Beginner's Tacklebox

Beginner’s Tacklebox with Keith Combs

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Texan Keith Combs with the tacklebox he will fill with a basic arsenal of baits for beginning bass anglers.
Texan Keith Combs with the tacklebox he will fill with a basic arsenal of baits for beginning bass anglers.
Strike King’s Sexy Dawg walking stickbait is Combs’ first pick for the box. “You can cast this topwater bait a long ways, and it’s good in any season,” Combs said.
Strike King’s Sexy Dawg walking stickbait is Combs’ first pick for the box.
“You can cast this topwater bait a long ways, and it’s good in any season,” Combs said.
The Sexy Dawg earns the first spot in Combs’ beginner’s tacklebox.
The Sexy Dawg earns the first spot in Combs’ beginner’s tacklebox.
Another topwater bait, Strike King’s 3/8-ounce Splash popper, is another essential player. “Sometimes the Sexy Dawg can be overpowering,” Combs said. “The Splash is especially good when it’s calm.”
Another topwater bait, Strike King’s 3/8-ounce Splash popper, is another essential player.
“Sometimes the Sexy Dawg can be overpowering,” Combs said. “The Splash is especially good when it’s calm.”
The Splash joins the Sexy Dawg in the box.
The Splash joins the Sexy Dawg in the box.
A jerkbait is another essential lure Combs believes. The Strike King KVD Deep is his favorite. “It catches all species of black bass and works from prespawn to postspawn and in the fall,” Combs said.
A jerkbait is another essential lure Combs believes. The Strike King KVD Deep is his favorite.
“It catches all species of black bass and works from prespawn to postspawn and in the fall,” Combs said.
The KVD Deep Jerkbait in the box.
The KVD Deep Jerkbait in the box.
“Don’t leave home without a 1/2-ounce Strike King Red Eyed Shad,” Combs said.
“Don’t leave home without a 1/2-ounce Strike King Red Eyed Shad,” Combs said.
Into the box goes the Red Eyed Shad.
Into the box goes the Red Eyed Shad.
Combs fetches a 3/8-ounce Strike King Heavy Cover Swim Jig from his swim jig box.
Combs fetches a 3/8-ounce Strike King Heavy Cover Swim Jig from his swim jig box.
From another tacklebox he plucks a 5-inch Strike King Swimming Caffeine Shad, which he bites down to 4 inches and threads onto the hook of the jig.
From another tacklebox he plucks a 5-inch Strike King Swimming Caffeine Shad, which he bites down to 4 inches and threads onto the hook of the jig.
Combs ties on this deadly combo anytime bass are in shallow water. “It’s the best bait going to cover water,” he said.
Combs ties on this deadly combo anytime bass are in shallow water.
“It’s the best bait going to cover water,” he said.
The swim jig, another essential bait, joins the others in the box.
The swim jig, another essential bait, joins the others in the box.
From his jig box Combs selects a 3/4-ounce Strike King Hack Attack Jig.
From his jig box Combs selects a 3/4-ounce Strike King Hack Attack Jig.
From another tacklebox Combs selects a Strike Kink Rage Twin Tail Menace for a trailer.
From another tacklebox Combs selects a Strike Kink Rage Twin Tail Menace for a trailer.
Combs threads the Menace onto the jig’s hook.
Combs threads the Menace onto the jig’s hook.
“I do a lot of different things with this jig,” Combs said. “I pitch it under docks, flip it to shoreline grass and fish it deep over the bottom.”
“I do a lot of different things with this jig,” Combs said. “I pitch it under docks, flip it to shoreline grass and fish it deep over the bottom.”
Into the beginner’s tacklebox goes the jig.
Into the beginner’s tacklebox goes the jig.
Combs retrieves a 5/0 Owner Weighted Twistlock CPS Hook from his hook box. It features a spring screw keeper and a 1/8-ounce weight on its shank.
Combs retrieves a 5/0 Owner Weighted Twistlock CPS Hook from his hook box. It features a spring screw keeper and a 1/8-ounce weight on its shank.
Combs screws the hook’s Twistlock into the head of a 5-inch Strike King Swim N Shiner.
