Beginner's Tacklebox

Beginner’s Tacklebox with David Mullins

Posted on
Bassmaster Elite Series pro David Mullins with the empty Bass Mafia tacklebox he is about to fill with lures for beginning bass anglers.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro David Mullins with the empty Bass Mafia tacklebox he is about to fill with lures for beginning bass anglers.
Mullins sorts through the clear plastic zip-seal bags he keeps his soft plastic baits in for his first selection.
Mullins sorts through the clear plastic zip-seal bags he keeps his soft plastic baits in for his first selection.
He locates the bait he’s looking for and plucks one from its package.
He locates the bait he’s looking for and plucks one from its package.
Bait number one for the beginner’s box is Doomsday Tackle’s Roku, a 5.4-inch soft stickbait. “This bait is thinner than other sinking stickbaits but has more fine salt in it so it weighs the same,” Mullins said. “I fish it weightless or on a shaky head.”
Bait number one for the beginner’s box is Doomsday Tackle’s Roku, a 5.4-inch soft stickbait.
“This bait is thinner than other sinking stickbaits but has more fine salt in it so it weighs the same,” Mullins said. “I fish it weightless or on a shaky head.”
The Roku proudly earns the first slot in the tacklebox.
The Roku proudly earns the first slot in the tacklebox.
Mullins fetches another large zip bag to find lure choice number two.
Mullins fetches another large zip bag to find lure choice number two.
He reaches into the bag for one of his heavy hitters.
He reaches into the bag for one of his heavy hitters.
That bait is the Fat Man Creature Bait from Doomsday Tackle. “This my flippin’ bait,” Mullins said. “I rig it with a 4/0 Owner Jungle Flippin’ Hook and a 1/8- to 1/2-ounce bullet weight. It’s a little bigger than a Beaver and has a thumping tail.”
That bait is the Fat Man Creature Bait from Doomsday Tackle.
“This my flippin’ bait,” Mullins said. “I rig it with a 4/0 Owner Jungle Flippin’ Hook and a 1/8- to 1/2-ounce bullet weight. It’s a little bigger than a Beaver and has a thumping tail.”
The Fat Man nestles up to the Roku in the tacklebox.
The Fat Man nestles up to the Roku in the tacklebox.
A Z-Man Chatterbait is the next lure Mullins chooses for the tacklebox. “I throw this bait anytime there’s grass,” Mullins said. “It’s also good in dirty water. I fish it with a variety of trailers.”
A Z-Man Chatterbait is the next lure Mullins chooses for the tacklebox.
“I throw this bait anytime there’s grass,” Mullins said. “It’s also good in dirty water. I fish it with a variety of trailers.”
Into the box goes the Chatterbait.
Into the box goes the Chatterbait.
“I fish this 6-inch Scottsboro Swimbait anytime I’m fishing in clear water that has a good shad population,” Mullins said. “I rig it on 1/2- to 1 1/4-ounce swimbait jig heads to cover endless depth ranges.”
“I fish this 6-inch Scottsboro Swimbait anytime I’m fishing in clear water that has a good shad population,” Mullins said. “I rig it on 1/2- to 1 1/4-ounce swimbait jig heads to cover endless depth ranges.”
The Scottsboro Swimbait is added to the tacklebox.
The Scottsboro Swimbait is added to the tacklebox.
Mullins threads a 3-inch Scottsboro Swimbait onto a ball head jig that features a screw lock. His jigs for this bait weigh from 1/8- to 3/8-ounce.
Mullins threads a 3-inch Scottsboro Swimbait onto a ball head jig that features a screw lock. His jigs for this bait weigh from 1/8- to 3/8-ounce.
“I use this bait to catch deep smallies in cold water and for schooling fish in the summer,” Mullins said. “It’s also good on an A-Rig.”
“I use this bait to catch deep smallies in cold water and for schooling fish in the summer,” Mullins said. “It’s also good on an A-Rig.”
The little Scottsboro swimbait looks like the offspring of the larger Scottsboro swimbait in the tacklebox.
The little Scottsboro swimbait looks like the offspring of the larger Scottsboro swimbait in the tacklebox.
This 5/8-ounce Strike King Sexy Dawg is Mullins’ go-to walking bait.
This 5/8-ounce Strike King Sexy Dawg is Mullins’ go-to walking bait.
The Sexy Dawg is well worth the room it takes up in the tacklebox.
