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I generally try to think about WHY a person is asking. The whole desert island bring only 3 lures just screams "what should my favorite bait be." A picture and a "How would you fish this?" I wouldn't, unless I have a map. Show me the map, or at least describe it with a little detail, and I'll answer. "Best" rod for $150? Pretty much any of them. $25 for a lure is ridiculous. Is it? Those are the same people that blow through $8 bags of senkos like they're candy. Speaking of, "What's your favorite color ______?" "I don't catch fish on jigs. I don't fish them hardly at all, because they don't work for me. Any tips?" Yeah, fish it more. These are all questions that point to not enough time on the water, and not realizing, while there are certainly some good shortcuts to getting started catching bass, nothing can replace time on the water. So, many of my answers will be targeted at trying to get that person on the water to answer the question his/herself.

In a recent thread a member asked the BR membership their thoughts on Crankbait vs Spinnerbait. This type of comparison is common here and seems quite popular. But after reviewing the top 20 response to this one, I had to ask myself why ? After reading through each response it’s pretty easy to see just how diverse the answers to this simple (but really not) question can be. Now if I were a novice bass angler posting this, hoping for info that could help lead me to some definitive answer regarding how & perhaps when to use these baits, I’d be hard pressed to decipher the responses. Taking one sentence from the first 20 responses of this thread shows the sheer diversity of habitat and bait use loud & clear. There are no names attached to protect the innocent; you know who you are. Check it out. A-Jay I mostly throw spinnerbaits through scattered visible vegetation or over the top of submerged hydrilla and then only after not getting bit on other moving baits. I tend to use a spinnerbait when bass are feeding on shad and there is some wind. Cranks can be anytime I can reach bottom I treat a spinner bait as a night only lure I like spinnerbaits better in brushpiles , laydowns , beaver houses and over vegetation I hate spinnerbaits, so I would always prefer a crankbait. crankbaits i throw anywhere there is hard bottom, mainly rock or a long point I like Spinners during the day, Cranks in the evening, and surface early morning. In all honesty though, there really isn't any general rule of thumb, more often than not you simple have to let the fish tell you what they want. I throw crank baits more when the water is clean and spinner baits when its more stained. I also wont throw a spinnerbait in any water over 10 It's more about what cover I'm fishing, and activity level. if the water is clear and the fish the bass can get a good look at the bait, I'm more inclined to use a crankbait. I throw crankbaits to start to cover some water. Crankbait if I'm banging rocks but I use a Spinnerbait for everything else In 5-7 ft. of water use a spinner bait in all water.. I’ve had much better results w spinnerbaits over cranks I will reach for spinnerbaits first when there is a good breeze or during low light and cloudy conditions The only time I use a spinnerbait over a crankbait is when I am fishing around heavy cover like water willows, or lily pads. I always choose a spinnerbait over a crank bait, but sometimes fish just don't want to commit to it, Spinnerbaits for me are routinely fished in the top third of the water column and Crankbaits are used to fish the bottom third; Rarely are either effective in the middle third.

@J Francho, I agree, that more context and background to any question in an open forum such as this is beneficial. It took me a little while to understand that here. What took me longer was how much context and background might be missing to the replies. It takes a while on here, but after a few months, we start to have an idea of what fish, waters and conditions a person is using as their baseline to answer. @A-Jay , @Catt and @Bluebasser86 might post seemingly conflicting answers to the same question -- if a reader doesn't yet know that the conditions each of you is facing might be entirely different. I'd go out and try something that A-Jay threw successfully last week with no success .....never realizing that he'd been bagging huge pre-spawn smallies in deep, cold, clear water, while I was targeting LMB in warm, post-spawn muddy tidal waters

Almost always, what's missed is the problem solving part tying a particular bait on achieves. I'm fishing eel grass, so am I gonna tie on a squarebill? No, a bullet head spinnerbait will come through better. Do I care what the wind is doing, water clarity, or barometric pressure? None of those is gonna help my crank bait get through the eel grass.

