When all else fails whats your go to? 2024

Fishohio reply :

Hey Guys

I did a search on site with little success so if this has been cover 100 times please forgive.

So the water is 85 degrees, no wind, and bluebird skies.

I understand water clarity, cover and or structure are also factors.

Just wondering what do you throw when nothing seems to be working or what is your confidence rig?

I'm old school but have been experimenting with some New baits or New to me. But my( got to get the skunk out of the boat) is probably a 7" blue fleck power worm on a 1/8oz T-rig.

Thanks Rick

A-Jay reply :

Ned Rig with a 'Big TRD'

:smiley:

A-Jay

Fishohio reply :

On 8/25/2019 at 8:36 PM, A-Jay said:

Ned Rig with a 'Big TRD'

A-Jay

First off that is the biggest smallie I've ever seen!!????

I have been throwing the Lifted Jigs EWG ned with a lot of success this year. I actually caught some smallies on a lake that isn't known for smallmouth with a ned. Biggest probably 2#. But the Z man standard one I loose more jigs getting hung up than I can deal with.(might be doing something wrong.????)

Thanks. Rick

A-Jay reply :

On 8/25/2019 at 8:55 PM, Fishohio said:

First off that is the biggest smallie I've ever seen!!????

I have been throwing the Lifted Jigs EWG ned with a lot of success this year. I actually caught some smallies on a lake that isn't known for smallmouth with a ned. Biggest probably 2#. But the Z man standard one I loose more jigs getting hung up than I can deal with.(might be doing something wrong.????)

Thanks. Rick

Not much we can do about getting hung up if the bottom we are fishing is prone to it.

I fish the Ned in areas where it's suited - cleaner bottom.

I can think of two options for you though.

1 - swim the Ned - in other words - count it down to the bottom and then on all your following casts, begin a slow, continues retrieve "close to" but not on the bottom. Closer the better but you can control the running depth with jig head weight and retrieve speed.

2- And this may seem a little unorthodox, rig your TRD with a super light (but appropriate) pegged bullet weight and on a thin light wire either straight shank finesse worm hook or a thin wire round bend or EWG worm hook. Tex-pose the TRD. This would essential make the rig far less prone to snags but you may need to manipulate your gear selection to ensure you can get a solid hookset (relative term).

Good Luck Rick

:smiley:

A-Jay

Dens228 reply :

I almost always try a moving bait first to cover water. If it's not working I'll try a Keitech 3.8 on a weighted swimbait hook and work it slow. Still not working I'll T-rig a Senko if there is decent water clarity, a Rage Craw if visibility is limited.

Fishohio reply :

Thanks A-Jay

Never tried swimming them. Have to give it a go next Saturday.????

Rick

Fishohio reply :

On 8/25/2019 at 9:09 PM, Dens228 said:

I almost always try a moving bait first to cover water. If it's not working I'll try a Keitech 3.8 on a weighted swimbait hook and work it slow. Still not working I'll T-rig a Senko if there is decent water clarity, a Rage Craw if visibility is limited.

I was fishing a 3.8 yesterday LOL just dragging and jigging slow all I had was Blue gill flash maybe needed a different color?. Did get one on a Dark Sleeper though.

Also a Chiggercraw on a ewg nedhead pulled in a nice keeper. (great minds think alike)

When we did start getting some wind in the afternoon I got a nice one on the old Spinner bait.

No takers on a crankbait shallow or deep.

Thanks Rick

scaleface reply :

Double down on cover and structure . If fishing slow doesnt work then I'll cover water . I dont have a go to bait , just keep plugging away and try to make good decisions and presentations . Numerous times I have fished a cove with no strikes then the next one over produces . Glen has a video where he ask the pros the same question. About half slow down and fish more thoroughly and the other half cover more water .

NHBull reply :

For those days, the NED is the bait of last resort.

If I am covering an area that is not NED friendly, I cast to an area and slowly troll to it with a painfully slow retrieve, that way my angle of retrieve improves and get hung up far less

senile1 reply :

My ”go to” bait/rig is relative to the situation. If I get no bites and I am finding the bass suspended out over deep water typically a spoon is my most effective bait. If bass are fairly shallow but holding tight and not biting I will use a senko type worm wacky or weightless and rigged weedless. Sometimes, the Ned rig is my go to in these situations. If fish are deeper and not biting I will use a smaller finesse jig, a shakey head, and have even used a Z-Man TRD on a 1/10 oz head in 20 feet of water to pull fish up. Of course, when using the lighter rigs deep I have to choose my spot carefully. Too much wind or current defeats the ability of the bait to reach the bottom at the spot where I want it. In those cases I stick with jigs and enough weight to reach the bottom. If bass are on the bottom in 30 to 40 feet of clear water, a dropshot or spoon usually is what I need.

