Best lures?
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johnnie crain outdoors
- Posts: 1504
- Joined: Sat Apr 06, 2002 5:00 pm
Best lures?
6" plastic worms-4" creature baits-crankbaits that run six to fifteen feet deep-3/8th ounce spinnerbaits- 3/16th ounce jigs. Colors, shad-bluegill-pearl-chrome-crawfish green-crawfish brown-spinnerbaits-silver blades-gold blades-chartreuse blades-skirts-white-salt&paper-chartreuse/blue/white-firetiger. Good luck. Johnnie
Johnnie Crain
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YAMASENKO
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:00 pm
Best lures?
(1) YAMASENKO
(2) FRENZY DIVER
(3) DANCIN EEL
(4) SCUM FROG
(5) 12oz CHATTER BAIT
(6) JIG N' PIG
(7) SPINNER BAIT W TRAILER
Not necessarily in that order, and color depends on clarity of water, pH, what time of day, and etc. etc., and also depends on what retrieval speed, really there are all kinds of variations in what the "BEST" bait is, and if you have confidence in what you are throwing you will catch fish regardless I think. The most important thing is have fun while you are doing it.
(2) FRENZY DIVER
(3) DANCIN EEL
(4) SCUM FROG
(5) 12oz CHATTER BAIT
(6) JIG N' PIG
(7) SPINNER BAIT W TRAILER
Not necessarily in that order, and color depends on clarity of water, pH, what time of day, and etc. etc., and also depends on what retrieval speed, really there are all kinds of variations in what the "BEST" bait is, and if you have confidence in what you are throwing you will catch fish regardless I think. The most important thing is have fun while you are doing it.
CATCH AND RELEASE SO OUR KIDS GENERATION AND OUR GRANDKIDS GENERATION CAN ENJOY HUNTING THOSE SAME LUNKERS WE HAVE ENJOYED CATCHING.
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YAMASENKO
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:00 pm
Best lures?
mdfisherman it all depends. If you want you could buy a "****E IT COLOR-C-LECTOR" or one of the old lake systems color-c-lector on eBay. You can get the fore mentioned ****e it one at bass pro or Cabela's, and those could tell you what colors you would want to stick to or around.
CATCH AND RELEASE SO OUR KIDS GENERATION AND OUR GRANDKIDS GENERATION CAN ENJOY HUNTING THOSE SAME LUNKERS WE HAVE ENJOYED CATCHING.
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FireFighter28
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:36 am
Best lures?
I know this is a lures forum, but I was wondering about live baits. Ive always used minnows, but lately havent so much as gotten a bite. Ive heard that frozen anchovies on the bottom are doing good around here,(az, lake pleasant)what do you guys think. Fishing onshore mostly in coves.
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brendanc
- Posts: 2720
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Best lures?
I was doing some looking around and kept reading about people using live waterdogs for bait... To be honest, I've never even heard of a "waterdog". Tried to look it up, this was all I could find:
As I read, the lake has 8 species of fish, White Bass, Striped Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Bluegill, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Bigmouth Buffalo Fish, and Tilapia.
The other thing you might want to try is catching your own Bluegill and/or Tilapia and live lining them (if it is legal in AZ). You can also use a baloon as a float if you are fishing near heavy cover.
You do not need the weight or to fully inflate the balloon, usually a 3" inflated balloon does the trick for most bait fish, and it is easier enough to cast without additional weight.
I hope this helps...
BC
As I read, the lake has 8 species of fish, White Bass, Striped Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Bluegill, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Bigmouth Buffalo Fish, and Tilapia.
The other thing you might want to try is catching your own Bluegill and/or Tilapia and live lining them (if it is legal in AZ). You can also use a baloon as a float if you are fishing near heavy cover.
You do not need the weight or to fully inflate the balloon, usually a 3" inflated balloon does the trick for most bait fish, and it is easier enough to cast without additional weight.
I hope this helps...
BC
Brendan C.
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FireFighter28
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:36 am
Best lures?
Hey, thanks alot Brendan. Headin out to the lake tomorrow, so im gonna give that a try, along with anchovies and ill let ya know. thanks alot
Mike O'Farrell
Mike O'Farrell
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brendanc
- Posts: 2720
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Best lures?
No problem... happy to help. Let us know how you do. You can post a fishing report on the Bass Fishing Report Message Board.
Brendan C.
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George Cawthorn
Best lures?
This is a great information filled post!!
In my perspective as primarily a finesse plastics shoreline fisherman faced with ultra clear water conditions often this is my favorites list.
