MyFishFinder Forum
MyFishFinder By Species => Bass => Topic started by: Fat Boy on Mar 29, 2005, 07:34 AM
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Gillmaniac asked me to post this poll for you all. We'll keep it here for a while to get the maximum response, then we'll move it to the Bass section in a couple weeks.
Personally, I view my entire tackle selection as my arsenal. I don't use live bait for bass simply because I've never felt the need to do so. I've always been pretty good at finding active bass, at least enough to keep me interested, and also have been able to trigger inactive bass to hit when it seems that others may have trouble. Knowing the habits of the type of bass that you're after, the habitat and food chain, and the lake or river structure is a huge plus. Being able to adapt to find fish is often the best attribute of a bass angler.
When I target lakes that I have experience on, I focus on patterns that have worked in the past as my starting point given the time of year that I'm fishing. Once I get an idea of the conditions that I'm dealing with, I begin with my preconceived patterns (based on experience) to see how productive they are. If they don't produce in a reasonable amount of time, and I am confident that fish are there, then I adapt. Often I'll begin with search lures like spinnerbaits or perhaps a grub or super fluke on real clear lakes. But I will have to say that my most productive lure in the past for numbers and limits of keeper sized bass has to be in the plastic worm category. Big spinnerbaits are a good big fish bait as is the jig-n-pig. But, every trip can be different. Tubes, Senkos and Flukes are often productive and can turn a bad day into a good day. And, don't be afraid to try new things once in awhile. If you have a new product or technique to try, do it when the fish are active so you can fine tune it. When fish become inactive, that same pattern may work with some minor changes, but trying it on a bad day may give you lack in confidence in that technique. If you think about it, most of us have based our experience in lure preference based on success on good days. If we catch less fish or no fish on that same lure later, we blame it on the fish, not the lure, because we "know" that lure works.
Also, within different species of bass there are differences in their lure preferences. My largemouth arsenal is somewhat different than my smallie arsenal in my region. My core largemouth lures are spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, plastic worms, jig-n-pigs, super flukes, Senkos, and topwater plugs (popper and walk the dog style). I'll carry some other types of baits depending on the characteristics of a lake that my dictate that. Weedy lakes may change my overall selection a bit, or perhaps gin clear water. For smallies in the rivers in my area, spinnerbaits, smaller buzzbaits, popping plugs, tube jigs, plastic worms, plastic grubs, Senkos, super flukes, hard jerk baits and tiny torpedos are my core arsenal depending on the time of year. I've learned to fish all those baits and with experience have determined approximately when and under what conditions to use them. Let the fish tell you ;)
So, you can see that this is a tough vote for me! ;D
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im not big on bass fishing so i choose minnows to be the most productive because fishing for trout i will trigger the occassionall bass to get hungary and nail him the kids love catching bass maybe i should get into it a little more for them but for the survey i will say minnows for my lack of experiance
p.s. im on the southern tier of western ny
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I'd have to go with crankbaits, but that is probably because I use them about 75% of the time on the water. I just love the feel of a bass inhaling a Rapala.
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Not primarily fishing for bass - I went with my confidence lure, a jig-n-pig. There is always a rod rigged with an arky style jig (1/4 or 3/8th oz.), and a few bottles of Uncle Josh's pork frogs in the boat.
Guess since this is my go-to lure, it gets more water time; therefore putting more bass on the end of my line then say something that I don't fish as often.
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More variety with the plastics. Who would of thunk a bass would eat a hot pink worm. I catch more with plastic but you can't beat the excitement of top-water fishing :flex:
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I catch more fish using plastics then anything else, always have a spinner bait within reach if the plastics are not working.
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not a hard guess for me, gimme a 1/2 oz rattleback with a fat albert twin tail, and i can fish all day.
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What about inline spinners FB, ever use them? I think I've caught most of my river small mouth (Niagara) on either white rooster tails with a bit of red or on gold Mepps aglia spinners. I've started to use tube baits as well and they seem to be fairly effective so far.
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I picked minnows but I'll usually fish 1 rod with a minnow and another would be fished with a spinnerbait. About equal success with both but love when the crappie decide to hit the live bait. I've had best success with a white spinnerbait.
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What about inline spinners FB, ever use them? I think I've caught most of my river small mouth (Niagara) on either white rooster tails with a bit of red or on gold Mepps aglia spinners. I've started to use tube baits as well and they seem to be fairly effective so far.
Oh yeah, always keep some close by on hand especially in the rivers I fish especially for smallmouth. They can really boost numbers by targeting aggressive feeding bass and also draw reaction strikes from neutral bass. I consider them in the spinnerbait category I guess. Not only that, you can really catch a mixed bag of other species as well. There are lots of lures that cross over between species, as we all well know.
