Your favorite/most reliable baits for pressured lakes. 2024
Sharkicane reply :
Hey BR,
Over the past week I have noticed on this little lake I fish, again super clear water, but also it gets a lot more activity than I originally thought. Several kayaks and canoes in the water, several bank fisherman throughout the day. So the fish get a lot of stuff thrown at them. I do not see a lot of people catching anything but just a lot of activity. I keep managing to catch them on green pumpkin baby brush hogs but they are always small guys. I am looking to try some different techniques and baits as I am still learning. What do you guys go to or rely on when fishing pressured fish?
NYWayfarer reply :
Pressured or not it's hard to beat a wacky rigged stick bait. If there is a lot of vegetation then use a weedless wacky hook.
This presentation works well due to the freefalling bait through the water column. When the bite is on I get hit as soon as the bait enters the water. When the bite is slow it might have to fall closer to the bottom before a strike. It even works deadsticking it. The bite comes when you twitch the bait on the bottom after a few seconds at rest.
Catt reply :
You'll hear Wacky Rigged stick baits & I agree in part.
I would give em something they aint seen... Wacky Rigged Trick Worms!
Gundog reply :
Texas rigged senko or a drop shotted Jackall Clone Fry. Something about the Clone Fry that bass love.
KYBassin' reply :
Dropshot rigged with a warning shot.
A-Jay reply :
On 5/14/2018 at 11:01 PM, Sharkicane said:Hey BR,
Over the past week I have noticed on this little lake I fish, again super clear water, but also it gets a lot more activity than I originally thought. Several kayaks and canoes in the water, several bank fisherman throughout the day. So the fish get a lot of stuff thrown at them. I do not see a lot of people catching anything but just a lot of activity. I keep managing to catch them on green pumpkin baby brush hogs but they are always small guys. I am looking to try some different techniques and baits as I am still learning. What do you guys go to or rely on when fishing pressured fish?
If you can swing it - fish baits you have the most confidence in but do it after dark . . .
A-Jay
All about da bass reply :
Quote
Choporoz reply :
On 5/14/2018 at 11:01 PM, Sharkicane said:What do you guys go to ....
a different lake....I mean...sorry, but small water with lots of people, few fish caught, no big ones....sounds less than fun
Sharkicane reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 1:44 AM, Choporoz said:a different lake....I mean...sorry, but small water with lots of people, few fish caught, no big ones....sounds less than fun
I am exploring that option as well, a lot of these subdivision ponds and stuff are private and/or for residents only. So my challenge is finding non overly crowded places that are not really far away.
Log Catcher reply :
I like to throw either a centipede or a grub when the bite is tough.
keagbassr reply :
Most people are probably throwing rinky dink baits or senkos. I would go bigger and / or faster.
Dorado reply :
Master finesse fishing. Fish at night for the larger fish. For highly pressured ponds, I have the utmost confidence in: 2.5”-3” tubes, Ned rig, trick worms, grubs, 4” senkos, and 7.5” ribbontails for the summer time.
Clear water- Pumpkin, Green Pumpkin, baitfish colors
Sharkicane reply :
Awesome. Unfortunately I can’t fish it at night, but I’ll order some wacky rig stuff. As well as some Fat Ikas and more worms.
the reel ess reply :
On 5/14/2018 at 11:21 PM, Catt said:You'll hear Wacky Rigged stick baits & I agree in part.
I would give em something they aint seen... Wacky Rigged Trick Worms!
Amen. I rarely wacky rig stick baits anymore since I tried a Trick Worm. I always have one tied on in some fashion anyway so it's easy to get to. So a T rigged weightless Trick Worm is my answer. Just toss it to every piece of cover I can find, especially wood.
WRB reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 4:34 AM, Sharkicane said:Awesome. Unfortunately I can’t fish it at night, but I’ll order some wacky rig stuff. As well as some Fat Ikas and more worms.
Be there when it opens and when it closes. Traffic will be lower and the bass more active. Does this small lake have an areation system?
Bass get used to recreational traffic, being hooked is totally different.
Finesse C-rig or slip shot rig keeps the soft plastic off the bottom if you use mono line, lighter wire hooks and soft plastics that tend to float like Roboworms. Weightless rigged wacky style works if you can effectively cast it where the bigger bass are located, but smaller aggressive bass will always be a issue in this type of lake.
