So far this season what has been everyone’s most productive lures? 2024

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

Figured we could get a thread going that maybe can help anglers match seasons/conditions to their lures.

Fishing south east michigan first week of May I crushed 5 large mouths in a canal off lake st Clair on a mepps double bladed 5 aguila. My guess is they were particularly aggressive that day and I was basically burning my spinner by the shoreline looking for reaction bites

the other lure that’s been producing for me so far oddly enough is a white Berkeley shad Texas rigged weightless. Caught 3-4 fishing near sun down about 2 weeks ago.

what about everyone else?

i would usually have higher catch numbers by now, but we have had an unusual amount of ugly fishing days so far this spring in michigan. I have only fished 6 times since the end of April.

Ahhh forgot to mention I tried a yozuri popper (not sure on spelling) really nice poppers. They have a rattle, an almost holographic body and they pop and have almost a dog tail wag to the post pop. I have only caught one fish on it, but I have missed multiple it seems to have potential as a great popper.

Catt reply :

Todd2 reply :

Lizards...Junebug and Watermelon Red

Dens228 reply :

I've had a pretty good start to the year but I'd have to go with crankbaits and jerkbaits.

Biggest was on a spinnerbait though.

Hook2Jaw reply :

I've got some particularly bad grass in the local ponds I've been fishing, so I've been throwing a Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper on a 1/4oz weighted EWG by the same brand. When the grass wasn't as tall, I was throwing a YUM Pulse rigged the same way.

I really like that weighted EWG, though. They're sharp, and with no screw lock that's less mess I pick off. I believe I spend more time covering water, but I do end up pushing the eye through the head of the bait when I rig them, which means I have to retie when they get torn up.

My biggest fish of the year came on an H2O Jerkbait at 6.5 pounds and 24" long back in February. I'm still not sure if I like that bait or not.

A-Jay reply :

:smiley:

A-Jay

Hook2Jaw reply :

That a KVD, @A-Jay?

A-Jay reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 8:45 PM, Hook2Jaw said:

That a KVD, @A-Jay?

Yes - AYU color in the Deep model.

Been a solid producer for me.

A-Jay

scaleface reply :

Three trips 125 bass caught , 121 come on spinnerbaits .

craww reply :

Recently circled back to an old favorite, the 5/8 Yozuri Rattlin vibe. Its been been slaying for me on the river the last 3 weeks with some nice "wrong species" surprises including stripers, big walleye, and cats.

TOXIC reply :

Just got off St Clair where the majority of my damage was with the ol' Dropshot. Cleaned house with it. You can see the "Fairy Wand" in one hand and the result in the other!! :lol:

Team9nine reply :

Same as it’s been every year for the past 10 years...some type of small soft plastic in combination with some type of jig head ????

MartinTheFisherman reply :

Zoom Super Fluke in Arkansas Shiner rigged with a 4/0 EWG 1/8oz belly weighted red hook. Or a Reaction Innovations Little Dipper in Bad Shad Green rigged the same way. They have both been killing it here in my lakes and ponds.

Hook2Jaw reply :

@TOXIC, are you dropping directly off the bow and sonar fishing or casting with your drop shotting? Either way, nice fish, I just plan to do a little bit of drop shotting in the closest clear water lake to me and I've caught a grand total of one drop shot fish, but really want to learn the technique.

On 5/30/2019 at 8:46 PM, A-Jay said:

Yes - AYU color in the Deep model.

been a solid producer for me.

A-Jay

Haha, I see that red hook in the center in an attempt to draw the fish! Good stuff. Do those baits suspend horizontal? My cheapie H2O Jerks have more of a nose up orientation, and I do not like it. Or should I?

Choporoz reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 2:12 PM, AlTheFisherman313 said:

So far this season what has been everyone’s most productive lures?

Chatterbaits.

But, I suppose that could be because probably 40% of all my casts have been with chatterbaits.

TOXIC reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 9:26 PM, Hook2Jaw said:

@TOXIC, are you dropping directly off the bow and sonar fishing or casting with your drop shotting? Either way, nice fish, I just plan to do a little bit of drop shotting in the closest clear water lake to me and I've caught a grand total of one drop shot fish, but really want to learn the technique.

Fished it 2 ways. Long leader (12"+) with a 1/4 oz weight for casting or dragging and with a shorter leader (6") for sight fishing bedding fish. I also upsized the weight. Main bait was a Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm in either Goby or Natural Shad.

NYWayfarer reply :

Bank fishing here and no surprises for most productive lures at this time of the year.

Wacky rigged stick bait and the TRD Ned Rig.

Pickle_Power reply :

Early on it was a red craw Super Spot. That progressed to square bill cranks. Lately, it has been spinnerbaits during wind, and a Poisontail jig/Grass Pig Jr. combo during calmer times. Wacky rigged BPS Stik-O has also nabbed a few. I'm in west central Iowa; weather has been very inconsistent. It has rained every other day and I'm guessing 75% of our days so far this spring have been below average temps.