Dens228 reply :

On 8/25/2019 at 9:31 PM, Fishohio said:

I was fishing a 3.8 yesterday LOL just dragging and jigging slow all I had was Blue gill flash maybe needed a different color?. Did get one on a Dark Sleeper though.

Also a Chiggercraw on a ewg nedhead pulled in a nice keeper. (great minds think alike)

When we did start getting some wind in the afternoon I got a nice one on the old Spinner bait.

No takers on a crankbait shallow or deep.

Thanks Rick

I use Bluegill Flash, Sexy Shad, or Sungill depending on conditions.

greentrout reply :

i fish shallow waters ... no bites ... go to in line spinners ... beetle spin ... zoom finesse worms ... 6 and 8 lb. test line ... spinning gear ...

good fishing ...

Shimano_1 reply :

When the bite is tough and the weather is hot here....our go to is drop shot and shakey heads fished slowly in 10 to 15 ft of water. All the places I catch them in cooler months I just back off to the first deeper spots and usually find some success. I sure the ned would work too but I haven't dialed that in enough yet to know for sure

Log Catcher reply :

When I am having a tough day I usually go to a Zoom Centipede On a 1/0 hook and 1/16 ounce sinker on a spinning rod. This has saved a day for me many times.

barongan reply :

Loving this thread, I think this is a very interesting discussion

Fishohio reply :

Good stuff guys I appreciate it!!

Thx Rick

bowhunter63 reply :

Weightless t rigged Zoom fluke.

Fishohio reply :

On 8/26/2019 at 4:46 AM, bowhunter63 said:

Weightless t rigged Zoom fluke.

Always have a fluke/weightless rod on deck ! Nice

jimmyjoe reply :

I fish relatively shallow waters. If nothing has given me a hit, including bigger spinnerbaits, I start working down the line on spinnerbaits. From a half-ounce, I'll go to a quarter, then a War Eagle 3/16 finesse, and then a 1/8th Booyah Micro Pond Magic. No other lure except spoons has given me as positive a set of results by progressively reducing size as spinnerbaits. Not cranks, not soft plastics and not in-line spinners. And I mention the spinnerbait over the spoons because I can work the spinnerbaits right on the cover. I can't do that with spoons.

If that doesn't work, I go home. jj

BigAngus752 reply :

Ned rig is my anti-skunk bait from late fall through winter to about June. Water temps like you are describing (80+) the Ned Rig becomes a skunk-guarantee for me. It's a total failure in the heat of summer for me. When the water is that warm I will T-rig a Berkley MaxScent Kingtail with the smallest possible weight and just let is sit around for awhile under docks or laydowns. Wacky-rigged worms are also usually good to prevent a skunk in warm water.

Junger reply :

Wacky rig senko at targets, bites usually come on the initial fall. I can cover a fair amount of water this way too.

Spankey reply :

Rat-L-Trap : Chrome w/back back

Chrome w/blue back

Gold w/black back

Pickle_Power reply :

Last resort for me is a 4" Zoom Finesse Worm in a purple hue, weightless.

The Bassman reply :

As some have mentioned something like a finesse wacky that falls slowly. Gotta have some wind to throw anything reaction (at least in my experience).

On 8/26/2019 at 5:57 AM, Pickle_Power said:

Last resort for me is a 4" Zoom Finesse Worm in a purple hue, weightless.

You posted this as I was writing. Certainly drives the point home.

WRB reply :

Slip shot rig or 1/8 oz dart head jig w/4 1/2" Roboworm curl worm out fishing Ned rigs for me.

Tom

Team9nine reply :

These days, what most consider the "when all else fails" option is my number one choice all the time. For me, that's Ned, Sliders or jighead wacky finesse on a ML spinning outfit. Spent a couple hours each of the past three days rotating around some ponds under blue sky, post frontal conditions with E/NE 10 mph winds and highs in the 70s. Totaled 75-80 bass from the bank. Why wait until all else fails when you can be catching bass all the time regardless?

