What seems to never work for you... 2024
NHBull reply :
There is a lot of discussion about favorites baits, confidence baits, etc......
There isn’t a lot of talk about what doesn’t. For me, I seldom reach for spinners, as there always
seams to be something more appropriate, thus lowering my confidence in it. The same is true for lipless cranks.
After spawn I plan on spending days solely with those bait in an attempt to add some arrows to the quiver.
Anyone else struggle with techniques that others seam to have mastered
Just thinking out loud...
Oregon Native reply :
I hear ya...There's a couple patterns that when I prefish for tourneys that if that's deal I'm not going to find it. One is a weightless senko and or a carolina rig. Do I fish them....yes....do I enjoy that slowwwwwwwing way down stuff....Not really so I hardly ever do it...even though I do and have caught fish this way.
Hez reply :
Topwater.
Out of all of the fishing I do...I've only caught about 3 fish on topwater.
I do primarily fish a heavily pressured fishery....which is part of the reason...as I have caught my only topwater fish on other bodies of water...
A-Jay reply :
Glide Baits ~
Apparently, I just don't get it.
A-Jay
Hook2Jaw reply :
I've been fishing since I was a little guy but it was primarily in rivers and ponds. Small rivers and ponds, to be exact. Jerkbaits would work year round in the river, the floating rapalas were a bait I grew up on, as well as Texas rigged worms. That was basically it as far as techniques went.
My fishing now largely consists of public fishing areas with heavy pressure, so when I found out about weightless senko style worms they quickly became my confidence bait. Now I'm after big bites rather than bites after adding a double digit to my catches, so jigs are my deal. The only hard bait I have confidence in is lipless crankbaits. I'm primarily fishing a jig, followed by a finesse jig, followed by the slow technique that is a Texas rigged YUM Dinger with no bullet.
I'm truly a beginner with a year of heavy fishing experience and I keep getting better, but I think I could really up my game by adding some good electronics to the Hobie and finding the least pressured underwater structure on my local ponds and eventually offshore fishing in lakes.
I've typed too much at this point. If it's not a jig, Texas rig with a weight, or unweighted worm, my mind pretty much subconsciously identifies it as something that doesn't catch fish. Makes me sad.
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
Spinnerbaits and senkos have no place in my box.
Not that I don't like em, just don't seem to have a use for em..
scaleface reply :
Huge lures . I have tried Striper sized cranks , musky jitterbugs , large spoons not 1 fish on them .
Troy85 reply :
Flukes. I know they catch fish, I just never seem to do that well with them.
buzzbaiter83 reply :
Deep cranking. Some guys have mastered throwing the big DD22 or Megabass X300's. It's just not for me. I'll go and try to find a place I can throw a big swimbait, plastic, or a jig of the bite is that deep.
J Francho reply :
Ned rig. Because I don't throw it. Bought some stuff for it, so I'll give it a try.
All about da bass reply :
Deep diving crank bait, for some reason I just feel more confident in dragging a jig down there or a Carolina rig to get the fish to bite, I don't know that's just me.
IgotWood reply :
Jerk baits, chatter baits, spinner baits, swim baits....I guess moving baits in general are my nemesis. I guess it doesn't help that the two lakes I frequent the most are nearly unfishable due to grass from March to January. But on the rare occasion I fish somewhere else, I have a hard time sticking with these baits because of my lack of confidence in them.
Oh, and FROGS!!! Everyone I know can slay fish on frogs. I've spent entire fishing trips chucking frogs, forcing myself not to try anything else. I've had only two takes on a frog, ever. However, this year I took my first frog fish, and had a couple of bites. So maybe I am finally breaking the curse.
NYWayfarer reply :
Flukes. I have only caught 1 fish on them and it was a Pickerel. Those dang things will bite anything that crosses their mouth.
I want to like them but I can't master them. I have tried T-rig, T-rig weightless and hooking them upside down. Nothing works.
J Francho reply :
On 5/17/2018 at 9:45 PM, NYWayfarer said:Nothing works.
I typically nose hook them. Dead stick them longer than you feel is comfortable. Especially good directly post spawn, just outside weed lines.
Graham reply :
For some reason I’ve never thrown a jerkbait...
Mobasser reply :
For me, deep crankbaits. Never used them enough to get good at them
DRT reply :
In my years of fishing Ive never caught a fish on a spinnerbait. Its kind've embarrassing really. Supposedly spinnerbaits are a bass staple with a lot of people, but ive never had success with them. I mainly do most of my catching on soft plastics. Maybe i should just try to focus more on learning the spinnerbait.
Log Catcher reply :
Never caught anything on a frog or Zoom horny toad. Same can be said for the Ned rig.
Pro Logcatcher reply :
No fish on a jerkbait or chatterbait.
Preytorien reply :
Jerkbaits and Jigs
I sure give them a try. Mike's jigs are gorgeous, and I have a couple beautiful Duo and Megabass jerkbaits, but I can't catch anything on any of them.
blongfishing reply :
Jigs.
Almost everyone I know can throw them and catch fish and many call it a big fish bait. I just don’t know what it is about it but I just can’t catch a bass on one. I would say I’m total I’ve caught 4 bass in the 4 years I’ve been fishing competitively. The weird thing is, I throw bottom Baits or what I like to call “the finesse version of a jig” like shakey heads and ned rigs. If I was to be honest I would throw Carolina rigs in there too. I know I don’t fish them enough but when I do they don’t work for me.
I plan on devoting a few days this summer to fishing Baits I never use to gain some confidence for next tournament season.