Junger reply :

Pre-spawn: war eagle finesse spinner bait - chartreuse/white

Post-spawn: Pompadour Jr - Gill Bone

ZbestBassman reply :

*The big BPS sticko. I think its 8" in black and blue and in green and red flake. Wacky rig, weightless, carolina rig.

* Bandit crankbaits both deep and shallow versions

* football jigs with various trailers

BassNJake reply :

For me it's been the Keitech Crazy Flapper and the Shower Blows Shorty

ZbestBassman reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 8:49 PM, scaleface said:

Three trips 125 bass caught , 121 come on spinnerbaits .

Nice are you throwing all war eagles?

EGbassing reply :

Ned rig by far.

On 5/30/2019 at 9:44 PM, Pickle_Power said:

Early on it was a red craw Super Spot. That progressed to square bill cranks. Lately, it has been spinnerbaits during wind, and a Poisontail jig/Grass Pig Jr. combo during calmer times. Wacky rigged BPS Stik-O has also nabbed a few. I'm in west central Iowa; weather has been very inconsistent. It has rained every other day and I'm guessing 75% of our days so far this spring have been below average temps.

It's 115 degrees here every day right now...

scaleface reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 10:11 PM, ZbestBassman said:

Nice are you throwing all war eagles?

Those are ones I pour using Do-It molds . Nothing fancy . I reuse blades from worn out spinnerbaits and the skirts are Terminators I found on clearance . That middle one is sweet . Those blades come off an old Excalibur lure . I have already removed the hardware from two of these and put on fresh bodies because they were all bent out of shape . That is the beauty of pouring your own . Just keep recycling the components .

junyer357 reply :

Siebert dredge brush jig, 3/8, black n blue, with a blue rage craw. By far been my best lure for a couple years now. I have at least 1 tied on 24/7 and its always on deck ready to go. My most versitle and used lure too. 2nd would be a norman middle n or lucky craft 2.5 squarebill

webertime reply :

Jackhammer

928JLH reply :

Would have to say an underspin. Catches bass in 45 degree water to 100 degree surface temps.

fishballer06 reply :

Siebert Outdoors Sniper jig, dragging it slow and low. As someone who considers himself a moving bait guy, it's been an eye opening spring.

Choporoz reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 10:35 PM, fishballer06 said:

Siebert Outdoors Sniper jig, dragging it slow and low. As someone who considers himself a moving bait guy, it's been an eye opening spring.

Glad you posted this. I've had a Sniper tied on the last few times out and been frustrated that it hasn't gotten bit like other stuff....but if I'm being honest with myself, I admit to just a 'drop and a couple quick hops'.....3 or 4 times before putting it down.....will work at slowing it down and give it a good go tomorrow

fishballer06 reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 11:00 PM, Choporoz said:

Glad you posted this. I've had a Sniper tied on the last few times out and been frustrated that it hasn't gotten bit like other stuff....but if I'm being honest with myself, I admit to just a 'drop and a couple quick hops'.....3 or 4 times before putting it down.....will work at slowing it down and give it a good go tomorrow

You'd be surprised how well that head comes through rocks. Dragging it over rocky bottoms has been the ticket for me, especially during the pre-spawn. Now that the spawn is going on, I've been swimming it until I get bumped by a bed guarder, and then pitching back into that spot and dragging the bottom until I get the bite I need.

Tizi reply :

Keitech Fat Swing Impact 3.8 with 1/4 oz head. Ghost trout color is the real deal.

riverat reply :

My top 4 this year so far.

Strike King Rage Craw - Blue Sapphire
Strike King Rage Bug - Swampwater Blue
1/2 oz. Spinnerbait - blue, chartreuse, and white shirt - Single Copper #5 Colorado Blade with a 4" grub trailer in silk chartreuse color
1/2 oz. Oldham's jig - Black/Blue/Purple Skirt with a Strike King Rage Craw trailer in Junebug

Derek1 reply :

Weightless rage craw in preen pumpkin is still in the lead. Spinnerbait is closing in fast as is a jig with rage craw trailer.

roadwarrior reply :

Rage Tail Menace

Boomstick reply :

Normally it would be a crankbait or spinnerbait this time of year, but so far I've caught more trout on a NED rig than bass on either. Tough fishing this year.

keagbassr reply :

I would have to say a jig and spinnerbait have produced the most bites as well as the majority of my quality fish this season so far.

LonnieP reply :

During the prespawn the majority of my fish were caught on a lipless crank and a Spro Little John. Postspawn I've been catching them with a jig and Rage Craw trailer.