1. Yamamoto Fay Boy Ika (watermelon 194J has worked best for me T-rigged weightless slow crawl)
2. Yamamoto 5" Senko (various colors... I think the action does it more than the color on the Senko, fished slack line drop and then retrieved jerkbait style. To me the Senko is not a worm, it is a soft jerkbait.)
3. 4.5" straight tail worms Roboworm or Bonzai (dropshot various colors)
4. Zoom Tiny Fluke (watermelon black flake has worked best for me dropshot)
5. Yamamoto Kreature Bait (watermelon has also worked best for me on this one T-rigged weightless)
Good fishing to you guys, later.................. geobass
In my perspective as primarily a finesse plastics shoreline fisherman faced with ultra clear water conditions often this is my favorites list.
1. Yamamoto Fay Boy Ika (watermelon 194J has worked best for me T-rigged weightless slow crawl)
2. Yamamoto 5" Senko (various colors... I think the action does it more than the color on the Senko, fished slack line drop and then retrieved jerkbait style. To me the Senko is not a worm, it is a soft jerkbait.)
3. 4.5" straight tail worms Roboworm or Bonzai (dropshot various colors)
4. Zoom Tiny Fluke (watermelon black flake has worked best for me dropshot)
5. Yamamoto Kreature Bait (watermelon has also worked best for me on this one T-rigged weightless)
Good fishing to you guys, later.................. geobass
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Socal Bassman
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:26 am
Best lures?
I'm going to have to agree with those that said that there are no best baits. The way I see it, each type of lure is designed to be fished under certain conditions.
As I read this post, it seems to me that the lures/baits that were mentioned are, in actuality, confidence baits. These are the baits that we use most and consistently catch fish on, so we stick by them day in and day out. Yet, there could be one or two other baits in our tackle box that we don't use often enough (if at all). Thus the lack in confidence. Chances are we'll run into a tough condition and we'll stick to our strengths without even touching those "other" baits. Then when we get back to the dock, we'll say something like "the fish just weren't biting today." Much to our surprise, there will usually be one person who returns to the dock and say they slayed them all day on such and such bait. Quietly, in our heads, we'll say "Wow, I've got that same bait in my box. Why didn't I throw it?"
I can recall a recent tournament I fished where I faced conditions that I'm not used to seeing. Not to mention that it was my first time fishing that lake. According to the locals we ran across, the fishing has been slow. I stuck to my strengths and threw everything at the fish without even a nibble. With just a little over an hour left in the tournament, I was drained. Mentally and physically and I was ready to call it quits. But I heard Ike's voice in my head saying "Never give up." I sat down, enjoying the ride at the back of the boat, and looking through my "bag of goodies" as I call it. As I dug around inside the bag, I ended up sticking myself with a loose spinnerbait. Pulling the bait out, I decided to try throwing it out a couple times. I have virtually ZERO confidence with spinnerbaits, but still gave it a go. Wouldn't you know, on the third cast I connect and boat a keeper. A half hour later, I boat another one. As it turns out, my two only keepers were enough to place me in fourth. If only I had tied one on much sooner.
As I read this post, it seems to me that the lures/baits that were mentioned are, in actuality, confidence baits. These are the baits that we use most and consistently catch fish on, so we stick by them day in and day out. Yet, there could be one or two other baits in our tackle box that we don't use often enough (if at all). Thus the lack in confidence. Chances are we'll run into a tough condition and we'll stick to our strengths without even touching those "other" baits. Then when we get back to the dock, we'll say something like "the fish just weren't biting today." Much to our surprise, there will usually be one person who returns to the dock and say they slayed them all day on such and such bait. Quietly, in our heads, we'll say "Wow, I've got that same bait in my box. Why didn't I throw it?"
I can recall a recent tournament I fished where I faced conditions that I'm not used to seeing. Not to mention that it was my first time fishing that lake. According to the locals we ran across, the fishing has been slow. I stuck to my strengths and threw everything at the fish without even a nibble. With just a little over an hour left in the tournament, I was drained. Mentally and physically and I was ready to call it quits. But I heard Ike's voice in my head saying "Never give up." I sat down, enjoying the ride at the back of the boat, and looking through my "bag of goodies" as I call it. As I dug around inside the bag, I ended up sticking myself with a loose spinnerbait. Pulling the bait out, I decided to try throwing it out a couple times. I have virtually ZERO confidence with spinnerbaits, but still gave it a go. Wouldn't you know, on the third cast I connect and boat a keeper. A half hour later, I boat another one. As it turns out, my two only keepers were enough to place me in fourth. If only I had tied one on much sooner.
