Go To Lure When The Fish Won`t Bite... 2024
*Hank reply :
What is the Lure/rig you switch to when the fish won`t bite? Mine is a weightless wacky rigged 5in Thin senko on 6lb test fluoro it gets me bites when nothing else will. How about you?
MemphisFF reply :
Shakey head! Watermelon magic trick worm
long island basser reply :
O'Reillys pub.
Ozark_Basser reply :
Reapers on drop shot, shakey head, Texas rig, or even a split shot. Just depends on where the fish are.
desmobob reply :
Unweighted 5" wacky Senko in Green Pumpkin Magic. Or Watermelon Magic. Or Green Pumpkin Watermelon laminate. Etc. 
Tight lines,
Bob
RanndomUndead reply :
I jumped into 2ft of water and grabbed a 20 lb carp with my hands a couple years ago...he was taunting me....I suppose that counts.
But in all seriousness, 1/8th oz 6" shakey head in any green really, with 49 lb braid, /snicker
gardnerjigman reply :
I'll say it before everyone else does
THE NED RIG!!!!!!!!
doyle8218 reply :
Keitech Swing Impact FAT never fails.
bigbill reply :
When I throw everything in my tackle box. I calm down and use everything again practicing my presentations. Most of the time I will get interrupted by a strike.
I firmly believe the water conditions can change in the water column.
One day I exhausted every option I had. I threw everything but one color crankbaits. One of those chartruese cranks with the black shapes on it. It's one lure I hardly ever throw. I started hooking up right away. So when it's a tough bite I throw firetiger, fireperch, anything chartruese. It was a overcast day too.
I go back to basics and play with different colors too. The bass can be color blind to certain colors at times too.
I love the challenge. I know the bass are there. It's all about throwing the right color. What worked today might not work tomorrow.
Be flexible, why do we have all these different colors?
It's not luck in fishing, it's skill.
Cgrinder reply :
KVD finesse worm in Blue Fleck paired with however much tungsten necessary to hold bottom.
bigturtle reply :
neko with a 7" straight tail worm.
rippin-lips reply :
All these names for different rigs sometimes give me a little laugh. The 2 mentioned are no different to me than what most people call them.
Neko - wacky rig with a nail weight in the bait
Ned - shakey head using a mushroom head
My never fail me bait is a weightless 4" senko
yakingfisherman reply :
wacky rig 5" worm. Usually a senko or yum dinger. This never fails me especially when I need one fish for the day so I can say I did not skunk lol.
bigturtle reply :
On 4/16/2015 at 11:42 AM, rippin-lips said:All these names for different rigs sometimes give me a little laugh. The 2 mentioned are no different to me than what most people call them.
Neko - wacky rig with a nail weight in the bait
Ned - shakey head using a mushroom head
My never fail me bait is a weightless 4" senko
lol
Hogsticker reply :
Split shot finesse worm
SirSnookalot reply :
If I'm fishing open water it's a roostertail, been catching peacocks, bass, mayans, oscars and gars everyday day. Only time I change lures is to put a new roostertail on, the present one has caught about 35-40 fish.
Senko lover reply :
4-inch finesse worm or an inline spinner. Those two seem to produce when nothing else will, even if it's just some bream on the inline.
scaleface reply :
If some lures work real well when the fish are not biting , just think how good they would be when the fish are biting .
Preytorien reply :
Definitely a Red Shad Sktrike King Shim-E Stick (senko), weightless rigged with a red Gamakatsu hook, 6lb co-polymer.
It's my go-to tough conditions, dead-of-summer-nothings-biting kind of thing
kikstand454 reply :
Shakey head- trick worm.
Darren. reply :
Interesting responses! I'll say a
weightless 4" senko whether a
genuine GYCB or a BPS Stik-O...
rosshilk reply :
Lake Fort Fry worm works normally when I am out of ideas
everythingthatswims reply :
When the bass won't bite, you can't catch them. There are times when the fish shut down 100% and won't eat, usually in winter. I have watched bass in cold, clear water that will just sit there and won't even acknowledge the fact that a bait has been presented, even live minnows.
When the fishing is "tuff", I like fishing a weightless zoom finesse worm. Have to use a 2/0 EWG because it won't sink well without it. Either sight fishing or tossing it around the edges of cover. 6lb test
A-Jay reply :
When lock jaw comes on - I pick something I really like to fish, put my head down and go to work.