ClintIsKING reply :

Weightless zoom speed craw

Mobasser reply :

Rage menace grub t rigged. Roboworm/ slider head. Spinnerbait

J.Vincent reply :

1) Bomber Bushwacker 3/8oz Tandem SpinnerBait In White/Chartreuse

2) Berkley Pit Boss In Perfection

3) Berkley Smash Tubes In Bruised & Norm Blue

4) Zman ChatterBaits with Strike King Bluegill Skirt Pattern + Yum Christie Craw Trailer

5) Zoom Brush Hog In Watermelon Red

ask in a month and I’m certain the Berkley Choppo and Lucky Craft Sammy will be added to this list !

fishwizzard reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 9:19 PM, Team9nine said:

Same as it’s been every year for the past 10 years...some type of small soft plastic in combination with some type of jig head ????

This for me too. I own so many lures, but I end most trips with a small plastic on a jig tied on.

waymont reply :

Bitsy Flip jig with Yum Wooly Bug trailers. Numbers and biggest fish all caught on this combo.

two 4's, 5, and 6 LMB and a 3 and 4+ SMB.

BassinCNY reply :

Just going in to the spawn here and no contest it's the bladed jig in a blue gill/troutish color. A distant second is the white with silver blades spinner bait.

Bankbeater reply :

Shallow running crankbaits. Usually by this time of year the crankbait bite had slowed down, but it’s still going strong.

Dvo509 reply :

The strike king swinging swim jig.

Brew City Bass reply :

Since May 4th (opener) I've boated 100+ fish on a spinnerbait. Variety of colors / blades and sizes.

Second place goes to the humble jig n pig.

Glaucus reply :

1/4oz black and blue jig with black and blue craw trailer

1/4oz Red Eye Shad in Sexy Shad

Finesse Trick Worm in watermelon red (not to be confused with the original trick worm)

I haven't been able to hit the flooded rivers for SMB yet. They're too dangerous and a waste of time at the moment.

GreenPig reply :

Super Fluke in Glimmer blue 5/0 EGW Gama

basskiller_man reply :

*FISHES ARE LOVIN IT*
not IKA, it's cthulhu. I received this as an Instagram event.

Chief250 reply :

Vision 110, Kanata. I never thought I'd find something I enjoy more than a topwater bite but I have. There's just something about having a super light casting combo and them trying to suddenly rip it out of your hand. Like a kid in a candy store.

Hook2Jaw reply :

On 5/31/2019 at 6:50 AM, J.Vincent said:

ask in a month and I’m certain the Berkley Choppo and Lucky Craft Sammy will be added to this list !

That Choppo gets bit. I've caught quite a few bass and lost a good redfish on the smaller one.

A-Jay reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 9:26 PM, Hook2Jaw said:

Haha, I see that red hook in the center in an attempt to draw the fish! Good stuff. Do those baits suspend horizontal? My cheapie H2O Jerks have more of a nose up orientation, and I do not like it. Or should I?

Can't say I believe that actually matters much.

That IMO is a marketing deal.

Fish don't care and so neither do I.

I 'prefer' most all my jerkbaits to sink slowly and usually with a nose down posture. What they do out of the pack is usually inconsequential, because after a few A-Jay tweaks, they all eventually do what I want in the end; which is fill the Frabil.

:smiley:

A-Jay

NYWayfarer reply :

On 5/31/2019 at 4:14 PM, basskiller_man said:

*FISHES ARE LOVIN IT*
not IKA, it's cthulhu. I received this as an Instagram event.

I am a nerd in my soul. I would buy this bait for the name alone.

Interesting concept a "bleeding" smelly bait.

Hook2Jaw reply :

On 5/31/2019 at 8:05 PM, A-Jay said:

Can't say I believe that actually matters much.

That IMO is a marketing deal.

Fish don't care and so neither do I.

I 'prefer' most all my jerkbaits to sink slowly and usually with a nose down posture. What they do out of the pack is usually inconsequential, because after a few A-Jay tweaks, they all eventually do what I want in the end; which is fill the Frabil.

A-Jay

I think I just need to try upsizing my front hook to get a more horizontal presentation at rest before I give up on my 6 dollar specials.

papajoe222 reply :

Hands down, a 4in. paddle tail swim bait on a 1/4oz jig. Started producing just after ice out and didn't stop until the bass got on the beds this week.

scaleface reply :

With all the rain weve had creating high muddy water , I made two more spinnerbaits . The main willow on one is chartreuse and the other red . Back when I first started bass fishing in the 70's , the guys in the little club I joined loved to throw a white spinnerbait with red blades . I'm going to go old school and try the white/red combo next time .

MIbassyaker reply :

Jerkbait: LC Slender Pointer (Ghost Sunfish) and KVD 200 (Bream)

Bladed Jig: Jackhammer (bluegill) and Siebert Fogy (Green Pumpkin/Purple) with GYCB Zako and SK Blade minnow trailers

Spinnerbait: 3/8oz Pepper double willow (gold/Bluegill) and 1/4oz War eagle Double Indiana (Copper/chartreuse)

Paddletail Swimbait: 4" Keitech Swing impact (silver flash) + 1/8oz owner brush head, and 4" SK rage swimmer (Green Pumpkin)+ 1/8oz Mustad power lock hook

Worms: Zoom Trick worm (Green Pumpkin/Green flake) + 1/8oz owner finesse ball head, and Strike King Ocho (Candy Craw) + owner weedless wacky #1 hook.