Glaucus reply :
I catch fish on every standard technique and lure, but what seldom gets me bit is jerkbaits and swimbaits. I usually avoid them. I don't like them, they aren't fun for me, I have little confidence in them, and the fish usually aren't interested in that offering from me.
As far as spinnerbaits go, I don't get a lot of spinnerbait bites, but I love spinnerbaits. They have a time and a place. I understand this time and place, and when the conditions are met, they slay fish for me. I think a lot of anglers fail to understand that a spinnerbait isn't always a good choice and generally requires the right conditions, *perhaps* more so than any other lure.
Gundog reply :
Hmmmm....lets see......
Can't think of a thing. 
Koz reply :
Good question that got me thinking...
Deep Crankbaits - In my entire life I think I've caught all of two fish on a deep crankbait. They've been relegated to the storage bin this year. Lipless cranks are still part of my arsenal.
Flukes - I have a few packages of them in my tackle bag but they rarely see the light of day. I've been thinking of throwing some on an A-rig to see what happens.
Jigs - most lagoons here are muddy, algae laden bottoms so I avoid throwing them in that slop. I did find a few hard bottomed lagoons recently so my jigs may be making a comeback.
For those that have been avoiding spinnerbaits, I suggest throwing a white one with a little bit of grey or silver with a white Keitech Swing Impact trailer. That combo has been a killer for me so far this year!
NHBull reply :
Reading these post makes me feel a little better about myself. ????
geo g reply :
In south Florida with a host of shallow weed filled lakes, I seldom throw crankbaits. The trebles with all the weeds are nothing but problems. I did fish the Stick Marsh with a guy that was throwing a squarebill cranks. Everyone was struggling except him. The buoyant square bill was catching fish consistently. He had a knocker that he used to free the crank on all the wood in the area.
When things get tough I usually turn to plastics fished slow along the bottom.;
SJex reply :
Buzzbait, yet I catch fish with a whopper plopper.
TnRiver46 reply :
Spinnerbait and crankbait
bagofdonuts reply :
Whopper Plopper, but i catch them on a buzz bait.
Seriously, anything with spinning tackle or finesse in the title makes me uncomfortable.
BassB8Caster reply :
On 5/17/2018 at 8:04 PM, Hez said:Topwater.
Out of all of the fishing I do...I've only caught about 3 fish on topwater.
I do primarily fish a heavily pressured fishery....wish is part of the reason...as I have caught my only topwater fish on other bodies of water...
go buy a spro bbz 40 rat in morning dawn color and throw that early mornings and late evenings (im confident enought to throw it any time). I think your topwater luck will change.
N Florida Mike reply :
Jigs. I have not caught 1 fish on them.I try again occasionally with the same results.
The other is big swimbaits. A friend had one of those rat things and after several trips with no bites I decided that it probably isn't for me.
I haven't caught many with Cranks but enough to know they work., same with jerkbaits.
Getting better with Frogs and spinnerbaits, which I have now added to my " Circle of trust " baits.
No need to discuss my beloved soft plastics.
This time.????
Hez reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 12:33 AM, BassB8Caster said:go buy a spro bbz 40 rat in morning dawn color and throw that early mornings and late evenings (im confident enought to throw it any time). I think your topwater luck will change.
Just priced that rat....yikes!
Russ E reply :
On 5/17/2018 at 8:08 PM, A-Jay said:Glide Baits ~
Apparently, I just don't get it.
A-Jay
same here. I have never caught a fish on the glide bait.
It is not for lack of trying.
I watch @bluebasser86 catch toads on glide baits, in winter, on his youtube channel.
I fish the same lakes he does, but can't catch a fish on glide baits.
last time I tried one, I lost it in a brushpile on the first cast of the day. One cast cost me $20.00.
after that I gave up.
Raul reply :
Buzzbaits are my kryptonite, but I catch’em reeling in steadily a Baby Torpedo/Skitter Prop .... go figure.
blckshirt98 reply :
1) Jigs
2) Jerkbaits
3) Noisy topwaters like buzzbaits and Rage toads
4) Jigs
5) Jigs
...
100) Jigs
Choporoz reply :
I could be in the middle of the community hole....surrounded by half dozen boats hauling them in on drop shots and never get a bite on it. I use it...and on a rare occasion catch fish with it, but much fewer and farther between than ...anybody, it seems....partly because I probably give up to soon and switch to shaky head or jig or crig, but my dropshotting is awful
fishballer06 reply :
For me... Dropshot and shakeyhead fishing. I just can't seem to produce with them. I do fine with other finesse presentations, but man. I can't get confidence in these two.
BankBasser reply :
Jigs. I think in part because I was using too light a rod and was missing soooo many hooksets. I'm determined to change that this year. I have a new rod that's up to the task and will be throwing jigs a lot this year.
Catt reply :
Brush Hog!
Aint caught a single bass on one!
Baby Brush Hog... thousand bass!
Gundog reply :
On 5/17/2018 at 11:57 PM, SJex said:Buzzbait, yet I catch fish with a whopper plopper.
On 5/18/2018 at 12:15 AM, bagofdonuts said:Whopper Plopper, but i catch them on a buzz bait.
Now if we could only figure out which one of you is the evil twin.....
PAbasser927 reply :
Ned rig. I must be doing it wrong because I always get snagged within 5 minutes of tying one on. Then when I break off I always reach for something else. I plan to work on that this year since it is generally regarded as a bait that can turn a bad day around for the majority of anglers.
riverbasser reply :
jerkbaits. ive caught fish but few, also get lots of follows I just cant get confidence throwing em
Troy85 reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 1:35 AM, Catt said:Brush Hog!
Aint caught a single bass on one!
Baby Brush Hog... thousand bass!
