Who mainly uses the same lures every time they fish? - I'm down to the same 4 lures 2024
tcbass reply :
Firstly I'll state that I'm not a well-rounded or great fisherman. I'm a shallow and dock oriented fishing person. I don't do well in medium to deep water water. I wish I was better at it. However I also love topwater more than anything so I'm willing to sacrifice some bites to get topwater bites.
I used to use buzzbaits, a KVD Sexydawg, Ragetail Toads, and Senkos as my primary lures.
I've updated those choices but it's basically the same things, two topwaters and two underwater baits. For topwater it's one hardbait and one frog, now being a Whopper Plopper 110 (no longer need the buzzbaits or KVD Sexydawg since the WP can do the job of both) and for the frog I've switched to Teckel Sprinker Frogs. For my two underwater lures, a Wacky Rigged Senko and nosehooked Zoom Super Fluke. I'll also throw a spinnerbait or Rapala style lure if none of those is working.
But that's really it. I'm down to 4 lures had I use almost exclusively. A Whopper Plopper, Teckel Sprinker Frog, Senko, and Zoom Super Fluke.
Next year I plan on using some other deep water lures to expand my repertoire but for now I'm fairly successful using just these 4 lures. I did try Chatterbaits this year and swim jigs a few years ago. I know some guys use different lures almost every time they go out.
Who else mainly uses the same lures every time they fish?
A-Jay reply :
Who mainly uses the same lures every time they fish ?
Anglers that say " I'm not a well-rounded or great fisherman".
You may find that you're having far more no catch days than catch days.
If you're good with that then there's not much else to talk about.
But you knew that.
If you're looking to get more from your 'fishing' than casting & watching top water baits go across the surface, or drowning a stick bait, you'll need to step up your game a little by learning about & fishing at least a few more techniques / presentations.
Don't be afraid to fail at first, expect it, it's part of bass fishing.
In fact it's what makes any success that much sweeter.
A-Jay
NHBull reply :
If you are catching fish, who cares!
I think I have learned more about other techniques on slow days, when I am throwing everything in the arsenal. Today was one of this days, and am starting to figure out my buzz baits
Munkin reply :
If you are comfortable with what you are using that's fine but there is much to learn. The days I have learned the most is when I caught few fish. Try going out with only the lure you want to learn. If you only have that one you will be forced to find a way to make it work instead of resorting to the stand byes.
Allen
bholtzinger14 reply :
I start off with same group of baits but I might rig them differently. I am a bank beater.
I'm like you, a whopper plopper 110 is my topwater bait.
I fish a senko next. Wacky if possible or Texas rigged if I have to.
A Texas rigged baby brush hog is normally tied on. I can easily change this to other soft plastics if I need to.
A keitech swing impact fat is tied on with a flashy swimmer head if possible. If not I go weedless with a swimbait hook.
That is normally where I start. Chatterbaits, shakyheads, jigs and other baits are in my tackle bag but normally get pulled out later.
Darren. reply :
I don't stray very far from my standard arsenal for bass.
For me, they work. I'm after the catch, the fun, not competing
or out to best "the other guy". It's a hobby to me.
Of course I'd be lying to say breaking my PB didn't matter!!
It absoLUTELY matters 
... I just don't get out as often as
I did just a year ago, so I stick to what works.
Mike L reply :
The whole point of fishin is to do some catchin. By limiting yourself to just a few baits and presentations is just that, limiting.
I have a few baits that I use all the time also, but those are limited to certain presentations at certain times in certain areas.
If you learn to Improvise, Overcome and Adapt to everything catchin, your fishin can only improve.
Mike
GrumpyOlPhartte reply :
What @Catt and @Munkin said!!! I am guilty of the same ol' habits myself. The weed-infested lakes around here discourage me from throwing anything with more than one hook. Lipless cranks, plugs, surface plugs (even the highly esteemed Whopper Plopper), and wacky or drop shot rigs drive me nuts in the weeds! But last year I found the weightless flukes. Had pretty good (for me) results so now they are part of my arsenal. This year I focused on spinnerbaits and jigs. Yeah, the spinnerbaits collect weeds to a degree, but in the period between the point where they enter the water and the time they get that first weed, they can get a lot of attention. A light jig, if worked v-e-r-y slowly is much more weedless than I thought. And a squarebill used in the spring before the weeds get thick also produces some results.