Even if the bass don't cooperate, at least I'm enjoying the presentation.
btw - it's often a jig & craw - has good big fish potential and it only takes I good one to save the day.
A-Jay
mprestonSEK reply :
Zoom finesse worm
Scorcher214 reply :
Split shot rig. If I'm really desperate I use Mepps #3 spinner in white
Choporoz reply :
On 4/16/2015 at 7:40 PM, scaleface said:If some lures work real well when the fish are not biting , just think how good they would be when the fish are biting .
I was thinking the same thing.....why wouldn't your emergency-must-get-a-bite-lure be the one you start with, based on productivity and confidence?
Master Bait'r reply :
Slug-Go SS
Whippiest finesse worm I've ever fished. Since it's got the front end of a slug-go with that whiptail you can pretty much walk the dog underwater with it while barely moving it. This keeps it in the strike zone for a long time. It's like my secret weapon. Purple majesty seems to be the most productive color as well.
primetime reply :
Golden Shiner.....Actually a 3-4" grub on a 1/16-1/4 oz jighead either a darter head or ball head jig, or if fishing weeds I like to use a 1/0 worm hook or weighted keep hook style hook with the hitchhiker for easy rigging and the weighted keeper hooks in size 1/0 fit a 4" grub well, and you can cover a lot of water and fish the grub as a buzz bait/topwater like using a speed worm, let it fall with an unpegged worm weight to get that erractic fall like a tube, or simply nose hook it and put it behind a split shot with a 1' leader and swivel...For color, I usually go with white ice here in Florida or Smoke with silver flake, or something with a firetail, black/blue, black/chart.....laminates are great for stained water and the best grubs on the market are hands down the following...
1- GYB Grubs- most colors and heavy, offer all kinds of sizes and colors fish rarely see
2-Kalins Lunker Grubs- Kalin's grubs have the thinnest tails and for swimming they are hard to beat.
3-Zoom Fat albert and Tab Tail grubs are good options at a great price, Bass Pro XPS grubs as well....Berkley Gulp is another killer for pressured fish, I have been swimming grubs more this year than ever before and I love dropping them after coming over pads if they are not smashed right away and often they get bit on the way down....The GYB grubs, Kalins, CHompers etc..all heavily salted and can be cast far on braided line and casting gear if need be and you would be surprised how well a grub works in areas everyone else is throwing a toad, frog, paddle tail grub or swimbait....
Grubs are inexpensive but work well, The ZMan Floating grubs are something I have just started using and quickly becoming a favorite rigged on the ZMAN Trigger Hooks 3/0-1/8 or 1/16, they float and you can cast them a mile.....
primetime reply :
Actually, I usually grab my spinning rod and go lightest line as possible and then fish a smaller bait like a grub etc..I am a believer in line size and color to be extremely important...Someone said it above, use what you have the most confidence in, and maybe fish it a bit different than usual.....Some days they just won't strike, it is what it is, but I also believe that somewhere on the Lake there is active fish, so maybe covering more water with your go to presentation that covers water would be the way to go....If I am fishing a pond and not doing well, and I know fish are in the pond, I will usually walk the shoreline and cast the shorelines and fan cast outward with a lure that I can bomb and trigger active fish or a reaction strike..Usually I am most confident with smaller baits, a small wake bait or super shallow crank, spinnerbait, or soft bait like a grub or 3.5" swimbait are tough to beat and if they won't hit that, I go Tube or Weedless spoon tipped with a grub.
Silas reply :
On 4/16/2015 at 11:42 AM, rippin-lips said:All these names for different rigs sometimes give me a little laugh. The 2 mentioned are no different to me than what most people call them.
Neko - wacky rig with a nail weight in the bait
Ned - shakey head using a mushroom head
My never fail me bait is a weightless 4" senko
Im with you! Being an old timer, we used the "Ned Rig" in False River in New Roads, Louisiana cast under docks about 50 years ago. What is old is new again. Phenomenon in the Midwest indeed! You guys have found our secret lure after 50 years. Hmmmm?
Joedodge reply :
Weightless T-rigged stick bait or a ribbon tail is deadly as all get out. If open water I'm another rooster tail guy!
hoosierbass07 reply :
Split shot Robo Worm.
J Francho reply :
If I had a "go to" lure that worked when all else failed, that would be the only thing I threw.
CRANKENSTIEN reply :
On 4/16/2015 at 11:00 PM, A-Jay said:When lock jaw comes on - I pick something I really like to fish, put my head down and go to work.
