. Good stuff.

Oh, and a tie fast tool. Yea I know I sound like a broken record. Just try it, the gryp knot is second to none. 6 wraps with 4 and 6.........5 wraps with 8 and 10............3 wraps with 60 and 80 ;D

Wow nice to hear of someone else who likes lighter line.  I haven't gone above 10# test in years and was wondering myself if this would be enough for Q.  

Preacher wrote on Aug 9^th, 2010 at 4:06pm:

Wow nice to hear of someone else who likes lighter line.  I haven't gone above 10# test in years and was wondering myself if this would be enough for Q.

I use 4-6 # for waldos/bass, and 10# for lakers/northerns...

Another vote for the Yo- Zuri crystal minnow.I like the 5 1/4 suspending or sinking .I have caught nice walleyes,northerns and small mouths with them and they are strong well made lures with very good hooks that can take a beating.

Neon orange floating broken back Rapala.  Throw it along the shore line, and structure.
Smallies I tell ya!

wrote on Aug 11^th, 2010 at 5:35am:

Neon orange floating broken back Rapala.  Throw it along the shore line, and structure. Smallies I tell ya!

Hey Frozen Toes welcome aboard as Old Salt would say,
I have always been a little nervous about throwing the blaze orange stuff in clear water. But with the broke back floater it just might work pretty well. Do you twitch it or just reel?

I'm almost afraid to ask, but is there a story you care to share as to your posting name?