So, I guess I can say I am slowly becoming a more well-rounded fisherman; I prefer to think of it as getting a little smarter. But still I love my creature/worm baits and frogs. I am thinking about leaving them behind this fall and giving jigs and those wacky and drop-shot rigs a serious try.
Catt reply :
On 9/18/2017 at 6:33 AM, tcbass said:who else mainly uses the same lures every time they fish?
I do!
Top, mid-depth, & bottom ?
Angealy reply :
I also have the habit of using the same lures, But if you catch fish with it that's what matter.
IndianaOutdoors reply :
I'm starting to break out of this habit. I have purchased soooo much tackle the last couple years that I feel guilty if I don't use it. When I make it to the water I still start with a confidence bait. If the bite isn't on I'll change up. Sometimes I think I change baits too much. When I reach this point i pick a presentation that should be working based on conditions and start working different areas looking for active fish. This is something I'm still working on to become a better fisherman.
tcbass reply :
On 9/18/2017 at 8:55 AM, IndianaOutdoors said:I'm starting to break out of this habit. I have purchased soooo much tackle the last couple years that I feel guilty if I don't use it. When I make it to the water I still start with a confidence bait. If the bite isn't on I'll change up. Sometimes I think I change baits too much. When I reach this point i pick a presentation that should be working based on conditions and start working different areas looking for active fish. This is something I'm still working on to become a better fisherman.
Not a bad way to do it.
I need to up my game and expand my skills so that on hard days I can still catch fish.
38 Super Fan reply :
I'd guess close to 80 percent of my fish this year have been caught on a jerkbait and a buzzbait. Variety is great, but when a lure gets hot, I stick with it.
BuzzHudson19c reply :
On the river buzzbait, squarebill, jerkbait, jig. On the lakes, Frog, frog, frog, dinger.
Sometimes I force myself to learn a new technique and I will bring only that bait. For instance I hated fishing jigs. So a few times this season all I brought with me was 2 3/8oz and 1 1/4oz jig (and plastic trailers). It was rough for a while, but I didn't have the choice of switching to a confidence bait and got better at using them.
TOXIC reply :
Some baits are high percentage catch lures, some are bigger fish lures but everything is dependent on the current conditions. Time of year, water temp, water clarity, and the other 500 pieces of the fishing puzzle. 
Swbass15 reply :
One really good way to figure out a new technique is to go fish with someone else who understands that bait, when, where, and why to throw it. This has helped me a lot. Instead of throwing a bait at the wrong time I was taught what to look for, why it worked, and it gave me confidence to throw it again.
scaleface reply :
I dont get to fish as often as I use too and when I do its in local waters that I know very well . So well over 90 per cent of the time I use a lure in these four classes .
Texas rigged Soft plastic / jigs
Crankbaits Long lipped / short lipped / lipless
Spinnerbaits
Buzzbaits
tcbass reply :
On 9/18/2017 at 7:52 PM, Swbass15 said:One really good way to figure out a new technique is to go fish with someone else who understands that bait, when, where, and why to throw it. This has helped me a lot. Instead of throwing a bait at the wrong time I was taught what to look for, why it worked, and it gave me confidence to throw it again.
Thats actually a really good idea.
If you're trying a new bait at the wrong time you may get disappointed with it and stop using it.
J Francho reply :
On 9/18/2017 at 6:33 AM, tcbass said:A Whopper Plopper, Teckel Sprinker Frog, Senko, and Zoom Super Fluke.
I'd seriously quit fishing if I had this kind of self imposed limitation.
Russ E reply :
On 9/18/2017 at 11:17 PM, J Francho said:I'd seriously quit fishing if I had this kind of self imposed limitation.
It would sure limit when I could consistently catch fish. That only covers shallow water.
NYWayfarer reply :
I love trying new baits. I always bring an assortment on new stuff and old favorites with me.
That being said I do have confidence baits that are always with me. Senko or Dinger and a Z-man finesse TRD. Rarely a fishing session goes by where I don't throw these 2 types of baits
Jaderose reply :
I actually have the opposite problem. I throw a lot of different things. Some with more success than others. The last couple of times I've been out, I've decided to slow waaaay down and just toss mostly weightless senkos or use an Owner Ultra head finesse jig or VMC Drop Dead Hook. Been tearing it up but also been gut hooking a lot of bass. This tells me I still have a lot to learn so I am focusing on that for probably the rest of the Fall.
