1 Lure You Have No Confidence In... 2025
Blues19 reply :
For me I will have to say a Tube. Ive fished a tube a little bit, but not much. Just dont have an confidence to use it much. Im going to work on it a little more this year so maybe I can get a little confidence in it.
Darren. reply :
Dang. I just re-read the topic. "NO" confidence... Deleted my "worm" reference, since that's my confidence bait, and we'll go with the following:
Crankbaits
I love these things, but catch so few fish on them it is a shame. I still try, but end up frustrated.
Arv reply :
Chatter bait
Washout reply :
Swim jigs, spinnerbaits. Even tie for me. Zero success despite all my efforts.
Tartan34 reply :
Swim Jig. I so badly want to turn the confidence for me with it, but I can't seem to catch fish. I know it is productive in the waters I fish.....but not for me.
Scott F reply :
Plastic hollow bodied swim baits. I haven't caught any bass on them. I got some huge drum with them but that's it.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
Spro BBZ1 baby shad
Blues19 reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 10:49 AM, Tartan34 said:Swim Jig. I so badly want to turn the confidence for me with it, but I can't seem to catch fish. I know it is productive in the waters I fish.....but not for me.
I dont have much confidence in a Swim Jig either
Stingray23 reply :
deep crankbaits
fadetoblack21 reply :
Hard plastic jerkbaits. I don't get out in cold water much, but when I do I have a hard time catching anything on these.
McAlpine reply :
Soft plastic Swimbaits. I've never caught a thing on them.
Alpha Male reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 10:45 AM, DarrenM said:Dang. I just re-read the topic. "NO" confidence... Deleted my "worm" reference, since that's my confidence bait, and we'll go with the following:
Crankbaits
I love these things, but catch so few fish on them it is a shame. I still try, but end up frustrated.
Same for me. So over the last few months I have picked up a couple of lipless, SK 3-5-6XD's, and 3 storm arashi's
Gatorbassman reply :
Swim Jigs
Spinnerbaits
Chatterbaits
Big Swimbaits
Poppers
Tubes
Beavers
These are the ones I'm going to focus on this year. Except for the tube. I don't really care about fishing a tube. 
scw8998 reply :
I would say a jerkbait.I don't catch many on them. My top 3 favorite would be deep diving crankbait,texas rigged worm,and rattletrap.
Jeff H reply :
Buzzbaits! Hate 'em! Zero confidence, too many misses.
Fattygreens reply :
Spinnerbaits! Hope to change that though.
Wbeadlescomb reply :
I guess I'm confident in everything but a suspending jerkbait and a dropshot. I hate throwing anything finesse,Like a shakey head,Texas rig,weightless senko/trick worm even a spinnerbait. Everyone on the lake is throwing a shakey head or a spinnerbait it seems like. That's why I stick with a swim jig or swim bait 99% of the time if the cover and water clarity allow it.
TorqueConverter reply :
Senko and other similar stick worms. I don't beat the bank very much and that's all I've ever head of anyone doing with the things to get bit.
Djman72 reply :
Jig,
Ashamed to say that, but i've never caught a fish on a jig. Granted i've probably fished with a jig a total of 1 hour.
Chatterbaits too.
flippin and pitchin reply :
Roland Martin's Helicopter lure, Dancin' Eel, YUM 27 inch Lamprey Lure
fishinthedacks reply :
Swim jigs. This will be my first year trying then again in three four years.
Cast_And_Blast reply :
Drop Shot or Tube. I just can't figure it out. 
Wbeadlescomb reply :
You guys that don't like the swim jig should really throw it more. Take two medium heavy rods higher speed reels spooled with braid and a handful of swim jigs. Don't take any other lures and go fish them. It's the only way you are going to learn.
SoFlaBassAddict reply :
Deep cranking my home lake. Caught a handful of fish with them. Just not enough to say I have any real confidence in throwing them. Spent a good couple of hours today trying, just didn't happen....
AaronSchneider reply :
Lip less crankbait... weird as hell.
TheBassinBarber reply :
Frog fishing. I don't have the patience to gain the confidence, although i know I'm missing out
Mike2841 reply :
cranks, lipless cranks, squarebills, jerkbaits, pretty much any lure with trebles thats fished below the surface. Most of the places that I fish are so over run with weeds that they always get hung up, and if i do find a place thats relatively clear I dont know how to fish them effectively
Stingray23 reply :
I'm very surprised to see so many dont have confidence in spinnerbaits. Its one of my go to baits since forever.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Surprised to see how many have no confidence in bladed jigs and traps, two of my big confidence baits. I think most people fish the bladed jigs too fast though.