Ask 10 different bass anglers a question and you get 12 different answers. If replies reflect the experience of the angler answering simply take that into account. What may seem absurd to one angler answers the question for another. Bass fishing there isn't one answer or solution to catching bass on any given day. I try to make an effort to determine where the angler asking a question or recommendation is located, what specie of "bass" the angler is targeting and what type of of tackle is being used to focus on a appropriate reply. We all tend to fall back on our personal preferences and experiences that bias our responses. Tom

Magic Bullet Syndrome.

it is definitely interesting to see the responses like this. I do agree that it can be quite difficult to understand most of what we say. what i have found to be helpful which is not always an option, is once you read something go test it. In saying that I think we should spend more time teaching anglers about the where rather than what lure to use. if they understand more of where the fish are they can understand how to properly present a lure in that situation. i think i've been reading spoonplugging too much

Or you can get a brand new tatula sv for $105...

Mike, Never has anyone so perfectly encapsulated my lot in this world of fishing!!! I know enough to be dangerous,(mainly to the trees and rocks, less dangerous to the fish!) I find this forum fun and I am sure that once I get out on the water I will have plenty of moments when I try something that I saw on here and I will think, ah, now I get it! But in the mean time I do hope that a lot of you long time anglers and posters who actually do seem to know what you are talking about, keep talking about it, even if it is basically the same thing someone else said. Somebody with a head as hard as me might need to hear it 3 or 4 times for it to sink in! Thank you to all of you helping us poor want-a-be's out! Bobby

Since I am satisfied with my current bass boat and am not in the market, I kind of ignored this thread. Then I noticed that the posts just keep growing and decided to take a look. The number of newer and completely new members responding to this thread is phenomenal. To all of you who have decided to purchase this boat, I hope it increases your fishing satisfaction.

When you have interchangeable lures in a lot of situations people are going to rely on their personal experience . My lure preference right now is a lot different than ten years ago .

Being new to the forums and someone who has fished a lot, but not with any type of direction or true knowledge of best practices, I think it is good when a thread gets a bunch of somewhat convoluted thoughts. I like everyone's perspective. I have always been more of the school of thought that if you want to catch anything it starts with holding your mouth right! For me it always comes down to confidence in what and how you are doing.

That's universal to any subject, those with knowledge and experience will be able to filter out what is more likely to be accurate and relevant, where as the inexperienced novices will either get utterly confused, or latch onto things that may not be helpful.

all great advice above. I love the c rig. There are so many variations, and most mentioned above. One of my favorites rigs to fish when I need a limit is a finesse version of a C Rig. I take a 3/16 oz tungsten, then put 1 or 2 punch stops, and then my hook. I can adjust as needed. I like to throw this anywhere from 1-10 feet around scattered vegetation. Almost any bait will do. A few of my favorites are a 6 inch finesse worm and lizard, but a 3.5" tube is my favorite. It mimics everything, a craw, shad, bluegill, goby or darter. That rig with a small tube has outfished a wacky senko many many many times. Another little tip, I like to use spinning gear with 8lb high viz braid with a mono leader. Some bites are very subtle, that high viz helps a ton. I also love to drag around 3/4 oz on the ol ball an chain with a 8 inch lizard or 10 inch zoom ol monster.

I'm noticing lately I'm starting to understand how to figure out patterns,locating fish and using the proper lure for those situations and getting bigger fish more often instead of just throwing at bank with the lure I enjoyed/ had confidence with and hope to get lucky it's pretty cool feeling just wanted to share. PS also reading alot more about bass and there environments

I'm just Rank ~ A-Jay

Great reply. 100% correct and couldn't be put any better. I love this site and there is a lot of good info. Can ask just about anything. I've fished long enough and will never be posting about fishing for what color is best, is a Rapala better than Bandit. What are your favorite soft baits for River fishing, what are your favorite topwater lures and why? These things are all subjective and a lot of the questions are to fill some guys tackle box to take away trial and error as most of us guys have learned on our own. It's done quite often here. You could fill a tackle box for someone but it means nothing. Does not guarantee fish. Time put into it and confidence will. I realize someone new has to start some where. And you are new to something a short while unless you just don't get out enough. But you can do some of the homework yourself and post it like an opinion. At least try than ask. I could tell what my 3 or 4 favorite baits are for fishing fall clear lower water conditions in the river. Ones that I kick butt with the last few seasons. But will it help??? Probably not??? Most guys would have a different approach. Most might think my color preference is not the same as theirs. There is no right or wrong.

