Bass Basics

Beginner’s Tacklebox with Garrett Paquette

Posted on
Michigan Bassmaster Elite Series pro Garrett Paquette is about to fill this Plano flat tackle box with a killer selection of baits for beginners.
Michigan Bassmaster Elite Series pro Garrett Paquette is about to fill this Plano flat tackle box with a killer selection of baits for beginners.
Paquette fetches a Plano flat box from one of his boat lockers.
Paquette fetches a Plano flat box from one of his boat lockers.
It is one of four jig boxes he always carries with him. This is his offshore jig box.
It is one of four jig boxes he always carries with him. This is his offshore jig box.
From the box Paquette plucks a 1/2-ounce Molix MF Jig, which has a modified football head shape.</p> <p>“This is a good all around deep jig,” Paquette said. “It has a small profile and a hand tied finesse skirt. It’s also a good tough-times jig and a good bait for smallmouth and spotted bass.”
From the box Paquette plucks a 1/2-ounce Molix MF Jig, which has a modified football head shape.
“This is a good all around deep jig,” Paquette said. “It has a small profile and a hand tied finesse skirt. It’s also a good tough-times jig and a good bait for smallmouth and spotted bass.”
Paquette pulls another box from the boat locker in search of a trailer for the jig.
Paquette pulls another box from the boat locker in search of a trailer for the jig.
The box houses a variety of soft plastic baits in their original packages.
The box houses a variety of soft plastic baits in their original packages.
The bait that Paquette chooses for the jig is Big Bite’s 4-inch College Craw in the green pumpkin color.
The bait that Paquette chooses for the jig is Big Bite’s 4-inch College Craw in the green pumpkin color.
Paquette bites off a few sections of the College Craw’s tail to shorten the bait.
Paquette bites off a few sections of the College Craw’s tail to shorten the bait.
Then he threads the craw onto the hook of the Molix MF Jig.
Then he threads the craw onto the hook of the Molix MF Jig.
The combo looks good enough to eat.
The combo looks good enough to eat.
The jig and craw earn the first spot in Paquette’s beginner’s tacklebox.
The jig and craw earn the first spot in Paquette’s beginner’s tacklebox.
Paquette fetches some swimbaits, which are big players for him.
Paquette fetches some swimbaits, which are big players for him.
The 3.8-inch Pro Swimmer Swimbaits from Big Bite Baits come package in a way that keeps them perfectly shaped for optimum swimming action.
The 3.8-inch Pro Swimmer Swimbaits from Big Bite Baits come package in a way that keeps them perfectly shaped for optimum swimming action.
Paquette rigs a Pro Swimmer on a 1/4- or 3/8-ounce ball head jig.</p> <p>“This is my number one search bait in clear water,” Paquette said. “I make long casts so I can cover more water. It’s a durable bait that holds up well.”
Paquette rigs a Pro Swimmer on a 1/4- or 3/8-ounce ball head jig.
“This is my number one search bait in clear water,” Paquette said. “I make long casts so I can cover more water. It’s a durable bait that holds up well.”
Into the beginner’s tacklebox goes the Pro Swimmer.
Into the beginner’s tacklebox goes the Pro Swimmer.
Next out of the boat locker is a Plano flat box full of spinnerbaits.
Next out of the boat locker is a Plano flat box full of spinnerbaits.
The box holds many spinnerbait configurations to take on a variety of fishing conditions.
The box holds many spinnerbait configurations to take on a variety of fishing conditions.
The model that Paquette selects for the beginner’s tacklebox is a 1/2-ounce Molix Venator double willow spinnerbait in the Bogolu Dace color.</p> <p>“That color mimics most baitfish,” Paquette said. “It’s a good choice whether you’re fishing a pond or the Bassmaster Classic.”
The model that Paquette selects for the beginner’s tacklebox is a 1/2-ounce Molix Venator double willow spinnerbait in the Bogolu Dace color.
“That color mimics most baitfish,” Paquette said. “It’s a good choice whether you’re fishing a pond or the Bassmaster Classic.”
The Venator spinnerbait sparkles in the beginner’s tacklebox.
The Venator spinnerbait sparkles in the beginner’s tacklebox.
Next out of the boat locker is a Plano flat box filled with shallow crankbaits.
Next out of the boat locker is a Plano flat box filled with shallow crankbaits.
From the box Paquette nabs a 3/8-ounce 6th Sense Crush Squarebill Crankbait in the Baby Shad color.</p> <p>“The Crush Squarebill has a feint knocking sound that that won’t put off pressured bass,” Paquette said.
From the box Paquette nabs a 3/8-ounce 6th Sense Crush Squarebill Crankbait in the Baby Shad color.
“The Crush Squarebill has a feint knocking sound that that won’t put off pressured bass,” Paquette said.
The 6th Sense Crush Squarebill looks right at home in the beginner’s tacklebox.
The 6th Sense Crush Squarebill looks right at home in the beginner’s tacklebox.
The next box from the boat locker contains soft baits.
The next box from the boat locker contains soft baits.
Here again, Paquette keeps his soft baits in their original packaging.
Here again, Paquette keeps his soft baits in their original packaging.
The 5-inch Soft Super Salt Trick Stick from Big Bite Baits is a big hitter for Paquette.</p> <p>“I fish it wacky rigged, Neko rigged and on a shaky head,” Paquette said. “My favorite way to fish it is Texas rigged with a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce weight and a 3/0 offset worm hook. That bait has lots of shimmy as it sinks when Texas rigged.”