You too? I thought I was the only one. These days I only use them as jig trailers and have a lot of success, but If I throw them alone its a lost cause.
Tennessee Boy reply :
Great question. We could all use a few more "arrows for our quivers". The question I struggle with is how much effort should I put into expanding my toolset verses spending time mastering the tools I already have.
keagbassr reply :
For me it's lipless cranks for sure.
.ghoti. reply :
Rattletraps, or any of the many knockoffs. I can catch a lot fish on any of them, and they are all dinks. Never caught a keeper size bass on one. Dont Have a single one in any of my tackle bags/boxes.
Ratherbfishing reply :
Standard bass jigs and Carolina rigs. These are my nemesis.
Bigbruce reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 12:41 AM, Hez said:Just priced that rat....yikes!
I going to need someone to talk me into buying a fake rat for $25. I think my expectations may be a little high for that much money. I was upset to pay $10 for a whopper plopper and $6 for senkos.
N Florida Mike reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 12:50 AM, Weedwhacker said:same here. I have never caught a fish on the glide bait.
It is not for lack of trying.
I watch @bluebasser86 catch toads on glide baits, in winter, on his youtube channel.
I fish the same lakes he does, but can't catch a fish on glide baits.
last time I tried one, I lost it in a brushpile on the first cast of the day. One cast cost me $20.00.
after that I gave up.
What is a glide bait ?????
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
There are quite a long list for me, and I think it is not gonna improve since I'm still always junk fish/bank beater on boat or kayak.
Crank bait deep and shallow drive. I had been shore fishing for a long time and I lost way too many cranks, ways more than fish I caught which is 0 so I told myself not to fish cranks ever again. I still have quite a bit of shallow cranks and might give them more try only when I'm on boat or kayak.
lipless. I have not caught single fish on this type. I'm not sure if bass in my lake don't like anything moving fast, I tried crawling as slow as I can on bottom, yo-yo, burn-n-drop nothing work.
Small swimbait, same deal as lipless I'm not sure if I reel too fast or too slow or how deep/shallow should I fish it.
Spinnerbait, I caught only few fish and my confidence is way low when use this type lure.
BassB8Caster reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 12:41 AM, Hez said:Just priced that rat....yikes!
I looked at it the same way before I got one. Now I'd buy another one in a heart beat. I want a 50 size. Remember it floats. So if you break off it will float.
frosty reply :
Crankbaits. I hate crankbaits! Crankbaits of all kinds, big bills, square bills, shallow bills, I hate them all Sam I am!
Russ E reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 4:17 AM, N Florida Mike said:What is a glide bait ?????
this is a savage 3d shine glide. looks nice , but I could not catch a fish with it.
Rahlow reply :
Anything that isn’t a Texas rigged curly tail worm,,,
Happybeerbuzz reply :
Original Rapala Floating Minnow. I even have a special ML spinning rod with 6# line on it that I set up to optimize casting distance. I have a 3/16 oz size tied on every time the weather report says it isn’t going to be windy. I just fail at it.
Munkin reply :
Chatterbaits but I am working on them and hope to actually catch something on one this year.
Allen
BassB8Caster reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 4:02 AM, Bigbruce said:I going to need someone to talk me into buying a fake rat for $25. I think my expectations may be a little high for that much money. I was upset to pay $10 for a whopper plopper and $6 for senkos.
I have caught probably 20:1 fish (rat vs whopper plopper) . That bbz rat flat out catches fish. It's crazy how much bass attack that thing. Super easy to fish too. Cast out and crank just fast enough to get it swimming. You can crank it down too. But I haven't had much luck that way. But I fish it slow 95% of the time. The clack it makes plus the swimming action is lethal. It is very durable too (tails will break tho). Comes with extra tails. You can have high expectations and it will surpass it. Don't take my word for it. Search around. Watch videos. If you spend money on quality baits you will get your money's worth. Do you think deps 250's catch big bass?
gimruis reply :
Two deep water tactics: the drop shot and the deep diving crank baits. Jigs have never been my forte either but I'm getting better.
BuzzHudson19c reply :
I know I will get some hate for this but spinnerbaits. I hate them. A couple times a year I tie one on and it comes right off after a handful of casts. Which is funny considering I will throw buzzbaits just about anywhere I can.
blckshirt98 reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 7:39 AM, frosty said:Crankbaits. I hate crankbaits! Crankbaits of all kinds, big bills, square bills, shallow bills, I hate them all Sam I am!
I had no confidence in them when I started out but started using a squarebill more often, and if I had a choice that's probably my favorite way of fishing. Lighter rod and line for a squarebill, when a fish crushes a squarebill the rush of adrenaline is like nothing any finesse fishing can match.
Yakalong reply :
spinner baits just never get thrown by me, I tell myself I need to throw them but it just doesn't seem to happen
CroakHunter reply :
Drop-shotting, buzzbaits, and anything that you drag, like a football jig or carolina rig. I'm working on the last two because I enjoy fishing slow and deep and I know these will be effective for me once I put in the work and learn them. Buzzbaits and drop-shot equipment has all been stored away as I'm not too worried about learning these techniques.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Crankbaits. I caught a crappie on a crankbait during our Thursday night tournament tonight. I think that's the first fish I've caught on a lipped crankbait since January.
Drew03cmc reply :
Topwaters. I have caught 3 total. 1 walking a Gunfish, 1 on a Jitterbug and one on a Zoom UV Speed Craw buzzed...that's it.
dgkasper58 reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 9:29 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:I know I will get some hate for this but spinnerbaits. I hate them. A couple times a year I tie one on and it comes right off after a handful of casts. Which is funny considering I will throw buzzbaits just about anywhere I can.
