First Lure Of The Season 2024
WI_Angler1989 reply :
Here's a fun hypothetical for everyone: what's the first lure you plan to, expect to, or typically use on your first trip out in spring?
Here in WI, open water is scarce this time of the year. All we've got is ice fishing (not my thing) and dreaming of spring.
So....if you had to imagine your first day out, what would you expect to use? I'll leave the weather details up to you. You know what the conditions could be like, based on years past.
Mine will probably be a small tube (Cabin Creek or River Rock) if its pretty early and cold still. I doubt I'll be waiting longer than ice out, that's for sure.
Raul reply :
Spinnerbait, I like to "warm up" with a spinnerbait.
smalljaw67 reply :
Here in PA a lot will depend on the weather, sometimes ice out will occur during a big warming trend and will have the water in the mid 40s by the time you can launch a boat. If that is the case then it depends on water clarity, clear water my first lure will be a suspending jerkbait, if I got stained water to the point a jerkbait isn't any good then it will be a jig, either a dark craft fur hair jig with a chunk trailer or a small finesse jig with a chunk trailer. If ice out happens normally when the air temps are in the mid 40s during the day and below freezing at night, well the water will be in the mid to upper 30s by the time you can launch a boat. When that happens I'll be throwing a hair jig first, its that simple.
scaleface reply :
The river , it will likely be a RoadRunner . A lake , hard telling . Could be a crankbait , spinnerbait , jerkbait jig , Texas rig . Theres a loy of unpredictable variables . . I have had a lot of luck on crankbaits as early as Feb. I look for steep banks that are getting sunshine parallel cast it and retrieve as slow as I can stand it . Big old females will inhale it .The Arbogast Mudbug is a favorite .
MDBowHunter reply :
I know I'll for sure be throwing a jerkbait, silverbuddy, or a jig. All three will be on deck along with a tube of some sort.
Bankbeater reply :
Most likely a rattle trap.
A-Jay reply :
Last season Michigan changed a long standing season on bass fishing to where C & R is perfectly legal the day the ice goes out.
Accordingly any Bass Head worth his or her salt would just have to be on the water right at ice out or as soon as safely possible there after.
If this years first day is anything like last year, (pictured below) there will probably still be some amount of ice on the water in some spots, water will be clear with temps in the mid thirties. But the smallies don't seem to care. A slow & smoothly presented suspending jerkbait will get eagerly choked. So that's what I'll be feeding them. Over & Over & Over & Over .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
A-Jay
Crestliner2008 reply :
Ice out for me = blade baits.
Spankey reply :
Rapala Jerkbait of some type or a Rat-L-Trap.
Cant wait.
Yeajray231 reply :
Here in Ohio it has been freakishly warm. I managed to catch two on a cabelas blade bait a couple days ago. Usually we have inches of snow and everything is frozen. Idk what's going on.
Anyway. When "spring " does hit.. I'll be ripping a big wobbling crankbait in the shallows. Probably a DT fat. I'll also be tossing some weightless senkos on spinning gear
I guess Ill leave it at that but I could go on for awhile about all the baits I plan on using.
roadwarrior reply :
The Rig
Rage Tail Menace
Jerkbait (Megabass Ito Vision 110, LC Pointer and McStick)
Rage Tail Baby Craw
BPS Tender Tube #71
Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad
Silver Buddy
Rage Blade/ Rage Structure Bug
3/8 oz Siebert Outdoor Jig (PBJ)/ Rage Craw (PBJ)
Rage Swimmer
lo n slo reply :
anything crawfish and zoom lizards
Catt reply :
Season?
What's that?
Do plan on trying some sweet little jigs I got for Christmas along with some RT Structure Bugs in black neon!
je1946 reply :
Blades, jerks, jigs I also will try a LC LV500 in Spring Craw color.
bagofdonuts reply :
Already started moving shallow here. jig & trailer on wood.
primetime reply :
We have not had much of a seasonal change in Florida this year, only 4-5 Cold days and it is almost February. I usually use a split shot rig or Mojo Rig early on when it gets cold after the Fall ends. I also like to fish either Grub or small Sluggo on a really light 1/16 Darter head and light line.
I also use a shad rap to cover water as well as a Red Eye shad to see If I can get some fish to react, but I do well fishing them slow and jigging them like a spoon. The Red Eye Shad falls as good as any bait I have used, The hooks rarely foul which makes it really nice, same with the Spro Aruku Shads which are head weighted so if weeds are an issue the bait sits upright on the bottom if fishing it like a worm.
