Bread & butter technique 2025
riverbasser reply :
Every so often there are topics similar to this but not quite. The thought came to me while i was watching some TV tournaments.
Basically what is your bread and butter or comfort zone technique. If you were thrown onto a lake with any attribute you want, what are you going to be keying in on that perfectly fits your style? Any vegetation, structure or cover. What would you look for and how would you fish it?
I realize other variables come into play and feel free to add weather, water clarity or wind if you like.
Darren. reply :
I'm gonna throw wacky, drop, and Ned rigs to start with,
perhaps ends with....:) I like rigs that "just work"
Texas, other soft plastics afterward.
Might throw some hard plastics (cranks, etc.) if I'm told
they are go-to rigs for said body of water.
IndianaFinesse reply :
Depends on the season, not to mention the variables you listed and a few others.
In the spring, I absolutely love the sight fishing bite during the spawn. I learned to bass fish in a clear water gravel pit with ~20 feet of clarity (which meant year round sight fishing), so I am very comfortable sight fishing. I'm likely headed to a shallow, sandy, protected bay in the lower part of the lake. I'm gonna tie on a ned rig with half of a zinkerz, a yum crawbug, a 1.5"-2" crappie grub, a baby boo jig, a 4" zoom lizard, and a squarebill, all tied on and on deck. 3-5 feet of clarity, and a calm and sunny day are necessity's.
My next favorite is the topwater/trick worm bite in the post spawn. Same areas as sight fishing, just different baits.
Summertime, I'm wanting a lake with abundant surface vegetation, and a calm day. If possible, I am going to try and find surface weeds near water that is at least 8-10 feet deep, the deeper the better. Any matted weeds, even if it's in the back of a shallow cove, can be productive though. That's what we were fishing in my last tournament, not ideal but it worked once we figured that pattern out. Give me two rods, one rigged with a horny toad and the other with a junior pad crasher, and I'm happy.
Mid fall, I'm looking for a day with 10-15 mile an hour wind, on a lake with *** feet of clarity. I'm looking for windblown riprap points that go all the way to the channel, which cuts close in to the tip of the point. Cranks are the only thing I'm going to throw.
Late fall/early winter is jerkbait time. Give me a lake with 3+ feet of clarity (the more the better), and a mostly sunny day with 8-10 miles an hour wind. I'm fishing steep dropping banks with a megabass vision 110 and a pointer 78.
Finesse, mostly ned rigging, is my year round back up. I go to finesse techniques a bit sooner than most people, so I spend a fair amount of time finesse fishing.
riverbasser reply :
Great answer @IndianaFinesse
Leftymuk reply :
On 8/7/2017 at 9:40 AM, IndianaFinesse said:Depends on the season, not to mention the variables you listed and a few others.
In the spring, I absolutely love the sight fishing bite during the spawn. I learned to bass fish in a clear water gravel pit with ~20 feet of clarity (which meant year round sight fishing), so I am very comfortable sight fishing. I'm likely headed to a shallow, sandy, protected bay in the lower part of the lake. I'm gonna tie on a ned rig with half of a zinkerz, a yum crawbug, a 1.5"-2" crappie grub, a baby boo jig, a 4" zoom lizard, and a squarebill, all tied on and on deck. 3-5 feet of clarity, and a calm and sunny day are necessity's.
My next favorite is the topwater/trick worm bite in the post spawn. Same areas as sight fishing, just different baits.
Summertime, I'm wanting a lake with abundant surface vegetation, and a calm day. If possible, I am going to try and find surface weeds near water that is at least 8-10 feet deep, the deeper the better. Any matted weeds, even if it's in the back of a shallow cove, can be productive though. That's what we were fishing in my last tournament, not ideal but it worked once we figured that pattern out. Give me two rods, one rigged with a horny toad and the other with a junior pad crasher, and I'm happy.
Mid fall, I'm looking for a day with 10-15 mile an hour wind, on a lake with *** feet of clarity. I'm looking for windblown riprap points that go all the way to the channel, which cuts close in to the tip of the point. Cranks are the only thing I'm going to throw.
Late fall/early winter is jerkbait time. Give me a lake with 3+ feet of clarity (the more the better), and a mostly sunny day with 8-10 miles an hour wind. I'm fishing steep dropping banks with a megabass vision 110 and a pointer 78.
Finesse, mostly ned rigging, is my year round back up. I go to finesse techniques a bit sooner than most people, so I spend a fair amount of time finesse fishing.
Very informative ........thx
Sword of the Lord reply :
Wacky rigged Senkos followed by Texas rigged trick or power worms (weightless or as light of a weight I can get away with, usually 1/16 or 1/8 if I must have weight), anytime, anywhere. Produces ALWAYS.
Jar11591 reply :
I'd look for overhanging trees, lay downs and logs, and I'd pitch a jig and Craw and a Texas rig into it.
Dorado reply :
@IndianaFinesse that was poetic
Quarry Man reply :
On 8/7/2017 at 9:40 AM, IndianaFinesse said:Depends on the season, not to mention the variables you listed and a few others.
In the spring, I absolutely love the sight fishing bite during the spawn. I learned to bass fish in a clear water gravel pit with ~20 feet of clarity (which meant year round sight fishing), so I am very comfortable sight fishing. I'm likely headed to a shallow, sandy, protected bay in the lower part of the lake. I'm gonna tie on a ned rig with half of a zinkerz, a yum crawbug, a 1.5"-2" crappie grub, a baby boo jig, a 4" zoom lizard, and a squarebill, all tied on and on deck. 3-5 feet of clarity, and a calm and sunny day are necessity's.
My next favorite is the topwater/trick worm bite in the post spawn. Same areas as sight fishing, just different baits.