Comes off as of casting it off? I use more of a sweeping/roll cast with a Spinnerbait to avoid the line catching the blades/wire.
LionHeart reply :
10XD crankbait. Lost well over $100 worth of them to the bottom of a lake. Never caught a fish on one. They have earned my dislike.
Jaderose reply :
Jigs. Jigs. Jigs. Jigs. Got a whole box of the old school Northstar Jigs that I bought from Chris IN PERSON. I want to love them. I want to "get it", but I just can't. I can't catch a d**n thing on a jig and have all but given up.
islandbass reply :
Spinnerbait. Doesn't matter if it's a "quality" one or a "$1 walmart special". Zero, zip, nada, not even so much as a follow.
Ironically, I can kill them with inline spinners. Come on bass, give me a break!
Jigs, sort of.
Jig with plastic, yes.
Jig with a skirt, NEVER. Why, bass, why?
Buzzbait - forget about it. NEVER. Popper? Some of the biggest bass I've caught have been with a popper.
Kjruiz reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 8:59 AM, BassB8Caster said:I have caught probably 20:1 fish (rat vs whopper plopper) . That bbz rat flat out catches fish. It's crazy how much bass attack that thing. Super easy to fish too. Cast out and crank just fast enough to get it swimming. You can crank it down too. But I haven't had much luck that way. But I fish it slow 95% of the time. The clack it makes plus the swimming action is lethal. It is very durable too (tails will break tho). Comes with extra tails. You can have high expectations and it will surpass it. Don't take my word for it. Search around. Watch videos. If you spend money on quality baits you will get your money's worth. Do you think deps 250's catch big bass?
You sold me. Ever “walk” it?
Bankbeater reply :
I have been throwing deep diving crankbaits since I was a kid and I don't think I have ever caught a bass on one. Now I might fish with one maybe once a year, but when I want a moving bait down deep it's a lipless crankbait, spinnerbait, or a chatterbait.
burrows reply :
Suspending jerk baits I even bought a new combo specifically for them but to no avail.
bigbill reply :
I have a few different baits that never caught anything not even a cold.
First I had a Mann’s baby 1 in browncraw that was killing bass, I lost it, clipped on a new one and nada, nothing has been caught on it. So two exact baits don’t run the same right.
why doesn’t a bait work?
Our presitation could be too fast or too slow. Anything with blades I learned to crank it just fast enough so the blade spins. Not too fast, not too slow. With spinflys, inline spinners and spinnerbaits.
with crankbaits same thing. I go slow enough so it’s at it’s given depth as it’s design/ box says. But there are many different presentations, like topwater, slow wake bait topwater, jig it over open weed pockets. Use a 1-2-3 pause. Over a open weed pocket stop it, twitch it, the rattle rings the dinnerbell.
topwater popper,
A 1-2-3 pause works the best. Your 1-2-3 must be picture perfect time wise. You can vary on your pause but keep the pause timing the same on the whole cast. The bass is timing the strike during your pause.
read the water conditions
clear water conditions, use natural colored baits fished faster.
stained water conditions, natural or brighter colors fished slower
muddy water conditions, brightest color, larger baits fished the slowest.
swimbaits,
example, yum money minnow I use a twitch that makes it dart like a dying minnow that’s trying to hang on.
i notice the water conditions can be clear but as we go deeper it can change. Switch to a brighter colored bait.
your catching smaller bass and the bite shuts down. Switch to a larger sized bait. The action could pick up with the larger fish.
if a certain new bait isn’t working, ask here and try it often. Try different presentations. Change colors.
when a bait isn’t catching fish that’s a challenge to me.
bigbill reply :
I was my hands before I go fishing.
I do not purchase gas or handle oil when I’m going fishing. If I do I wash my hands again.
I make no noise when I’m fishing. Stealth is the number one mode to be in. I use spinning reels and open and close the bail by hand. No noise.
handle your tackle quietly, keep the one cell lite low in your tacklebox. Do not shine it at the water. If your night fishing. Keep your reel lubed so it makes no noise.
i use a scent also. It can cover foul oders, I wash my tacklebox and lures when they start to smell.
spinnerbaits,
I use the white spinnerbait with a blue glimmer skirt, with a mister twister 4” double tail grub in white, with a trailer hook. You must trim the grubs body to fit the size of the hook on the spinnerbait, the trailer must be installed correctly so the spinnerbait runs straight. From shore the 1/8oz, 3/16oz & 1/4 oz seem to work better but if the water is any deeper a larger 3/8oz spinnerbait may be neede.
EGbassing reply :
Senkos...
Bigbruce reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 8:59 AM, BassB8Caster said:I have caught probably 20:1 fish (rat vs whopper plopper) . That bbz rat flat out catches fish. It's crazy how much bass attack that thing. Super easy to fish too. Cast out and crank just fast enough to get it swimming. You can crank it down too. But I haven't had much luck that way. But I fish it slow 95% of the time. The clack it makes plus the swimming action is lethal. It is very durable too (tails will break tho). Comes with extra tails. You can have high expectations and it will surpass it. Don't take my word for it. Search around. Watch videos. If you spend money on quality baits you will get your money's worth. Do you think deps 250's catch big bass?
Didn’t even know what a dep 250 was till now. I can tell you I would cry if I lost one. So after watching a bunch of YouTube videos I’ve ordered the rat. I’ll post up my results after I get it next week. I hope I have great results with it.
BuzzHudson19c reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 10:59 PM, dgkasper58 said:Comes off as of casting it off?
Naw, I just swap out lures is all. I have no confidence in them. Something else always seems to be a better fit for any given circumstance. Last year I forced myself to get better at fishing jigs. Would hit the water with only jigs and make them work. I have been meaning to do the same with spinnerbaits.