Mine would be a swim jig. I can see why they should work, but I just rarely get them to actually work for me.
Swampstud reply :
I had lil confidence in jig fishing last year, changed that big time!
Still have absolutly 0 confidence in rattle traps n red eye shad. I plan to purposly leave my tackle home and take a few rods an a box of traps to force myself to learn the trick to it
Fish Murderer 71 reply :
absolutely hate the hollow bodied swim baits. Have yet to find anything useful for them except for the A-rig
Lip 'em! reply :
Chatterbait...
ww2farmer reply :
A-rig....I have caught a few fish on them, mostly smallmouth and pike. I just hate throwing the thing long enough to give it a fair shake.
Anything Gulp other than there small 3" leech and minnow baits for dropshotting.
Rangerphil reply :
I don't know if this counts but I HATE a Carolina rig! I fish jigs and drop shot and shakey and love them all but can't stand that c-rig!
grizzgreen18 reply :
spinnerbaits i just cannot get them right hopefully that will change this year
Drewski73 reply :
Senkos
I have caught a few on them, but catch more on zoom finese worms by a large margin.
I keep buyin and tryin though!
WIGuide reply :
I for whatever reason have no confidence in a jig (excluding swim jigs) I'm not sure what it is, but I just can't catch fish on them. I'm going to get better with them this year though!
Catt reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 2:50 PM, Lip said:Chatterbait...
That makes 3 of us! 
KritterGitter reply :
Jigs and spinner baits.... I dunno what it is but day in and day out my buddy and I will throw the same jig to the same area and while he comes up with a fish, Im switching over to one of my confidence baits...
A-Jay reply :
I'm with Rangerphil ~ The Carolina Rig.
Casting it is bizarre and it's like fishing a shoe. I hate it.
Of course my home waters have very little in the area of the bottom composition traditionally thought of as good C-rig spots. But even if they did, I probably would throw it.
A-Jay
Chris at Tech reply :
I don't know why, but I just can't seem to get confident in a lipless crank. I throw it enough, vary my retrieve, etc but just can never seem to have a good day. It's one of those strange lures that I feel like I know when I SHOULD throw, but my results don't really back that up.
A-Jay reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 8:51 PM, Chris at Tech said:I don't know why, but I just can't seem to get confident in a lipless crank. I throw it enough, vary my retrieve, etc but just can never seem to have a good day. It's one of those strange lures that I feel like I know when I SHOULD throw, but my results don't really back that up.
The trip south next week just may fix all of that for you - and in a Big Man Way !
A-Jay
McAlpine reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 12:31 PM, flippin and pitchin said:Roland Martin's Helicopter lure, Dancin' Eel, YUM 27 inch Lamprey Lure
You forgot the Banjo Minnow.
McAlpine reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 8:51 PM, Chris at Tech said:I don't know why, but I just can't seem to get confident in a lipless crank. I throw it enough, vary my retrieve, etc but just can never seem to have a good day. It's one of those strange lures that I feel like I know when I SHOULD throw, but my results don't really back that up.
I'm going to modify my list and add lipless too. I can't catch anything but snags on them.
Felix77 reply :
Jerkbaits. ZERO confidence in them.
basshole8190 reply :
Dropshot and senkos for me.
BuckMaxx reply :
Chatterbait if there is one stick in the lake Ill find a way to hang the %-%+%+&+&?! in it...
jdl2425 reply :
Jigs and lipless cranks. Never caught a fish on a lipless crank. Although I've caught fish on jigs, I catch more with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures. Personally, jigs don't appeal to me. I take more pride in the hardbaits I use.
Tlaz reply :
Believe it or not, spinner baits dont work for me. Havent tried in years but maybe it is time?
Also on the list is carolina rigs
Hyrule Bass reply :
jigs, never had much luck with them.
NathanW reply :
Chatterbaits.
Raider Nation Fisher reply :
Spinner baits.
I have managed to catch 3 snapping turtles with them and that is it. I will stick to my crankbaits and tube baits.