Team9nine reply :
Anymore, I take the fish on my terms, not anyone else's. The day you truly grasp the importance of controlling the depth and speed of your lure - at the same time - is the day you'll realize how little tackle you actually need to consistently catch bass. This year, I'd say 80-90% of the bass I've caught have come on just three or four baits.
fishwizzard reply :
I tend to only go out with maybe two-three rods in my car and only bring a single one with me at any time, so I am usually limited to three or four presentations per trip. Even when I am in my yak I go so minimal on tackle I end up with maybe 8-16 options per trip.
tcbass reply :
On 9/18/2017 at 11:17 PM, J Francho said:I'd seriously quit fishing if I had this kind of self imposed limitation.
Well, fortunately I've usually done well with this sort of configuration.
However, I would like to expand my skills to deeper fishing.
RPreeb reply :
So far in this, my first modern summer of bass fishing, I've used several different baits, but only actually caught fish on 3 of them. As a result, those are the ones I start with when I go down the pond. If I don't get anything, or if they bite for a while and then stop, then I'll pull something new out of the box and have a go with it. I'm mostly still teaching myself proper technique for casting and for retrieving (with a lot of help from this site and YouTube), so when I don't get bit, I usually figure that it's just as likely me as it is the bait.
I learned Northwoods bass fishing in Wisconsin back in the late 50's and early 60's, and had the most success fishing topwaters, so that is still my usual starting point unless it's just the wrong thing for the time or location. I generally have some sort of soft plastic rigged weightless on my spinning rod, and I throw cranks and topwaters with the baitcaster.
I don't own a spinnerbait or buzzbait yet... so I know I'm probably missing some opportunities, but I need to improve my approach with what I do have before I branch out any further. I already have a pile of baits sitting on a table here in my study for which I don't even have a box yet to store them in, so I need to slow down feeding the monkey for a while.
tcbass reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 2:24 AM, RPreeb said:So far in this, my first modern summer of bass fishing, I've used several different baits, but only actually caught fish on 3 of them. As a result, those are the ones I start with when I go down the pond. If I don't get anything, or if they bite for a while and then stop, then I'll pull something new out of the box and have a go with it. I'm mostly still teaching myself proper technique for casting and for retrieving (with a lot of help from this site and YouTube), so when I don't get bit, I usually figure that it's just as likely me as it is the bait.
I learned Northwoods bass fishing in Wisconsin back in the late 50's and early 60's, and had the most success fishing topwaters, so that is still my usual starting point unless it's just the wrong thing for the time or location. I generally have some sort of soft plastic rigged weightless on my spinning rod, and I throw cranks and topwaters with the baitcaster.
I don't own a spinnerbait or buzzbait yet... so I know I'm probably missing some opportunities, but I need to improve my approach with what I do have before I branch out any further. I already have a pile of baits sitting on a table here in my study for which I don't even have a box yet to store them in, so I need to slow down feeding the monkey for a while.
Same issue.....I own plenty of baits and definitely am not planning on buying any more baits for a long time. I just keep using the ones that work.
I need to try other baits, baits that work in areas that I normally don't fish.
J Francho reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 1:34 AM, tcbass said:
Well, fortunately I've always done well with this sort of configuration.
However, I would like to expand my skills to deeper fishing.
Always?
tcbass reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 2:53 AM, J Francho said:Always?
Meant usually. lol. But yes, the fish move into deeper and you have to be follow them and be have the skills to catch them that way. Which the OP isn't about.
J Francho reply :
I'd say start working with some Texas Rigged plastics. Start with a 3/8 oz. bullet sinker, some worm hooks and 7" ribbon tail worms. It doesn't have to be complicated. Any old MH/F rod will work. Start casting to breaks in 7-12' water.
tcbass reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 3:19 AM, J Francho said:I'd say start working with some Texas Rigged plastics. Start with a 3/8 oz. bullet sinker, some worm hooks and 7" ribbon tail worms. It doesn't have to be complicated. Any old MH/F rod will work. Start casting to breaks in 7-12' water.
Cool. Thanks. I actually have those baits and will try it.
the reel ess reply :
A lot of times, I'll use the same 6 or 7 lures, but they're all tied on a combo. If they're working, there's no need to change. I'll adjust the lipless crank to a topwater as the light fades or I'll change up the T rig to a jig or something else to get bites. When I was a teen I would only use a T rigged worm and a crankbait. If they weren't biting one of those, I was done fishing or I was going after another species.
