Popular tackle items

Hey folks I am looking for some suggestions as to the more popular tackle items used in the area.  Everything from rockfish to salmon to whatever.  I see the Big Hammer stuff around a bit and am very familiar with that stuff but what sizes and colors are folks using?
Any general suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Market research you could call it I guess

Here are some jig heads I make that work with big hammers. The 6 and 8 oz jig heads now come with flat glow in the dark eyes. The others are 3 and 4 oz shad jig heads with 3d eyes. Colors I have now are shown in the pics. I'm in Humboldt county and can ship them out by Monday. Good luck in your search can't have enough tackle [emoji3]

that's a pretty broad question. You'll get a million answers, based on everyone's personal preferences, different quarries, waters and methods.

Where are you fishing? What are you fishing for? From what kind of craft? What time of year?

A shortcut might just be to head to your local outfitters - they will, almost by default, carry the most popular tackle items, often sorted by species/method.

Yeah sorry for broad question I understand completely how much preference there is having spent the last decade+ in the fishing industry.  What I am looking for is a list of the most popular Go To baits that kayak fisherman are using in the area for a variety of species.  "Must Have's" for outfitters in the area basically.

   There is no one answer to your question 

   The 6" Big Hammer used for lings in the salt obliviously won't work on Kokanee in Lake Merwin.
   The prawn spinner used for salmon in the Colombia probably won't catch many halibut at Neah Bay.

   If you worked in the "fishing industry" then you certainly realize how many variables there are in tackle.
   I'm not an "outfitter" but there are some must have items that are always with me on the water. The bait
   will vary by species.

   Are you looking for some kind of short-cut before you go shopping ? Trying to save a little cash perhaps ?
   just saying.........

+1 on the broad spectrum, but most plastic bodies between 3-8" on a 2-8oz jighead will do the job. I'm partial to Lancer Jigs from 2-4oz in the copper waterdog color. There's not a soul who's fished them that will deny how potent they are. Big Hammer are also fish killers. Most popular colors are rusty/rootbeer/copper colors, white, and green. Others have their funky "go to" like pink (Ndogg) but the colors listed are the standard.

Actually, if thrown hard enough and in just the right spot, I bet a  6" Big Hammer would land you a koke @ merwin during a topwater bite.

Actually, if thrown hard enough and in just the right spot, I bet a  6" Big Hammer would land you a koke @ merwin during a topwater bite.

So that's what they mean when they say bonking fish.  Thanks!

I apologize that to some of you this question seemed broad however there were some answers that were exactly what I was looking for.  I am looking just for a good base of what a store would want to stock if trying to cater to kayak fishermen. 

For instance at my previous store in San Diego I had the 3 most popular big hammer sizes in 6 most popular colors, couple go to crank baits, irons, spoons, etc.  Very simply stuff that guys look to purchase when shopping for their kayak fishing needs. 

I appreciate the comments and help and I assure you that this is not me cutting corners and trying to figure out the secrete baits or anything

A more in depth post will come shortly however I am using this information to aid in the growth of the kayak fishing program at Next Adventure.  I have come on board with the NA team and the Kayak Fishing Manager and will be doing my best to grow their program but also grow the opportunities within the NWKA community. 

I will be working the NA booth at the Portland boat show on Friday from 4-930 and would love to meet any of the folks in the community.  I will also be attending the Pdx meet up on the 15th I am hoping.

Thanks for your help folks.

I'm still really confused by the nature of this question.

I guess....the exact same stuff powerboaters have, except smaller downrigger balls. But we've got bigger balls anyways.

Herring.

If you are looking to stock a kayak shop with half an isle of fishing  tackle that would get a newbie headed in the right direction or items a regular guy would pick up in a pinch here are a few things for salt and salmon fishing I would recommend.  (Someone else will have to chime in for bass and trout)
Terminal tackle ... snap swivels, dual locks, sliding sinker snaps ... all in the 50 pound range.
Lead jig heads from 1-8oz
Grub tails from 4-8" in rootbeer, white and glow
Lancer Jigs all sizes and all colors, they work and they are an awesome local small company
Shrimp flies, easy way to catch black rockfish
Kone Zone flashers (I'll defer on the hot size and color) but you only need a small set not every color under the sun.
Pre tied two hook salmon leaders. Guys who tie their own almost always have supplies laying around and buy in bulk
Lead cannon balls from 4 oz to 12 oz
Salmon spinners/prawn spinners not something I use much but I know a bunch of guys on the big C swear by them.
If you want you can bring in any iron/buzz bomb type jigs you want and some guys will buy and swear by them.

That should get you started.
Oh and I wouldn't get herring b/c if you are only selling small volume your frozen bait is going to most likely be poor quality. Frankly I don't think it would be worth your time or space or money.

Good luck

Thanks for that response fungunnin it is exactly what I'm looking for.  I would love to have exactly that, basic tackle for a newbie or to have the more popular or hard to find items for other folks.  Local stuff always rocks when it comes to specialty stores too so Lancer will be high on that list.  Thanks for that piece of info especially.

I apologize for not knowing at all where to start with this and having to ask such a broad question.  I not only have no idea what the kayak guys like up here but also no idea what boaters use either.  I have fished my entire life including commercial and sport fishing however the fishery here is very different than it is in SoCal and Baja so until I can start getting on the water to figure it all out I am at a complete loss without the help of other anglers.   While I do have the help of the NA staff and fishing team I like getting as many opinions as possible so that we can really see what folks like.

Berkley Gulp in "Nuclear Chicken" is also a popular one, but Lancers are always the top of my list for bottom fishing

Herring.

+1  Probably the most versatile and productive item you can use.

Beware the Pandora's Box that you'll be opening if you're thinking of introducing tackle to the NA offerings.  The list of items in demand is a long one.

Mooching Rigs  (Salmon and Bottom Fish)
Prawn Spinner Rigs  (Salmon and Steelhead)
Cannonball weights  (Salmon, Steelhead and Bottom Fish)
Soft Plastics  (Trout, Bass, Bottom Fish)
Hard Plastics  (Trout, Bass, Walleye, Bottom Fish)
Worm Harnesses  (Trout, Walleye, Bass)
Inline Spinners   (Trout, Bass)
Thumper Spinners   (Salmon)
Wobblers   (Salmon)
Spin-n-Glows  (Trout, Salmon, Steelhead)
Sturgeon Rigs  (Barbless Octopus Hooks on Dacron leaders)
Flashers  (Trout, Salmon, Steelhead, Bottomfish)
Dodgers (Trout, Salmon)
Scents (Everything)

The list is as endless as the experiences of each different kayak fisherman.
   

-Mark-