By the way, just to let you all know that just because I personally don't use minnows during open water doesn't mean that I'm against using them or any live bait. It's simply my choice to not use it, but I certainly condone it. I'm very mobile when I fish so live bait is pretty much a burden for me to drag it along. Also, I enjoy the challenge of fooling fish somewhat (not that they are all that intelligent or anything). All fishing is fun.
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Other of course being a fly fisherman ;D
I have not fished for bass much but flies that worked well for me were lefties decievers and pollywogs. Oh, yeah the pigboat is the alltime best subsurface bass fly, it's very similar to a soft plastic crawfish and you can fly fish with it.
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OK, I'll admit, when I first was discussing this poll with Gillmaniac, we discussed fly fishing, then I plum fergot! Sorry, I'll fix the poll. If anyone want's to change your vote, I've enabled that option.
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I use mostly senkos and soft jerk baits. These do excellent for me in my area but i also love to use a jitterbug or a popper late summer towards night.
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i use a crankbait from rapala, but soft plasitic works good to
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I voted for a plastic worm because they always produce, but spinnerbaits are my favorite bait to fish with.
I actually organized my gear this morning, and can't wait to get out there!
The ice gear is gone. Now I just have to clean out my truck... 8)
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I think Tube jigs work best for me but others in my area may have success on something else. I like to fish all kinds of plastics and lures. I like to feel a fish on a tube jig though. 8)
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Here Is My Arsenal For Bass, In Order or Most Effective To Least effective for my fishing:
Largemouth
1. Soft plastic jerks
2. Cranks
3. Poppers
4. Other Plastics
5. Spinnerbaits
Smallmouth
1. Cranks
2. In Line Spinners
3. Curly Tail Grubs
4. Soft Jerks
5. Topwaters
I use more lures than these, but these are the staples in my selection for bass.
Tyler
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I had to pick the Crankbait. This bait is my ultimate go to bait for predator fish; Pike, Walleye, and Bass. These baits are just so efective, I find myself going to these when all else fails, that is a go to bait.
Mike
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I agree on crankbaits for all around use. They are great for all predators. Bass, pike, walleye, trout, even have caught a few catfish on them. If plastics are not working the crank is my lure. Probably my favorites are lipless cranks or small deep divers.
Tyler
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I had to go with the plastic worms on this one. Nothing beats trolling thru the slop and pitching some red shads. On the occasion I do go with live baits, then I usually use Leeches. They are much tougher then minnows and last thru a few hits
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I always do great on senkos, flukes, and any soft plastic lure like this. This is if the water is clear however, and you know exactly where the bass are. They are not good search lures.
For search lures, I like small spinnerbaits and rattletraps.
During the evening, I love tying on a rapala skitterpop!
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Tubes for me spinnerbait is next in line.
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i basically fished the 6 inch senkos all last year. caught a 5.8 pounder a 3.1 pounder 10 to 15 2 pounders and many other bass.this was my first year of serious fishing. went out late april with some berkley worms caught some nice fish and was convinced that plastic worms work really well. i had alot of dry spells were i didnt catch nothing for 2 hours or so.this year i plan on doing alot of jig fishin.ill always have the plastic worm though its a fun lure to fish
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caught my biggest smallie on a tube, 4lbs 12oz, but all my other smallies over the 4 mark have come on live crayfish.
lures for largemouth, all kinds, soft plastics are great producers but sometimes i want to see them blast topwater stuff
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there is a great article in this months in-fisherman that covers the resurgence of plastics worms. It shows some of the new style and where and how they will be most successful. Its a pretty good read if your a worm user.
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I had to go with the jig-n-pig. I can use this set up year round and always catch bass. When I am fishing tourneys, I usually have 2 rods rigged with a jig, then a senko rigged on anther, spinnerbait is used for my search bait..
John
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FOR ME MY ANSWER IS HANDS DOWN...(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fx1.putfile.com%2F7%2F20608440368.jpg&hash=8e353a6651530786a8ac39eb5f25927b) (http://www.putfile.com) I'VE CAUGHT MORE BIG BASS ON PERCH.
NO.2 WOULD BE CRAYFISH AND NO.3 WOULD BE TUBES OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES...GRIZZ
TAKE A KID FISHN & HUNTN...IT COULD OPEN UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR THEM!!!
www.neoutdoorsman.com
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id have to agree with grizz, also bluegills and pumpkins gatta love them panfish.. -moose
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worms and cranks
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guess it really depends on the conditions ;D
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wooly bugger...seems the bass arent real picky for anything particular and cause great premature jubilation while trout fishin til ya realize theres a stinky on the end of the line....the few times i have targeted them its always with live bait and have found small sunnies and crayfish deadly
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I had to put other b/c it really doesnt matter!! anyone of those catch bass. I think i could print out this thread, fold it up into a fish looking shape draw some eyes on it and it will catch a bass.