I'd say 95% of my fish this year came on:
Worm of some kind,
Lipless crank
Spinnerbait
A topwater of some kind, mostly Spook
A Rooster Tail (don't judge me)
And last, but not least, the frog. This is by far my favorite lure of all time.
The Bassman reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 12:18 AM, Team9nine said:Anymore, I take the fish on my terms, not anyone else's. The day you truly grasp the importance of controlling the depth and speed of your lure - at the same time - is the day you'll realize how little tackle you actually need to consistently catch bass. This year, I'd say 80-90% of the bass I've caught have come on just three or four baits.
One of the most important lessons I've learned this year is to assess conditions and location and focus on a very limited lure selection. When I start jumping from bait to bait my success tanks. True, there might be that one lure and presentation I don't try that really rings the cash register but day in and day out I do best with this approach.
bagofdonuts reply :
my brother swears he can catch any bass swimming with a zoom fluke, and usually catches just as many if not more than i do, using a large assortment of baits. he'll fish it anywhere from split shoting it on the bottom to screaming it on top. about the only time i can get him to switch is when their fired up on a crank bait bite and he just can't keep up with the fluke. those days are precious to me.
StrikePrince reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 12:18 AM, Team9nine said:Anymore, I take the fish on my terms, not anyone else's. The day you truly grasp the importance of controlling the depth and speed of your lure - at the same time - is the day you'll realize how little tackle you actually need to consistently catch bass. This year, I'd say 80-90% of the bass I've caught have come on just three or four baits.
Can you explain a situation that helped you realize the importance of depth/speed control?
the reel ess reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 5:26 AM, bagofdonuts said:my brother swears he can catch any bass swimming with a zoom fluke, and usually catches just as many if not more than i do, using a large assortment of baits. he'll fish it anywhere from split shoting it on the bottom to screaming it on top. about the only time i can get him to switch is when their fired up on a crank bait bite and he just can't keep up with the fluke. those days are precious to me.
My friend only uses a weightless Trick Worm in bubble gum color. I turned him on to it. And he does pretty well year round. My dad only wanted to use T rigged worms until I showed him I could do well with a crank at different times.
Dtrombly reply :
Frogs, jigs, senkos and craws are 95% of my spring-summer fishing. Cold months is jigs and jerkbaits.
fishindad reply :
The OP's question is in a similar vein as the "specialist vs. generalist" thread. Here's my thoughts based on my experiences.
1. Most of us would probably quit bass fishing if we could only fish 4 (or less) lures every outing, as JFrancho pointed out.
2. If one only fishes the same body of water and same locations then it's easier to get dialed in to what typically works. I will bet that one can catch more smallmouth over the course of a season on a 4" tube rigged on a 3/8th oz head over any other one lure (except maybe a dropshot worm). But of course there are times and locations when the tube or dropshot is not the best lure to throw.
3. There's fishing for big fish (i.e., frog) vs. numbers (i.e., Ned rig) - in general. You probably won't catch much throwing a Ned rig on Okeechobee nor will you catch much throwing a frog in a 100 acre quarry pond with no weeds.
4. If you're happy with the numbers and size of bass you're catching then why change? But no angler weekend or pro is happy with their catch each and every time out.
5. One of the most fun things about bass fishing is buying and throwing new lures, buying new rods and reels, new line types, etc etc. Who doesn't love coming home to a TW box and opening it and trying out the new baits that weekend!
6. I think there have been statistics showing that the winning lures of all the BASS events for the past umpteen years and a jig, spinnerbait, or Texas rigged plastic has won like 80%+ of all tournaments. But those guys will fish 8 hours for only 6-7 bites but they are all bigguns. That's not how most of us fun fish or want to fun fish. I certainly don't want to catch less than one bass per hour!
7. I play some golf and would probably get almost the same score if I played a round with just my driver, pitching wedge, 7 iron and putter, as I would with a full set of 14 clubs. But it wouldn't be as fun and wouldn't be as easy using only 4 clubs.
All that said, I have been refining my tackle such that 4 rods (not including duplicates) and 4-5 types of presentations will make me a better angler, both smallies and greenies. But, it still means I carry lots of soft plastics and hard baits. A 6'10"MH, 6'10"H, 7'3"H and 7'M spin rod (2 of each!) can do 99% of what I need/like to do on every body of water I fish here in Michigan. I found over the years that way too many rods on deck or in the locker are just too confusing and inefficient, for me. I used to waste so much time deciding what to change to and re-tying. KISS is what works for me.