Tom
Sharkicane reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 5:02 AM, WRB said:Be there when it opens and when it closes. Traffic will be lower and the bass more active. Does this small lake have an areation system?
Bass get used to recreational traffic, being hooked is totally different.
Finesse C-rig or slip shot rig keeps the soft plastic off the bottom if you use mono line, lighter wire hooks and soft plastics that tend to float like Roboworms. Weightless rigged wacky style works if you can effectively cast it where the bigger bass are located, but smaller aggressive bass will always be a issue in this type of lake.
Tom
Not that I know of. It used to be a big sand or gravel pit until they hit a natural spring and it filled up on them. So they made it into a little park.
blckshirt98 reply :
I'd use a 3.5" plastic on a dropshot and fish it deadstick slow.
ib_of_the_damned reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 12:26 AM, KYBassin' said:Dropshot rigged with a warning shot.
X2
That's what I have been catching them on lately... I bring my drop shot rod and a pocket sized plano full of Warning Shots in Green Pumpkin and Morning Dawn and a second casting rod to toss different baits to change it up, but always end up going back to the drop shot.
Sharkicane reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 5:58 AM, ib_of_the_damned said:X2
That's what I have been catching them on lately... I bring my drop shot rod and a pocket sized plano full of Warning Shots in Green Pumpkin and Morning Dawn and a second casting rod to toss different baits to change it up, but always end up going back to the drop shot.
How exactly is a drop shot fished from the bank? I thought that was a boat technique . ????
ib_of_the_damned reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 6:12 AM, Sharkicane said:How exactly is a drop shot fished from the bank? I thought that was a boat technique . ????
Same way as from a boat. I have only bass fished off a boat once. I hit up local city park lakes...
But as for drop shotting from the bank, I typically go 6-12" between the hook and weight, cast out, drag/twitch/hop all the way back to me. I only use shorter leader length when I drop shot small creatures/craws, typically 2-4" between hook and weight.
Bankbeater reply :
Jig and craw at the lakes I fish.
WRB reply :
Surprised a quarry lake is opened to public use as the banks are usually very steep dropping off vertically. So you have clear deep water close to shore with little cover.
Quarry lake bass are often close the deep break edges and near where the road bed used by equipment working the pit.
I am not a fan of casting a drop shot rig and dragging it, slip shot rig is more effective for me. Just any finesse presentation will work using 5 lb to 8 lb line. Nail head worm wacky rigged would be good, Ned rig, slip shot, drop shot, darter jig, T-rig, Stick worms etc.
Tom
Yakalong reply :
fluke has served me well ????
Sharkicane reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 7:54 AM, Yakalong said:fluke has served me well ????
I have had a little luck with a fluke but frankly I dont really know how to fish one and its with my spinning rod I cant really tell what the bait is doing when I twitch it so its hard to tell if its doing what it suppose to. Plus, I cant get it that far out there and I think @WRB is right about them being out there deep. Which would explain why I don't see or hear of anyone catch big ones just small stuff.
Catt reply :
Sharkicane reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 8:29 AM, Catt said:
What rig is that?
Catt reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 8:33 AM, Sharkicane said:What rig is that?
Wacky Rig ????
That's how I rig one
The swivel stops line twist & adds weight
Sharkicane reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 8:35 AM, Catt said:
Wacky Rig ????
The swivel stops line twist & adds weight
About how long is that leader? I need to get some more terminal tackle I have swivels but only 3/0 hooks. 
ww2farmer reply :
When it's tuff, I throw a wacky rigged stick bait on a wacky jig head.
When it's really tuff, I throw a wacky rigged finesse worm on a wacky jig.
When it's really really.........really tuff. I tie on the heaviest tungsten sinker I own, peg it to the nose of the biggest, ugliest hunk of plastic I can find, and fish for single bites, in god awful places...............I might not get many bites, but they are usually good ones.
Sharkicane reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 7:38 AM, WRB said:Surprised a quarry lake is opened to public use as the banks are usually very steep dropping off vertically. So you have clear deep water close to shore with little cover.
Quarry lake bass are often close the deep break edges and near where the road bed used by equipment working the pit.