IMG_1798.jpg.1bf72a2920d78926f49c714021478cdb.jpg

Darren. reply :

On 8/26/2019 at 6:31 AM, Team9nine said:

These days, what most consider the "when all else fails" option is my number one choice all the time. For me, that's Ned, Sliders or jighead wacky finesse on a ML spinning outfit. Spent a couple hours each of the past three days rotating around some ponds under blue sky, post frontal conditions with E/NE 10 mph winds and highs in the 70s. Totaled 75-80 bass from the bank. Why wait until all else fails when you can be catching bass all the time regardless?

^^^ 100% this (highlighted in bold/red)

Fishohio reply :

On 8/26/2019 at 6:17 AM, WRB said:

Slip shot rig or 1/8 oz dart head jig w/4 1/2" Roboworm curl worm out fishing Ned rigs for me.

Tom

Thanks Tom

I've read a bit about the split shot rig. Its kind of like the old Carolina rig but finesse right?

Have to give that a spin this Saturday also.

Thanks Rick

Fishohio reply :

Mobasser reply :

Brewers slider head, with a 4" plastic wormm

WRB reply :

On 8/26/2019 at 6:59 AM, Fishohio said:

Thanks Tom

I've read a bit about the split shot rig. Its kind of like the old Carolina rig but finesse right?

Have to give that a spin this Saturday also.

Thanks Rick

I use 5 lb Max UG Copoly line, FC tends to drag the bottom.

Owner 5133 size 1 or 1/0 hook, depending on worm used.

1/8 oz black Pro Jo (brass) tubular weight

8 mm glass facted bead

Carolina Keeper for weight stopper.

between 24"-30" leader length

Good luck,

Tom

Yakalong reply :

Fluke around docks :thumbsup:

Fishohio reply :

On 8/26/2019 at 7:14 AM, Fishohio said:

Don't know what I did but it was wrong! Apologize not very computer savy!!

813basstard reply :

Stick bait on 1/4 or 1/8 oz.

Or..

Wacky rig skipped under docks, rocks, piers, cars, bridges, homeless people, trees, tires, boats, floats, jet ski’s, sprinklers, whatever

TnRiver46 reply :

I always start with the “go to” instead of reaching for it when all else fails

JediAmoeba reply :

My go to is a curly tailed grub - usually GY or Uncle Josh. Soemtimes I will use Spike it on the tail to get a few extra bites.

Fishing the same waters I find the curly tailed grub on a mushroom head to be more effective than a trd on a mushroom head. Both produce but the grub usually works better.

Bass Ninja reply :

The jackhammer chatterbait with a pit boss trailer, sprayed down with garlic scent. Its saved me from getting skunked at least 8 times this summer, and won two tournaments for me. I try to switch it up and do some frogging, maybe throw a spinnerbait or worm or crankbaits, but when all else fails, it has never let me down yet. I used to almost exclusively fish the senko which worked amazing, but now I don't have the patience for that. Two days ago I fished a large "pond" with a max depth of 8 ft. from 4 AM till 8 AM, had an appointment at 830. Started out with a buzzbait and some other chatterbait I had to mix it up...nothing. As the sun started coming up and I worked my way over the massive area of lilypads to try the frog, the chatterbait and spinnerbait both got a swipe but nothing solid. Frogged the lilypads till 745....nothing. Drifting with the wind back the boat ramp, tied back on the jackhammer, came across a little hump in that 8ft of water. Threw the spinnerbait at it....nothing. Threw the jackhammer, caught a little guy. Very next cast, caught another little guy, about a pound and a half. Very next cast after that, 4lber. The z-man jackhammer is by far my favorite lure this year. Well worth the money.

Fishohio reply :

On 8/26/2019 at 10:32 PM, JediAmoeba said:

My go to is a curly tailed grub - usually GY or Uncle Josh. Soemtimes I will use Spike it on the tail to get a few extra bites.

Fishing the same waters I find the curly tailed grub on a mushroom head to be more effective than a trd on a mushroom head. Both produce but the grub usually works better.

I like a chigger craw on the lifted jigs ned and been playin around with the ned bomb.

Thanks guys

A lot of good stuff here.

Looks like its off to talk to the bait monkey!!????

Rick

1201vilbig reply :

On 8/26/2019 at 6:17 AM, WRB said:

Slip shot rig or 1/8 oz dart head jig w/4 1/2" Roboworm curl worm out fishing Ned rigs for me.