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I've got to agree with Big Red on this one. Any day, give me a 1/2 or 3/4 oz. black rattle back jig with pork or plastic trailer. Not only the best bait for bass, but best bait for BIG bass !!!!
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Gillmaniac asked me to post this poll for you all. We'll keep it here for a while to get the maximum response, then we'll move it to the Bass section in a couple weeks.
Personally, I view my entire tackle selection as my arsenal. I don't use live bait for bass simply because I've never felt the need to do so. I've always been pretty good at finding active bass, at least enough to keep me interested, and also have been able to trigger inactive bass to hit when it seems that others may have trouble. Knowing the habits of the type of bass that you're after, the habitat and food chain, and the lake or river structure is a huge plus. Being able to adapt to find fish is often the best attribute of a bass angler.
When I target lakes that I have experience on, I focus on patterns that have worked in the past as my starting point given the time of year that I'm fishing. Once I get an idea of the conditions that I'm dealing with, I begin with my preconceived patterns (based on experience) to see how productive they are. If they don't produce in a reasonable amount of time, and I am confident that fish are there, then I adapt. Often I'll begin with search lures like spinnerbaits or perhaps a grub or super fluke on real clear lakes. But I will have to say that my most productive lure in the past for numbers and limits of keeper sized bass has to be in the plastic worm category. Big spinnerbaits are a good big fish bait as is the jig-n-pig. But, every trip can be different. Tubes, Senkos and Flukes are often productive and can turn a bad day into a good day. And, don't be afraid to try new things once in awhile. If you have a new product or technique to try, do it when the fish are active so you can fine tune it. When fish become inactive, that same pattern may work with some minor changes, but trying it on a bad day may give you lack in confidence in that technique. If you think about it, most of us have based our experience in lure preference based on success on good days. If we catch less fish or no fish on that same lure later, we blame it on the fish, not the lure, because we "know" that lure works.
Also, within different species of bass there are differences in their lure preferences. My largemouth arsenal is somewhat different than my smallie arsenal in my region. My core largemouth lures are spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, plastic worms, jig-n-pigs, super flukes, Senkos, and topwater plugs (popper and walk the dog style). I'll carry some other types of baits depending on the characteristics of a lake that my dictate that. Weedy lakes may change my overall selection a bit, or perhaps gin clear water. For smallies in the rivers in my area, spinnerbaits, smaller buzzbaits, popping plugs, tube jigs, plastic worms, plastic grubs, Senkos, super flukes, hard jerk baits and tiny torpedos are my core arsenal depending on the time of year. I've learned to fish all those baits and with experience have determined approximately when and under what conditions to use them. Let the fish tell you ;)
So, you can see that this is a tough vote for me! ;D
Live bait is probably the most productive, although i don't use it often. This is a broad catgory and different baits work better than others in certain waters. I like plastic stickbaits early in the year such as sluggo or flukes, but spinnerbaits are productive as well. i switch to plastics and tubes as the water warms and weeds begin to grow. well this is too broad of a poll
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Other plastics here! Senkos work great so they would be second. I love bush hogs as my best bass fishing day ever was when I stuck with them. That day I caught 3, 3 1/2 lb+ keepers when no one else managed to catch a single keeper. I consistently have good days with them and they have found a permanent home in my box.
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Gotta go with plastic worms. These things revolutionized fishing and by far catch more fish than any other bait. Sometimes they arent the right tool for the trade but when they are needed they always come through.
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I don't fish Bass much but when I do it's hands down the Venom, Salty Sling. with a # 2 circle hook, hooked in the center. WACKY STYLE ;D
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I've got to say with out a doubt a spinnerbait is most productive for me. Maybe not for the big guys, but to cover a lot of water fast to find em. I prefer big Colorado blades for dirty or stained water, and double willows for clear. Color doesn't seem to always matter.
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Purple worm with a white stripe.
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hi kinda new to the fishing slang been fishing 40 years only used night crawlers catch about anything from pickerel to bass to bullhead and panfish must be luck ;D id like to
learn more about different kinds of bait
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I like other plastics in particular yum soft craw bugs ...the smallies in the rivers and clear lakes we fish here just love them ...also like a 3-4 inch smoke twister tail
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Not a whole lot of experience w/ bass, but most of them I have caught have been on a good old nightcrawler. Seen some pigs taken on fly rods....san juan worm and wooly buggers.