I am not a fan of casting a drop shot rig and dragging it, slip shot rig is more effective for me. Just any finesse presentation will work using 5 lb to 8 lb line. Nail head worm wacky rigged would be good, Ned rig, slip shot, drop shot, darter jig, T-rig, Stick worms etc.
Tom
I’ve got the terminal tackle for a finesse c rig. Should I got with 1/4 or a 1/2 bullet weight? That’s what I got lol. I’m putting it on 8 lb flouro.
On 5/15/2018 at 8:48 AM, ww2farmer said:When it's tuff, I throw a wacky rigged stick bait on a wacky jig head.
When it's really tuff, I throw a wacky rigged finesse worm on a wacky jig.
When it's really really.........really tuff. I tie on the heaviest tungsten sinker I own, peg it to the nose of the biggest, ugliest hunk of plastic I can find, and fish for single bites, in god awful places...............I might not get many bites, but they are usually good ones.
I plan on ordering some vmc wacky jig heads. So I’m looking forward to that.
On 5/15/2018 at 8:48 AM, ww2farmer said:When it's tuff, I throw a wacky rigged stick bait on a wacky jig head.
When it's really tuff, I throw a wacky rigged finesse worm on a wacky jig.
When it's really really.........really tuff. I tie on the heaviest tungsten sinker I own, peg it to the nose of the biggest, ugliest hunk of plastic I can find, and fish for single bites, in god awful places...............I might not get many bites, but they are usually good ones.
I plan on ordering some vmc wacky jig heads. So I’m looking forward to that.
Riazuli reply :
I have a few approaches here:
Throw everything at em but the kitchen sink, and try to see what others are using and is working or just throw something different than what others are using.
Also, go super early - early bird gets the worm, or early worm gets the fish? My thought here is that the bass haven't wised up to all the lures thrown at em like they probably have by the end of the day vs the beginning.
With clear water, go natural colors and finesse, but with heavy pressure, don't be shy to throw on something bright, big, and loud either - Chances are that others aren't trying stuff like that.
Catt reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 8:37 AM, Sharkicane said:About how long is that leader? I need to get some more terminal tackle I have swivels but only 3/0 hooks.
The leader length has nothing to do with the swivel stopping line twist or added weight.
That picture is about a 12" leader & the hook is a 2/0
K.I.S.S. ????
burrows reply :
5 inch super fluke
scaleface reply :
crappie lures
thinkingredneck reply :
Try a lizard, trick worm or zoom u vibe worm.
blckshirt98 reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 6:12 AM, Sharkicane said:How exactly is a drop shot fished from the bank? I thought that was a boat technique . ????
I'm a 100% shore guy, dropshot probably 80% of the time, and catch 90% of my fish that way.
I use a fairly long leader (30" or so and eyeball the hook into the midpoint. The long length from hook to weight is because I'm dealing with both a) casting out from shore so the line will be at a 45 degree angle or so, and b) the natural incline of the lake topo. So 15" between the hook and weight will actually only have the bait sit maybe 6-8" off the bottom. From there you cast it out, barely twitch the rod, and let the bait sit. I'll leave the bait in relatively the exact same spot for a minute or more at times, which is when I get a lot of (subtle) bites.
SJex reply :
Dropshotting a Zoom Shakey Head Worm with a 3/16 oz weight
Ned Rigged Zman Tubez with a 1/16oz to 1/8oz Jighead
Sharkicane reply :
So far I’ve only ever gotten bites around stuff like this and there is quite a bit of it along with limbs and stuff. I don’t see many large ones around this stuff mostly very tiny or small bass. Occasionally there are some around 12 inches long but it’s few and far between.
Sharkicane reply :
@Catt @ww2farmer @WRB @NYWayfarer @Dorado @KY Bassin @ib_of_the_damned @Gundog @the reel ess
Okay here is my list ill I’ll be ordering based of the recommendations from this topic. Please let me know if I left anything off or need to add/change anything
Zoom baby brush hog - green pumpkin, watermelon w/red flake
zoom super salty fluke - watermelon w/red flake (have several in green pumpkin already)
zoom trick worm - watermelon w/ red flake, green pumpkin
GYCB - Fat ika - watermelon w/black flake
GYCB - Senko 5 inch - watermelon w/black flake (I have some in green pumpkin already)
GYCB - 4inch - watermelon magic
YUM warning shot - green pumpkin
VMC weedless wacky rig - 1/8 and 1/16 oz has 1/0 hook. ( got these to cover all wacky requirements instead of getting these and wacky hooks on top of it)
Gama EWG 2/0 hook (already have some 3/0 I think these should let me Trig all the soft plastics)
Gama Aaron Martens TWG drop shot hook size 1
bobber stoppers ( I have some 1/4 bullet weights already, figured I could use these with those for a drop shot rig instead of buying more weights)
Catt reply :
On 5/17/2018 at 5:43 AM, Sharkicane said:Please let me know if I left anything off or need to add/change anything
A second job! ????