Team9nine reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 5:32 AM, StrikePrince said:Can you explain a situation that helped you realize the importance of depth/speed control?
Most fish I catch reinforce the concept. To get bit, you typically have to put a bait in front of a fish (right depth) for the right length of time (right speed) - what Rich Zaleski termed "close enough for long enough," one of the 10 best pieces of fishing wisdom ever written (JMHO). If you're dragging a jig along the bottom when the bass are up shallow and feeding, you probably won't catch much - (wrong depth control). Likewise, you might have the right depth (shallow and feeding up top), but if you're burning a spinnerbait instead of pausing a top water, you might not get bit then either (wrong speed control). Only when those two factors coincide will good things begin to happen. Once you understand this concept, you'll realize you don't need a ton of different baits to accomplish this, or at least get you pointed in the right direction for the day.
tcbass reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 7:45 AM, Team9nine said:
Most fish I catch reinforce the concept. To get bit, you typically have to put a bait in front of a fish (right depth) for the right length of time (right speed) - what Rich Zaleski termed "close enough for long enough," one of the 10 best pieces of fishing wisdom ever written (JMHO). If you're dragging a jig along the bottom when the bass are up shallow and feeding, you probably won't catch much - (wrong depth control). Likewise, you might have the right depth (shallow and feeding up top), but if you're burning a spinnerbait instead of pausing a top water, you might not get bit then either (wrong speed control). Only when those two factors coincide will good things begin to happen. Once you understand this concept, you'll realize you don't need a ton of different baits to accomplish this, or at least get you pointed in the right direction for the day.
I agree and I think if most fish are hungry they'll eat most whatever is put in front of them. Sure they can get finicky and changing size, color, or speed can help but usually hungry bass will eat what's put on their plate.
I test test this theory some times. If a friend is catching them on a Whopper Plopper I'll try a buzzbait, if a friend is catching them under docks with Wacky Rigged Senkos I'll try a Zoom Super Fluke to see if they'll hit similar baits and usually bass will hit my lures too.
OCdockskipper reply :
I believe this also gets back to confidence baits, the 3 or 4 ones that you have had success with in the past and know how to make produce bites. I have noticed that when using something I don't have alot of confidence in, if I don't get bit pretty quick, I decide that particular lure may not be in the fish's wheel house today. However, if I am using something that I have a lot of confidence in & I don't get bit, I decide that the fish are not where I am at.
For that reason, I will fish a confidence bait much longer without getting bit than a non-confidence one. In my mind, I have removed one of the variables (something they will bite) and now all I have to do is find them & get that confidence bait in front of them.
IndianaOutdoors reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 12:18 AM, Team9nine said:Anymore, I take the fish on my terms, not anyone else's. The day you truly grasp the importance of controlling the depth and speed of your lure - at the same time - is the day you'll realize how little tackle you actually need to consistently catch bass. This year, I'd say 80-90% of the bass I've caught have come on just three or four baits.
Care to expand on that? I thought more tackle options allowed you to choose the right bait for speed and depth. Seems like this could be apart of the fishing equation I haven't figured out yet.
Team9nine reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 11:43 AM, IndianaOutdoors said:Care to expand on that? I thought more tackle options allowed you to choose the right bait for speed and depth. Seems like this could be apart of the fishing equation I haven't figured out yet.
Sure - No doubt, having more tackle means you have more options, and more specific ones at that, but the drawback is it cost you a lot of money to buy the baits, then likely the different combos to fish those baits, plus you have to haul all of it around to the lake each trip because you feel like you might end up needing something you left back at home. In addition, you're going to have a lot of decisions to make. Just in the shallow water you'll need to figure out whether to throw a spinnerbait, your new Teckel Sprinkers, a Plopper (what size and color?), maybe a Spook or a buzzbait,..how about a Senko, or a Pop-R. Don't forget your pitching outfit, and be sure to bring plenty of Rage Craws, beaver style baits, some brush hogs, the newest punching deal, and try them all, because you just never know which one they'll like better today...and we haven't even made it out of the first cove yet...oh, and don't forget the Ned outfit! One thing is for sure, you'll have the love and appreciation of the tackle manufacturers
I just want to go out fishing for a few hours, have a good time, and catch some bass. So, lets use @bagofdonuts example. You bring 4 outfits and a huge backpack to carry everything to the lake with you so you can "cover all your options." I grab a single rod/reel outfit along with a pack of my favorite color Zoom flukes. In that bag of flukes, I throw in a couple EWG and dropshot hooks, a couple bullet weights, 2 scrounger heads, 1 underspin body and a split shot or two. The whole thing goes in my back pocket.