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weedless rat, rubber worms texas rigged.
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weedless rat?
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weedless rat?
Probably the same ones i use for pickerel in the weeds..its hollow and completly weedless, i think Mann's makes one and so does Snagproof, and also strike king
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi132.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq24%2Fredmond_photos%2Fv16201.jpg&hash=4ce7bba6a3e2e7856ca5d0a0a0a8c5c4)
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi132.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq24%2Fredmond_photos%2Fimages5Cproducts5Crat.jpg&hash=4c694bad3e864b9d6f223feceb681d71)
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi132.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq24%2Fredmond_photos%2F240-467-01.jpg&hash=a92c88617f9899a772e2d2eccf549770)
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does it work any differently then a weedless frog??
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I like them a lot better than the frogs, the rats and mice are a lot more weedless you can throw them in anything, plus they fill with water and you can really throw them far, they odnt have kicking legs like most of the frogs but i have more luck with them
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for constant bigger fish you cant beat a stone cat aka mad tom or even a soft shell cray fish that is my opinion
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My favorite is a jig and a pig.
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Minnows or Ribbit-Frogs are my favorite.
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would have to go with plastic worms but crankbaits are a very close seacond for the little bit that I fish for bass and that is only with little time to fish and being closer to a bass pond or accidental strike when trout fishin much rather catch a trout though
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i have been rocking the smallies and largies on lipless crankbaits made by x caliber
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for live bait i use 2 night crawlers on a #4 hook and for lure, i use the thomas spoon in the gold color. both methods i kill it with.
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I chose crankbaits, but its not really one of those things that has a definate answer. When fishing new water i'll start with crankbaits, and MAYBE a spinner bait, something where i can cover LOTS of water FAST. Once i start catching a few fish and taking note of what these fish are holding too, bottome structure, weed beds, weed mats, water temp, and bottom configuration. I will then slow it down with a soft plastic either on drop shot, carolina, or taxas rig, and target where these fish are holding to catch the less aggressive fish. Throwing a crankbait is productive for aggressive fish and sometimes can help you find fish. But once i get things figured out a little my goto rod everytime out on this particular lake will be some type of soft plastic rig. But then there are those lakes also with big rocks and gravel or sandy shores that i will fish a crankbait all day long targeting the aggressive fish.
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way to go steelie slayer , nice description. i like your style. :clapping:
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minnows kill them, but i rarely use them anymore. i've used just about everything at one time or another, and i all depends where i'm fishing. rubber worms most places, but sometimes crankbaits or spinnerbaits are my goto lure.
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way to go steelie slayer , nice description. i like your style.
We should write a book together ya know mike???
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you could be on to something there steete slayer. good idea. :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :thumbup_smilie:
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Nah, hate books. Cant read em, dont think i could write em.
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Thats a tough one. I dont think I have one. I got a few lures that are my go toos but as far as one? If I was on a lake with one lure anytime of the year it would have to be a ;)
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I like to use a bomber crankbait and yum dingers they work good for me ;D
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My favorite is still a texas-rigged lizard. They always seem to produce in the pads at lily lake, in the weeds at montour preserve and at rose valley, and on shallow areas along the bank at sayers. I have never caught the skunk with a lizard at the end of the line.
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Nah, hate books. Cant read em, dont think i could write em.
ya, that would of been cool though! :thumbup_smilie:
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There are crankbaits then there is the Rapala. The original floater in my opinion has been the best lure ever made. Still number one in my box for almost 40 yrs.
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try a nuetral bouncy lure , there awesome!
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Texas rigged super brush hog, different weight size for varied depths.
Preferably some shade of white.
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i like gulp the wave of the future :D
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my favorite for smallmouth is tubes......
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Top Water all the way, all day long...And all night long to. ;D ;D The newbies are bringing back all the old threads.. ;D ;D ;D
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if I could only take out one thing it would have to be Texas rig lizards my most productive for fun tho nothing beets TOPWATER :flag:
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Hey Johny, welcome to Fishfinder.. Not much going on now.. Every one is on www.iceshanty.com (http://www.iceshanty.com) this time of year..
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TUBES, HANDSDOWN!!!--KP
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well if i could only take one rod and 3 baits they would be a football jig blue and black,devils horse,and a bone rattling spook
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spinnerbaits always produce strikes
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Spinner baits and Senkos. Unless I'm trolling in the lake for Smallies. Then its a wiggle wort. Which are very hard to find in the stores now :'( Around here anyways.
