Those of you living in the far north are likely under a layer of snow right now – and either spending time in the woods, on the slopes, making babies or dreaming of your next soft water bass. Meanwhile, our Florida friends are confronting the spawn and gearing up for the start of the 2024 tournament season. Why not join them down there, either hauling your own boat or flying down and hiring a guide. Fisheries including the Kissimmee Chain, Okeechobee, Headwaters and a wealth of others are open for business.

I’m wishing I had a Florida trip on my near-term agenda, but in lieu of that, I decided to make up the most quintessential Sunshine State tackle box ever. Whether they’re the best choices is subject to debate, but they live at the intersection of effectiveness, usefulness across Florida’s waters, and (in some cases) a bit of Florida history.

**Culprit Ribbon Tail Worm**

You may have forgotten about this Florida-based company, but we all used this lure successfully at some point

Yamamoto 5-inch senko — **Yamamoto Senko**

More bass get caught on this than just about any lure, and the percentage is likely higher in Florida

Gambler BB Cricket two-tone punch bait — **Gambler BB Cricket**

The ultimate Florida plastics company and a bait made for slithering through the heaviest grass

Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm junebug — **Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm**

Two sizes, lots of colors

Zoom Horny Toad Buzz Frog — **Zoom Horny Toad**

Covers water, provokes amazing surface strikes around and over anything

Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver Creature Bait — **Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver**

Still the toughest and most universal punching bait

**Gambler Big EZ**

Try the Copperfield or Florida Five-O colors

Original Chatterbait Chartreuse White — **Original Chatterbait**

Bryan Thrift spilled the beans at Okeechobee and it’s still the gold standard

SPRO Aruku Shad Golden Shiner lipless crankbait — **SPRO Aruku Shad**

Try the gold/black shiner imitator

**Gambler Ninja Spin**

Marty Stone once told me at Toho it crushes them there, but he can’t get bit on it elsewhere

Smithwick Devil's Horse spotted ape frog color — **Smithwick Devil’s Horse**

The OG Florida topwater

Obviously this list is heavy on soft plastics, but that category seems to play even more in Florida than anyplace else outside of smallmouth country.
When in doubt, go with junebug.
Slower is almost always better with Florida strain bass, especially during and after a cold front

What do you think of my choices? What other lures did I miss that should make the initial cut?