HPfishin reply :
got to be spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and jerkbaits for me. I have a sweet jerkbait setup too, great action and casting, but I struck out hard with them this year, probably because of the muddy water but oh well
roadwarrior reply :
Wow!
This is one of the most interesting/ bizzar threads I have ever read on the Forum.
It's so surprising particularly considering some of the members that have posted.
I think the positive spin is making a list of "Challenges for 2014".
Part of it might be seasonal. Here in the Mid South it is early spring with water
temperatures +/- 45*. The hot baits are Red Eye Shad, Square Bills, Jerkbaits,
The Rig and apparently the Rapala DT6. If these are on your list and you want
to bring them into play, NOW is the time here and shortly further north.
Mattfrom_NJ reply :
Chatterbait. What is the secret w these things
Chris at Tech reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 8:59 PM, A-Jay said:The trip south next week just may fix all of that for you - and in a Big Man Way !
A-Jay
I had a feeling you'd reply along those lines
A-Jay reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 12:06 AM, Chris at Tech said:I had a feeling you'd reply along those lines
I couldn't help it Chris. Especially after the last trip where I fished The Same Red Eye Shad for 5 days in a row and got my arm broke several times a day . . . .
A-Jay
dfris reply :
If you look in my tackle box. Its clear I dont have confidence in any of my lures. Thats why I have so many. Lol
I can loose confidence before ever throwing a lure. Half my tackle has never been thrown.
But id say a lipless crankbait, jig, tubes,deep cranks, night crawler. Lol
Preytorien reply :
I have little/no confidence in
deep cranks
swimbaits
swim jigs
spoons
I probably worked them wrong or something, but I did give it an honest go. In my own defence though, many other lures/techniques I had given up on, until I found BR, then I read the wealth of knowledge on here, applied it, and now I'm a fan
Grizzn N Bassin reply :
Hollow body swimbaits.
Small finesse plastics on a ball jig head.
annexation reply :
I gotta go with hollow-body frogs. Man do I want to love these things, but two seasons of trying and I still can't buy a bite with them. Will try again this summer.
roadwarrior reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 2:06 AM, annexation said:I gotta go with hollow-body frogs. Man do I want to love these things, but two seasons of trying and I still can't buy a bite with them. Will try again this summer.
Try the Rage Tail Toad and you might not want to go back to hollow-body frogs.
http://www.ragetail.com/news/color-charts/rage-toad-color-selection/
BassinLou reply :
Lipless cranks, crankbaits, jigs. I know these catch nice bass, but they are not baits I have confidence in.
bassin is addicting reply :
tube
drop shot
lipless crank
mainly because i fish these the least amount of time. and when i do. i have zero confidence so i fish about 10 minutes, if that, then change to something else..
Rangerphil reply :
I am surprised on how many people have no faith in spinnerbaits! Not too long ago (10 years or so) it seemed as if everyone on the lake was throwing them.
olegs reply :
Chatterbait
Popper
Hard Jerkbait
Munkin reply :
Chatterbait but I plan on working with it this year.
Allen
annexation reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 2:10 AM, roadwarrior said:Try the Rage Tail Toad and you might not want to go back to hollow-body frogs.
http://www.ragetail.com/news/color-charts/rage-toad-color-selection/
I always forget about these. Might have to give them a try; thanks!
camovan reply :
Tubes
Hollow body frogs (although I still throw it a lot, just miss hook ups)
Shakey head
Trick worm
I have enough confidence in similar or alternate presentations that I am never inspired to try and up my game on any of these. Except the frogs in the slop, there is no real substitute for that one so I just keep trying to get better.
Banned-99884 reply :
No confidence in
big swimbaits
buzzbaits
frogs
will be working on these baits this year!
Tartan34 reply :
Big Swimbaits for me also. I bought a bunch of "good ones" and am now looking to sell/trade them. After throwing them for a little bit, I quickly realized that I don't have the patience to fish something I have zero confidence in, and don't really feel like building.
ColdSVT reply :
i have no confidence in lipless cranks...I have never hooked up with a lipless in fresh water
however, I am going to lake norman in 19 days and I am planning on forcing myself to fish with my red eye shad and lucky craft LV...im gonna catch something dammit!
hoosierbass07 reply :
I've mentioned this in another threads: No confidence in those jigs with weed guards. I would get to a spot (bank fishing) and start with my plastic worms and lizards. After a while and after catching one or two fish I would try a jig or twenty minutes or so and nothing. Caught only two fish on those jigs the whole summer. No, I did not use them as much as I did plastic worms. But I think I tried them enough that I should have gotten more bites.
lmbfisherman reply :
Crankbaits - I have no confidence in them. (Lipless Cranks I have no issues, just the billed ones)
Carolina Rigs - I have yet to catch anything with one. Of course only fished them sporadically.