Now, when we arrive at the lake, I start by tossing my weightless fluke along the bank, next to laydowns, in behind docks, and along the weeds, basically covering some shallow options. If the weed growth is thicker, I can twitch the bait over the moss and let it settle in holes, work it through pads, etc. If I get some halfhearted swirls in the weed openings, I can simply add a bullet weight to my outfit and now pitch the holes and work it slower, or do the same around laydowns and bushes along the bank.
Otherwise, no bites, so I start moving out a bit. By pinching a split shot on the line at the head of the bait, I can now fish down a few feet into the opening of docks, the deep ends of laydowns, or the deeper weedline edge. Put a fluke on one of the scrounger heads, and I can now work the bait like a crankbait, paralleling docks and weedlines, fan casting the flats, or throwing out into deeper water and counting the bait down to various depths. I can even rip it and let it drop trying to trigger bites like a spoon or Trap. Not as aggressive, rig it dropshot style and pitch the deep weedline or very ends of docks, finessing a few bass along the way.
If a group of schoolers comes up, I'm ready, going back weightless or tossing it on an underspin. If it turns out we need to go deeper to catch them, I can peg the bullet weight above the bait and fish it like a Carolina rig, dragging the bottom. If it's brushy down there, back to the Texas rigged version with the bullet weight, working it through the limbs.
If the fish are even halfway active today, I've done a pretty good job of covering all the available depths and speeds, around most every cover option the lake has to offer - all with a tackle pack that fits in my back pocket giving me supreme mobility and less hassles - and cost me almost nothing. I probably have caught my share of fish, also.
Of course, this is just an example and not all encompassing, but hopefully you get the idea. You don't need a lot of tackle to effectively fish a body of water and catch some bass.
fishindad reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 9:18 PM, Team9nine said:You don't need a lot of tackle to effectively fish a body of water and catch some bass.
This!!
fishwizzard reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 9:18 PM, Team9nine said:I grab a single rod/reel outfit along with a pack of my favorite color Zoom flukes. In that bag of flukes, I throw in a couple EWG and dropshot hooks, a couple bullet weights, 2 scrounger heads, 1 underspin body and a split shot or two. The whole thing goes in my back pocket.
This is more an more how I am doing things, but using a fly fishing slingbag so I can carry some little first aid/comfort items along, but I never take more than a single 3600 box and a few loose bit and pieces.
But once I got into jigs and chatterbaits, the single 3600 box got too heavy, so now I am on the hunt for a few little boxes or heavy duty baggies to pare down even more.
Team9nine reply :
On 9/20/2017 at 2:52 AM, fishwizzard said:This is more an more how I am doing things, but using a fly fishing slingbag so I can carry some little first aid/comfort items along, but I never take more than a single 3600 box and a few loose bit and pieces.
But once I got into jigs and chatterbaits, the single 3600 box got too heavy, so now I am on the hunt for a few little boxes or heavy duty baggies to pare down even more.
Takes some discipline and a little creativity. In the boat, I drag a few more 3600s myself (still much lighter than most), but from the bank, it better all fit in some pockets or it isn't going with me. Some days, like when I'm going on a frogging trip, the only bait I bring is the one tied on my rod
fishwizzard reply :
On 9/20/2017 at 3:26 AM, Team9nine said:
Takes some discipline and a little creativity. In the boat, I drag a few more 3600s myself (still much lighter than most), but from the bank, it better all fit in some pockets or it isn't going with me. Some days, like when I'm going on a frogging trip, the only bait I bring is the one tied on my rod
See, I hate having stuff banging around in my pockets, so I prefer a small pack. I sent some plastics through the wash once and my shorts were a little tie-dyed for a while.
Koz reply :
I have some lures that I really LIKE to throw (T-rig Senko, Whopper Plopper, Booyah Pad Crasher) so I usually start with those. But if those aren't producing I'll start working through my bag including different plastics, buzzbait, chatterbait, spinner bait, jig, or something else. I'm definitely not afraid to go through my tackle bag.
For me it really depends upon a combination of what kind of cover or lack of cover I'm seeing and what I feel like throwing that day. If I was a professional fisherman I'd probably break things down a lot more and base my decision of what to throw based on that analysis. But I'm not a pro, so I fish the lures that for me are fun to use.
