Beginner's Tacklebox: Gerald Swindle

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Bassmaster Elite Series pro Gerald Swindle fills up one of his Lure Lock tackleboxes with the baits he'd suggest for a young or new bass angler.
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Bassmaster Elite Series pro Gerald Swindle fills up one of his Lure Lock tackleboxes with the baits he'd suggest for a young or new bass angler.

Photo: Thomas Allen

He loves the Lure Lock boxes because they can be set up without tools.
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He loves the Lure Lock boxes because they can be set up without tools.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

And a sticker is important too.
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And a sticker is important too.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

To start he heads straight for the Rapala crankbaits.
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To start he heads straight for the Rapala crankbaits.

Photo: Thomas Allen

The Rapala DT-6 is a go-to for the Alabama pro.
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The Rapala DT-6 is a go-to for the Alabama pro.

Photo: Thomas Allen

In the Lure Lock it goes.
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In the Lure Lock it goes.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Then he reaches for a Rapala BX Brat.
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Then he reaches for a Rapala BX Brat.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

It goes in next to the DT-6
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It goes in next to the DT-6

Photo: Thomas Allen

Next is a Rapala Shadow Rap Shad jerkbait.
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Next is a Rapala Shadow Rap Shad jerkbait.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Especially in the spring, Swindle said, a jerkbait is a presentation a bass angler needs to master.
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Especially in the spring, Swindle said, a jerkbait is a presentation a bass angler needs to master.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Into the box it goes.
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Into the box it goes.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Next ...
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Next ...

Photo: Thomas Allen

... a squarebill like the DT-Fat is also a must.
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... a squarebill like the DT-Fat is also a must.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

On to a terminal collection beginning with VMC bullet weights for a worm or creature Texas rig.
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On to a terminal collection beginning with VMC bullet weights for a worm or creature Texas rig.

Photo: Thomas Allen

In the box they go.
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In the box they go.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

What's next?
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What's next?

Photo: Thomas Allen

VMC Neko hooks. The Neko rig may seem advanced, but it's easy to rig and easy to use — and it catches fish. Swindle said these hooks work very well for a weedless wacky rig too.
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VMC Neko hooks. The Neko rig may seem advanced, but it's easy to rig and easy to use — and it catches fish. Swindle said these hooks work very well for a weedless wacky rig too.

Photo: Thomas Allen

They're in the box.
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They're in the box.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

VMC worm hooks for Texas or Carolina rigs and big creature baits for mat punching. They are a universal hook for Swindle, and he keeps plenty handy at all times.
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VMC worm hooks for Texas or Carolina rigs and big creature baits for mat punching. They are a universal hook for Swindle, and he keeps plenty handy at all times.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

A swimbait is a great presentation to start out with because you can rig it weedless and slow-roll it along the bottom. Simple, easy to learn and the fish like it.
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A swimbait is a great presentation to start out with because you can rig it weedless and slow-roll it along the bottom. Simple, easy to learn and the fish like it.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

Back to the rack.
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Back to the rack.

Photo: Thomas Allen

He said every beginner needs to learn the shaky head. It's easy, relatively weedless and fish north to south, east to west will eat it.
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He said every beginner needs to learn the shaky head. It's easy, relatively weedless and fish north to south, east to west will eat it.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Swindle prefers a Buckeye Spot Remover.
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Swindle prefers a Buckeye Spot Remover.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Into the box they go.
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Into the box they go.

Photo: Thomas Allen

And of course he picks a jig.
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And of course he picks a jig.

Photo: Thomas Allen

He loves his signature Buckeye Ballin' Out jigs.
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He loves his signature Buckeye Ballin' Out jigs.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Natural colors are always good. Into the box it goes.
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Natural colors are always good. Into the box it goes.

Photo: Thomas Allen

A Z-Man Jackhammer is a great springtime pesentation, or whenever grass is in the mix.
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A Z-Man Jackhammer is a great springtime presentation, or whenever grass is in the mix.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

Moving on to his out-of-the-boat board. When he is cleaning out his rig between events, the baits that end up in the bottom of the boat get temporarily placed on this board until he needs them again.Swindle sees something that needs to be included in
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Moving on to his out-of-the-boat board. When he is cleaning out his rig between events, the baits that end up in the bottom of the boat get temporarily placed on this board until he needs them again.

Swindle sees something that needs to be included in a Beginner's Tacklebox.

Photo: Thomas Allen

A Storm Arashi Cover Pop is not only a very productive bait, it's fun.
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A Storm Arashi Cover Pop is not only a very productive bait, it's fun.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Into the Lure Lock it goes.
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Into the Lure Lock it goes.

Photo: Thomas Allen

You need to learn a spinnerbait, Swindle believes.
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You need to learn a spinnerbait, Swindle believes.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

In the box it goes.
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In the box it goes.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Plastics are important. He digs around a tub with assorted Zoom baits for the hooks and jigheads he included earlier.
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Plastics are important. He digs around a tub with assorted Zoom baits for the hooks and jigheads he included earlier.

Photo: Thomas Allen

A Zoom Super $alt Plu$ Beatdown is a great Ned rig, Neko rig selection or as a Texas rig.
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A Zoom Super $alt Plu$ Beatdown is a great Ned rig, Neko rig selection or as a Texas rig.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Next a Zoom Fluke Stick Jr.
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Next a Zoom Fluke Stick Jr.

Photo: Thomas Allen

They get placed in the box.
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They get placed in the box.

Photo: Thomas Allen

He heads to the back of his Toyota Tundra for another selection.
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He heads to the back of his Toyota Tundra for another selection.

Photo: Thomas Allen

It's in here somewhere, he said.
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It's in here somewhere, he said.

Photo: Thomas Allen

Gotta be this one ...
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Gotta be this one ...

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

Ah ha!
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Ah ha!

Photo: Thomas Allen

The Zoom Zlink-y stickbait.
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The Zoom Zlink-y stickbait.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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Photo: Thomas Allen

And of course, a jig trailer creature is next ...
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And of course, a jig trailer creature is next ...

Photo: Thomas Allen

... a Zoom Z-Craw Jr.
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... a Zoom Z-Craw Jr.

Photo: Thomas Allen

The box is looking loaded up.
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The box is looking loaded up.

Photo: Thomas Allen

That's it! Thanks, Gerald. You can take that box to the bank for any new or young bass angler.
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That's it! Thanks, Gerald. You can take that box to the bank for any new or young bass angler.

Photo: Thomas Allen

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