Washout reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 2:53 AM, Rangerphil said:I am surprised on how many people have no faith in spinnerbaits! Not too long ago (10 years or so) it seemed as if everyone on the lake was throwing them.
I see tons of people throwing them around me. I even see people hook up with them, but I can't make one work. I've even went out and added some more to the box to match what I saw. Still don't know what to do with one. I think I fish them too slow rather than too fast. But I've varied speeds and even tried cadences with one. I'd say I've fished it enough to know at least fifty ways to NOT make one work. I'll still play with it some more and see what comes of it. Another year of frustration and I'll just make more room for other things.
Rangerphil reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 5:29 AM, Washout said:I see tons of people throwing them around me. I even see people hook up with them, but I can't make one work. I've even went out and added some more to the box to match what I saw. Still don't know what to do with one. I think I fish them too slow rather than too fast. But I've varied speeds and even tried cadences with one. I'd say I've fished it enough to know at least fifty ways to NOT make one work. I'll still play with it some more and see what comes of it. Another year of frustration and I'll just make more room for other things.
Get a cloudy day with some wind find a point or flat back in a cove or creek with the wind blowing onto the point or flat and throw one! If you find a spot where the wind is blowing directly onto you will catch them on one! Just be sure to use a trailer hook!
Washout reply :
I've never had a trailer hook on one, but I've not even been swiped at with one. You just named a good day fishing (for me) and where I'm fishing Texas rigs, I'll turn around and throw one climbing the point. When that doesn't work, I'll move and slide it down the bank. With the wind, into the wind, fan casting, doing what I've been told is slow rolling one, burning one everything in between. But I do hedge my bets with the weather. My perfect day is good barometer drops, pre-storm with mostly cloudy skies and into 10-20 mph winds. I end up tossing out Texas Rigs and craw dads, beaver tails, or a spook depending on where I'm at on the lake. I do decent with deep diving cranks too. I'm pretty new to the lipless cranks, but I am not discouraged with them. I know they work. Hard to concentrate that much on one, but I'm sure that's all in practice.
RAMBLER reply :
C-rigs, I see no sense in that set up, at all.
Buzz baits. I know I've scared more fish with one than I've ever caught on one. But, I love to throw a buzz tail shad.
atpns1234 reply :
Tubes and spinners for me.
livetofish28 reply :
senkos man I hate those things lol even had Randy Howell talk to me about it and i still cant catch fish with it lol
tight lines
Andrew
Smokinal reply :
c rig and a rig
AK-Jax86 reply :
Any walk the dog lure!!! I can't seem to get the hang of if but it's on my list of things to master this year
Creekcrappie reply :
Spinnerbaits and a rigs. Have even confidence in them: none.
mjseverson24 reply :
5+ inch swimbaits, and jerkbaits. Not that I dont catch fish with them, just the frequency and quality is not what where it needs to be to get a lot of time. If the time and spot call for these baits I definitely throw them...(a few 4-6 lb fish would definitely boost my confidence in these)...
Mitch
BryanBrown reply :
For me I would have to say tubes and jerkbaits. If you would have asked me this last year, I would have said jigs was my least favorite. Now they are the ones I have the most confidence with ...
iceintheveins reply :
Boy I can't really think of one except maybe a plain crawdad plastic without highly attractive claws. I murder them on rage craws, speed craws, paca craws and the like.
RipSomeLips reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 11:38 AM, Jeff H said:Buzzbaits! Hate 'em! Zero confidence, too many misses.
Two recommendations. Use mono so that it will stretch and delay your hook set a little bit. Also use a trailer hook.
RipSomeLips reply :
My least confident bait is a spinnerbait. I done have a lot of rip rap or rocks where I fish, guessing that's a big part of it.
bigbill reply :
Rapala DT, BERKLEY CRANKS, I just never, ever caught anything on them. Everyone else had success here but not me. I don't know why.
With the other cranks that work for me I did find out I was moving them to fast.
dday07 reply :
Heck..here in clear water Socal? Too many to name.
dday07 reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 6:09 AM, RAMBLER said:C-rigs, I see no sense in that set up, at all.