FishDewd reply :
Spinners of any sort, chatterbaits, buzzbaits, texas rigs, carolina rigs, jigs, spoons, swimbaits, flukes, lipless crankbaits, frogs. Out of these, I've caught a few on a texas rig but other techniques are much more productive for me than the listed. Note this is only for bass cause some of these work for me with other species, like trout.
iiTzChunky reply :
I've yet to catch anything on a jig, or a jerk, got a few on a spinner this year, got a couple on a square bill crank, and 1 on a lip less. I havnt found many baits I have complete confidence in yet.
BassB8Caster reply :
On 5/19/2018 at 5:47 AM, Kjruiz said:You sold me. Ever “walk” it?
No. Basically did all the action with the reel handle.
On 5/20/2018 at 2:21 AM, Bigbruce said:Didn’t even know what a dep 250 was till now. I can tell you I would cry if I lost one. So after watching a bunch of YouTube videos I’ve ordered the rat. I’ll post up my results after I get it next week. I hope I have great results with it.
Nice. You will like it! Rats are also great if you get rising water conditions. Around cover. Remember bass have no idea how big they are. They will eat a bait up to atound 50% of their size. If it looks good to them and they can get it in their mouths they will try. Look up butch brown and you will see how effective the deps 250 is. But throwing big baits is a whole other category.
Unfortunately this "fear of losing a bait or getting tangled" keeps many fisherman from catching their pb. Some of the big girls find security in some pretty tight places.
scaleface reply :
I havent thrown a spook for years . I just never had much luck with them . I can half step them around a stump but cant get a fish to hit .
Drew03cmc reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 1:35 AM, Catt said:Brush Hog!
Aint caught a single bass on one!
Baby Brush Hog... thousand bass!
Confidence Catt...confidence my man.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
Everything.
Kjruiz reply :
On 5/21/2018 at 2:53 AM, BassB8Caster said:On 5/19/2018 at 5:47 AM, Kjruiz said:You sold me. Ever “walk” it?
No. Basically did all the action with the reel handle.
Wow, I threw it for the first time today, and man does is look awesome when moving. It caught a few reeds, but I found if I pop it up in the air just a bit it untangles itself and I can resume reeling. Unfortunately the bass where in beds and I did not get any bites, but I have high hopes for this one
Catt reply :
On 5/21/2018 at 5:04 AM, Drew03cmc said:Confidence Catt...confidence my man.
I got confidence...in baby brush hogs!
Don't own anymore brush hogs...have no intention on buying any!
Drew03cmc reply :
Yep. I've a lot of baits like that. Senkos are one of them...no confidence. I just don't like throwing them. I'd rather toss a finesse worm or Ned rig. Don't ask me why. For wacky rigging, give me a trick worm or flick shake.
mattkenzer reply :
Medium and Deep Diving Crankbaits .... I would starve to death if I had to feed myself with these lures.
cgolf reply :
Green Pumpkin colored baits.
justbassintime reply :
A 3/4 ounce Black/blue war eagle spinnerbait at night is my favorite bait to throw. But I don’t own a single spinnerbait that is made to throw during the day. I hate them!!!!!
Jaderose reply :
On 5/17/2018 at 9:25 PM, IgotWood said:Jerk baits, chatter baits, spinner baits, swim baits....I guess moving baits in general are my nemesis. I guess it doesn't help that the two lakes I frequent the most are nearly unfishable due to grass from March to January. But on the rare occasion I fish somewhere else, I have a hard time sticking with these baits because of my lack of confidence in them.
Oh, and FROGS!!! Everyone I know can slay fish on frogs. I've spent entire fishing trips chucking frogs, forcing myself not to try anything else. I've had only two takes on a frog, ever. However, this year I took my first frog fish, and had a couple of bites. So maybe I am finally breaking the curse.
Welcome to the dark side. We have better cookies!
On 5/20/2018 at 1:13 PM, FishDewd said:Spinners of any sort, chatterbaits, buzzbaits, texas rigs, carolina rigs, jigs, spoons, swimbaits, flukes, lipless crankbaits, frogs. Out of these, I've caught a few on a texas rig but other techniques are much more productive for me than the listed. Note this is only for bass cause some of these work for me with other species, like trout.
What the hell do you fish with, then? Lol
FishDewd reply :
On 5/26/2018 at 8:37 PM, Jaderose said:Welcome to the dark side. We have better cookies!
What the hell do you fish with, then? Lol
Everything else! Topwater poppers, torpedoes, ploppers. I do dabble with frogs but no luck so far. Crankbaits, drop shots, split shots, hi-lo rigs, kentucky rigs, other stuff I come up with. Main reason I don't have luck with the ones I listed is I fish hoghly pressured waters. Those fish have seen pretty much everything. Only way I can get plastics to work is on a texas or wacky rigged dropshot and even thats no guarantee. I just have better luck with it.
Quarry Man reply :
jigs and texas rigs. pretty much anything directly on the bottom like crank baits. most of my waters have weedy bottoms and id rathe have a drop shot suspend off the bottom that fish something in them.
John Tom reply :
Spinnerbaits, chatter baits, jigs, and crankbaits.
Dirtyeggroll reply :
This year a whopper plopper. I hooked up with a ton a really nice fish and boated a few of them last year. So, I bought a rod to dedicate to a plopper to help keep from ripping the trebles out. I’ve thrown it a ton this year and haven’t even had a bite!