Technically, ANY single filament - nylon, fluorocarbon, copolymer, fluorocarbon coated, etc - line can be called monofilament. However, the abbreviation "mono" has come to mean nylon line. When we're looking at lines, I don't really care if YZ or a copoly is not a true mono, modern nylon "mono" is a blend of polymers anyway. They're just all marketed differently. I do not try to lump fluorocarbon in there, though.

Not into realistic fishing? I've gotten tired of the "reality TV" type fishing shows that are filmed over a week and edited to look like they slaughtered monster bass in on day. I still watch them because it's still fishing but those shows feel more promotional than anything. Watching MLF makes me feel better about my fishing and lets me know that the pros struggle just as much as I do. That I shouldn't feel let down by a one pound bass but use it as a way to determine a pattern. It's entertaining, educational and a bit of a confidence booster for me.

I've found that the beavers prefer the old style wooden lures instead of the newer plastic ones

That is one reason why my participation in different threads has drastically decreased over the years and I have not provided a response in that thread. Not that it is a good thing not to participate, but the choice of baits that are often used in similar situations is very subjective. In the thread that is referenced, it seems the poster already knows when the baits are used and he recognizes that they are used in similar situations, hence the reason for his question. Once an angler learns how to use two baits used in similar situations it is up to him or her to determine from usage when and where they like to use that bait. I guess I could just post that but it seems to be a rather abrupt response.

Wow...what a thread..can't add much here except the hookset on a C-Rig should be a reel down into the fish and sweep. At least that's what works for me especially heavier weights.

I do it a lot...probably approaching half my time on the water, any given day. I think an 8 wt. is the best all around bass rod, though I'll drift down to a 7 or even a 6 for some specific presentations with smaller flies. I will typically have at least three fly rods rigged and ready to go: One with a floating line designed to turn over poppers and divers (Rio Smallmouth line here, for me). One with an intermediate sink tip line (Scientific Angler Hover is my current choice) One with a full sinking line (Rio Outbound Short is my current one). One of my favorite flies is the Ol' Mr. Wiggley...it's really nothing more than a folded over piece of craft foam and some legs, can be fished several ways, depending on what the fish are doing. Fly fishing is not hard...there's a lot of myths and nonsense floating around out there about it...but trust me: If I can do it, just about anyone can. ...and there are some things you can do with a fly that you can't come close to with gear...that makes me a better fisherman, overall. It's also less tiring for a long day on the water to switch back and forth...different muscles, different casting... Here's some pictures to get you thinking: Here's a yellow Ol' Mr. Wiggley gettin' it done:

The only reason I do it is because most people dont . Nobody gives a hoot who I select .

Think like a bass,,,,,,lol. Your starting to get the hang of it. It only gets better the more we learn. Remember once we learn how to fish at one place, it applies everywhere we fish, that goes with baits and different presentations too. I find it a challenge to figure out what pattern will work today. I also like to take one bait and see how many different presentations I can do with it. its not luck that catches fish it’s skill.

Target bigger fish! Most guys goal is to put 5 in the boat of any size. My goal is I'm in it to win it! Those same guys will tell ya, that aint how the Pros do it! To which I reply, they have 3-4 days to win it, I got 1 ?

It's more about what cover I'm fishing, and activity level. Spinnerbaits come through grass and wood without issue. Crankbaits, not so much. In either case, contact and deflection off the cover you're fishing is critical to success.

New to the forum but I have been learning from it for a while now. Glad I finally decided to participate hopefully I can add to the discussion. Mostly a bass fisherman from missouri but I fish for everything. Hope to talk to you all soon

I dont think it can be beat at full retail. It is a beautiful reel that performs amazing. Glad I don't get paid this week or I'd have 1 or 2 more headed my way

Sorry Tom, I am a bit confused on what you said about Berkley not offering 8# Big game. Are you referring to regular spool or bulk spools? I have bought bulk spools of 6# and 8# Big Game in both clear and green.

it's hard to explain, I use my rod tip to kind of drag it and jig it. Almost like you would a shakey head. I try and move the weight a few inches and add a little jig if need be. If I get caught on vegetation, i will give it a little pop to free it up. A lot of bites come that way. When I first started throwing this rig, I took it to a price lake with gin clear water, worked the rig so i could see it. That helped me learn what the tube was doing with certain movements. I guess you could say I'm obsessed with tubes, I have the nickname "tube."