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brendanc
- Posts: 2720
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2001 4:00 pm
Best lures?
Just as an aside, here is an article written by Frank Lapinski from our NY prostaff. The article is titled "Tools or Toys". Give it a read:
Author: Frank Lapinski
Title: Tools or Toys
Direct Link to Article: Tools or Toys Article
The other day while I was putting away tackle, I came across boxes full of lures and baits. They had been used once or twice and retired to "this lure has no purpose" status. I began to wonder how did I come to own these "losers" of the fishing lure world. It didn't take long to realize, I had purchased these items because I had not thought through the reasons for making these purchases.
If you're like me and most other fishermen I know, when you walk into your favorite tackle department and peruse the selection of offerings you are thinking; "Wasn't it the pink buzzbait that my buddy Tom caught that nice bunch of fish with?" "Kevin Van Dam just won a tournament on that newly marketed crankbait?" That's the ticket, it is sure to win me the club tourney this Saturday. If this is your motivation for most of your lure purchases, then before you walk into the tackle shop again and spend some more of your hard earned money, you may want to take some advise from someone who has been there and done that.
By examining my reasons for all of these lure purchases, I realized that as a serious fisherman it was more important for me to look at my lures as tools and not toys. If I was going to be a successful bass fisherman, I needed to know not only the right tool use but how to use it and under which conditions. The closest analogy I can think of is mining. If a miner is hired to drill a tunnel through bedrock it would be unproductive to use a bit that is designed to drill through sand or topsoil. The same reasoning applies to bass fishing, lures are designed to be used in certain situations and conditions. To throw a jerkbait with three sets of treble hooks on to a mat of floating moss is the same as attempting to drill through granite with a sand bit. We have to use the proper tool for the conditions at hand.
What is the purpose of a lure? To catch fish of course, but a lure cannot be looked at as something you cast into a lake and fish come swimming from all points to eat it. Bass fishing doesn't work that way. A lure is a tool used to mine fish out of a specific environment. You must analyze the weather conditions, the water conditions, the time of day, the season, the type of body of water i.e.: natural lake, reservoir, or river and form a conclusion. You then make an educated guess as to where the fish will be and only then do you begin to decide what lure you will use. There isn't a single person on the face of the planet Earth who can tell a bass where it has to be when it is in its own environment. But there are some talented individuals that can read these conditions and predict with a high rate of accuracy where the fish are.
These same individuals are smart enough to know; they can't tell a bass when or what to eat. However, they do know which lures in their tackle box will reach the fish and know how to present them in a manner that will entice a bass to strike. The speed and depth of the lure are two very important factors causing bass to strike. Finding out which speed and what depth to fish are the first two things you have to establish in the course of a days fishing. Once you establish that part of the pattern, you can then fine tune it by adding in other factors such as the type or make up of the structure the fish are relating to on any given day i.e.: weed or wood, points or inside corners. This brings us back to the use of proper tools.
To make all this a little simpler, lets break things down to basics. There are three basic speeds; slow, medium, and fast, and three basic depths; shallow, medium and deep. These are relative terms, for example if you find fish at a depth of six feet in a lake that has a maximum depth of seven feet, then that's deep. Let's go back to the Van Dam example, if he caught fish using a crankbait that runs ten feet down, what do we really need to know? Since crankbaits are most effective when they are making contact with something, we assume he was finding the fish in seven to ten feet of water. What is missing from the equation? The speed of retrieve. Was he burning the lure, was he reeling it steady at a medium pace or was he just crawling it across the bottom? Once we determine the missing factors we have the framework of the pattern.
Finding these factors does require that you use the proper tools. If you think the fish are in a certain depth zone, you can alter the speed of the presentation by using different tools. If those fish wanted a even slower presentation you could show them a jig'n pig. Combing the water at a variety of different speeds until the bass tell you what they want. Then try to fine tune this by introducing finer details such as color, sound and wobble or in the case of jigs, motion. Jig retrieves vary in motion, vertical motion such as hopping or horizontal as in a swimming presentation. This will help you zero in on what the fish want and where they are residing for the day. The recipe for a good day of fishing.
This may seem like a lot of thinking to do on a day of recreating. But the more time you spend on the water practicing these techniques it starts to become second nature and you'll spend much less time organizing expensive lures that don't seem to work. There is no substitute for experience, the saying goes, and there is no forum better than fishing to prove that axiom true. So the next time you are in the tackle shop, stop for a minute and think about what you are doing. What is that TOOL going to be able to do for you? Pick your tools wisely and then give lake a good drilling!