GreenGhostMan reply :
On 9/18/2017 at 8:55 AM, IndianaOutdoors said:I'm starting to break out of this habit. I have purchased soooo much tackle the last couple years that I feel guilty if I don't use it. When I make it to the water I still start with a confidence bait. If the bite isn't on I'll change up. Sometimes I think I change baits too much. When I reach this point i pick a presentation that should be working based on conditions and start working different areas looking for active fish. This is something I'm still working on to become a better fisherman.
X2. This describes me almost exactly.
waldo567 reply :
I try different lures but always go back to the Ned rig and TRDs
ClackerBuzz reply :
On 9/19/2017 at 9:18 PM, Team9nine said:Sure - No doubt, having more tackle means you have more options, and more specific ones at that, but the drawback is it cost you a lot of money to buy the baits, then likely the different combos to fish those baits, plus you have to haul all of it around to the lake each trip because you feel like you might end up needing something you left back at home. In addition, you're going to have a lot of decisions to make. Just in the shallow water you'll need to figure out whether to throw a spinnerbait, your new Teckel Sprinkers, a Plopper (what size and color?), maybe a Spook or a buzzbait,..how about a Senko, or a Pop-R. Don't forget your pitching outfit, and be sure to bring plenty of Rage Craws, beaver style baits, some brush hogs, the newest punching deal, and try them all, because you just never know which one they'll like better today...and we haven't even made it out of the first cove yet...oh, and don't forget the Ned outfit! One thing is for sure, you'll have the love and appreciation of the tackle manufacturers
I just want to go out fishing for a few hours, have a good time, and catch some bass. So, lets use @bagofdonuts example. You bring 4 outfits and a huge backpack to carry everything to the lake with you so you can "cover all your options." I grab a single rod/reel outfit along with a pack of my favorite color Zoom flukes. In that bag of flukes, I throw in a couple EWG and dropshot hooks, a couple bullet weights, 2 scrounger heads, 1 underspin body and a split shot or two. The whole thing goes in my back pocket.
Now, when we arrive at the lake, I start by tossing my weightless fluke along the bank, next to laydowns, in behind docks, and along the weeds, basically covering some shallow options. If the weed growth is thicker, I can twitch the bait over the moss and let it settle in holes, work it through pads, etc. If I get some halfhearted swirls in the weed openings, I can simply add a bullet weight to my outfit and now pitch the holes and work it slower, or do the same around laydowns and bushes along the bank.
Otherwise, no bites, so I start moving out a bit. By pinching a split shot on the line at the head of the bait, I can now fish down a few feet into the opening of docks, the deep ends of laydowns, or the deeper weedline edge. Put a fluke on one of the scrounger heads, and I can now work the bait like a crankbait, paralleling docks and weedlines, fan casting the flats, or throwing out into deeper water and counting the bait down to various depths. I can even rip it and let it drop trying to trigger bites like a spoon or Trap. Not as aggressive, rig it dropshot style and pitch the deep weedline or very ends of docks, finessing a few bass along the way.
If a group of schoolers comes up, I'm ready, going back weightless or tossing it on an underspin. If it turns out we need to go deeper to catch them, I can peg the bullet weight above the bait and fish it like a Carolina rig, dragging the bottom. If it's brushy down there, back to the Texas rigged version with the bullet weight, working it through the limbs.
If the fish are even halfway active today, I've done a pretty good job of covering all the available depths and speeds, around most every cover option the lake has to offer - all with a tackle pack that fits in my back pocket giving me supreme mobility and less hassles - and cost me almost nothing. I probably have caught my share of fish, also.
Of course, this is just an example and not all encompassing, but hopefully you get the idea. You don't need a lot of tackle to effectively fish a body of water and catch some bass.
Sweet mother of mary that's good stuff T9. There should be some kind of 'best of' thread with this at top.
Sword of the Lord reply :
I'm definitely in this boat, OP.
When I go to my favorite ponds, I take 2 bags of different colored 5 inch Senkos. Along with them comes a few 3/0 Gammy EWG hooks for Texas Rigging, and a few 1/0 Gammy Octopus hooks for Wacky Rigging, as well as some zip ties; I take a Whopper Plopper 90 and 130 (I don't have a 110 yet); and I take 2 spinnerbaits, one lighter and one darker in color. I'm thinking of taking 1 spinnerbait and 1 chatterbait from now on, though, color depending on which pond and the conditions.