Here is a trick I recently figured out by accident & I just made one of my all time favorite confidence lures better by changing the old trebles to what I thought were the same weight, but the triple grips were heavier and the Sebile Suspending Flat Shadd 77 which is great all year round, happens to work on bedding fish when it slowly glides head first on the pause really slow and it moves forward in a natural gliding action. I rarely target bedding Fish but a friend of mine saw a big fish on a bed and wanted to see who could catch her first. After about 10 minutes I grabbed the Sebile & pitched it about 8' in front of the bed and killed it so it would land in the bed. As soon as it hit the side of the bed the fish blasted it.
The Sebile suspends like a jerkbait, is really flat sided, and I have been using it now all the time so it sinks and I love how well it works just using a lift and fall since it looks like baitfish heading to the bottom wounded I guess, or a bluegill raiding the nest since it falls with the head forward, not too loud, and matches the profile of a panfish perfectly.
any Flatt Shad Fans, I would encourage you to add a bigger treble in the front or add heavier hooks then the Owners that come on it and try it like it was a sinking model. Once you put it in the water you realize how awesome it looks and you will have confidence.
Hog Basser reply :
Rebel Craw crank in red killed it in January here last year. I will probably fish that and a Seibert jig and throw in a jerkbait for good measure. Going duck hunting by my fishing hole this weekend and it's supposed to be 66 degrees, so guess what I'm doing in the afternoons?
primetime reply :
On 1/18/2017 at 9:53 PM, roadwarrior said:The Rig
Rage Tail Menace
Jerkbait (Megabass Ito Vision 110, LC Pointer and McStick)
Rage Tail Baby Craw
BPS Tender Tube #71
Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad
Silver Buddy
Rage Blade/ Rage Structure Bug
3/8 oz Siebert Outdoor Jig (PBJ)/ Rage Craw (PBJ)
Rage Swimmer
I like the list. I have mentioned this before, as I love fishing the Rage Menace, It works no matter how you fish it and with the tail connected it glides, sideways, topwater, pitched......
I have wanted Strike King to Make a Menace Worm with that tail. Maybe in a 5" size, or even make a creature with that tail, I know you have some pull/access with Strike King, could you maybe suggest they make a Menace Worm and or Menace Creature? I know it is wishful thinking as I am sure it is not a novel Idea to them and it probably doesn't make sense for them with the Cut'R worm in the line, but I would think it would work better then the Popular Speed worm series, or Gambler Burner worms which sell like crazy down here.
That Thick Tail would be awesome even on a 4". Just curious of your thoughts. I keep waiting for one to come out as they always have a few new baits each year.
I need to try the swimming hornet, I keep reading about how well it works, good excuse to buy some tackle. Good list. Thanks. I need to clean up some of my silver Buddies, I forget about blade baits.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/18/2017 at 7:40 PM, A-Jay said:Last season Michigan changed a long standing season on bass fishing to where C & R is perfectly legal the day the ice goes out.
Accordingly any Bass Head worth his or her salt would just have to be on the water right at ice out or as soon as safely possible there after.
If this years first day is anything like last year, (pictured below) there will probably still be some amount of floating ice on the water in some spots, water will be clear with temps in the mid thirties. But the smallies don't seem to care. A slow & smoothly presented suspending jerkbait will get eagerly choked. So that's what I'll be feeding them. Over & Over & Over & Over .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
A-Jay
That must be nice! A little surreal too, avoiding those "icebergs" ;-)
What sorts of places do you look for that early? I've only fished rivers when it's that cold still. Lakes are nearly foreign to me sadly.
On 1/18/2017 at 10:08 PM, Catt said:Season?
What's that?
Do plan on trying some sweet little jigs I got for Christmas along with some RT Structure Bugs in black neon!
You're lucky if your still fishing! Even the rivers have been frozen here the last few weeks. That's pretty rare too. Ugh.
My Christmas and offseason purchases are definitley getting some extra motivation to use too!
A-Jay reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 12:36 AM, WI_Angler1989 said:
That must be nice! A little surreal too, avoiding those "icebergs" ;-)
What sorts of places do you look for that early? I've only fished rivers when it's that cold still. Lakes are nearly foreign to me sadly.
Thanks It was / is very cool.
Here's a little video of that very day.
My best spot are almost always "points"
A-Jay
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/18/2017 at 5:46 PM, Raul said:Spinnerbait, I like to "warm up" with a spinnerbait.