MIbassyaker reply :

On 5/31/2019 at 4:14 PM, basskiller_man said:

*FISHES ARE LOVIN IT*
not IKA, it's cthulhu. I received this as an Instagram event.

On 5/31/2019 at 8:27 PM, NYWayfarer said:

I would buy this bait for the name alone.

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!

Westcoast reply :

Started out the year with great success on a finesse jig, either a bitsy or a siebert. Then when the grass started to grow it’s been a great fluke bite with a t-rig creature as a close second. This warm weather now should get the frog bite turned on though!

Bluebasser86 reply :

It's been an extremely mixed bag for me this season, probably largely due to the crazy weather. About the only bait I've had tied on since and has been productive January until now has been a Duo Realis Rozante 77.

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

I’m liking this so far. I feel like this thread should have been started a while back. Due to heavy rains I have been fishing loud dark spinnerbaits this week, as well in the morning when the water is calm and not raining a 70 series whopper plopper in white crushed it for me the other day. 5 bass in about 45 minutes all on the plopper.

If you haven’t seen the 70 whopper plopper it’s a great size and the tail is more similar to the 110 or 130 massive tail action out of the little whopper lol.

bowhunter63 reply :

Finally got out today high dirty water. Swim jig with a menace trailer bluegill colored. Think it helped the jig had rattle. Felt great putting the steel to some smallmouth.

Manly Studson reply :

Quantity of LMB: a wacky rigged Senko.

Largest LMB: a Bitsy Bug jig with a Z-Man TRD craw trailer.

Largest smallmouth bass: a Rebel Teeny Wee craw (go figure!).

txchaser reply :

After today it's a tie between a buzzbait (it was ON today) and a magnum super fluke (strike king or zoom, both in baby bass).

Koz reply :

With bank fishing here in my part of the south what works in one part of the season rarely carries through the rest of the year.

Late winter (Jan-Feb): Jerkbaits and Beetle Spin

Early Spring: White or chartreuse/white spinnerbaits with Keitech Swing Impact trailer.

Mid-Spring: Bluegill colored chatterbait with Havoc Pit Boss trailer in Perfection color or white chatterbait with white paddletail trailer

But right now my Strike King Banshee Buzzbait in Sexy Shad is just killing it almost every day. I can't even count how many fish I've landed with it lately. But it's completely beat up, bent everywhere, and most of the paint is missing but still landed four in about 45 minutes tonight. I might have to retire this one in the next week and buy an identical replacement. Here's hoping it has the same squeak as my current one!

If the buzzbait isn't working then this time of year either a weighted or unweighted T-rigged Senko is next on my list. If that fails I'll just wacky rig it and give that a try.

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

On 5/31/2019 at 7:31 PM, Hook2Jaw said:

That Choppo gets bit. I've caught quite a few bass and lost a good redfish on the smaller one.

I am very interested in the Choppo, looks like a affordable whopper plopper lol.

If you guys are crushing it on these I may have to grab some. No one wants to loose a $25.00 whopper plopper, but those choppos are half the price lol I could live with loosing that.

Hook2Jaw reply :

On 6/3/2019 at 3:28 PM, AlTheFisherman313 said:

I am very interested in the Choppo, looks like a affordable whopper plopper lol.

If you guys are crushing it on these I may have to grab some. No one wants to loose a $25.00 whopper plopper, but those choppos are half the price lol I could live with loosing that.

I have never thrown a Whopper Plopper, but as I said, I have thrown the Choppo and so far caught three or four in the middle of the day on it. I'm excited to see what it can do early in the morning. I don't think you'll regret it.

Nolan Hunter reply :

My go to is flipping a black and blue jig. Weight varies from 3/8-3/4oz. Brand doesn’t matter to me. I will used all different trailers. But if I have a jig on I am confident I will find them.

king fisher reply :

I fished almost every day for the last two weeks in Eastern WA. Caught fish on everything in my box. Best producers were.

Lakes

Spinner bait ( single Colorado, and War Eagle finesse) Black or Bluegill ( most fish)

DT 10 any color with some red in it.

Hula grub green pumpkin, or purple

rattle trap orange (biggest large mouth 5-6 pounds

Rebel minnow. Rainbow trout. ( biggest small mouth 4- 5 pound)

5 inch Senko color of purple

Rivers

#3 Vibrax any color ( largest small mouth 4 pounds)

Hula grub green pumpkin ( largest rainbow trout 24 inches)

Here in Mexico

Any soft plastic, Texas rigged 1/4 ounce weight.

Norman little N crankbait.

