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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.”
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - The KVD Deep Jerkbait in the box.
“Don’t leave home without a 1/2-ounce Strike King Red Eyed Shad,” Combs said.
Photo: Mark Hicks - “Don’t leave home without a 1/2-ounce Strike King Red Eyed Shad,” Combs said.
Into the box goes the Red Eyed Shad.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - From another tacklebox Combs selects a Strike Kink Rage Twin Tail Menace for a trailer.
Combs threads the Menace onto the jig’s hook.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.”
Photo: Mark Hicks - “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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - “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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - Into the box goes the Magnum Rage Bug.
Combs pulls a 4/0 Owner Offset Shank Wide Gap Worm Hook from his worm box.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.”
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - The Caffeine Shad in the box.
Strike King’s 6-inch Rage Cut R Worm is Combs’ next pick for the beginner’s tacklebox.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.”
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - 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.”
Photo: Mark Hicks - “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.
Photo: Mark Hicks - The Strike King 1.5 shares a slot with Strike King’s Series 3 crankbait in Combs’ completed beginner’s tacklebox.