Fishing in the Central Valley: Fighting the urge to overload on lures

There’s a war going on in my boat, and it’s been going on for as long as I’ve been fishing. I think I need help.

For decades now, it’s been a constant battle between the space in my boat and my insatiable need to bring every lure I own along for a trip. I am still surprised by my strong reluctance to leave even one of my precious baits unused at home.

I probably have a subconscious fear of not having the exact color and model of lure that could have been the magic lure that day. It’s a fear shared by many anglers.

Trying to remember all of the gear crammed into every bunk, hatch and crevice on my boat is nearly impossible. Especially in a pinch when for example, a topwater bite breaks out in front of me and I have to act fast. I couldn’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent trying to find that one bait I know is hidden somewhere in my boat.

My pre-trip list tends to go like this: My designated top tray holds the “critical” lures. This is my go to box. I usually start smart with just four to five lures but it grows quickly to the point that I can barely close it.

Next are the “important” lures, followed by the “possible” lures and finally the biggest category “in reserve.”

The reserve lures remind me of an old wine cellar filled with all kinds of old and precious vintage type creations long stored, but meant to be brought out and savored at special times.

It’s funny how many of these classic unforgettable baits I still have, even though I haven’t caught a fish with them in years. I have at least seven of them.

I also have stacks of new lures stored on my boat, right where I wouldn’t forget them and then forgotten about them for about six months.

I usually try to meet this problem head on before every trip, convincing myself that I’m going to be ruthless by just sticking to my top choices and cleaning up my messes.

Eventually I end up feeling like I am herding cats and just give up.

I am the real enemy in my organization problem.

On my last trip I only used four lures the entire day, out of the nearly 500 I estimated I carry onboard. I think of it as fishing insurance and realize that it is cheaper than therapy. I’ll keep trying because I never give up.

This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Fishing in the Central Valley: Fighting the urge to overload on lures."