That used to be my go-to. A small war eagle finesse Spinnerbait would be the first thing I'd throw, and it'd do pretty well too!
Catt reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 12:36 AM, WI_Angler1989 said:You're lucky if your still fishing! Even the rivers have been frozen here the last few weeks. That's pretty rare too. Ugh!
It's 73°, overcast, & the bass are on the move!
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 12:43 AM, Catt said:
It's 73°, overcast, & the bass are on the move!
Now?! Where the heck are you?! Mordor??
ww2farmer reply :
I will have five rods on the deck the first time I hit the water in 2017, which is usually a day or two after ice out. On those rods will be:
1/2 oz. Silver Buddy style blade bait
SK KVD 200 suspending jerkbait
1/2 oz SK Red Eye Shad
3/4 oz football wobble head w/ 3" chigger craw
3/8 oz. drop shot rig w/ nose hooked yum warning shot about a foot above the sinker.
The Silver buddy will get used the most, as most of the smallmouth will still be holding in 20-30 feet of water outside their spawning areas, and it's an efficient and effective way to get on top of them and catch them in that cold, off colored water. If I have a stiff wind, I'll drift through those same areas with that 3/4 oz wobble head banging and dragging on the bottom.
The jerkbait will probably get used the least, because usually in the first week or so after ice out the water is pretty dirty and cold (like 35-38 degrees) once it clears up a little a week or so later I lean on the jerkbait more, but it's rigged up and ready to go just in case I find a pocket of clear water, or the lake in general is clearer than normal for ice out conditions.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 12:40 AM, A-Jay said:Thanks It was / is very cool.
Here's a little video of that very day.
My best spot are almost always "points"
A-Jay
Cool video, A-Jay! That's an awesome little boat you've got there too. Talk about decked out!
Catt reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 12:49 AM, WI_Angler1989 said:
Now?! Where the heck are you?! Mordor??
Louisiana Gulf Coast & 1 1/2 hrs from Toledo Bend 
kbeeb374 reply :
I will have a lucky craft pointer on the deck as well as a small tube and a dropshot. I may also try chuckin a swimbait.
crypt reply :
first lure I threw this year was a rattletrap,1st cast caught a fish. Jan 1st. 7:28 A.M.
the reel ess reply :
It was a Strike king black/blue spinnerbait with a single black Colorado blade. I caught a small one shallow on about the third cast, then no more. As the sun came out, I started getting bites on the gold rat L Trap. Caught 4.
Last time I went it was to a small pond and only could get bit on small, slow lures. Caught all my fish on a weightless Zoom Finesse Worm, watermelon/red flake. I have a spot that always produces on this pond and I called my shot. I told the owner there's always a fish on that point and I caught two on three casts.
MassYak85 reply :
Most likely my first cast of the year will be from the shore of a lake that still is half covered in ice so either a tiny little finesse jig or I'll bring the hudd and crawl it. Last fish of the season I caught on the hudd, would be cool to catch the first one on it too.
Oklahoma Mike reply :
For me it is likely going to be a spinnerbait. I'll also have some paddletail swimbaits and some senkos rigged and ready to go right behind it if for any reason the spinnerbait isn't working.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/18/2017 at 7:07 PM, smalljaw67 said:Here in PA a lot will depend on the weather, sometimes ice out will occur during a big warming trend and will have the water in the mid 40s by the time you can launch a boat. If that is the case then it depends on water clarity, clear water my first lure will be a suspending jerkbait, if I got stained water to the point a jerkbait isn't any good then it will be a jig, either a dark craft fur hair jig with a chunk trailer or a small finesse jig with a chunk trailer. If ice out happens normally when the air temps are in the mid 40s during the day and below freezing at night, well the water will be in the mid to upper 30s by the time you can launch a boat. When that happens I'll be throwing a hair jig first, its that simple.
That makes sense. I like jerkbaits early too, but the water is always so murky right after ice out here too. Do you fish rivers much early in the spring? I tend to gravitate towards bottom lures (tubes, craws, small jigs). Although, I fish from shore a lot and current dictates presentation a lot.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 4:43 AM, WI_Angler1989 said:
That makes sense. I like jerkbaits early too, but the water is always so murky right after ice out here too. Do you fish rivers much early in the spring? I tend to gravitate towards bottom lures (tubes, craws, small jigs). Although, I fish from shore a lot and current dictates presentation a lot.