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

On 6/3/2019 at 7:51 PM, Hook2Jaw said:

I have never thrown a Whopper Plopper, but as I said, I have thrown the Choppo and so far caught three or four in the middle of the day on it. I'm excited to see what it can do early in the morning. I don't think you'll regret it.

So I own both whopper ploppers and now 2 colors of choppos, and IMO the plopper isnt worth the extra money. I threw just the ghost choppo, its tail is larger like a 110 whopper, but on the 90 body, and caught 4 fish on 6 casts and one was because I had to thumb my line early because it cast so frickin far I almost hit the bridge I was tossing it under haha!

So as for the update, on friday caught 4 on the choppo as the sun was going down ghost color, and than before that 6 in about 2 hours prior to sun down with a J-7 Silver jointed rapala. For some reason if your burn one of those things by the bass in my area im not sure if im getting reaction strikes or they look like the baitfish, but they crush that lure.

Went Walleye fishing Saturday and hit limits and this is a bass forum!

snake95 reply :

Stars so far:

1) Neko rigged TRD and big TRD. (Prespawn in staging areas). VMC 1 and 2 Neko hooks. Zman Neko heads. Chicken rigged.

2) Kietch swing impact fats in the smaller sizes (2.8 and 3.8) on a jighead. Post spawn, dragged slowly.

Armtx77 reply :

A black and blue flake 5" Senko, with a 4/0 offset EWG.

Behind that, has been YUM Baby crawbug, in black and blue hooked with a 2/0 offset EWG. I usually have a 1/16oz bullet weight in them too.

I have seen the T-rig as my seasonal, go to rig. I think I should learn the Red Rig though. Apparently, Im the only knuckle dragger not keen to it yet.

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

On 6/11/2019 at 9:48 AM, Armtx77 said:

A black and blue flake 5" Senko, with a 4/0 offset EWG.

Behind that, has been YUM Baby crawbug, in black and blue hooked with a 2/0 offset EWG. I usually have a 1/16oz bullet weight in them too.

I have seen the T-rig as my seasonal, go to rig. I think I should learn the Red Rig though. Apparently, Im the only knuckle dragger not keen to it yet.

Texas rig is really one of the most important bass presentations. I don’t ice fish, but that’s a season long producer for a slow bite. I actually tried shaky heads for the first time this season and I really really like them. The jig head really adds a nice wobbly fall and you could give it to someone whose new to t-rigs or bouncing worms and they will get bites. I basically just hop it around until a bass strikes.

I love all aspects of bass fishing, but if I could choose my ideal fishing trip top water lures would be the only requirement. I do not know what it is with me and topwater fishing, but IMO it’s the most exhilarating way to fish. I love the strikes doesn’t matter if it’s violent or they just make my bait disappear, hands down my favorite way to fish.

Hillbilly Bennett reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 10:07 PM, BassNJake said:

For me it's been the Keitech Crazy Flapper and the Shower Blows Shorty

Two of my all time favorites right there!

Jweller reply :

1. Z-Man Custom Chatterbait/Rage Tail Menace trailer

2. Zoom Trick Worm on a shaky head

J Francho reply :

In years past, it's bee a Popmax in white python. This year, it's back to a Rage Craw in Bama Craw on various Texas Rigs.

Hillbilly Bennett reply :

This spring I did 90% of my damage came on 1.5 and 2.5 strike king squarebills. I haven’t had much luck with them before but they got crushed this spring. Since the post spawn I’ve caught most of my fish on a T-Rig, a 75 Whopper Plopper, a Cavitron buzzbait, the very evil wacky rigged Senko and the even more evil Ned Rigged TRD. The ZMan crawz have been coming on this summer as I have been wading and floating the rivers around here since the heat has set in. Those things are smallmouth candy!

aceman387 reply :

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Zoom_Mag_Finesse_Worm_10pk/descpage-ZMFW.html on light (1/8 weight) carolina rig

drscholl14 reply :

Neko Rig in deep (20-30 fow) hands down.

JediAmoeba reply :

Lucky craft pointer 78 flake flake golden Sunfish this year.

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

Little update, white plopper 110 has been on ????, as well as my white Lunkerhunt “thump” spinnerbait. Funny the cheap spinner gets hit so much.

yesterday morning was awful for me hooked one didn’t land it, but I only fished for about an hour and a half in a heavily pressured area.

jebar01 reply :

for two weeks now, wacky rig with a Zoom trick worm 7 inch watermelon w/red flake. Toss up between 1/0 mosquito hook vs owner weedless hook size one. It has been great!!!

ike8120 reply :

T-Rig with Yum Dinger and Senko, weightless

thinkingredneck reply :

I haven't gotten to fish that often this year due to work schedule and rain. However, when I have gone, I have done well with a Trickworm in Junebug, T-rigged.