Summertime, I'm wanting a lake with abundant surface vegetation, and a calm day. If possible, I am going to try and find surface weeds near water that is at least 8-10 feet deep, the deeper the better. Any matted weeds, even if it's in the back of a shallow cove, can be productive though. That's what we were fishing in my last tournament, not ideal but it worked once we figured that pattern out. Give me two rods, one rigged with a horny toad and the other with a junior pad crasher, and I'm happy.
Mid fall, I'm looking for a day with 10-15 mile an hour wind, on a lake with *** feet of clarity. I'm looking for windblown riprap points that go all the way to the channel, which cuts close in to the tip of the point. Cranks are the only thing I'm going to throw.
Late fall/early winter is jerkbait time. Give me a lake with 3+ feet of clarity (the more the better), and a mostly sunny day with 8-10 miles an hour wind. I'm fishing steep dropping banks with a megabass vision 110 and a pointer 78.
Finesse, mostly ned rigging, is my year round back up. I go to finesse techniques a bit sooner than most people, so I spend a fair amount of time finesse fishing.
Same for me, i love me some clear water sight fishing!
38 Super Fan reply :
Clear highland reservoir, pre spawn, hard jerkbait. That's my wheelhouse.
CroakHunter reply :
Jig/craw. I'd go look for laydowns and Standing timber. 7'4 H falcon bucoo rod, daiwa tatula ct, 50Lb braid, 17Lb p-line cxx leader. My absolute favorite combo with my favorite way to fish. Don't leave home without it. As long As the lake isn't frozen solid I feel like I could catch a fish everyday on this technique.
Dorado reply :
On 8/7/2017 at 12:58 PM, CroakHunter said:Jig/craw. I'd go look for laydowns and Standing timber. 7'4 H falcon bucoo rod, daiwa tatula ct, 50Lb braid, 17Lb p-line cxx leader. My absolute favorite combo with my favorite way to fish. Don't leave home without it. As long As the lake isn't frozen solid I feel like I could catch a fish everyday on this technique.
What jig/Craw combos do you recommend?
CroakHunter reply :
1/4 oz sniper jigs from seibert outdoors (site sponsor) 3/8 and 1/2 I use terminator jigs. I use rage menace, rage craw, and the yum f2 craw chunk and when I want less action I will thread on up to a 7" senko and use that as a trailer. Depending on the bulk/length I want. @Dorado
scaleface reply :
Ideally I will find long extended points and fish them with texas rigs and crankbaits .
NHBull reply :
99% of the time, I throw a top water regardless of the time of year. It may be a rat, WP, or popper. My buddies are shocked to see how successful the first cast can be.
I always have a wacky rig next to my CB rod
This time of the year I am fishing drop off's and flats near the thermocline.
Mike L reply :
I looking for heavy vegetation. The greenest, thickest stuff on the lake.
I'm useing 20# Shooter with a either a 10" worm or Cut R around the edges and 65# power pro braid starting with a 3/4 oz weight and go to punching.
Mike
UPSmallie reply :
Keitechs, jerkbaits, and texas-rigged plastics. All depending on structure and cover present.
Todd2 reply :
No grass here, so I focus on laydowns, brushpiles, standing timber that's close to deep water. 1/4 oz T-Rig with various plastics, mostly zoom worms.
boostr reply :
if it has structure or cover, I'm throwing a Jig n' Craw.
BaitMonkey1984 reply :
Docks. Docks. Docks. Specifically wooden docks, with several cross braces, and ideally with grass/weeds wrapped around the dock posts. My favorite docks also include the big wakeboard boat hydraulic lifts. They have several parts, are a big (22 foot lone and 6ft plus fee wide) piece of cover, and also have lots of hoses in the water which translates into something akin to a manmade brush pile. Just take care not to hit these $180k boat or the hoses.
flatcreek reply :
Long tapering red clay points with rock present.Zoom super flukes thrown weightless with a 12 inch flourocarbon leader with barrel swivel.After that bite fades back off and Carolina Rig the heck out of it.
fishwizzard reply :
I want a small pond with defined weedlines and light pad cover. Weightless soft plastics all day long. I am starting to care less and less what kind of plastic I am using, so long as it casts well and can be twitched back when I am feeling impatient.
MissouriMark reply :
Jig & pig,(Seibert Outdoors Dredge Mata Brush Jigs) 1/4 &3/8 oz . Texas rigged plastics,( brush hogs , lizards , craws) , square bills , Keitech Fat Swim baits , Vision 110's & Pointer 100 SP's late fall amd winter .. Mainly target main lake and secondary points , pockets ,humps , channel bends , transition areas , standing timber, laydowns and brushpiles .
gilkeybr reply :
My go to "spot" and location for fishing that I enjoy the most is steep, rocky drop-offs. Try to key in based on shore structure (looking for ledges or steep banks approaching the water). My favorite place to fish, in central Ontario, you can be 50ft off shore and be in 70ft of water. The bass seem to love that severe transition at different times of the year.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 8/7/2017 at 9:39 AM, Darren. said:I'm gonna throw wacky, drop, and Ned rigs to start with,
perhaps ends with....:) I like rigs that "just work"
Texas, other soft plastics afterward.
I do the same. I also add a chatterbait into the mix.
Bankbeater reply :
Crankbaits worked along the bank, jig and craw fished at the edge of vegetation, and lipless baits slow rolled off the bottom. Everything else has been hit or miss.
Columbia Craw reply :
On the Columbia, pre spawn with a mid depth crankbait worked over current breaks. That's the bread.
Home lake, pre spawn pitchin plastics to buck brush and hard targets. That's the butter.
soflabasser reply :
By far my favorite technique to use is topwater, but I will use whatever is needed to catch a big bass. I tend to fish more often on low light conditions such as dawn, dusk, nighttime, cloudy, rainy days, etc.
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