Scott F reply :
Keitech swim baits. I'd never used them before last summer. I read about how effective they are, but never bought any. I was out with a guide who had me tie one on and I got some smallies on them. After the outing, I stopped by a tackle store and bought a package of 6 for 8 bucks. Ouch! Got a few on them the next day and saw how fragile they were. Over the winter, I invested heavily in several different sizes and colors but I haven't had any luck with them the entire spring.
Mbirdsley reply :
Worms. Doesn’t matter if it’s senkos or the curly tail variety. In 2012 when I got back into fishing and I started fishing the river again in town. I killed them on a weightless Texas riged Gulp crawler by just twitching the rod reel fast and realing in slack. Caught tons of big smallies. We had drought conditions most the summer and the river was the lowest it’s ever been. Since that time period I have barley had zero hits on a worm.
Outdoors reply :
Well... I've never caught anything on a buzz plug, and any form of bass jig..
ww2farmer reply :
Targeting smallmouth in tournaments always seems to end in frustration for me. Even during tournaments where they seem to be biting better than largemouth. For example, a few years ago during our year end classic, 3 of the top 4 bags were all or mostly smallmouth. With 23lbs in 1st, 19 lbs in 3rd, and 18lbs in 4th. We were the only one with largemouth and slid nicely into 2nd with 21.9 lbs of them. I think in my entire tournament career, I have cashed with smallmouth 3 times, and have never won with them. I also have caught the biggest smallmouth brought in several times in a tournament, only to get edged out by a largemouth for lunker.
As for baits I don't have any confidence in, any brush hog style creature bait or soft plastic lizards...it doesn't matter what size/color/brand, I have ZERO confidence in them, and don't buy or use them.
Eric J reply :
On 5/17/2018 at 10:15 PM, DRT said:In my years of fishing Ive never caught a fish on a spinnerbait. Its kind've embarrassing really. Supposedly spinnerbaits are a bass staple with a lot of people, but ive never had success with them. I mainly do most of my catching on soft plastics. Maybe i should just try to focus more on learning the spinnerbait.
Funny ... I got back into fishing this year and the first bass I land is on a Spinner. 5 pounder. Worst thing that could have happened....
Haven't been able to land one on a Spinner since. I went with mastering plastics and do best with T-rigged worms and Rage Tails.
I need to dedicate time to spinners....
dman reply :
Just goes to show the different fishing styles and bodies of water we fish on...I cant understand not catching on topwater or jigs! I caught around 10 on topwater alone yesterday....But, i cannot buy a bite on crankbaits or chatterbaits and I see that other people crush with them.
BassThumb reply :
Whopper Plopper 130 never gets a sniff.
punch reply :
I find it interesting that so many people can't catch a bass on a jig. To me it's like, the most universal "works year round, on every lake, everywhere" bait. Like, if there's one bait that you can take to any lake at any time of the year.. that's it.
Is it just a matter of not wanting to put the time into throwing them when other stuff is more 'fun'? Jig fishing can be a little bit of a chore because you're usually only getting bites when you slow down and work them a bit more methodically.
Bassun reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 12:32 AM, punch said:I find it interesting that so many people can't catch a bass on a jig. To me it's like, the most universal "works year round, on every lake, everywhere" bait. Like, if there's one bait that you can take to any lake at any time of the year.. that's it.
Is it just a matter of not wanting to put the time into throwing them when other stuff is more 'fun'? Jig fishing can be a little bit of a chore because you're usually only getting bites when you slow down and work them a bit more methodically.
I'm in that Jig boat. It's embarrassing but I am not very successful with them. But, let me clarify a bit. When I say jig I mean your normal off the shelf jig-n-pig... put a creature on a jig head, and things change. I thought I just sucked at jigs until I was fishing with a buddy who is dang good with them. It wasn't necessarily that I was "bad" with jigs, I just didn't use them as often. Take a brush pile, I may have a baby brush hawg on a weedles jig head and be getting bit -- he would have a regular jig doing the same thing. I use the terminal tackle for jigs a fair bit, but generally with other bodies vs your typical "jig". Same thing around rocks, I may be bouncing craws or grubs on a jig head, he just left on the same jig. I've always had better luck with something "on" a jig head except around docks. I'm guessing it has as much to do with how much I use them vs reality. None the less, standard jigs are not quick on my list, ironically I start every day with one tied on lol. I think part of the reason behind it is what I was used to fishing before migrating to lakes. I used creatures, grubs, tubes, etc a fair bit for smallies - but not a standard "jig". My instinct it still to use other stuff with a jig head.
The other thing that I really suck with is rattle traps. I cannot seem to trick anything into biting them lol.
IDR who mentioned the Rapalas, but I really struggle with them on the lake as well. Broken Back Rapala's are my absolute go to in streams and rivers. I keep a slew from J5-J11 and I remember clearly my first trip on the lake. I had a couple tied on and was expecting to catch with them as well as I was used to. I tried every color, every size, every technique...Skunked. That whole first year I tried to use them and kept failing. All I could get would be the occasional top-water bite off em. Then I discovered a fluke. They basically replaced the BB Rapala for me on the lake. I've obviously learned a slew of other techniques over the years, but its a rare day I don't have a fluke on at some point.
tim_kovar reply :
Crankbaits. I can probably count the number of bass I have ever caught with them on one hand. But the pike sure do love them.
ratherbfishin1 reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 2:19 AM, tim_kovar said:
Crankbaits. I can probably count the number of bass I have ever caught with them on one hand. But the pike sure do love them.
That was me and I got over it by going to a small lake with a rocky dam and fishing a squarebill all day. May have just been a lucky day but since then I have had way more confidence in them.
ww2farmer reply :
I'll add a few more that are duds for me:
Carolina Rigging ANY THING except a straight tail, or ribbon tail worm. I have tried craws, tubes, senkos, beavers, french fries, shoes strings, flip flops, sticks, and beer cans...........all haul water. But I DO catch them c-rigging various length straight and ribbon tail worms.