Buzz baits. I know I've scared more fish with one than I've ever caught on one. But, I love to throw a buzz tail shad.
Try a Strike King Tri-Wing Buzz King...it is the quietest of all the buzzbaits I've used.Doesn't scare too many fish
big poppa reply :
TUBES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have no confidence in them.
smalljaw67 reply :
I consider myself very strange as I can't stand drop shots and C-Rigs and I'll never use an A-rig so that doesn't count. What is strange is I use them and have confidence in them but they are like a tool of last resort, in the summer when the fish are scattered I know I'll catch fish on a C-rig but I just hate throwing it. The same thing with a drop shot, we'll make some fish and we won't have much luck and you it was going to work that way as the fish are like just off the bottom so you reluctantly throw a drop shot and catch them but I hate using it even though I know it works and have had a lot od success using it.
Rangerphil reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 12:11 PM, RipSomeLips said:My least confident bait is a spinnerbait. I done have a lot of rip rap or rocks where I fish, guessing that's a big part of it.
Weed lines will produce a ton of fish on a spinnerbait. Plus don't rule out timber! I fished on Kerr lake one year and was pitching my spinnerbait back into the brush and easing it through and caught a ton!
jhoffman reply :
You guys having spinnerbait issues. Get in some blowdowns, throw it right into the heart of it, crank it to get the blades started and as you come over the wood kill it. Killing a spinnerbait is the key to its success. I can catch them burning it once in awhile but I rarely catch anything on them in open water. You really should throw it when theres a little stain to the water too.
jhoffman reply :
The guys saying hard body jerkbaits... downsize to like a 68 pointer, stop always chuckn that 110. You rarely hear talk about the xrap but I absolutely demolish them on that in a series 8.
To the walking baits guy... if you can fish a jerkbait you can fish a walker, same action, must throw slack into the line.
Oregon Native reply :
Interesting subject. I have been chasing bass long enough to have caught fish on everything and basically own everything it's just hard to find time to use it all. Since I moved to the south I'm finding I have to get more confidence in some lures I threw very little out west but I'm looking forward to the adventure. For instance chatter baits, A-Rigs, carolina rigs....I need to throw these more as they weren't in the boat back home. My favorite is to just have two or three rods on deck....out here I seem to want more!!
bigbill reply :
I've always thought if a lure isn't working????
First
We're using too fast of a presentation.
Second
The wrong color
Three
The wrong size
Four
No scent?
Fishing can be tough while trying to figure out a new lure. My best bet is let my youngest son try it. The kid has a knack for success with any lure I give him. He is so talented because he didn't really try hard. I keep on telling him he has a natural gift for fishing and he should fish the local tornies to get started but does he listen, nada.
basshole8190 reply :
Pm me and lemme know what you got. maybe we can strike up a dealOn 3/11/2014 at 4:24 AM, Tartan34 said:Big Swimbaits for me also. I bought a bunch of "good ones" and am now looking to sell/trade them. After throwing them for a little bit, I quickly realized that I don't have the patience to fish something I have zero confidence in, and don't really feel like building.
NathanW reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 7:39 PM, jhoffman said:The guys saying hard body jerkbaits... downsize to like a 68 pointer, stop always chuckn that 110. You rarely hear talk about the xrap but I absolutely demolish them on that in a series 8.
To the walking baits guy... if you can fish a jerkbait you can fish a walker, same action, must throw slack into the line.
I think he meant 78 (or 65 I guess) but yeah totally agree with that statement. If you are throwing like LC Pointer 100SP and cannot catch em try the 78SP. Great lure to make a quick limit.
FlipSide reply :
Jerkbaits, deep cranks, carolina rig
Washout reply :
Between Rangerphil and jhoffman, I'll try the timber this year. Any tricks to not snagging it in the timber when you kill it? How long/far do you let it fall? Worst case scenario, I replace them with something besides spinners I guess.
Stingray23 reply :
Its a momentary thing. When the spinnerbait comes in contact with something, say, a log, you just make it stop for a split second, then resume reeling. You dont have to always do that though. You can come into contact with something and continue to reel it in. Both work.
powerduster reply :
Anything medium to deep divers. I never caught anything on them.
black94gt50 reply :
Deep diving crankbaits- caught fish on them, but can't really figure them out and catch fish throughout the day with them.