WRB reply :
Lots of green, Robomworm 6" MMIII (purple) and Oxblood red flake (cinnamon).
Tom
bowhunter63 reply :
Wacky Worm.
Sharkicane reply :
On 5/17/2018 at 5:49 AM, WRB said:Lots of green, Robomworm 6" MMIII (purple) and Oxblood red flake (cinnamon).
Tom
I will get those added. The 2 wacky rig jig heads i got I just got them in green as well. Is that to much green lol? would brown or black be a more versatile color for the jig head?
WRB reply :
Black is universal.
Tom
A-Jay reply :
On 5/15/2018 at 8:29 AM, Catt said:
Oh - I'm trying this one !
A-Jay
Gundog reply :
@Sharkicane the list looks good to me. Good luck and I hope you catch a lot of bass.
the reel ess reply :
On 5/17/2018 at 5:43 AM, Sharkicane said:@Catt @ww2farmer @WRB @NYWayfarer @Dorado @KY Bassin @ib_of_the_damned @Gundog @the reel ess
Okay here is my list ill I’ll be ordering based of the recommendations from this topic. Please let me know if I left anything off or need to add/change anything
Zoom baby brush hog - green pumpkin, watermelon w/red flake
zoom super salty fluke - watermelon w/red flake (have several in green pumpkin already)
zoom trick worm - watermelon w/ red flake, green pumpkin
GYCB - Fat ika - watermelon w/black flake
GYCB - Senko 5 inch - watermelon w/black flake (I have some in green pumpkin already)
GYCB - 4inch - watermelon magic
YUM warning shot - green pumpkin
VMC weedless wacky rig - 1/8 and 1/16 oz has 1/0 hook. ( got these to cover all wacky requirements instead of getting these and wacky hooks on top of it)
Gama EWG 2/0 hook (already have some 3/0 I think these should let me Trig all the soft plastics)
Gama Aaron Martens TWG drop shot hook size 1
bobber stoppers ( I have some 1/4 bullet weights already, figured I could use these with those for a drop shot rig instead of buying more weights)
For the Trick Worms, grab a bag of bubble gum color. No, make that several bags. I catch more on that color than the others combined and I have 5 colors. I just checked. But the two you mentioned are good. I also like limetreuse. You can always tell which colors work by going to WalMart in the spring and seeing what color they're out of. That's bubble gum.
Sharkicane reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 8:53 AM, the reel ess said:For the Trick Worms, grab a bag of bubble gum color. No, make that several bags. I catch more on that color than the others combined and I have 5 colors. I just checked. But the two you mentioned are good. I also like limetreuse. You can always tell which colors work by going to WalMart in the spring and seeing what color they're out of. That's bubble gum.
I will get some of those. If I Texas rig the trick worm would the 2/0 or 3/0 hook be better ? And do you add a bullet weight?
I plan to wacky rig them as mentioned but I’ve read Texas rigging them works well to.
the reel ess reply :
On 5/18/2018 at 9:16 AM, Sharkicane said:I will get some of those. If I Texas rig the trick worm would the 2/0 or 3/0 hook be better ? And do you add a bullet weight?
I plan to wacky rig them as mentioned but I’ve read Texas rigging them works well to.
3/0 is the perfect size for these, T rigged. 2/0 is a better size for the smaller Zoom Finesse Worm. But you could probably get away with 2/0 for both.
DogBone_384 reply :
T-Rigged Zoom U-tail and 4” Senko on a 1/8 oz. Keitech.
keltonz reply :
I'll list a few:
1. Roboworm in Morning Dawn, MMIII, or Green Pumpking, either on a drop shot or light shakey head
2. Zoom Super Fluke in Watermelon Red or Albino, rigged weightless and fished slowww
3. Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw in Green Pumpkin Gold on a light t-rig or shakey head
greentrout reply :
Been turning to the Creme Scoundrel, too, lately...