Tom

Agree. A 4 1/2" worm or here in Texas a 4" Zoom lizard in Chartreuse Black Flake on a split shot rig has saved many a day. Although it will and does catch quality fish (like the Ned), a lot of guys I fish with call this their "limit finder" when fishing tournaments. Then they go for that kicker.

papajoe222 reply :

For those conditions, I have two 'go to' presentations. A Charlie Brewer Slider jig and a Zoom Finesse worm, or a BPS Teaser Tube. Although I rig the tube 'stupid' style, I have been known to use it as a drop shot bait, or on a split shot rig.

DanielG reply :

AAAAhhh!

As a guy who's still trying to feel this fishing thing out I was interested in this thread. What I'm garnering from this is that 'when all else fails' any one of 50 different things work.

TnRiver46 reply :

On 8/27/2019 at 10:43 AM, DanielG said:

AAAAhhh!

As a guy who's still trying to feel this fishing thing out I was interested in this thread. What I'm garnering from this is that 'when all else fails' any one of 50 different things work.

Any pro fisherman will tell you that the lure is not nearly as important as location or presentation. Fish what you have confidence in

DanielG reply :

On 8/27/2019 at 10:55 AM, TnRiver46 said:

Any pro fisherman will tell you that the lure is not nearly as important as location or presentation.

I agree (even though I'm not a pro) and I think that these guys being all over the country, lakes, ponds, streams, rivers can be very different. Some techniques and lures are more specific to some areas than others. i.e. I look at all those southern bass videos. We just don't have those sort of waterways here in Maine. The water's often deep, cold, clear. A lot of people seem to be fishing in shallow mud by comparison.

TnRiver46 reply :

On 8/27/2019 at 10:59 AM, DanielG said:

I agree (even though I'm not a pro) and I think that these guys being all over the country, lakes, ponds, streams, rivers can be very different. Some techniques and lures are more specific to some areas than others. i.e. I look at all those southern bass videos. We just don't have those sort of waterways here in Maine. The water's often deep, cold, clear. A lot of people seem to be fishing in shallow mud by comparison.

There’s a couple members on here from Maine that consistently catch some nice fish! Id like to fish up there one day, I’ve got a good buddy that lives in dexter

BassNJake reply :

When the sun is up, I'm targeting the shade pockets on the sunny side.

I'm skipping a toad and using a reverse rig senko as an alternative.

The lake I usually fish is mostly rocky banks and has some laydowns

Anywhere, the bottom is a little darker can hold fish.

Sometimes it's just a large rock that creates a shade line.

Saw an article on another site that highlighted some of these areas.

evo2s197 reply :

Deadsticking a 6.5 inch straight tail worm that semi buoyant on a split shot, with short 1 to 2 foot drags every minute or so, of course you have to know your on fish fish it to be effective.

Second Is deadsticking a hula stickz on a bulletz jig head.

scaleface reply :

I went yesterday and had my worse day of the year . Fished about ten hours and caught fifteen ,with the largest biggest around three lbs . It was tough fishing . I got the majority of my fish in woody cover using a texas rigged stick-worm . Caught three on a crankbait out on a point and a couple in vegetation with a toad . I didnt switch up lures , instead stuck with lures that work in the cover and structure available . I did break the line twice on hook sets .There is no doubt one of the fish was big because it erupted all over the toad , right at the boat. I set the hook too hard on that one,wanting to make sure the hook went in her ,lol . I think the other was a good one too . When I set the hook with the worm it was solid , it wasnt a dink unless it took the lure under a branch .That happens .

Scarborough817 reply :

drop shot for me that bite is always on

Catt reply :

Big Rick reply :

I'm on the total opposite end of the spectrum, often times. When I have failed at plastics and different power presentations I will put a Splash-It or Evergreen OB Popper, head to the bank, and fish every spot of cover I see on the way out. More times than not, I end up with some fish before I get to the landing. Something about the pop and pause that even a lazy bass can't handle....

whitwolf reply :

I usually tie on a Zenith Shakey head and thread on s Zoom 4" Dead Ringer. It has saved many a day. The nice thing about this bait is you can fish it in brush, deep, and all points in-between. It's been a staple for several years.

Fishohio reply :

On 8/28/2019 at 4:11 AM, Catt said:

My grandpa always had a pack of 4" ring worms( motor oil ) in the boat.

N Florida Mike reply :

In that case I would pull out the 4 inch senko T-rigged and weightless and fish under docks, lay downs and shade . Flukes rigged the same way would be a close second.

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When all else fails whats your go to? 2024

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