Help setting up a General Purpose Freshwater Multispecies Tackle Box

I have not really been fishing much since I was a kid. My soon-to-be stepson loves fishing and so for my birthday I asked for fishing gear so we could go fishing together. So for my birthday I got a rod and a couple of reels, as well as a variety of lures, bobbers, hooks, and such. I know I still need some things, but I am having trouble finding out exactly what I need. So I am asking those more experienced than myself.

Goal: General purpose freshwater multispecies tackle. This is what I am thinking.

Hooks:
Octopus Hooks Sizes – 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1/0, 2/0, 4/0 (I went with oct hooks because I don’t want to have set the hook as I still have to with my lures and I feel I would try reflexively with circle hooks)
Trebel Hooks – Unsure what sizes I need.
Worm Hooks – 2/0, 4/0. Unsure what other sizes I need.
Worm Hooks EWG – 2/0, 4/0. Unsure what other sizes I need.

Weights:
Bullet Weights: Unsure what weights I need
Barrel (Egg) Weights: Unsure what weights I need
Split Shot Weights (Removable): Unsure what weights I need

Barrel Swivels: I have a pack of size 10. Unsure if I need more and of what size.

Plug Lures: Unsure what is small, medium, or large sizes are. I have spent more time than is reasonable trying to learn how their size is measured. Some seem to do it by weight and others by length.
Crankbaits: small, medium, large
Jerkbaits: small, medium, large
Pop-Rs: small, medium, large
Jitterbugs (I assume it is in the surpace plugs category): small, medium, large

Spoons: small, medium, large (Unsure what is small, medium, or large sizes are.)

Spinners: small, medium, large (Unsure what is small, medium, or large sizes are.)

Spinerbaits: small, medium, large (Unsure what is small, medium, or large sizes are.)

Buzzbaits: small, medium, large (Unsure what is small, medium, or large sizes are.)

Jigs (the ones with the weighted heads and rubber hair) : small, medium, large. Side question – two of my jigs have rattle things attached to them. Are they still jigs or something else I don’t know about?

Frogs: small, large (Unsure what is small or large sizes are.) the 2 I have have a rubber body that is 2 1/2 inches long.

Soft Plastics: Couple bags of Senkos, not sure what else is good to carry. I know I don’t want to carry more than a dozen or so bags. Also how small can I go with these and how small is to small?

Am I missing something important?
Is there something on my list that I don’t really need?

Thanks you all for your help and advice.

Ya got to much stuff. (said nobody)

Get a Mepps #5 for Smallmouth & Pike. Get a jig for Walleye, get a hook & bobber for pan fish.

Go fishing the rest of the junk will come over time to the point one day you wake up and say “what the heck did I do?”

That looks like a pretty good list to me, Eric. Are you planning to fish mostly from a boat or from shore?

For the spinners and rigs i’d consider getting one of these keepers. Or something like it. I’ve seen people make these out of small pool noodles too. If you get the right size they can fit right inside one of your tackle box trays.

https://www.fishusa.com/Lindy-Rigger-Snell-Holder?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping_PLA_All%20Products&utm_term=4585100931204659&utm_content=All%20Products

We will mosty be shore/bank fishing. I don’t have a boat.

Dutchboy wrote:

Ya got to much stuff. (said nobody)

Get a Mepps #5 for Smallmouth & Pike. Get a jig for Walleye, get a hook & bobber for pan fish.

Go fishing the rest of the junk will come over time to the point one day you wake up and say “what the heck did I do?”

I couldn’t agree more. you can fill a tackle box but you will only use 5% of it. You can put a 1/8 – 1/4 oz jig 10 Chartreuse twister tails and catch any species. Throw a couple of bobbers and hooks in for panfish, and some larger hooks and sinkers for catfish or carp. With this arsenal you can catch all species of fish. As Dutchmen said buy gear once you figure what areas you will be fishing and take note of what other fisherman are using. Most bank fisherman are not afraid to let you know what they are using. Grow your tackle box as your knowledge expands. I would buy 1 plano style utility box and you can fit everything you need in it. I would suggest needle nose pliers and a stringer for your catch. A backpack works nice so you are not carrying anything but your fishing poles. Good Luck

Great advice, Use Plano, boxes to sort for species you want to target Take your time figuring out what you really like to fish for, And spend accordingly. Buying lures can get crazy, Some people have many, a lot of them only use a small part of what they have. I know this! DK.

I happen to be more of a walleye guy and mostly fish out of a boat but a few ideas:

I would be sure to include a few different types of swimbaits from 3″ to 5″ in length. These can range from cheap minow body store brand swimbaits, to something like a AuthentX Pulse-R, to someting like a Keitech, and many other options out there from other brands.

For jigs I would get an assortment from 1/8 oz thru 1/2 or slightly heavier for some bass style jigs. Also some larger plastics might need a larger hook style jig.

I would also get sinkers ranging from 1/8 oz to 1/2 oz for the bullet and barrel sinkers and some smaller sizes than that for split shots.

I would be sure to get some shad style cranks (similar to flicker shads) and also include some stickbaits like husky jerks or Rogues, and original rapalas.

I would possibly add some 10-20 lb fluro leader material depending on what you are fishing for and what you plan to use for your main line.

No need to overdo it when you first start out. How old is your soon-to-be stepson, how does he like to fish? I think this is the first and most important question. Next would be do you know what species you are trying to target? Don’t over stress things and keep it fun for both of you. A bobber, hook, and some bait are all you need to start creating memories. Find some spots to fish and see what everyone else is using in that area. Pay attention to what they are doing for that area and get some of the stuff you see working for them. Lures make great stocking stuffers.