Author: Frank Lapinski
Title: Tools or Toys
Direct Link to Article: Tools or Toys Article
The other day while I was putting away tackle, I came across boxes full of lures and baits. They had been used once or twice and retired to "this lure has no purpose" status. I began to wonder how did I come to own these "losers" of the fishing lure world. It didn't take long to realize, I had purchased these items because I had not thought through the reasons for making these purchases.
If you're like me and most other fishermen I know, when you walk into your favorite tackle department and peruse the selection of offerings you are thinking; "Wasn't it the pink buzzbait that my buddy Tom caught that nice bunch of fish with?" "Kevin Van Dam just won a tournament on that newly marketed crankbait?" That's the ticket, it is sure to win me the club tourney this Saturday. If this is your motivation for most of your lure purchases, then before you walk into the tackle shop again and spend some more of your hard earned money, you may want to take some advise from someone who has been there and done that.
By examining my reasons for all of these lure purchases, I realized that as a serious fisherman it was more important for me to look at my lures as tools and not toys. If I was going to be a successful bass fisherman, I needed to know not only the right tool use but how to use it and under which conditions. The closest analogy I can think of is mining. If a miner is hired to drill a tunnel through bedrock it would be unproductive to use a bit that is designed to drill through sand or topsoil. The same reasoning applies to bass fishing, lures are designed to be used in certain situations and conditions. To throw a jerkbait with three sets of treble hooks on to a mat of floating moss is the same as attempting to drill through granite with a sand bit. We have to use the proper tool for the conditions at hand.
What is the purpose of a lure? To catch fish of course, but a lure cannot be looked at as something you cast into a lake and fish come swimming from all points to eat it. Bass fishing doesn't work that way. A lure is a tool used to mine fish out of a specific environment. You must analyze the weather conditions, the water conditions, the time of day, the season, the type of body of water i.e.: natural lake, reservoir, or river and form a conclusion. You then make an educated guess as to where the fish will be and only then do you begin to decide what lure you will use. There isn't a single person on the face of the planet Earth who can tell a bass where it has to be when it is in its own environment. But there are some talented individuals that can read these conditions and predict with a high rate of accuracy where the fish are.
These same individuals are smart enough to know; they can't tell a bass when or what to eat. However, they do know which lures in their tackle box will reach the fish and know how to present them in a manner that will entice a bass to strike. The speed and depth of the lure are two very important factors causing bass to strike. Finding out which speed and what depth to fish are the first two things you have to establish in the course of a days fishing. Once you establish that part of the pattern, you can then fine tune it by adding in other factors such as the type or make up of the structure the fish are relating to on any given day i.e.: weed or wood, points or inside corners. This brings us back to the use of proper tools.
To make all this a little simpler, lets break things down to basics. There are three basic speeds; slow, medium, and fast, and three basic depths; shallow, medium and deep. These are relative terms, for example if you find fish at a depth of six feet in a lake that has a maximum depth of seven feet, then that's deep. Let's go back to the Van Dam example, if he caught fish using a crankbait that runs ten feet down, what do we really need to know? Since crankbaits are most effective when they are making contact with something, we assume he was finding the fish in seven to ten feet of water. What is missing from the equation? The speed of retrieve. Was he burning the lure, was he reeling it steady at a medium pace or was he just crawling it across the bottom? Once we determine the missing factors we have the framework of the pattern.
Finding these factors does require that you use the proper tools. If you think the fish are in a certain depth zone, you can alter the speed of the presentation by using different tools. If those fish wanted a even slower presentation you could show them a jig'n pig. Combing the water at a variety of different speeds until the bass tell you what they want. Then try to fine tune this by introducing finer details such as color, sound and wobble or in the case of jigs, motion. Jig retrieves vary in motion, vertical motion such as hopping or horizontal as in a swimming presentation. This will help you zero in on what the fish want and where they are residing for the day. The recipe for a good day of fishing.
This may seem like a lot of thinking to do on a day of recreating. But the more time you spend on the water practicing these techniques it starts to become second nature and you'll spend much less time organizing expensive lures that don't seem to work. There is no substitute for experience, the saying goes, and there is no forum better than fishing to prove that axiom true. So the next time you are in the tackle shop, stop for a minute and think about what you are doing. What is that TOOL going to be able to do for you? Pick your tools wisely and then give lake a good drilling!
Brendan C.