I take these not because I'm not good at other techniques and baits, but because they have proven to be the best producers time and time again, and I like to go light. I can't even count on one hand how many times I've been skunked this year. When I go fishing, it's usually in 2 hour intervals and 5+ days a week. One of those days per week I'll catch more than 10 fish, one of those days I'll only catch 3 fish, but it seems I'm usually sitting at 5-10 fish; which, in 2 hour intervals from the shore, I'll take it! I'm even good for a few 3-5 pounders a week.
Fishing really doesn't have to be complicated at all. It gets harder for me when I'm suiting up for the river to catch smallies. Then it looks like I'm going to war and I might not catch a single one no matter what I do, but then I go to my trusty old green friends in smaller waters and have a blast, which salvages everything.
Some days I might say "let's change it up" and go with Trick Worms instead of Senkos, Poppers instead of Ploppers, swimbaits instead of spinnerbaits. But I always go back to my small, proven, aforementioned arsenal. That small arsenal with 2 setups: M/F (casting) Lightning Rod with a Zebco Bullet spooled with 10lb mono with a 5' fluoro leader, and a MH/F (casting) Lightning Rod with an Abu Garcia Silver Max spooled with 12lb mono.
Small arsenal of baits, modest gear, no boat, rarely skunked.
Simple stuff.
scaleface reply :
When bank fishing I'm also a proponent of one rod .My gear fits neatly in a vest and I can cover water . I've walked miles in a river before and had 100 fish days doing so .
Michaelangelo reply :
1/2oz white Terminator spinnerbait
citrus shad Mann's Baby 1 Minus
Xcalibur XRK 50 chrome/black
I don't really need anything else, total confidence with those 3, but...I still have 100's of others bc variety is the spice of life ?
Birdman2136 reply :
Late to the post here, but I found this topic to be interesting being a new angler.
Starting this spring by impulsively buying a Feel Free kayak I am now hooked. At first I started buying every bait I saw in a video or trying a new technique I'd see on one of the YouTube channels I like to watch.
Soon I found when it comes to fishing I fall in the minimalist group. I use three rods. Two spinning and one bait casting. I carry a small variety of lures all which I feel can match up to the body of water I'm on and the conditions I'm faced with. I literally started this spring and self taught myself through this website and YouTube. Fished two days a week and never got skunked.
I like what one person posted. KISS. That is what works for me and what I'm trying to accomplish.
(I should add I keep an open mind when it comes to fishing and am always willing to give something new a try)
Edited by Birdman2136Added info.
frogflogger reply :
When I fished tournaments - I used few baits - when I guided I used few baits - now that I'm retired I try them all - What fun!
BassWhole! reply :
It depends on when, where and conditions, but the fewer rods I have rigged up, the better day I'm going to have. On familiar bodies, sometimes I tie one lure on, and cut it off at the end of the day. Sometimes, a minor adjustment on the fly depending on what's happening on the water. The whole make 10 casts and tie something else on just doesn't make sense to me. Now if I'm fishing a new place, I will rig maybe 4-6 rods, while I try to figure things out.
scaleface reply :
On 10/16/2017 at 9:35 PM, reason said:The whole make 10 casts and tie something else on just doesn't make sense to me.
Me either .
bigbill reply :
I throw different baits. If I get no action I toss the baits again with different presentations. I use everything from cranks, spinnerbaits, inline spinners, spinflys, plastics. Change size and colors, change scents. Usually one will catch bass. My ritual of baits does catch bass more often.
dont make too many casts next to each other skip fan cast. I like to make soft suttle casts when my bait hits the water, with some baits
remember the number one bass bait set up is the split shot rigged black worm.
WRB reply :
You only need the 1 lure that is working at the moment.
To determine that lure is called fishing.
Tom
LxVE Bassin reply :
My got baits are the whopper plopper 110, wacky senko, chatterbait, and t-rigged rage craw. My next conquest will be cranking and dropshotting.
Fishin Dad reply :
I definitely have my go-to baits or confidence baits. 1/2 oz. chatterbait, senko, T-rig rage bug, jig and pig. But, I like to experiment with other baits. That's part of the fun of fishing for me. I would say 90% of my bass this year came on these four. I am working on dropshotting and deep jig fishing. I feel confident fishing top water and absolutely love it, but the majority of lakes I fished this year didn't have a great top water bite. Learning is a huge part of the fun for me with bass fishing. My family might actually call it a problem, an expensive problem.
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