KY Bassin reply :
I’ve had some success here recently with the Falcon Lake craw color. I like that color for my SK magnum rage bug and Rage craw. Works really well on a T rig soft plastic and if you throw it on a jig. Strike king offers a falcon lake color hack attack jig to pair up with those baits as well.
Sam reply :
Shaky Head presentation.
LCG reply :
Zman TRD
Zoom trick worm
Mepps gold inline spinner #4
ib_of_the_damned reply :
On 5/17/2018 at 5:43 AM, Sharkicane said:@Catt @ww2farmer @WRB @NYWayfarer @Dorado @KY Bassin @ib_of_the_damned @Gundog @the reel ess
Okay here is my list ill I’ll be ordering based of the recommendations from this topic. Please let me know if I left anything off or need to add/change anything
Zoom baby brush hog - green pumpkin, watermelon w/red flake
zoom super salty fluke - watermelon w/red flake (have several in green pumpkin already)
zoom trick worm - watermelon w/ red flake, green pumpkin
GYCB - Fat ika - watermelon w/black flake
GYCB - Senko 5 inch - watermelon w/black flake (I have some in green pumpkin already)
GYCB - 4inch - watermelon magic
YUM warning shot - green pumpkin
VMC weedless wacky rig - 1/8 and 1/16 oz has 1/0 hook. ( got these to cover all wacky requirements instead of getting these and wacky hooks on top of it)
Gama EWG 2/0 hook (already have some 3/0 I think these should let me Trig all the soft plastics)
Gama Aaron Martens TWG drop shot hook size 1
bobber stoppers ( I have some 1/4 bullet weights already, figured I could use these with those for a drop shot rig instead of buying more weights)
I would just get some 3/16 and 1/4 oz drop shot weights. The tear drop shape that QuickDrops makes are quality weights at a good price. They are lead, but if you have lead bans, then omfishingsinkers.com sells tungsten drop shot weights at a cheap price.
I would also suggest getting some 4" Roboworms in Oxblood Light Red Flake, Aaron's Magic, and Morning Dawn. Those three colors should get you bit most places. You can add MMIII or Margarita Mutilator if there is some stain to your waters.
But, the Green Pumpkin YUM Warning Shots have been a go to for me lately. I seem to get bit on those pretty consistently. You can also add the Morning Dawn Warning Shots as well. I have gotten bit on those in clearer water.
bhoff reply :
Wacky rigs and shakey heads are pretty much my go to. I mainly use yum dingers because of the price of Yamamoto baits and Power Team Lures 7" Finicky Tickler for shakey heads.
thinkingredneck reply :
I also think you should change up colors. You want something dark, something gaudy and something natural. You need black, brown, tan, green, purple, red, maybe pink or yellow, white. Don't limit yourself. You need some with glitter and some plain. Don't forget Junebug!
redryder100 reply :
Just my advice if there are a lot of bank fishermen then I'm guessing they don't skip/flip docks, I would give that a try.
BubbaBassin’ reply :
T-rigged Senko fished reeeaaaal slow. Works every time.
buzzbaiter83 reply :
I fish derby’s on a small clear lake that gets pounded with pressure. When the bite gets tough I always go to a Neko Rig or Ned Rig to get a limit or even get a bite. Neko Rig has been money this year.
Russ E reply :
On 5/30/2018 at 12:15 AM, buzzbaiter83 said:I fish derby’s on a small clear lake that gets pounded with pressure. When the bite gets tough I always go to a Neko Rig or Ned Rig to get a limit or even get a bite. Neko Rig has been money this year.
i also use both also on pressured lakes.
the ned rig can catch big fish, but you have to catch a lot of small ones in the process.
This year the Neko, with a 6 inch trick worm, has produced some good sized fish for me.
I use it in the same places as I would fish a shakyhead. a lot of the time the Neko will catch more than the shakyhead.
YaknBassn reply :
As mentioned, a drop shot. If traditional drop shot baits aren't working, I'll rig up a drop shot fluke.
JustinJ reply :
ned rig
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