Pickle_Power reply :

Summer update: Stanley Ribbit in the slop(Watermelon Red Pearl), and weightless Zoom Finesse Worm(some sort of purple) on the outside edges. Texas rigged Gene Larew Biffle Bug for flipping docks and isolated cover.

boostr reply :

Wacky rigged Senko

*UPDATE 8/7/2019*

And a Neko rigged Senko

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

Boy oh boy, I tried googan softs for the first time.... I’m sold, they are just way to expensive, however I’m out there to catch so if it takes a couple extra bucks to go googan I will. The kraken craw and the brush hog are both ????

Have tried their natural, and green pumpkin and I am very, very impressed.

long island basser reply :

In my shallow natural lakes as of late, hollow body frogs have been doing well along with various t/rigged plastics.

Also shallow cranks such as h2o xpress wake bait, bps the egg.

Topwater Sammy’s, shower blows, and spro rats producing.

Jim Sutter reply :

Berkley Choppo. Color Blue Gill

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

On 7/22/2019 at 8:36 AM, Jim Sutter said:

Berkley Choppo. Color Blue Gill

I have been in love with the ghost gill with a touch of sunlight and clear waters, the choppos are catchers all right!

PhishLI reply :

I fish mostly shallow weed choked lakes. There are a few exceptions. Last year at this time nothing could touch a Berkley 10" power worm in watermelon or motor oil. This year I haven't had a sniff which seems crazy to me. However, specific paddletail swimbaits have been getting crazy bites. Specifically: The Beast Coast Miyagi in Hitch and Alewife rigged on an Owner 6/0 1/4 oz Beast hook, the Norries Spoon tail Shad in multiple colors rigged on an Owner 6/0 Twistlock light 3/32 oz hook, and the MegaBass Hazedong Shad in Green Pumpkin Blue or Moroku rigged on a Mustad Power Lock Plus 5/0 1/16 oz hook. I've landed and lost my biggest fish on the Miyagi, but smaller fish will eat it. That bait gets bitten hard like a chatterbait. They really commit. The Norries is not far behind. Any sized fish will chomp the Hazedong. If they're not interested in the Grn/Pump/Blu, the Moroku will probably get action. It really looks like a shiner. Perfect for when you can see small baitfish near the bank. I just slow roll that bait and it'll follow the contours of the weed beds dipping in and out of holes nicely without getting bogged down with slime. The Norries also comes through very cleanly.

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

On 7/22/2019 at 12:37 PM, PhishLI said:

I fish mostly shallow weed choked lakes. There are a few exceptions. Last year at this time nothing could touch a Berkley 10" power worm in watermelon or motor oil. This year I haven't had a sniff which seems crazy to me. However, specific paddletail swimbaits have been getting crazy bites. Specifically: The Beast Coast Miyagi in Hitch and Alewife rigged on an Owner 6/0 1/4 oz Beast hook, the Norries Spoon tail Shad in multiple colors rigged on an Owner 6/0 Twistlock light 3/32 oz hook, and the MegaBass Hazedong Shad in Green Pumpkin Blue or Moroku rigged on a Mustad Power Lock Plus 5/0 1/16 oz hook. I've landed and lost my biggest fish on the Miyagi, but smaller fish will eat it. That bait gets bitten hard like a chatterbait. They really commit. The Norries is not far behind. Any sized fish will chomp the Hazedong. If they're not interested in the Grn/Pump/Blu, the Moroku will probably get action. It really looks like a shiner. Perfect for when you can see small baitfish near the bank. I just slow roll that bait and it'll follow the contours of the weed beds dipping in and out of holes nicely without getting bogged down with slime. The Norries also comes through very cleanly.

Try some googan baits next time your at a gander. I am not affiliated with them in any way, but they have been great for me. I really like their natural and green pumpkin colors. They are pricey, but you get what you pay for. Plus I will say this after years of fishing, and rebuilding my stolen tackle box, I realize now why people say fishing isn’t cheap. I have probably spent a grand on replacing my tackle! Plus being a part time Muskie fisherman, 7$ is a joke to me for lures. A Medusa will run ya upwards of 30$ a lure, and trust me they still break off ????

thank god they got my bass box and not my Muskie box. I don’t even wanna think about buying 10-12 20$+ bucktails plus all the Medusa’s and spoons and 30$ xraps ???????????? the more I think about it, If I didn’t have access to a boat a charter would be cheaper for Muskie for me haha

stinkychzman55 reply :

I have had multiple mornings on home lake where I’ve caught a 20lb limit in an hour on a 3/8oz BPS pro model dragon shakey Head and a 6” Yamamoto Senko in green pumpkin green/purple flake in 10-12ft water. Also have had great luck on a drop shot with a 6” straight tail Roboworm in Aaron’s Magic when they got a little shy.

And since i can’t help myself.....every time I come across a mat or lily pads...I’ve always got the trusty Terminator popping frog tied on. I like the Black Camo color....it’s caught me quite a few this summer as well.