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Most productive bass bait for me is a 3 or 4 inch pumpkinseed grub leadhead on a spinnerbait arm that you can make yourself from Wally World. (so I guess my vote is other)
Fish em slow and deep and hold on!
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hellgramites for river smallmouth, hands down
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Gary Yamamoto senko 3" cinnamon brown or pumpkinseed, or a corron cordell super spot lipless crankbait
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for largemouth in lakes I use plastic worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jitterbugs. for smallies in the river I use hellgrammites, and crawfish, and an occasional crankbait
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Gary Yamamoto senko 3"
really, only a 3", i hate even going as small as 5" senko's, if i cant find them in 6" I usually dont buy them... do you mind telling me how you like to rig your senko's?
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I don't usually use live bait for bass, but based on my success with tip-ups this winter, I'd say live bait is probably most productive. I never use live bait when I fish from my boat, so my vote goes for senko type worms. I catch a ton of bass with senko type worms.
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really, only a 3", i hate even going as small as 5" senko's, if i cant find them in 6" I usually dont buy them... do you mind telling me how you like to rig your senko's?
that is small...will even go with a 10 or 12 inch culprit worm...
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really, only a 3", i hate even going as small as 5" senko's, if i cant find them in 6" I usually dont buy them... do you mind telling me how you like to rig your senko's?
They sell seven inch senkos i got a couple packs. I have good luck in watermellon black fleck. I rig the senko either in the middle as a wacky rig or texas rig it.
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My favorite bait so far is the Yum Dinger. Very similar to a Senko, but I'm convinced in the Yum scents. I've fished them side by side and always do better w/ the Yum.
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My favorite bait so far is the Yum Dinger. Very similar to a Senko, but I'm convinced in the Yum scents. I've fished them side by side and always do better w/ the Yum.
Buy yum scent and put it on senko then LOL
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Yum worm is just about the best bass bait you can find. Different sizes and different for different areas. Jerry
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A Texas rigged or wacky rigged Senko style bait (I prefer a Bass Pro Shops stik-o as there much, much cheaper) is a good bait for beginners as well as seasoned bass anglers.
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Senko wacky style
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watermelon senko, texas style...
And also a relatively new generation of scented baits, known as Berkeley Gulp!!! have been working well for me for bass.. especially the watermelon minnow, and baby bass jerk shad patterns.
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crankbaits all the way. you can target the whole water column with the proper crank depending on how fast you reel etc.
a floating rapalaor bomber that dives 4-6 feet catches the majority of my fish. Just the other day i used a lure like this with a
sunfish finish (since they are in to spawn atm) Ended up landing 33 larry's. With quite a few over 4.5-5 lbs. which is good
for my area.
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but there is not one lure that will consistently catch fish everyday, so you need a good variety.
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i think the chatter baits is the only bait to beat a spinnerbait in versatilty numbers of hits and size of fish atracted if you havnt fished them u are missing out red and white or blue all my big fish last year came on chatters
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I fish mostly Rivers for smallies....cool water jerkbaits then transition to plastics, tubes mostly and sencos. :)
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i do alot of tournaments in ny and definately have to go with a jig n pig for quality.....for quantity, its a toss up between a texas rigged worm (senko or curly tail) or wacky rigged senko and a spinnerbait
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I chose plastic worm, just because they can be fished so many ways. I would think it would be between plastics and spinnerbaits.
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Had to choose plastic worms but I'm partial to creature baits like the brush hog and Netbaits version of the brush hog.
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crankbaits,spinnerbaits,my new fav the swim jig
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Topwater lures are my favorite and, second is white spinner baits.There is nothing like the explosion of a bass or any other gamefish on a top water lure.You guys know what im talking about.
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Sometimes I wonder why I even bring my tackle box with me. I always end up using 5in Senkos texas rigged on a Skip Gap hook. All but a handful of the bass I have caught over 5lbs have been on a Senko.
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Sometimes I wonder why I even bring my tackle box with me. I always end up using 5in Senkos texas rigged on a Skip Gap hook. All but a handful of the bass I have caught over 5lbs have been on a Senko.
2X black w/ red or blue flake gets them every time.
I was camping at a rather large campground that had a fishing pond there were 20+ kids fishing with everything under the sun but could not catch a fish I walked back and grabbed 2 senkos and gave them to the two boys that were camping with us. They yanked bass after bass out of that pond while I walked with them all the other kids jumped in line asking for "one of them things" lol Every year I go back and I'm mobbed by kids asking me for worms and to take them fishing. The 2 boys now call me uncle Jess and one little boy I did not know asked if I would be his Daddy :o All hail the Senko :bowdown:
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Topwater but only because I use it so heavily. Just don't have the patience for soft plastics.