The 5-inch Soft Super Salt Trick Stick from Big Bite Baits is a big hitter for Paquette.
“I fish it wacky rigged, Neko rigged and on a shaky head,” Paquette said. “My favorite way to fish it is Texas rigged with a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce weight and a 3/0 offset worm hook. That bait has lots of shimmy as it sinks when Texas rigged.”
The Soft Super Salt Trick Stick is a must-have bait in Paquette’s beginner’s tacklebox.
The Soft Super Salt Trick Stick is a must-have bait in Paquette’s beginner’s tacklebox.
Another soft plastic lure from Big Bite Baits is worthy of the beginner’s tacklebox.
Another soft plastic lure from Big Bite Baits is worthy of the beginner’s tacklebox.
That bait is the 4-inch Fighting Frog.</p> <p>“I use it 90 percent of the time when I’m pitching in shallow water,” Paquette said. “I rig it on a 4/0 straight shank flipping hook with a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce weight.”
That bait is the 4-inch Fighting Frog.
“I use it 90 percent of the time when I’m pitching in shallow water,” Paquette said. “I rig it on a 4/0 straight shank flipping hook with a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce weight.”
The Fighting Frog looks ready for action in the beginner’s tacklebox.
The Fighting Frog looks ready for action in the beginner’s tacklebox.
A look inside Paquette’s frog box reveals a wide variety of frogs in different colors.
A look inside Paquette’s frog box reveals a wide variety of frogs in different colors.
The one he chooses for the beginner’s tacklebox is the Molix Supernato Frog. This floating frog can be twitched over the surface or you can bring the legs to life by reeling the bait straight in like a soft plastic toad. The legs are replaceable.
The one he chooses for the beginner’s tacklebox is the Molix Supernato Frog. This floating frog can be twitched over the surface or you can bring the legs to life by reeling the bait straight in like a soft plastic toad. The legs are replaceable.
Into the tacklebox goes the Supernato Frog.
Into the tacklebox goes the Supernato Frog.
Paquette selects a 3/8-ounce, black/blue Molix Tenax Jig from one of his Plano jig boxes.
Paquette selects a 3/8-ounce, black/blue Molix Tenax Jig from one of his Plano jig boxes.
“The Tenax is my dual-purpose jig,” Paquette said. “It has a big hook for flipping and the cone head also makes it good for swimming retrieves.”
“The Tenax is my dual-purpose jig,” Paquette said. “It has a big hook for flipping and the cone head also makes it good for swimming retrieves.”
The Molix Tenax joins the other lures in the tacklebox.
The Molix Tenax joins the other lures in the tacklebox.
A green pumpkin bladed jig is the next bait on Paquette’s list. He opts for green pumpkin when bass are feeding on bluegill and white when shad are the primary forage.
A green pumpkin bladed jig is the next bait on Paquette’s list. He opts for green pumpkin when bass are feeding on bluegill and white when shad are the primary forage.
The bladed jig finds a home in the tacklebox.
The bladed jig finds a home in the tacklebox.
The 4.25-inch Cane Thumper from Big Bite Baits serves as an excellent trailer for the Tenax Jig. It is also deadly when rigged on a 4/0 EWG hook and retrieved without a weight through and over all types of aquatic vegetation.
The 4.25-inch Cane Thumper from Big Bite Baits serves as an excellent trailer for the Tenax Jig. It is also deadly when rigged on a 4/0 EWG hook and retrieved without a weight through and over all types of aquatic vegetation.
The Can Thumper earns a prominent place in the tacklebox.
The Can Thumper earns a prominent place in the tacklebox.
No beginner’s tacklebox is complete without a topwater bait.
No beginner’s tacklebox is complete without a topwater bait.
Paquette singles out the 3/4-ounce Molix Topwater 110.</p> <p>“This walking bait brings bass from long distances from the postspawn into the fall,” Paquette said.
Paquette singles out the 3/4-ounce Molix Topwater 110.
“This walking bait brings bass from long distances from the postspawn into the fall,” Paquette said.
The Molix Topwater 110 takes its place in the tacklebox, practically begging to see action.
The Molix Topwater 110 takes its place in the tacklebox, practically begging to see action.
The final bait Paquette chooses for the beginner’s tacklebox is the B5 Line Thru Swimbait from Big Bite Baits.
The final bait Paquette chooses for the beginner’s tacklebox is the B5 Line Thru Swimbait from Big Bite Baits.
This swimbait is molded around an internal weight and has a hole through which you can thread your line.
This swimbait is molded around an internal weight and has a hole through which you can thread your line.
“When a bass takes this bait, the hook pulls free and the lure slides up the line,” Paquette said. “About the only way you can lose a bass on this bait is to break your line.”
“When a bass takes this bait, the hook pulls free and the lure slides up the line,” Paquette said. “About the only way you can lose a bass on this bait is to break your line.”
The lifelike B5 Line Thru Swimbait looks as if it could jump out of the beginner’s tacklebox.
The lifelike B5 Line Thru Swimbait looks as if it could jump out of the beginner’s tacklebox.
Paquette’s beginner’s tacklebox is ready to take on whatever fishing conditions you throw at it.
Paquette’s beginner’s tacklebox is ready to take on whatever fishing conditions you throw at it.

Related