The river is my main destination since it is usually clear of ice before any of the lakes. The hair jig is a bottom presentation, and in spring it really depends on water temp and water clarity. If we have a warming trend, the first 2 days a hair jig will be the best bet but if it extends to 3 or more days a tube and a jerkbait will be the better offerings since the fish are looking to feed by then. For me the hair jig is what I use when the fish aren't actively looking for food, I focus on deeper pockets, eddies and wintering holes but like I said, a few days of warm weather will move the fish out of holes onto flats and that is when a larger profile bait like a tube or a jerkbait can be magical.
frogflogger reply :
clean water, float n fly - silver buddy if not - jerks and cranks also work but there is nothing on the bass fishing earth as much fun as a float n fly in cold water - warm water - now that's something else -
Will Wetline reply :
1) vibrating blade baits
2) bucktail jigs without trailers
3) rubber skirted jigs with double tail grub trailers
4) suspending jerkbaits
I expect the water temps in the clear water reservoir I fish to be in the low to mid 40ºs when it opens mid April.
Raul reply :
On 1/18/2017 at 10:08 PM, Catt said:Season?
What's that?
From Jan 1st all the way to Dec 31st.
As usual during this time of the year it's one of them yank dudes threads.
Heron reply :
I'll probably have a jig, chatterbait, and lipless crank on deck my first time out, depending on water temps.
Bluebasser86 reply :
My first bass of the year was on a Bladed jig. I already had my first 100 fish day of the year last Thursday, including 9 on a Savage Gear Shine Glide. Water was 58-65 degrees.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 1:14 AM, kbeeb374 said:I will have a lucky craft pointer on the deck as well as a small tube and a dropshot. I may also try chuckin a swimbait.
I need some Pointers. They're a bit pricey for my budget, but come tax season I'll grab a few.
wisconsin heat reply :
On 1/18/2017 at 4:14 PM, WI_Angler1989 said:
Here in WI, open water is scarce this time of the year. All we've got is ice fishing (not my thing) and dreaming of spring.
You should give Ice Fishing another go! Fish are starting to bite well and it was a BEAUTIFUL 40 degrees out today.
C&R Trout fishing is also an option while we wait for May.
That being said, I'll probably throw a jerkbait or swimbait to start the season, unless the water is murky, or warm! Opener conditions seem to differ every year. I might hit up the river a few times throwing small cranks and maybe some tubes (since they work crazy good for you haha).
"hamma" reply :
Well, usually I break ice at the ramps to start my seasons, but the last couple of years I wasnt as fortunate to get out there so early,...
My typical first lures are for "early" season and they are
a suspending jerkbait
a floating jerkbait,
a hairjig and custom cut pork trailer
a bladebait
a old strike king 3/8 oz. short armed singlebladed colorado spinnerbait
a 1/4 or 1/8 oz jighead and 3" or 4" grub
These are all depending on the first water I decide to fish, certain lakes will get "special" attention. Said attention depends on forage base.
kbeeb374 reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 9:53 AM, WI_Angler1989 said:I need some Pointers. They're a bit pricey for my budget, but come tax season I'll grab a few.
Go to DSG or field and stream and get them with the buy 5 get 5 deal and you get them for $6.00 - $6.50 a piece. That's what I did!
Jaderose reply :
My first toss of the year is usually a wacky rigged bubblegum senko
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 9:38 PM, kbeeb374 said:Go to DSG or field and stream and get them with the buy 5 get 5 deal and you get them for $6.00 - $6.50 a piece. That's what I did!
That's a great deal! We don't have either of those around here....nearest one is 2 hours away. Road trip time?
On 1/19/2017 at 4:10 PM, wisconsin heat said:You should give Ice Fishing another go! Fish are starting to bite well and it was a BEAUTIFUL 40 degrees out today.
C&R Trout fishing is also an option while we wait for May.
That being said, I'll probably throw a jerkbait or swimbait to start the season, unless the water is murky, or warm! Opener conditions seem to differ every year. I might hit up the river a few times throwing small cranks and maybe some tubes (since they work crazy good for you haha).
Crazy thing is in the handful of times I've gone ice fishing, I've never caught a fish haha. Idk how I have such bad luck.
I hope we get another mild spring like a couple years ago when the rivers never got insanely flooded. Last year was ok, but 2 years ago (I think) was amazing! Plenty of rain but no high fast waters. Then you'll HAVE to go use some tubes haha
Fishin' Fool reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 9:38 PM, kbeeb374 said:Go to DSG or field and stream and get them with the buy 5 get 5 deal and you get them for $6.00 - $6.50 a piece. That's what I did!