Hard jerkbaits- just doesn't happen for me, can kill them on soft jerkbaits.
Hollow body swimbaits- tried every way to rig them and fish them, and can't remember catching more than one fish on them.
travis23 reply :
Swim jig and chatterbait. Plan to fish both exclusively until something bites!
Trek reply :
The stupid tube. I seem to get smaller fish on it and a lot of fish get off. I've learn to hate it.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Lizards.... Hate em... Serious I would rather throw rocks at bass then a lizard!
A-rig.... That's just stupid...
That's all!!
Justin Clark reply :
Senko lol
I can't count on both hands how many fish I have caught on them since this style bait came out. I can be fishing with someone that is killing them on it and I still can't get them on it.
Jsinkic reply :
Lipless crankbaits and jerk baits. Hoping to change that this year, so I hope...
Raul reply :
BUZZBAITS.
Montanaro reply :
I'll be honest. I have confidence with everything I throw. I always expect a bite.
Now if you asked what lures I use least...tube and crigs. No need for them.
Rangerphil reply :
I see you are from the lake st.clair area. Try a 3 inch senko wacky rigged on a drop shot!On 3/12/2014 at 8:52 PM, Justin Clark said:Senko lol
I can't count on both hands how many fish I have caught on them since this style bait came out. I can be fishing with someone that is killing them on it and I still can't get them on it.
Justin Clark reply :
On 3/13/2014 at 2:34 AM, Rangerphil said:I see you are from the lake st.clair area. Try a 3 inch senko wacky rigged on a drop shot!
I tired it wasn't able to catch anything but a rock bass on them.
I just think senkos hate me
I kill them on the X-Zone Slammers on a Dropshot.
daiwaguy reply :
This is tricky because I really try to experiment fairly hard with lures I have not had the best of luck with. Usually try to fish them till I figure them out. But mid size swimbaits are something I have only thrown a few times and dont remember catching anything on them. So this year I am going to try and stick with them for a week or so and see what I can figure out.
jeremyryanwebb reply :
honestly the places i fish i feel good about everything...except topwaters
either the gators follow them or i get frustrated before i tie on somethin else
PondHunter reply :
In-line Spinners. Never caught anything but snags.
Big Matty L reply :
Zara Spooks, Jigs and Texas Rigged anything
SirSnookalot reply :
Can't say there is 1 lure I don't have confidence in, have yet to own something given enough time that hasn't produced. One lure I don't like are frogs, use them sometimes and they work fine, just don't care for them.
Jason Penn reply :
any cranks deeper than 10-12' and the ol c-rig. i have never had a single bite on a carolina rig!
i don't do as well on spinnerbaits and cranks as i used to, but that is due to my eyesight more than those lures. i have problems with depth perception now, and my casting ability has suffered because of it. i can fish with guys that can get closer to cover than i can and watch them do well with these techniques. because of this, jigs and plastics have become what i am most confident in now
Bk4 reply :
Creature baits ... Crank bait .... Frog ...
Manigotapee reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 7:52 PM, Drewski73 said:Senkos
I have caught a few on them, but catch more on zoom finese worms by a large margin.
I keep buyin and tryin though!
Agreed, I don't even throw them in ponds. It doesn't fit my style and I feel like there are better baits for targeting the fish I want to catch.
FrogFreak reply :
This thread warms my heart. All you guys with all your experience and you still are working on getting better. It makes me feel better about my deficiencies. Here they are:
- Jig, don't throw it much. I will this year
- Punching, same as the jig
- Any deep water presentation (cranks, c-rig, spoon) It doesn't get that hot up here to worry about this much. We can catch em shallow all summer.
- Jerk baits. We don't fish soft water in the winter much around here.
AQUA VELVA reply :
Drop shot, swim jigs, chatter baits, spoons.
primetime reply :
Lizards......Never use em, but may try if I can get around all the other plastics I love. I will go Tube over lizard anyday....FInd a ledge, rig a gitzit 3" white or silver tube on a 1/4 oz slider jig head and cast it out and let it glide to the bottom....If you don't get bit, crank it back to the boat as if using a crankbait, only use your reel for action, not the rod. I used to catch Salmon up North with this technique after reading an article about it, and I have used it with alot of success as a cold water bait, and a great search bait at the same time...