Zoom Super Flukes, the biggest hunk of crap on the market. And I don't mind soft jerkbaits, I catch them just fine on a SK Caffeine Shad.
A-rigs. I have thrown them, and thrown them, and thrown them....had some impressive pike follow it....and have caught exactly 2 smallmouth on one. I have tried. I finally snagged it on an old car in the lake and was glad to cut the line.
B_Rose12 reply :
I also fish on highly pressured waters so presentation is key at most of the places I fish. But I can never seem to have any luck with Flukes either. Even when I try them at the occasional trip to a retention pond.
A month ago I would’ve said spinnerbaits, even though I don’t throw them enough, I did manage to catch a 4lber on one, I loved how the bite felt like I was hung on a log, but man when it felt like that log came to life IT WAS ON!
FishDewd reply :
Okay so I've been turning myself onto the texas rig a little more lately. I've gotten some really good bites on them but not yet caught anything this year on one. The other day I went fishing with a fellow forum member. He caught 4-5 on one and I got 3 hard bites but I couldn't hook up on any. One was a harder bite than I've ever felt in my life from any fish but I think it just grabbed the tail. So i went home later. Watched some youtube, good stuff... finally came across a really good video showing a great way to work the texas rig the way I wanted to work one. Yesterday I went and practiced that same technique at a brand new, never fished before lake. I got a bite on nearly every cast, but could not hook up. I found out that they were crappie hitting my lure when I set one really hard and launched a crappie 8' across the lake. But at least it's progress right? Lol. They were just too small to hook up with on the curly grub I was using.
Anyway, getting a little more faith using the texas rig since I've seen people use them and catch fish. I've decided that for the rest of the season I am forcing myself to run one until I catch something with it. May be it's a timing issue, but I feel like I am on the right track and getting really close to hooking one with it. My technique is fine. Funnily, my first ever bass I caught last year was on a texas rigged senko. Weightless. Nailed it on the fall I think. And it was like a curse cause I haven't caught one since. Nope. Not acceptable! I will catch more with it! Lol. End of story, period!
B_Rose12 reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 12:02 PM, FishDewd said:Okay so I've been turning myself onto the texas rig a little more lately. I've gotten some really good bites on them but not yet caught anything this year on one. The other day I went fishing with a fellow forum member. He caught 4-5 on one and I got 3 hard bites but I couldn't hook up on any. One was a harder bite than I've ever felt in my life from any fish but I think it just grabbed the tail. So i went home later. Watched some youtube, good stuff... finally came across a really good video showing a great way to work the texas rig the way I wanted to work one. Yesterday I went and practiced that same technique at a brand new, never fished before lake. I got a bite on nearly every cast, but could not hook up. I found out that they were crappie hitting my lure when I set one really hard and launched a crappie 8' across the lake. But at least it's progress right? Lol. They were just too small to hook up with on the curly grub I was using.
Anyway, getting a little more faith using the texas rig since I've seen people use them and catch fish. I've decided that for the rest of the season I am forcing myself to run one until I catch something with it. May be it's a timing issue, but I feel like I am on the right track and getting really close to hooking one with it. My technique is fine. Funnily, my first ever bass I caught last year was on a texas rigged senko. Weightless. Nailed it on the fall I think. And it was like a curse cause I haven't caught one since. Nope. Not acceptable! I will catch more with it! Lol. End of story, period!
When I first started bass fishing, the first few months, that’s all I ever threw. Started out with a t-rig finesse worm, then started to get into the lizards and brush hogs and such.
Then I read all the hype about jigs and finally got a couple and once I started hooking into more quality bass, and one of my favorite parts of bass fishing to this day, setting the hook on a jig. I kinda went away from Texas rigs, I kind of get in this trance when I’m out fishing with a jig...I’ll pitch and pitch and pitch and and would come up with nothing some days.
After about a 5 month hiatus from throwing any Texas rigged, weighted soft plastic, the past few months I’ve been throwing them again and have been increasing my catches. Can’t go wrong with a Texas rigged bait for sure man!
I used to throw a swim jig if I didn’t get a bite Pitching a jig, but now before I tie on a swim jig, I typically already have some type of Texas rig ready on the deck and pitch it!
FishDewd reply :
I have three jigs so far, I actually found one yesterday in a park while lure hunting lol. I mostly wanted to rescue a popper I lost to a tree (and I did get it back!) It was trapped underwater on a stick near a dock. I was watching the bass and bluegill school around when I saw it. It's almost brand new but had a little corrosion on the hook. I cleaned it up like new minus one spot near the front where the hook meets the head. Typically the lures I find tend to be lucky for me. Maybe this will the jib to break the jig ice for me. I'll toss it next outing and see what happens.
d-camarena reply :
On 5/19/2018 at 7:47 AM, bigbill said:I was my hands before I go fishing.
I do not purchase gas or handle oil when I’m going fishing. If I do I wash my hands again.
I make no noise when I’m fishing. Stealth is the number one mode to be in. I use spinning reels and open and close the bail by hand. No noise.
handle your tackle quietly, keep the one cell lite low in your tacklebox. Do not shine it at the water. If your night fishing. Keep your reel lubed so it makes no noise.
i use a scent also. It can cover foul oders, I wash my tacklebox and lures when they start to smell.
spinnerbaits,
I use the white spinnerbait with a blue glimmer skirt, with a mister twister 4” double tail grub in white, with a trailer hook. You must trim the grubs body to fit the size of the hook on the spinnerbait, the trailer must be installed correctly so the spinnerbait runs straight. From shore the 1/8oz, 3/16oz & 1/4 oz seem to work better but if the water is any deeper a larger 3/8oz spinnerbait may be neede.