Even if the bass don't cooperate, at least I'm enjoying the presentation.
btw - it's often a jig & craw - has good big fish potential and it only takes I good one to save the day.
A-Jay
agree... I have learned not to die cranking when the sun is shinning and the wind isnt blowing but I can only finesse fish so long unless I am catching them. I would then swim or crawl a 7" SK Anaconda green pumpkin T rigged 3/8 oz
scaleface reply :
If I'm not catching fish , then I may as well be not catching big fish. I'll often move on deep flats and fish crankbaits or Carolina rigs hoping for a big bite .
blackmax135 reply :
regular ole zoom worm
long island basser reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 4:15 AM, J Francho said:If I had a "go to" lure that worked when all else failed, that would be the only thing I threw.
I've been thinking about just this for a long time.
If you have your go to lure that always catches, shouldn't you all just start with it and fish it all day. Hmmm.
ThatFishin'Guy reply :
wacky rigged 5in senko
Bankbeater reply :
It depends on what I have in my tackle bag.
Hyrule Bass reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 5:27 AM, long island basser said:I've been thinking about just this for a long time.
If you have your go to lure that always catches, shouldn't you all just start with it and fish it all day. Hmmm.
my guess/answer to you and others would be that sometimes people like to fish different presentations instead of just one all the time, people have new lures they want to try, and some choose lures based on conditions and what they think will work on a given day. now i'm not saying there is a magic lure for people either that always catches fish, sometimes no matter what you just have to take the skunk. but people do have confidence in certain things and in fact, i rarely fish my favorite bass presentation because i enjoy catching fish a variety of other ways too. when i went to NC and went pond fishing in a jon boat 2 weeks ago, the bite was real tough. my bro-in-law and a friend of ours had each caught a fish. were coming down the last stretch of a pond before we have to call it a day. not wanting to be skunked, as there was friendly trash talk going on lol, i tied on my "go to" bait and ended up catching a bass.
that bait is a t-rigged 5 inch berkley power bait red shad shakey worm.
eyedabassman reply :
I too will pick the Ned rig!
SirSnookalot reply :
A senko maybe one of the better bass catchers I've used. As good as it is I seldom use them, just don't enjoy fishing them.
bamatj51 reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 5:27 AM, long island basser said:I've been thinking about just this for a long time.
If you have your go to lure that always catches, shouldn't you all just start with it and fish it all day. Hmmm.
Not really. I rather catch something small than nothing at all. But thats just me. And on good days I won't bother throwing some of my stuff I use on tough days.
Here is some of what I fish with if it is tough.
1. Texas rigged Zoom Utales with a small weight and hook. Cherry seed if its clear and sunny. Motor oil if cloudy or stained water.
2. Rapala shallow shad rap in some natural looking color.
3. Wacky rigged senkos.
4. Beetle spins. White, black and orange/chartreuse. Mostly orange/chartreuse though.
5. Small white or firetiger rooster tails.
6. Zoom magnum finesse worm in water melon red. Weightless texas rigged with 2/0 ewg hook. When fish are shallow throw this on and around rocks/stumps/trees. As soon as it hits the water start moving about 3 or 4 feet right on the top with small action and twitches and then just stop it. Try it.
7. Chartreuse grub.
I am not claiming I never get skunked but if I can't catch a bass with these its been a VERY bad day.
5fishlimit reply :
Zoom finesse worm on a 1/0 worm hook, 1/16 or 1/8 tungsten weight.
iceintheveins reply :
Zoom centipede on a 1/8 or 3/16 ounce mojo rig on 8 pound test spinning gear.
hatrix reply :
A dropshot hands down. For me that is the best fish catching machine there is. If it is in front of a fish they are going to grab it.
*Hank reply :
On 4/23/2015 at 5:12 PM, hatrix said:A dropshot hands down. For me that is the best fish catching machine there is. If it is in front of a fish they are going to grab it.
That's deffenetly a close 2nd for me. I've learned to be patient with finesse rigs because I know if I fish with one long enough I'll get bit.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 4/16/2015 at 6:51 AM, long island basser said:O'Reillys pub.
Was going to say the Lazyboy but this is even better.
Master Bait'r reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 5:27 AM, long island basser said:I've been thinking about just this for a long time.
If you have your go to lure that always catches, shouldn't you all just start with it and fish it all day. Hmmm.
I have been trying to increase my competence in several areas... If I can't get them to work I fall back on my strong suit and can usually shake off the skunk.