I was gonna mention the exact same thing. Out our way it seems that F&S has a better selection of colors too.
kbeeb374 reply :
On 1/19/2017 at 11:47 PM, Fishin' Fool said:
I was gonna mention the exact same thing. Out our way it seems that F&S has a better selection of colors too.
Yeah, I got a great selection of jerkbaits now that I won't cry about when those stupid pickerel/pike bite me off. of course I have a couple 110's that I may never use because of that fear haha jk..... maybe..
WI_Angler1989 reply :
Someone's gotta buy me some of these good deal Pointers and I'll send a check 
Fishin' Fool reply :
On 1/20/2017 at 12:16 AM, WI_Angler1989 said:Someone's gotta buy me some of these good deal Pointers and I'll send a check
My buddy is usually all over the LC when they go on sale so I'll try to remember to send you a message next time and maybe you can order them online. Not sure if it's in store only.
Scarborough817 reply :
lippless crank or a chatterbait (most likely a chatterbait though)
RoLo reply :
When living in the northeast, the Silver Buddy & Bucktail Jig got a lot of play during post ice-out.
Here in Florida where fishing is year-round, January favs are Soft Swimbaits, Soft Jerkbaits & Bladed Jigs.
During most years, and this year included, the 'Gambler Big EZ' gets the nod.
Roger
Ghostshad reply :
JerkBait.
Dogmatic reply :
Typically a jerkbait, glidebait, or Hudd.
OhioBassFreak reply :
If the water is clear 1.5 ft+ viability. I like to start with a transparent jerkbait and Umbrella rig. Working main lake points and channel swings hitting steep banks. Go Pack Go!!
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/20/2017 at 6:50 AM, OhioBassFreak said:If the water is clear 1.5 ft+ viability. I like to start with a transparent jerkbait and Umbrella rig. Working main lake points and channel swings hitting steep banks. Go Pack Go!!
1.5 ft is clear there?! Makes my rivers seem like Sturgeon bay haha. Yeahan, Go Pack Go!! Can't wait for sunday!
OhioBassFreak reply :
Sounds like you need a black hair jig with a small chunk trailer. it would be nice if we could get Jordy back in the Atlanta and hopefully adams plays
On 1/20/2017 at 7:23 AM, WI_Angler1989 said:
1.5 ft is clear there?! Makes my rivers seem like Sturgeon bay haha. Yeahan, Go Pack Go!! Can't wait for sunday!
blckshirt98 reply :
It's always been a 4" soft plastic on a dropshot for me, though this year I might take Matt Allen's advice and throw a big ol' swimbait as soon as it's warm enough to wear shorts outside.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/20/2017 at 7:34 AM, OhioBassFreak said:Sounds like you need a black hair jig with a small chunk trailer. it would be nice if we could get Jordy back in the Atlanta and hopefully adams plays
I picked up a few hair jigs to try when spring comes. Looking forward to them.
Yeah hopefully they both can play. The injuries never lay off this season.
soflabasser reply :
Caught my first bass of 2017 on a Zoom Fluke.
Jagg reply :
Stationed in TN, it was the jerkbait and float n fly. Tried the Silver Buddy, but I was fishing from the bank at the time so, not so much.
In TX, it's all about the red and/or gold 'trap. Find grass. Throw 'trap. Repeat. I always had my best luck with a tube on the coldest, dreariest days in TX. Sometimes a black neon color but more often a clear bluegill and/or white tube.
Colorado is the first place where the water did some weird thing that I thought only happened in the ice box. First time I was preparing for an "open water" season in CO, I reviewed a couple old Bassmaster mags to see where to start. Came across an article with Mark Zona in it and he said he started out with a small soft plastic craw, tube, Kalin grub and a spade tail grub. All on jigheads. This caught my attention because it wasn't absolutely foreign to me since we fish Mann's Stingray Grubs on jigheads for TX inshore (redfish, speckled trout and flounder) in Early Spring, so I had a big selection of 3" and 4" Stingray grubs in many different colors and the perfect rod, reel and line to throw them with. The past 3 ice out seasons, the Stingray grub on a 1/16-1/8 oz jighead has been an absolute killer for numbers for me in CO. A guy I fish with that has been fishing these Great Plains lakes for a while keeps telling me, "Before there was a Ned Rig, there were Stingray Grubs!"
BTW, if anybody has any All Star PRL "Shrimptail Special" rods they are looking to get rid of, please give me a holler.
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