But that big senko....it’s worked like magic this year for me

TOXIC reply :

I have a bunch of new baits and old faithfuls to try.

scaleface reply :

This summer its been mostly Ribbits and old Luck-E Strike King Jogger worms { senkos} .Its difficult to pitch standing in a jon boat , low to the water , with gun-wells so I need weight . The Jogger worms and a 1/4 ounce sinker gives me enough heft to pitch into shallow cover while Jelly worms are utilized deep .

Todd2 reply :

On 5/30/2019 at 8:34 PM, Todd2 said:

Lizards...Junebug and Watermelon Red

I change my mind, it's America and I have that right.

Solid black curly tailed worms. Is it just me or is the most productive lure the one we're throwing the most?

On 7/25/2019 at 11:54 PM, TOXIC said:

I have a bunch of new baits and old faithfuls to try.

This dude ain't playin..lol

Fried Lemons reply :

Numbers: 4” Keitech Easy Shiner on a 1/4oz leadhead or weightless nose hooked.

Size: Hudd 68.

Honorable mention to Stanley Ribbits skipped under trees in the hottest part of the day.

fishwizzard reply :

On 7/26/2019 at 1:01 AM, Fried Lemons said:

Numbers: 4” Keitech Easy Shiner on a 1/4oz leadhead or weightless nose hooked.

I have been doing amazing on the 4" Easy Shiner as well, but I rig them on a 1/8oz sled head.

They have a great wiggle at most every swimming speed, the position of the weight both protects the nose/screwlock connection and gives it a great looking "nose down/tail up" position if you drag it on the bottom.

Fried Lemons reply :

On 7/26/2019 at 1:19 AM, fishwizzard said:

I have been doing amazing on the 4" Easy Shiner as well, but I rig them on a 1/8oz sled head.

They have a great wiggle at most every swimming speed, the position of the weight both protects the nose/screwlock connection and gives it a great looking "nose down/tail up" position if you drag it on the bottom.

There’s really no bad way to rig them they just get bit. The weightless nose hook rig is really good in shallow weeds especially burned over the top like a toad. Dead sticked with some twitches it looks just like a dying baitfish. Downside is you get one fish per bait.

Ratherbfishing reply :

This year it has been a ribbontail plastic worm in purple. But I've used it a lot more, too, so go figure.

Bankbeater reply :

Ever since the weather got hot the bass have been going after t-rigged craws or plastic worms either weightless or on a split shot rig.

NHBull reply :

Never thought I would be saying this....

Early season, Jerks only

Since post spawn the Neco and Ned has put the biggest fish in the boat

Brett's_daddy reply :

my wallet! it's attracted MANY lures, rods and reels so far this season but it's looking pretty banged up now...time for a new one :hahaha-024: .

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

On 7/26/2019 at 11:54 PM, Brett's_daddy said:

my wallet! it's attracted MANY lures, rods and reels so far this season but it's looking pretty banged up now...time for a new one .

I have spent 150-200 dollars on whopper ploppers alone, I am the fishing companies dream ????everytime I stop to look at lures or pass the gander outdoors near by i all of a sudden find my hands full of lures. I’m buying lures when I have lures that I haven’t even thrown yet. I think I have an issue haha. I buy colors of lures I already have that work, because I always think one day I’m gonna need it. I bet most of the guys on here have that problem????

Also, oddly enough this season I have had to not dig deep into the tackle box. I usually fish early or late and always start with the best part of the water, top and somehow smack a bunch and than call it a day ???? I have an unreal amount of topwater catches this season. Way more than ever.

Like if I have to move past spinners and cranks and start popping worms I’m either not on the fish or they aren’t hitting that day, I have only had to resort to softs 3,4 times this season of maybe 35-40 trips! Strangest fishing season I have had, although who can complain about heavy topwater action and obviously my time of day has a huge influence.

Chris at Tech reply :

I've spent this season fishing a new to me lake that is a bit different than the others I've fished. My success has come on football head jigs, swing head jigs, carolina rigs and texas rigged paddle-tail worms. It's odd -- normally I always get a few on topwaters but at this like, I'm going 90%+ of my damage fishing offshore structure once the sun is up.

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

On 7/27/2019 at 11:30 PM, Chris at Tech said:

I've spent this season fishing a new to me lake that is a bit different than the others I've fished. My success has come on football head jigs, swing head jigs, carolina rigs and texas rigged paddle-tail worms. It's odd -- normally I always get a few on topwaters but at this like, I'm going 90%+ of my damage fishing offshore structure once the sun is up.

We had close to flood level rains, I think it increased the area of shallow water for the entire season from all the spring rain. Plus, we have had a lot of days with some cloud cover I’m not sure if that’s a contributing factor, more of an observation of my area.

Sphynx reply :

6th Sense Divine Hybrid Jig in the peanut butter and smoke color paired with a Netbait Paca Chunk trailer in the bronze color, second best producer for me has been a Ned Rig, doubt that's shocking anyone though.

reelfast reply :

KVD 1.5 for reaction bite.

