What used to work for you...but don't anymore 2025

Brian_Reeves reply :

This is kinda the opposite of Roadwarrior's "what's working for you thread"

I have a few lures that just stopped working for me. I mean I can't get them to work for NOTHING this year for some reason. Here's my list of 'wth is wrong' lures.

Zoom Super Fluke is one of my all time favorite lures. I've caught like 2 fish on them this year.

Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap. This is another favorite lure that I can't buy a strike on. I've tried every trick I know in all of my favorite colors...nadda

Tubes (all brands) At one time in my life, I thought that this was the only soft plastic that actually worked. Now I'm starting to wonder if they work at all. It has me boggled. I'll switch to a tube on various rigs...nothing. I switch to just about any other soft plastic and wham!!

Does this ever happen to y'all and some of your favorite lures/rigs?

Bass XL reply :

A pop r. I can get hits on just about every other topwater, but this one is slacking.

MNGeorge reply :

For whatever reason, most baits go through cycles it seems to me. I've gone through years when a fluke was "the" bait for most of one year, then it won't catch anything the next year and then it's hot again the following year. Can't explain it, but all of the baits you mentioned are proven performers and I certainly wouldn't give up on them.

Bassin_Fin@tic reply :

X2 on the rattle trap. This one has W T F written all over it. Used to be my goto but I can't remember catching even one fish in the later part of 07 or this year yet. :-/

brgbassmaster reply :

this is going to sound crazy but senkos i cannot get bit here in new mexico using them..back in michigan throw them anywhere in the lake and it was fish on. now its brush hogs are my go to and spinnerbaits.

JigNBig reply :

chatterbait and horny toads

Brian_Reeves reply :

I'm not giving up on any of them, but I'm wondering what sort of black magic has been cast on some of my long term favorite lures. Voo Doo sucks

grimlin reply :

My jig bite has been slow so far this year which sucks because it's my favorite...They are hammering the heck out of the tubes right now.

mattm reply :

Spinnerbaits >.

bassripper2000 reply :

KREATURE

JayDub reply :

I believe it has to do with how many times the bass see those lures. When something gets hot, as in popularity, the bass start to see it so many times they don't want it.

Catt reply :

I've got one for y'all Gene Larew 4.5 HooDaddy Jr.; absolutely con not keep the bass from biting them for a week straight back about 6 years ago & nothing since. Four different times I actually reeled the bass all the way up to the boat never setting hook & they never let go.

Jake. reply :

A topwater popper. When I started fishing, it was the only topwater bait I used. Now, it's the only one I don't get a bite on. :-/

Bankbeater reply :

Crankbaits. The bass just don't seem to want them this spring.

Avalonjohn44 reply :

Poppers for me. I haven't had anything but bream peck at a popper in years...

TournyFish001 reply :

The spinnerbait hasn't produced very well for me this year. This thread proves you have to be diverse.

S I G M A reply :

berkley 5" powerworms are just sucking for me this year...

on the other hand: senkos have been working better than ever

Brush Hog20 reply :

Any topwater, pop r's, buzzbaits, jitterbugs, etc. been a couple seasons now that I just have not had a good topwater bite. The fish around here just quit looking up....

BassinBoy reply :

My #1 bait last year, the tube has produced only about a half a dozen bass this year for me. Hopefully ill catch some on tubes this weekend on Erie.

skunked_again reply :

Quote
Spinnerbaits >.

co-sign

SnowBass23 reply :

I'm convinced the bass have a Psychic Friends network. I agree that it seems most fisherman all follow the same trends (with how many thousands reading our posts here, then turning around and running out to buy Senkos it is no wonder!) so while I was doing great on zoom finesse worms, I learned about them from another guy who probably learned from someone else and so on...

So what that means is while I feel I am the only one throwing it, others probably are too. 2 years ago I couldn't keep them off the aforementioned finesse worm. Now, they won't go near it. I used to do great on purple tubes, and now that is slacking off.

So I think the Psychic Bass network spreads the word when fish are seeing a certain lure and everybody else knows to stay the heck away from it. Anyway..to the question...

Anything topwater! Last year, in the evenings we could throw pop-r's and they just tore it up. Now I can't throw anything top water and get anything more than an occasionaly boil.

FR0G reply :

Kreature, and Lipless cranks.

nashkcn reply :

Black wiggle master works all the time.

basspimple reply :

i havnt had any luck on power worms this year. its maddening, i bought a 100 ct. bag of em, and all i seem to use em for is spinnerbait trailers. :'(

fishfordollars reply :

Chatterbait. I never caught anything on it but myself.

Big Tom reply :

Quote
My #1 bait last year, the tube has produced only about a half a dozen bass this year for me. Hopefully ill catch some on tubes this weekend on Erie.

Me and you both man. Tube hasn't been working that great for me this year but I am going up to Erie this Saturday for a week to see if those smaillies want them.

I hope they do.

FivePoundBluegill reply :

At different times of the year bass will hit some lures but not others. Under certain conditions a bass will hit one lure and not another one. However there are certain lures which I feel should work at the times I throw them that I cant get anything on.

I have only caught two bass on topwater lures this whole year. I have been throwing them in the evening and morning when there is no wind and the bass just dont want them. I have no idea why. I mean this time of year should be the time they work well....

Sam reply :

Are you asking about fishing or body parts?

Brian_Reeves reply :

We'll just stick with the fishing ;D

Body parts is for another forum lol

NitroMan reply :

The worst lure I have used so far this year is deep diving crank baits!!!! I don't know if I just don't know how to use them but I can not get a hit off of them! If someone knows alot about these lures could you please let me know?

I se KVD throwing his "Sexy Shad" and I just cannot get it to work for me please pm me if you can help me!!!

Ky_Lake_Dude reply :

tubes, Rattle Traps, and amazingly senkos :'(

The Rooster reply :

7" Berkley black power worm. I used to be able to call my shots with this lure texas rigged a few years ago. One summer that was the hottest lure I'd ever seen. Now and for the last 4 years or so I haven't been able to even get a nibble on this lure.

What's even more maddening is the guy who first got me to fish this lure has caught numerous keeper bass on them and even already this year he's caught one on it right out of the back of my boat with both of us fishing the same lure. I got nothing on it. Still do not know why either. He just swears that is the only worm he needs, and at one time I would have agreed.

Oh well, other lures have started to kick in for me this year that I used to never catch fish on, like crankbaits. I've had a lot of luck on those this year.

Handy reply :

My brother and I would just killem with 3 inch curl tail grubs. But for some reason the last 3 years have been VERY slow for grubs.

Paul

Man?orAstroman? reply :

Worms, diving crankbaits, buzz baits, poppers.

Senkos, topwater cranks, and frogs on topwater are hot for me this season.

7822

What used to work for you...but don't anymore 2025

related Fishing Tackle topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Fishing Tackle topic