#1 Bass bait

[BIGSHOW]

I was wondering what was everyones favorite bass lure,rig or tactic to use? I'm always looking to find new ways to catch bass. I guess mine has to be soft plastics. But I really need to diversify my knowledge. I've done great this year with the "wacky rig" but things are really slowing down and I was accually fishing Monday in about 3 ft of water and really calm out and I could see fish all over ,Large and smallmouth. But I couldnt get em to bite, all in about 15 min I bet I saw close to 100 fish(detroit river). Then the wind picked up and camoflaged them. Anyhow back to the topic...Not just in a situation like this what your go to bait?

[Skulley]

Since you were on the Detroit River, I will tell you what I like out there. My favorites are really those that put fish in the boat on any particular day. In the last few years, spinnerbaits and tubes have put quality fish in the boat. There are areas on the Detroit River where a crankbait is real hard to beat. As far as what is my go to bait for any body of water I would have to say is a crank bait. I'll tell you which ones are  better after the seasons over....so remind me then.




BD.                  

[oldjigger]

Big Pig Jig   plain and simple

[BIGSHOW]

Seems like spinner baits work good. Last week got a couple pike on em too. Chartreuse was the color I used. What are some other good colors for det river/lake erie? I use white/red also. Never tried any others

[Skulley]

Spinnerbaits are really great out there in the fall BIGSHOW.  S.W.A.G. has a color that he named after me called the BigDog Shad.  It was pretty hot for me last fall out there for Detroit River Largies.  His St. Clair Shad was good there too.  I am partial to more natural colors out there.  Perch colored cranks are always good when you absolutely have to catch a fish.  They were really good for the bass around the perch fisherman last fall.  I'm sure they will be good again this year.  They have been pretty consistent from year to year.  Perch colors should be a standby for anyone who fishes Erie and/or St. Clair.


BD                         

[djkimmel]

I like crankbaits a lot. But I like most other lures and techniques too. I switch around a lot and though many anglers don't like the answer - my favorite lure is the one they are biting the best that day or hour - that is more often my real answer. I have seasonal favorites. Lake and river favorites. Water type favorites. Weather condition favorites. Cloud cover favorites. Morning, noon, evening and night favorites. I used to fish tournaments and though it helps to be extra good at a few techniques sometimes, it really helps to be well-rounded. I liked tournaments because it often meant new lures and techniques on new waters.

Then you have someone like LGMOUTH who appears to use 4 things almost all of the time and does pretty good. He is an outlier though. Even he might have to add 2 or 3 more if he fished outside of the Midwest more. Maybe. Maybe not. He did add the Alabama rig earlier this year as a matter of fact.

I have always looked at it this way - every lure/technique is a tool. I don't pound screws in with a hammer (well, not usually). I use the proper size and type of screwdriver. I usually try to find the right lure/technique for the conditions. At least, that is what I did when I fished lots of tournaments. Exception being when the wheels were just falling off, I would fall back to a lure/technique I had more confidence, experience and enjoyment in using because it made a tough day a little more tolerable by simplifying things.

There are lures/techniques that kind of work like a multi-tool. Or, at least you can make them work that way okay or even pretty good. I guess that is what I really like about fishing - you can make it work however simple or complex that you want to. Since I don't fish tournaments really anymore, I often use the wrong tool (lure/technique) because that's just the way I want to fish today even if something I enjoy a little less might work better at the time.

[Skulley]

You make a lot of sense DK in a sport that makes no sense most of the time. I guess my answer is more like yours........whatever is working at the time. I throw a lot of different stuff in the course of a day on the water. Until I find the right tool or tools to get that job done. It also helps me become versatile and confident in what I'm doing. I will throw 15 to 20 casts with a bait and if I don't hook up, I make a change. If I catch a fish in that 15 or 20 casts, I throw the lure 15 to 20 more times. If I hook up I catch 3 to 5 fish on the bait and then make a change looking for what they want. Sometimes you smash em. Sometimes you don't. I do go back to the fish catcher every once in a while to see that it's still working. Keeping it as scientific as I can has made me better at it. I try to learn everytime I go out. I don't rely on "dock talk". It clouds good thinking processes when trying to find a pattern. An open mind is key with positive thinking. Versatility aids in this. I have way fewer fishless trips this way. I think there was only one time out this year I didn't catch a keeper fish and no times this year where I didn't catch any fish at all. Not bad.



BD.                         

[Got Fish??]

 My best bait would have to be, finesse fishing plastic warms. Weedless,wacky,Carolina or Texas. It's all good.

[BIGSHOW]

I got some good ideas. My goal this weekend is to go try some new stuff (weather permitting). Hey bigdogg, is it you that goes out of the metro park? I've talked to someone,maybe you before. Anyway I was gonna venture a little south down that way. Any ideas? I'm gonna go navigate the area. I go out of elizibeth park and will go down there. I will check out the area, its been a while since i've fished over there. I ususally just look to see where boats are hanging or obvious spots. Dropped some loot today at gander mountain and ready to catch fish

[Skulley]

Dropped some loot today at gander mountain and ready to catch fish

Got caught by some bass lures at Gander.....happens to the best of us.  Anyway I may have talked to you. I talk to so many people where ever I go. Haven't been out of Erie Metro this year.........yet. I still have to buy a season pass.



BD.