Ok so I know and you know that even if we know we should throw certain lures for the conditions there is those couple lures you just love that you want to ctach fish on. So what are yours? Your usual first lures to throw when you get to your favorite spot?
For me I always take 3 rods with me and its almost always a squarebill (or crankbat of sorts), a Senko and a Jig.
Jig and spook.
Black & blue jig.
I love spinnerbaits and jerkbaits but what I throw first depends on conditions but if I can I'll try a spinnerbait or square bill first.
Senko and jig.
I use a spinnerbait to put them on alert.
My starting menu is,
BPS XPS Topnocker chartreuse
Bomber FAT A Firecraw, Greencraw, red applecraw, brown craw, baby bass orange bottom, silver shad, Ect.
Rapala orginal floating minnow, f7 blue or black.
Manns Hank Parker Classic 1/4oz double gold Colorado blades, white skirt, mister twister 4" split double tail trailer white.
Manns Hank Parker Classic 1/4oz double gold Colorado blades, hot chartreuse skirt, mister twister 4" split double tail trailer chartreuse.
Mepps 3 Anglia silver blade, gray tail inline spinner
Mepps 3 Anglia gold blade, brown tail inline spinner
Joes fly 1/4oz fire tiger Apache spinfly
Joes fly 1/4oz black gnat spinfly
Strike king 3 silver blade, black tail inline spinner.
Rebel BIGCLAW crawfish crank bait chartreuse dives 10' she floats, speed is the key to the depth it runs.
Carolina rig 24" leader, 4/0 seedless hook, senko or brushog.
Split shot rig 12" leader, 6" black creme straight worm. Old school.
It's not one or two baits, it's changing baits and different presentations till we figure out the pattern.
Don't fancast next to your last cast, skip Fancast jump to the right, then go far left, then go middle. Don't hammer each cast next to each other.
Don't forget the scents.
With Summer coming mainly topwater then fat ika in morning then reverse if fishing in the evening
I usually hit the water with three rods rigged up. Usually with a spook Jr., EZ swimmer,and some sort of jig.
I usually take 3 rods, my wacky rig, my jig and my crankbait. I'll catch something on at least 1 of them.
I guess I should start using a spook. As embarrassed as I am I have never used one.
After I get to the water I make a decision what to tie on based on current conditions. I then rig my rods and take off. Often I make the correct choices , sometimes not . I really dont choose what to throw first because its a favorite. I must have a reason why a lure is tied on based on current conditions. I must have a reason for each cast or pitch i make. I must have a reason for every change I make . Its just a little head game i play that keeps me focused. Then when I do start catching fish I hopefully have a good idea why .
Depends on conditions, time of day and year, but generally I start with a top water, buzzbait, spook, popper, frog,ect..
I will have the following on deck....
Spinnerbait
Jerkbait
Senko
jig
tube.
I almost always start with a spinnerbait.
One of my now hard to find Yo Zuri 3/8 Oz rattlin vibes. Then a plethora of jerkbaits, then the soft plastics - mostly tubes and flick shakes.
I need to broaden my tackle I guess lol. I have never used a tube either or grubs other than a split tail for jigs.
Megabass Pop Max, first in the water, last out.
On 4/26/2015 at 12:00 AM, BW208 said:I guess I should start using a spook. As embarrassed as I am I have never used one.
Don't feel too bad. I once caught 5 bass on 5 casts with a Spook once and the 6th broke me off-because I got too excited to retie. Then I didn't catch anything on it for years. My buddy made fun of me for trying so long with a lure that "didn't work". But when it does, it does. I've had a Torpedo in my box for years and never caught anything on it until last weekend. I mopped up with it.
Depending on time of day, season and location:
Black buzzbait
Zoom 7.5" Trick Worm
Spinnerbait
Carolina Rig
Crankbait in Craw pattern
Frog
Ratl Trap
Rapala Floating Minnow Size 11, gold
Pop R
Rebel Wee Craw
For Spring
Small Swim Bait , Jig , Worm.
Mike
For prespawn, its a lipless crankbait..
If that doesn't produce, then it is a jig.
5 rods tomorrow
7'2" HXF cast, 55# FX2 - heavy 5/0 EWG rage rigged smokin rooster
7' MHMF cast, 12# Tatsu - shadow rap deep
7'1" MXF cast, 15# Smackdown - unweighted t-rig 6" Uptons
6'6" MHF spin, 20# 832 - 3/8oz Snagless Sally + trailer
6' MF spin, 6# Yo-Zuri Hybrid- Ned rig
That oughta get the ball rolling anyways
Since I often get out before sunrise, for me it's usually a topwater, at least whenever the water is warmer than the low 60s. If not a topwater it's usually a spinnerbait or crankbait, but I fish a lot of jigs and plastics if the faster stuff doesn't quickly start producing.
I'm expecting the water temp in Quabbin Reservoir to be around 50º when I get out for my first trip this season so I'll start with vibrating baits (as Barlow's calls a Silver Buddy type lure).
I'll be throwing hair, swing football and Bio-Silk skirted jigs as well.
The Duo Realis Spin Bait 80, a slow moving bait by design, produced very well for me last year and I'm thinking a few chilled-out smallies might catch up with that.
Of course I'll be carrying 4" Senkos to wacky rig and deadstick if the smallies are in a sulky mood.
The 3700 box labeled "Topwater" will be staying home until the water temp. nears 60º.
Spook if early summer morning Square bill or jerk bait is generally favorite unless I fell like pitching then I go with a jig. If I Can't get a shallow bite in 30 min i start working my way deeper.
Speed craw. I can work it as a topwater as a mid level and as a bottom and it produces in all areas. Caught 8 tonight running it like a buzzbait
If I'm out at daylight it's usually a topwater of some kind. Either a Yellow Magic popper or a Gunfish. If the topwater bite is over I usually start with a sq bill. I also have a pitching bait and a jig ready to go.
The first lure to hit the water depends on cover, depth, water clarity, etc. I love fishing deep diving crankbaits, but I'm not going to toss them in some lilly pads lol. If I could fish a frog everywhere I fish, I would.
I would love to say I look at weather patterns and then conditions when I get to the water and decide what to try first. But I'd by lying. I usually try a new bait at the beginning of the season and will throw that first. Then if I don't get bit I start using other baits. 2 years ago was t-rigged craws. Last year was finesse jigs. This year will probably be the Ned rig with all the good things I've been reading about them.
8" Rising Son
It really doesn't matter, but topwater are entertaining.
Scum frog is first, always.
Mike
If 2 rigs: Some type of plastic and shallow diving crank.
If 3 rigs I'll add a topwater.