The Sexy Dawg is well worth the room it takes up in the tacklebox.
Doomsday Tackle’s D-Hop Frog features a solid, soft foam body and two skirts. Mullins removed the front skirt prior to rigging the lure with a hook.
Doomsday Tackle’s D-Hop Frog features a solid, soft foam body and two skirts. Mullins removed the front skirt prior to rigging the lure with a hook.
“The D-Hope walks better without the front skirt,” Mullins said.
“The D-Hope walks better without the front skirt,” Mullins said.
The D-Hope finds a place in the tacklebox.
The D-Hope finds a place in the tacklebox.
Mullins fetches a flat box filled with crankbaits from his boat locker.
Mullins fetches a flat box filled with crankbaits from his boat locker.
He finds the crankbait he is looking for, Strike King’s 6XD.
He finds the crankbait he is looking for, Strike King’s 6XD.
“This is my favorite crankbait anytime I’m fishing 12 to 20 feet deep,” Mullins said. “I carry it with me wherever I go.”
“This is my favorite crankbait anytime I’m fishing 12 to 20 feet deep,” Mullins said. “I carry it with me wherever I go.”
The Strike King 6XD requires a large slot in the tacklebox.
The Strike King 6XD requires a large slot in the tacklebox.
Mullins always ties an Owner 1.5 size Hyper Snap to his line when fishing crankbaits. “I’m big on using a snap with crankbaits,” Mullins said. “I can change crankbaits or crankbait colors quickly without having to retie.”
Mullins always ties an Owner 1.5 size Hyper Snap to his line when fishing crankbaits.
“I’m big on using a snap with crankbaits,” Mullins said. “I can change crankbaits or crankbait colors quickly without having to retie.”
A small pouch of Hyper Snaps takes up little room in the tacklebox.
A small pouch of Hyper Snaps takes up little room in the tacklebox.
Drop shotting Doomsday Tackle’s Laggin’ Dragon Soft Jerkbait produces for Mullins when the bite is tough.
Drop shotting Doomsday Tackle’s Laggin’ Dragon Soft Jerkbait produces for Mullins when the bite is tough.
Into the box goes the Doomsday Laggin’ Dragon.
Into the box goes the Doomsday Laggin’ Dragon.
Mullins always has a supply of 4/0 Owner Jungle Flippin’ Hooks in his boat and recommends them for the beginner’s tacklebox. “I use this hook 90 percent of the time when I’m flippin’, fishing a Carolina rig, Texas rigging a big worm and more. It’s strong and has a slick coating for easy penetration.”
Mullins always has a supply of 4/0 Owner Jungle Flippin’ Hooks in his boat and recommends them for the beginner’s tacklebox.
“I use this hook 90 percent of the time when I’m flippin’, fishing a Carolina rig, Texas rigging a big worm and more. It’s strong and has a slick coating for easy penetration.”
This Bass Mafia hook container is made to fit into a Bass Mafia flat box.
This Bass Mafia hook container is made to fit into a Bass Mafia flat box.
The only difference between these two worms is that the worm on the right has the cut-tail pinched off. “Every bass fisherman has got to have a big worm,” Mullins said. “This 8 1/2-inch Roku K Cut Tail Worm covers a lot of bases. If you leave the tail on, you can swim the worm, which works especially well in Florida. For fishing ledges and other offshore structure, pinch the tail off.”
The only difference between these two worms is that the worm on the right has the cut-tail pinched off.
“Every bass fisherman has got to have a big worm,” Mullins said. “This 8 1/2-inch Roku K Cut Tail Worm covers a lot of bases. If you leave the tail on, you can swim the worm, which works especially well in Florida. For fishing ledges and other offshore structure, pinch the tail off.”
The big Roku K worm, with and without the cut-tail, dwarfs the Laggin’ Drago in the tacklebox.
The big Roku K worm, with and without the cut-tail, dwarfs the Laggin’ Drago in the tacklebox.
“I always have a Benchmade folding knife with me,” Mullins said. “It’s a great braid cutter and you always run into situations where a knife is handy.”
“I always have a Benchmade folding knife with me,” Mullins said. “It’s a great braid cutter and you always run into situations where a knife is handy.”
The Benchmade knife completes Mullins’ beginner’s tacklebox.
The Benchmade knife completes Mullins’ beginner’s tacklebox.

Related