I had an experience last week that changed the way I look at bass forever. My 3 best friends wanted to join me im my weekly fishing of lake travis. They dont fish and have never fished in their live, and had 0 interest in fishing. They were in it just to drink some beers and have a good time. I knew what i was in for but they are good buddies and i couldnt say no. These stooges show up with a huuuge cooler filled with coorslight and a big party speaker with bluetooth lol. I thought for sure i was gonna get skunked and i wasnt going to enjoy the trip. These guys had a complete party inside the boat, loud music, dancing, talking to ladies in other boats. Long story short, we slayed them, boated about 50 fish. 4 bigger than 5lbs. And each of them caught their first fish and now all they talk about is fishing. And i had a blast
It got me thinking, are bass really as smart as we think? Do we overthink a little bit?
On topic- rattletraps
the reel ess reply :
On 5/21/2018 at 4:36 AM, scaleface said:I havent thrown a spook for years . I just never had much luck with them . I can half step them around a stump but cant get a fish to hit .
You'll get more bites with the Jr. size. The full-size can slay them when they're in the mood, but the Jr. is a tasty morsel that's harder to pass up. The one I have also has a rattle, whereas the big original ones do not.
I can't catch a fish on a big glide bait or magnum worm. Understandable because I'm culling smaller bass. The times I've tried a dropshot didn't "net" anything. I've only gotten one bite on a toad, though I'm really good with the soft body frog.
HeyCoach reply :
I pretty much started back fishing about two years ago once we moved close to a river.
I’ve not had any luck on a jig so I’m not going to switch off to a weightless or wacky Senko or a Trick Worm on a shaky head until I can get this down pat.
Drew03cmc reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 4:26 PM, Drew03cmc said:Topwaters. I have caught 3 total. 1 walking a Gunfish, 1 on a Jitterbug and one on a Zoom UV Speed Craw buzzed...that's it.
I know quoting myself is pretty weird, but this is totally wrong now. All I've thrown for about a month is topwater. Noisy Flapper and Whopper Plopper 90...been amazing. My son was tossing an 1/8oz buzzbait yesterday and slayed them. I'm absolutely smitten with topwater now.
volzfan59 reply :
I'm in the jig camp too. I've caught exactly one smallmouth and, of all things, a drum on a jig. The smallie is my PB, but that's it. I use good jigs, and good equipment. I've even tried the "only take jigs" tactic.
A friend recently suggested that I fish it more like a Carolina rig instead of hooping it?
thinkingredneck reply :
Senko and Ned rig. I don't get it. Supposed to be numbers baits. I have caught a couple dinks on each. Tried taking only them, several times. I do well with t rig worms, but not t tig senkos. Go figure. Wacky didn't work either.
5by3 reply :
Alabama rig
Squarebill79 reply :
Techniques that Ive caught thousands of bass on:
-Squarebill Cranks
-Poppers
-Jerkbaits
-Senkos
Techniques that just dont work for me:
-JIGS
-JIGS
-JIGS
-Frogs
-Dropshotting
-Oh and did I mention JIGS
Primus reply :
To all the guys struggling with jigs may I suggest you try little finesse jigs with small trailers . This will hopefully build up your confidence in this presentation.
That said I've been very inconsistent throwing Blade baits like the Silver Buddy and yet I've heard great reports over the years that the are a top notch presentation in cold water. I had one outing where I did well on the 3/4 oz size a few years back but not much outside of that.
PAbasser927 reply :
It took me almost a whole summer to get my first jig bite until I was browsing this forum and came across the best piece of advice I have heard in regards to jig fishing (for the life of me I can’t remeber who it was). Someone posted to fish it as though you DON’T want to catch a fish. Essentially dragging it along inconspicuously as slow as you can stand. Tossing a jig and working it back like I am trying to avoid bites has since turned it into a confidence bait for me.
FishTank reply :
Big spinner baits and frogs. Not sure why but I better luck with just about anything.
Pickle_Power reply :
I can't think of anything that I haven't caught bass with, but I rarely ever throw cranks for largemouths due to the crazy amount of veg in the lakes around here. I hate picking grass off of trebles all day. But shallow cranks are almost all I use for river smallmouth. I have not tried drop shot enough to have confidence... something I really should do.
Brew City Bass reply :
On 6/5/2018 at 5:36 AM, ww2farmer said:I'll add a few more that are duds for me:
Carolina Rigging ANY THING except a straight tail, or ribbon tail worm. I have tried craws, tubes, senkos, beavers, french fries, shoes strings, flip flops, sticks, and beer cans...........all haul water. But I DO catch them c-rigging various length straight and ribbon tail worms.
Zoom Super Flukes, the biggest hunk of crap on the market. And I don't mind soft jerkbaits, I catch them just fine on a SK Caffeine Shad.
A-rigs. I have thrown them, and thrown them, and thrown them....had some impressive pike follow it....and have caught exactly 2 smallmouth on one. I have tried. I finally snagged it on an old car in the lake and was glad to cut the line.
Lmao.
I know that exact feeling of being fine to cut the line on that one lure.... For me it was a jointed swimbait I bought last winter. Used it this spring and I just hated the way it looked and fished. Finally got it lodged in a rock and said screw it and just cut the line. Didn't even want to see that lure again.
boostr reply :
Swimbaits/Glide Baits soft and hard, Rattle Traps and the like, Buzz baits and chatterbaits. Can't catch a thing on em if my life depended on it.
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