Combs screws the hook’s Twistlock into the head of a 5-inch Strike King Swim N Shiner.
Combs scores with this subtle combo when bass in clear water refuse power-fishing techniques. “It catches spooky bass and works great during the shad spawn,” Combs said.
Combs scores with this subtle combo when bass in clear water refuse power-fishing techniques.
“It catches spooky bass and works great during the shad spawn,” Combs said.
The Swim N Shiner takes its place in the tacklebox.
The Swim N Shiner takes its place in the tacklebox.
Combs select a Strike King Rage Bug from a box dedicated exclusively to this lure. He opts for the largest version of this bait, the 4 1/2-inch Magnum Rage Bug.
Combs select a Strike King Rage Bug from a box dedicated exclusively to this lure. He opts for the largest version of this bait, the 4 1/2-inch Magnum Rage Bug.
“I get more bites on the Magnum Rage Bug than on the regular one,” Combs said. He often Texas rigs this bait with a 3/8-ounce tungsten bullet weight and a 4/0 Owner Offset Shank Wide Gap Worm Hook.
“I get more bites on the Magnum Rage Bug than on the regular one,” Combs said.
He often Texas rigs this bait with a 3/8-ounce tungsten bullet weight and a 4/0 Owner Offset Shank Wide Gap Worm Hook.
Into the box goes the Magnum Rage Bug.
Into the box goes the Magnum Rage Bug.
Combs pulls a 4/0 Owner Offset Shank Wide Gap Worm Hook from his worm box.
Combs pulls a 4/0 Owner Offset Shank Wide Gap Worm Hook from his worm box.
Combs threads the hook into the head of a pearl 5-inch Strike King Caffeine Shad.
Combs threads the hook into the head of a pearl 5-inch Strike King Caffeine Shad.
Combs rigs the Caffeine Shad Tex-posed. “I have this bait tied on all year, with the exception of winter,” Combs said. “It catches them from prespawn through postspawn, in the summer for schooling bass and in the fall.”
Combs rigs the Caffeine Shad Tex-posed.
“I have this bait tied on all year, with the exception of winter,” Combs said. “It catches them from prespawn through postspawn, in the summer for schooling bass and in the fall.”
The Caffeine Shad in the box.
The Caffeine Shad in the box.
Strike King’s 6-inch Rage Cut R Worm is Combs’ next pick for the beginner’s tacklebox.
Strike King’s 6-inch Rage Cut R Worm is Combs’ next pick for the beginner’s tacklebox.
Combs rigs the Cut R Worm with a 5/0 Owner Weighted Twistlock CPS Hook. He fishes this bait in submerged grass and for spawning bass.
Combs rigs the Cut R Worm with a 5/0 Owner Weighted Twistlock CPS Hook. He fishes this bait in submerged grass and for spawning bass.
The Cut R Worm finds a place in Combs’ nearly full tacklebox.
The Cut R Worm finds a place in Combs’ nearly full tacklebox.
Combs casts Strike King’s Series 3 crankbait in the Chili Craw color throughout the seasons. This 1/4-ounce crankbait dives to 8 feet. “I throw it a lot during prespawn, especially in highland lakes,” Combs said. “It has a tight, subtle wobble.”
Combs casts Strike King’s Series 3 crankbait in the Chili Craw color throughout the seasons. This 1/4-ounce crankbait dives to 8 feet.
“I throw it a lot during prespawn, especially in highland lakes,” Combs said. “It has a tight, subtle wobble.”
The Series 3 claims the final open slot in Combs’ tacklebox.
The Series 3 claims the final open slot in Combs’ tacklebox.
“You’ve got to have the Strike King 1.5 Square Bill in your tacklebox for shallow fish,” Combs said. “It’s the most versatile crankbait you can own.”
“You’ve got to have the Strike King 1.5 Square Bill in your tacklebox for shallow fish,” Combs said. “It’s the most versatile crankbait you can own.”
The Strike King 1.5 shares a slot with Strike King’s Series 3 crankbait in Combs’ completed beginner’s tacklebox.
The Strike King 1.5 shares a slot with Strike King’s Series 3 crankbait in Combs’ completed beginner’s tacklebox.

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