I've been drooling hard over that one, but I really don't need it or have the money... This thread will be my downfall yet lol

It's always a hard pill to swallow spending more than you might want to when you are buying something. There is probably no one on here (or anywhere) who ever got a bigger motor for his boat and spent more than he wanted to, who is sorry he did. There are plenty of guys, like me, who wishes he'd spent the extra money in the beginning and got the bigger motor. Trust me. If you can afford it, get the biggest motor your hull is rated for. You'll soon forget how much it cost.

For my personal use I reserve the highest modulus blanks for the finesse applications.

Congratulations Ratman! Send out a pic of that classic looking beauty when you get it. It may help us all feel closer to getting ours ?

It's really changed once I got my own boat last year plus spending alot of time on water at least 2x a week I've always fished since I was kid but now it's more like hunting ?

If you're going to have two boats I'd consider making them as NOT similar as possible (while still being well suited to the fishing task). In other words, if you've got a bigger powerboat for bigger waters, spending $2K on a smaller powerboat basically gives you a smaller version of what you've already got. Consider going more extreme: a pedal powered fishing yak ($2K will get you a nicely outfitted one) and will give you a very different experience and possibilities compared to the big boat. Your decision making process is also easier: boat selection becomes very obvious depending on the water you're fishing. Can't take the Nitro on skinny shallow rivers but the yak, no problem. Crossing a big lake in chop? Nitro. If you said you were going to have three boats, then I'd recommend the Nitro plus jon plus yak. But if it's two? Nitro and yak. Make them different. Yak is a very different animal, very simple compared to powerboat - no motor, easier to manage and maintain, etc. Of course all this depends largely on what waters you typically fish so more info on your specific situation would help.

The local Dunhams dont have them unless they just come in . I'll check tomorrow . They are excellent square bills .

I just stopped by Dunham Sports and found some old clearance Rapala Crankin Raps. I picked up one of the 5's (I already had three) but I'll go back for more. I have caught bass on the Crankin' Rap 3 Square bill before so I know they work. They had the 3's, 5's, and 10's- about 12 more total. If you have a Dunham's near by, check em out.

Berkley Big Game for a long time

I am not as open as some of you when it comes to revealing what anglers I have selected prior to each tournament starting. Then again, with my performance this past tournament, it is highly doubtful anyone would poach my choices... . In fact, I don't even look at anyone elses choices when they openly list them prior to the tournament. Not that I don't respect others opinions, but I look at it as kind of "dock talk", that I may find myself influenced into choosing someone not based on my evaluation, but based on someone elses ideas. That would be like fishing someone elses spot...

Which one will you use more often? Id go with that one. Or would you rather have 2 Avid/Avix X? Price would come out about the same.

Just talked to my dealer,and she told me my boat is load eligible and will be here next week!My wait is almost over!

The hardest thing to do is deciding to leave biting bass because you think there are bigger fish biting. Knowing previous results from your club's tournaments and other clubs can paint a picture of what you should be fishing for. For example, in the club I fished, Oneida might produce an 18# day from a northern open. Keep in mind, those are the best sticks from all over. 15# might win it my club. In fact, I won on a tough day with 14#, and came in second another time with 12.5#. Alternately, some lakes just churn them out. A place like Conesus gets hammered with a tournaments every day of the week, and multiples on the weekends. In any case, regardless of skill, you need 20# to even consider yourself in contention. I've bags approaching 30# from really good anglers. So, aside from all the very good advice above, it really helps that decision process if you know about what you need to have.

Once the potholes get a certain size up here, they stop filling them and just start charging a toll. Yesterday it cost me $2 Bucks to get the mail . . . . . A-Jay

I’m cecole... dang, so close to winning it all!!!

I like this option best LOL

Prespawn is officially here. I love pitching jigs in the cypress knees when the girls start showing up, and the in close battle. This is the first one that looks like she's been fanning a bed. Bottom tip of tail is a little red

The finest gift you can give to any fisherman is to put a good fish back, and who knows if the fish that you caught isn't someone else's gift to you?