Items You Do Use That Don't Work

[mainbutter]

For some reason i have the hardest time catchin fish on deep diving crankbaits.

I have the hardest time on shallow crankbaits. I love shad raps, but I can't catch a darn thing on the shallow version for the life of me! Give me a #9 regular larger-lipped shad rap any day and I'm usually able to land bass and pike with regularity.

[delmuts]

Would you guys clarifiy something for me? What is a swim jig? Do you mean the jigs that have the line tie coming out of the nose so you can work it back with out it getting hung up, or am i missing something?

[Larson15]

A swim jig is a slim profiled weedless "jig" that has a softer weed guard that is used for shallow water patterns and is meant to use a swimming retrieve. It is sort of like a spinnerbait without blades and is usually fished in the middle of the water column. The weight of a swim jig usually ranges from 1/8 ounce to 1/2 ounce. A 1/4oz or 3/8oz is probably the most widely used. It can be fished through grass, timber, pads, etc.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Yes, you can swim any skirted bass jigs but most companies make a jig specificaly for swimming. These swim jigs usually have thinner skirts, thinner weed guards, light wire hooks, and come in lighter weights than your standard bass jigs.

EDIT-yeah, what he said... slow typer...

[delmuts]

OK! I've done this with regular jigs, but didn't realize there were some specialized for this! Great! More stuff!

[EBass]

I've caught bass while reeling in a regualr jig (Bitzy Bug types) then I put on an actual swim jig and nada. Could be the the color or shape to. I put on one of those ribits for a trailer hoping to mimic a diving frog.

The swim jigs have a pointed triangle shaped head that pulls through weeds well. I do use it as a replacement for my spinnerbait. Then my buddy out fishes me using a spinerbait so I end up putting one back on.

Oh add a vote for Carolina Rigs, I only catch pike on them. I do love my crankbaits though, and I too never caught a bass on a deep diver like a DT16. Not one bite - ever and I do use it, well OK not that much. Confidence thing I guess.

1. Chatterbaits

2. Swim Jigs

3. Carolina Rigs

4. Deep Diving Cranks

Looks like I have some things to work on this season.

[Chris519]

For me it is rattle traps. I don't throw them much anymore. I have a dozen of the old style rattle traps. I don't have any of the newer style. I know they are supposed to shine in the fall. I throw more shallow cranks in the fall.

Are the newer style rattle baits more effective than the older style? I notice that the shapes are slightly different...

[BassNut33]

I have had great success on Swim Jigs, I try to match the hatch as much as possible, Strike King makes a color pattern called Smokey Shad that has worked well for me. I had to experiment quite a bit with retrieve till I found what was effective, even within a day on the water. Sometimes they like a steady retrieve and other times I will stop it and pop it few times. When fish are less active I will let it fall to the bottom and then rip it.

[goblueM]

interesting to see so many things tossed out that "don't work" that are my go-to lures, and things that others rely on never work for me

proves its all in the technique, confidence, and applying that technique in the proper conditions!

[TODDY]

Very interesting topic....

1) SPRO Frogs...can't catch a thing. Rubber frog with 5/0 hook (usually hardnose or strike king) nail em a lot.

2) Deep diver cranks hit or miss....mostly miss.

3) Swimbaits. Few pike and few dink bass.

4) Carolina rigs. Very little success overall

I would love to fish with some of you that excel in the areas that I feel are my short-comings, and perhaps help a brother out in an area that they feel are their weaknesses.

TODDY

[mainbutter]

proves its all in the technique, confidence, and applying that technique in the proper conditions!

No kidding! I find that what works on one lake doesn't work on others quite often, not to mention seasonal changes, weather, time of day etc.

I tend to mostly fish on warm, calm, sunny days, in the summer months, usually close-ish to shore on smaller lakes. This certainly affects which lures and presentations work for me.

[delmuts]

I watched a show with Kevin Vandam fishing swim jigs! Yep! I'll be adding some of those to the box this year!

[MedicineMan]

EBass,

You've never caught a Bass on a DT16? Man, you must suck! DT16's are my bread and butter in the fall.

[goblueM]

step one: put on DT16. Step 2: catch 127 pike Step 3: Catch 87 bass

[Fisherman45]

I have issues with the ribbit frogs with the paddle feet can't keep the pike off long enough to catch bass. No problem with scum frogs or spro's.

[EBass]

My buddy Brandon likes DT16's and swears by them too, but for me - nada. Oh by the way I want that map.... Brent told me...

[Ctrl_Alt_Dlt]

all jigs and texas rigged worms. Maybe its my pole, maybe its my experience, maybe its my line? I use a skeet reese heavy 7'2 with power pro 20lbs. I have caught bass off jigs and texas rigged worms, but they feel like accidents or coincidentals. I would just hop the jig around, then bam...something on the line. Wish I knew what I was doing more. I may need to fish it more religiously.

[delmuts]

DLT The big thing with either a jig or texas rig is to make yourself fish it ! When i started out with them that was all i took with me.( i have a couple of small ponds that i learned at) Catching a fish at first it is kind of by accident, but soon you will get a feel of the bottom, cover, or a fish. Then you can serious with them!

[MedicineMan]

Ebass, like I said... maybe you're just a sucky fisherman!

Btw, if you behave yourself for the remaining winter months then maybe I'll give you a copy of that map.

[EBass]

Bastage - just coz I didn't video tape the entire lake doesn't mean I'm sucky. I caught that 20" right in front of you. Any ways, I want that map and now we're hijacking this thread.

[Cecil]

Hey, if you guys are going to fight about it, I want a copy too

[BassNut33]

all jigs and texas rigged worms. Maybe its my pole, maybe its my experience, maybe its my line? I use a skeet reese heavy 7'2 with power pro 20lbs. I have caught bass off jigs and texas rigged worms, but they feel like accidents or coincidentals. I would just hop the jig around, then bam...something on the line. Wish I knew what I was doing more. I may need to fish it more religiously.

I would say Texas rigged worms are my bread and butter especially in the mid summer months. Sometimes I think that you have to use the proper bait in the proper conditions and time of year. The perfect example of this IMHO, is a spinnerbait, great in the spring and the fall. Mid summer months I may only put a few in the boat. That is when I turn to my soft plastics jigs and deeper diving cranks. We are currently in a great era of fishing, with web there is so many places to gather information presentations and techniques.

[Gardiner14]

For me Cranks and rattle traps. I havent used them a hole lot but when i have I havent had luck. I always seem to get snaged. A couple more are Buzzbaits and Walk the Dog baits. Iv caught fish on them but I throw them more because I love the way they look going through the water.

[MedicineMan]

Ebass, I didn't video tape the ENTIRE lake.

Btw, here's a little taste of the map...

[Cecil]

Pretty sure I fished that spot this summer. Assuming its on the east shore about half way down the lake...