I also have no confidence in Deep Diving Cranks over 15 feet......Way to much work
Jar11591 reply :
Jigs and spinnerbaits. I plan on devoting a lot more time this year to these techniques. Gotta hone my skills.
dam0007 reply :
Senko yes a senko have yet to catch a fish on one. Every other worm I have ever used I've caught a fish on. Tried Texas, Carolina, drop shot, weightless wacky rigged at docks, on stonewalls in vegetation and nothing.
gulfcaptain reply :
baits I have no confidence in would be the ones I don't buy nor have any interest in even using.....so I guess that would be brush hogs and 8-10" worms.
Flippinhook reply :
Lipless cranks for me and I know they catch fish I just never have any luck with them
OntarioFishingGuy reply :
ribbontail worms. I dont mind straight tail worms, paddle tail worms or Senkos, but i just hate fishing ribbontails.
0119 reply :
Spinnerbaits.
VolFan reply :
Lipless cranks and chatterbaits. I know many people love them, but i can't remember ever catching a fish on either.
SirSnookalot reply :
There is a difference between lack of confidence and desire to use a particular bait. Given enough time I'm going to catch fish on a bare paper clip, the lack of fish on a certain lure isn't my concern. Nothing I like better than open water fishing, senkos and jigs do not not excite me, but they do catch fish. If I'm fishing open water I'm going to use something that may not produce as well but it's more fun for me.
Todd2 reply :
Jerkbaits....no confidence in them at all.
RipSomeLips reply :
On 3/11/2014 at 12:11 PM, RipSomeLips said:My least confident bait is a spinnerbait. I done have a lot of rip rap or rocks where I fish, guessing that's a big part of it.
I am thankful for this forum. After typing about spinnerbaits above...I forced myself to use only that for the last week. Caught 4 bass with the biggest at 4.5 pounds. That's pretty decent for this time of year where I live. Anybody else try their least confident bait after sharing in this forum?
Slefler reply :
If it's not a Texas-Rigged soft plastic I don't have confidence in it lol. The good thing is I have plenty to work on to keep me busy for a very long time.
FrogFreak reply :
On 3/18/2014 at 10:09 PM, RipSomeLips said:I am thankful for this forum. After typing about spinnerbaits above...I forced myself to use only that for the last week. Caught 4 bass with the biggest at 4.5 pounds. That's pretty decent for this time of year where I live. Anybody else try their least confident bait after sharing in this forum?
Nope still have ice on all the lakes around here and Bass opener isn't until 5/24 in MN.
Good for you though!! I have to do that with a jig this year.
fish365 reply :
For me its probably the A-rig. Caught a few fish on it but just don't like heaving that chandelier all day. See a lot of folks post lipless/red-eye shad as their least on the confidence list. My no.1 producer this winter was a lipless crank, even over silver buddy and hair jig. Took some practice to get the feel of slow cranking it off rocks and structure. Think i only lost 2 all winter i couldn't shake loose by moving boat or get back with plug knocker. Think contact with submerged objects is probably why most of the lures listed here aren't catching fish for folks. A nice pause after contact usually does the trick. Just my two cents worth.
Nicky Greece reply :
Ive always had trouble with spinnerbaits. Although I did catch a MONSTER cat on one by accident one morning.
tholmes reply :
For me, it's been a Zara Spook. I catch bass on other topwater lures, even other "walk the dog" lures, but I've NEVER caught one on a Spook.
Tom
B@ssCrzy reply :
Senko....can't stand fishing it and when I do I don't catch much. My 5 yr old son catches more than I do on it.
aharris reply :
I'm really surprised in some of the answers on here. I saw a lot of spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits. Those are two of my favorites to throw if the conditions are remotely close to being right for them. Especially a spinnerbait. I'll throw one of those 12 months out of the year. My "no-confidence bait" would have to be a tube.
Master Bait'r reply :
Hollow bodied swimbaits. I think they may get Gronk'd into the trash or given away.
BaconStealer303 reply :
C-Rig... Tried it once and I'd much rather throw a jig or dropshot
719BassFishing reply :
Jerk Bait is definitely the bait i need more confidence in.
joeyfishes reply :
Anything moving. Specifically, anything with treble hooks. Those dang things have caught me more plastic bags than fish. I'm alright with a spinnerbait or chatterbait, I just have more fun with slow baits.
Bankbeater reply :
Wow I am suprised by the number of spinnerbait, and jig responses.