Havoc pit boss has been a great soft plastic search bait for me.

Spinnerbait by docks.

Senko or ribbontail when the bite is slow.

Gorris317 reply :

T-rigged Zoom Z craw in watermelon color.

Arobb2012 reply :

Bps bomb craw and a rage menace grub.

AlTheFisherman313 reply :

On 7/29/2019 at 6:11 AM, reelfast said:

KVD 1.5 for reaction bite.

Havoc pit boss has been a great soft plastic search bait for me.

Spinnerbait by docks.

Senko or ribbontail when the bite is slow.

The kvd square bills are the best lures with his name on it. I have tried a lot of his stuff, and the bluegill 1.5 squarebill is the only thing that has produced from the KVD stuff for me. Maybe the great one himself needs to use the others haha.

Pickle_Power reply :

The last month has been jig/chunk around and under docks and boats on lifts. Haven't had many long outings lately but the docks are great for a quick few bites when I get the itch.

scaleface reply :

Luck E Strike Jogger worms Texas rigged was my top bait in July , followed closely by Stanley Ribbits . My supply of Jogger worms has been depleted .Senkos are too expensive . Guess I'll give Yum Dingers a go .

Kdizzle reply :

Texas rigged 3" Powerbait Pit Boss for flippin

4" Yum Dingers

BassPro Teaser and Tender Tubes

4" Big Bites Finesse Grubs

Kayak river fisherman fo life.

IdahoAngler reply :

KVD 1.0 Square Bills in Black Back Chartreuse

TRD's in Coppertreuse, California Craw and Molting Craw dragging along the bottom.

I keep buying big baits/rods and spending countless hours with them, then I switch to something small and that's when I get the bites.

Rpratt reply :

It started out all I could catch them on was a wacky worm. Then for a couple of months it went to a Rapala DT-6 and Rapala BX Brat. But now that bite is slowing down so for the next trip I am going to for the first time this year go all ned and see if that helps.

Spankey reply :

Majority of bass on worms. The nicer bass on crankbaits. Still waiting for my fish of the season. Maybe it will come on Sunday.

Tizi reply :

The summer has been good, my top producer has been a Mann's Shadow in smokin shad. Also caught my year's big fish at 4.22 lbs.

Elkins45 reply :

Between work and the heat I’ve done almost no fishing since June. I went a couple of days last week and caught most of my fish on a Texas rigged six inch worm.

For 2019 overall the Ned Rig has been the big winner for me

Brad Reid reply :

Gosh, a great thread and an old one. I might have already posted a response . . . or even two! Ha!

For me? What works year round, all weather, all hours, all depths in the water column, catches the most bass, would be a Keitech Shad Impact, 4" on a 1/0 EWG Owner finesse hook (light wire) that come with a CPS pin already attached.

You can:

1) toss it beyond and drag it by schooling bass chasing chad at the surface;

2) toss it on top of lily pads and drag it through areas like that, or other areas with vegetation, or over and around limbs if it is weedless . . . fish often waiting below in the shade;

3) use it as a traditional jerk bait when fish are more active at various depths;

4) let it fall slowly through the water column like a dying minnow;

5) troll it behind a kayak;

6) fish it on the bottom like a T-Rigged or Ned Rigged worm.

On the latter, I often make a cast from my kayak, let it fall to the bottom, then using reverse on my Propel drive, I leave the line out (don't reel it in) and slowly, very slowly, pull back and away as slow as possible. Sometimes the wind or current will do the trick for me. I can drag a Keitech across 50 or 100 or more yards along the bottom and the odds are pretty good that I am going to put it in some fish's face.

I live on a lake, suppose I have been out 50 times since January 1, likely caught 200+ bass using it. It'd be my go to if I were limited to one presentation. And, about 75% of the time, I don't even carry out a second rod with a second presentation.

Brad

fishwizzard reply :

On 8/7/2019 at 11:51 PM, Brad Reid said:

Gosh, a great thread and an old one. I might have already posted a response . . . or even two! Ha!

For me? What works year round, all weather, all hours, all depths in the water column, catches the most bass, would be a Keitech Shad Impact, 4" on a 1/0 EWG Owner finesse hook (light wire) that come with a CPS pin already attached.

Do you get a lot of line-twist fishing them weightless? I think I posted this already but the 4" ES on a small sled-head has been one of my standouts this year:

mmayes reply :

In the last month or 2 I have had almost all my success on Creature Baits (Dbombs, and Trench Hogs, and Bandito's) texas rigged with a 3/8oz tungsten weight, dt 6's and dt 4's as well as weightless Flukes

Mayes

FishinBuck07 reply :

Absolutely nothing is working for me this year, I am really thinking about selling it all and just giving up. I cant buy a bite this year! The only big fish I caught this year was caught on a buzzbait, I need a fish soon before I lose all confidence!????????

5948

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