Help & Advice: On Tackle Management Issues

Fellow anglers, I am a long time bass angler and boat owner (43 years) that has come down with [I]Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. [/I]
I was forced because of failing health to give up my Triton TR-20 because[U][I] a lack of oxygen[/I][/U] and now reduced to occasionally going with others in their boat. I need to downsize to travel and fish with others, this being said, I would like to optimize my options. I need to become knowledgeable overnight 'so to speak' and would like any suggestions as how to accomplish this in a proficient and timely manor. :confused:

I would appreciate some sage advice as the best & most logical [I]tackle systems[/I] to achieve this. With my condition I need to be well planed and organized for pleasant outings. Planning is something I have learned with the handicap of this disorder and I must plan well.
Please give this some thought and all suggestions would definitely be appreciated. Some system somewhat light in weight but having all the necessities required to remain independent. Having owned my boat all these years being use to having everything at my disposal . . I now have been put in a category of which . . I will need some good insight and help.
Thanks,
[I]"Oldlures" [/I]

I now take way to much tackle with me when I fish as a non-boater but it didn't start out that way.. I had/have bought a tackle box that I could carry soft plastics, weights, hooks, jigs, spinnerbaits, buzz baits and assorted crankbaits. It's about the size of a briefcase and has a little bit of everything. I can carry pliers, cutters and other fishing accessories.

I don't have to have exactly what the other guy in the boat has to catch fish so I just carry my confidence lures.

I can carry other soft plastics in a big gallon sized ziplock bag which can easily be tossed in a boat storage compartment. Like I said I can carry waaaay to much tackle at times but I still have my basic box that has a little bit of everything.

The season your fishing can zero you in on what baits are more important to have with you and most bass fisherman know the basics of what lures should work when. I bind my rods and reels with a quick clip thing usually used for extension cords and things like that. I wrap a small rag around the rods about 1/3 of the way down from the tip and ratchet the quick clip on that. It works great and the rag is pretty handy for wiping my hands down while fishing.

The reality is that most bass fisherman carry way too many lures. I have lures/soft plastics in my boat that I have not used in the past 5 years.

I would get myself a soft tacklebox that carries four clear plano boxes with 2 smaller plano boxes on the sides. The two smaller plano boxes would be used for weights and hooks. The rest I would use as the following

1. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, lipless crankbaits
2. Topwater, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits
3. Jigs, tubes, jig trailers
4. Your Choice (I have senkos and finesse worms)

Then on a side pouch I carry about 5 bags of soft plastics that I may use depending upon the season (frogs, jerkbaits, big worms, etc)

I only carry my favorite baits in each box and carry three basic colors, natural browns, Black and blue, and chartreuse. This may differ a bit depending upon the bait as I like to have a crawfish red lipless crankbait and hot pink soft plastic jerkbait in the spring.

If you have been fishing for a while you will have your favorite baits. Try not to get caught up in the wait if scenarios but instead think back to the last year and grab the lures that you used.

As for poles- a spinning rod and 2-3 baitcasters.