We can't all be KVD my man, have mercy on us mere mortals who are still learning stuff
dday07 reply :
On 4/17/2015 at 4:15 AM, J Francho said:If I had a "go to" lure that worked when all else failed, that would be the only thing I threw.
X2 The best bait that might come closest to is a dropshot roboworm
Surfcaster reply :
Mann's Augertail in electric grape or Mann's Jelly Worm in blackberry or grape. Fish may still not bite, but these worms take me back to younger days and give me a good feeling.
*Hank reply :
X2. Sometimes when they won't even bite the drop shot I'll just pick up a jerkbait so I don't lose my mindOn 4/16/2015 at 11:00 PM, A-Jay said:When lock jaw comes on - I pick something I really like to fish, put my head down and go to work.
Even if the bass don't cooperate, at least I'm enjoying the presentation.
btw - it's often a jig & craw - has good big fish potential and it only takes I good one to save the day.
A-Jay
Mccallister25 reply :
I haven't read through every response, but seems the majority involves some type of finesse worm or tactic.. Surprisingly mine is a top water spook. Seems to produce for me the vast majority of the time.
wuchr20 reply :
dropshot KVD dream shot
*Hank reply :
On 4/24/2015 at 9:49 AM, dday07 said:X2 The best bait that might come closest to is a dropshot roboworm
Roboworms rock! I've always got a couple packs in my tackle box.
the reel ess reply :
1/8 oz Roadrunner fished very slow. That's a Jimmy Houston tip.
Wacky worm. 6" purple worm with flat tail. Rebel Wee Craw, small Bomber Model A in craw pattern, 3" or crappie sized grubs, Beetle Spin, jointed floating Rapala minnow in smallest size, Snag Proof Frog (my personal best came on the Snag Proof Frog on a July day when I didn't catch anything else) bass can't stand this lure to pass by.
BW208 reply :
Senko seems to work when nothing else will. Although today I didnt get anything on a senko but hooked up on a mini brush hog and a 6in kietech swing impact in a small pond both small bass haha. You just never know.
*Hank reply :
On 4/25/2015 at 1:30 PM, BW208 said:Senko seems to work when nothing else will. Although today I didnt get anything on a senko but hooked up on a mini brush hog and a 6in kietech swing impact in a small pond both small bass haha. You just never know.
Ya, you can't beat a senko." When I get to a lake I've never fished at I always start with a senko and go from there.
scaleface reply :
...but why arent the fish biting ? . Ive seen many days where the finesse presentation were the culprit and a speedy retrieve was the solution .
A-Jay reply :
There some choices. Lures presented;
Low & slow
Mid depth & slow
High & slow
Or
Low & fast
Mid depth & fast
High & fast
Or
Low & erratic
Mid depth & erratic
High & erratic
Then add in Small, mid-sized & Big or over sized baits
And then move to a new spot and start all over again.
A-Jay
Ultra7580 reply :
A Budweiser and sit back and enjoy the weather. I can't make fish bite.
RoLo reply :
Zoom finesse worm <> 1/8oz Strike King shaky head
Roger
Siebert Outdoors reply :
I've got 3.
3/8 finesse jig
1/4 oz Extreme Shaky Head with a Menace
Green pumpkin tube
Bronzeback23 reply :
On 4/27/2015 at 11:34 PM, Siebert Outdoors said:I've got 3.
3/8 finesse jig
1/4 oz Extreme Shaky Head with a Menace
Green pumpkin tube
Old thread to revive but having the same problem here in Michigan with 40 degree water and the fish not wanting to bite on anything not sure where your from but fishing the jig when fish aren’t biting doesn’t work for me. I have to down size to thin 4 inch 3/16 shakey head. The skirt no matter how thin gives to big of body even for a nice 4lb bass! Other than the shakey head is the bed rig but I fish a lot of weedy area where ned gets hung up quite often.
On 4/27/2015 at 11:34 PM, Siebert Outdoors said:I've got 3.
3/8 finesse jig
1/4 oz Extreme Shaky Head with a Menace
Green pumpkin tube
KP Duty reply :
Charlie brewer slider worm.
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
Weightless super fluke, fished as slow as you can
Team9nine reply :
Old thread, but it doesn't matter what bait you switch to, or is your "go to," because by definition, when the fish "won't bite", they won't bite ALL lures...so I just keep doing what I'm doing until they decide to bite 
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