I have never had any luck with a beetle spin. I have 7 or 8 of them in different sizes and colors, but they just don't work for me.
aharris reply :
Really? A beetle spin?
Alonerankin2 reply :
Geez.... Beetle spin.... Haven't used one since 79
Yea.... I need to revisit that bait for fun sakes!
Thanks for the reminder... Used to kill em on that bait in creeks and ponds
dev_dev13 reply :
Before today crankbait jigs and spinners.
Today I forced my self to use nothing but a crankbait (dt-4 in silver shad) and I now have confidence.
bmac31 reply :
Jjg.plan on working it alot this year
Brock Grigsby67 reply :
probably a senko and fluke
David D. reply :
For me it is C-rigs and tubes.
The local ponds that I fish are way overfished so I have had to learn how to present lures that fish haven't seen too often. Is has been frustrating at times, but it has also given me confidence in lures that I never thought I would have faith in... And more than that it has taught me patience
.ghoti. reply :
Rattle trap. I have confidence it will catch fish. I've caught thousands on a trap.
Problem is, none of them were over 10" long.
I've quit carrying them around.
rmcguirk reply :
As others have said, this was a fascinating read. For me, I can't seem to catch anything on a tube or any bass on a spinnerbait (plenty of pike, but few bass). What makes my failings with the spinnerbait particularly odd is that I look at a swim jig as a confidence bait and the bladed swim jig (chatterbait) is coming along as well, and they are pretty similar in terms of usage.
whitwolf reply :
Tubes
C-Rigs
deep crankbaits
BigKev77 reply :
I'm surprised to see so many say tubes.
For me it is mid to deep diving cranks. I love lipless and shallow runners are ok I just haven't had much success on the rest. I do want to change that.
Sam reply :
On 3/10/2014 at 11:02 AM, Stingray23 said:Stingray23, on 09 Mar 2014 - 23:02, said:deep crankbaits
X2
chubaka reply :
Jigs....
SwampLife reply :
Hollow body frog..
I have so much confidence in a soft body frog, a Stanley ribbit to be exact but I never caught anything on a hollow body frog. When I do throw them I don't use it long because of the lack or confidence
And flukes.. I have No confidence what so ever
FlipnLimits reply :
Chatterbaits After a couple poor seasons with 'em, just quit using them completely.
Tubes and flukes? really? Those are great bass catchers Funny how things work for some folks and not others. May your bags be heavy.
FL
bassh8er reply :
Lipless baits for this guy
roadwarrior reply :
I carry two Jitterbugs and have a few more in reserve, but I can't remember fishing one since I was a kid.
That's decades, not years.
Floating Rapala? Hmm...I have five balsa originals that I inherited from my dad. I carry them all, but not a
one has ever gotten wet. These lures are probably cc. 1960 or so. What's especially interesting to me is
how plain-jane the originals are. There are probably not many fish alive that have ever seen these lures.
Nice_Bass reply :
A-Rig
I like big baits, but the combo of wires and that I can only use two hooks really makes me put it down quickly.
Siebert Outdoors reply :
Spoons!! I hate the things and cant catch anything on them.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 4/25/2014 at 11:43 PM, Siebert Outdoors said:Spoons!! I hate the things and cant catch anything on them.
Come down to Delray Beach, you will fall in love with them.
Siebert Outdoors reply :
On 4/25/2014 at 11:57 PM, SirSnookalot said:Come down to Delray Beach, you will fall in love with them.
That is probably most of it. Around here you really never hear anyone fishing them.
roadwarrior reply :
I have tried, but can't figure out how to fish a spoon without losing them almost immediately!
Several years ago we had the RoadTrip on Kentucky Lake the week after a big BASS or FLW
tournament. That contest was won on a spoon made locally and priced reasonably ($3). I think
I bought 6 and lost 2 on 2 casts and another a few casts later. The rest were fished on other
trips, but lost just as quickly. So, just be stubborn I purchased a few LFT flutter spoons with
the silly idea that they might not suffer the same fate...I was wrong!
I have two right now that I plan on losing next week.
p.s. Never have had a single bite either.
BassWhole! reply :
Those sworming up side down spinnerbait things, maybe I just didn't give them a fair chance. Funny thing is I have total confidence on spinnerbaits, swim jigs, and swim jigs with a willow blade on the hook, and chatters, go figure...
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