jr231

Definitely makes sense to locate but not catch them when prefishing

Rage bug/craw/menace, senkos, zoom Flukes and a few different style jigs should help you out. And a topwater walk the dog & popper.

It's in your head (; Ever fished a swim jig with a menace trailer ??? Ever fished a weightless or t trigged menace ?? Honestly... I would have kept the skirt but the hook it comes with is elongated for the skirt to Fit above the gap... When you swap to a preferred hook the skirt doesn't have anywhere to go ! So I tried it like this... I stuck a few around some cat tails and a few over some rocks in a small cove.. I'm sold it doesn't need a skirt... But aye buddy, You just go ahead and keep ur skirts.

Normally only caught on livebait because that is the easiest way to catch them... The hardest part isnt catching them.. it's finding em ! Every recommendation you're about to receive is based off experience of another anglers success. There is no secret swimbait or lure... Big fish can be had on anything from worms and jigs to spinnerbaits and topwaters... Finding the big one depends on your timing and location.. I can go throw a Roman made swimbait on a megabass combo and it doesn't mean I'm going to get a hog...

Most of my spinning setups have braid 15lb or 20... You don't have to go that light on spinning gear... I have one rod I can absolutely bomb a weightless fluke with hardly any effort... And the whole combo doesn't cost more than 75 dollars..

I've had some recent success with no skirt and craw trailer. Got the freedom and swapped the hook to 3/0 ewg and added a preferred trailer.

Best chance at a smallmouth like that depends on location. Nice fish

Try a jig

Creme was a genius.

@JustJames no.. one of them are huge ! It'd be cool to catch one.. I'm almost always targeting bass tho..

greens, chartreuse, orange, browns and blue typically.

Right...! I've seen companies name their color pumpkin and it could be green , brownish , or orange.. never understood that.

I think that the a-rig was first a saltwater rig.... Sexy shad is duplicated by so many companies because it sold so much... Whatever sells is going to be what keeps getting made... I think catt was dead on... Who determines popularity ??? We do.

I think the point was you don't need to spend 20+ dollars an a topwater lure when many others half that price fool adult bass daily... That being said... If I was going to spend that much money on a single lure (which I wouldn't) it would be on a top water... Much less likely to lose it than a jerkbait . Honestly , I see both sides of the spectrum... It depends on the person.. and their wallet of course.

The area is marked off for a reason ! I'm not saying he deserved it but it could have been prevented.. He basically ran a red light intentionally . Sad for sure.

That's a carp

Well read this thread.... Fish where big fish are known to live Jigs, worms, and swimbaits are the most common reply to this question.

Common carp are known to eat alot of things and are often taken on small bass lures... But there are some grass carp in a pond I frequent and I can't even get a nibble... I've tried everything recommended to me... Sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, part of a cat tail , dough balls... Nothin ! Even chummed for a few days in a row to get them used to feeding in an area and that would call them in.. but couldn't get a bite.. I'm not shooting them with a bow either.. lol

Thanks for sharing !! I'm here to comment and tell you that a noisy topwater isn't the only thing that will get bit at night. Try a zoom ol monster in a dark color, chatterbait, and my favorite last year was a DT fat 3 Just some options for ya when your topwater bite dies down in your honey hole. Cuz it will.

Yea im not doubting it at all... I don't target them ever really... It was a surprise though !

@bassh8er alright bud.

This is just my opinion.. if you're going to use a bobber, then you should use live bait...the only way I see using a bobber with a senko style bait is floating it back under docks and such...otherwise , just use live bait... Gulp does not outfish livebait... And there is no shame in using it if this is the route you choose to take... Nightcrawlers , shiners, creek chubs and crawdads all work great as bait for many types of fish !! Don't care for the gulp... I have had success with the minnows on a dropshot but still not my favorite... Also know people who use them jigging while Ice fishing... As for those yum dingers.. learn to use them Texas weightless and wacky. You'll catch alot more bass these ways then you will "dead sticking "

@RoLo that's 3-4" up my forearm... If you have hands that big.. you're in the wrong profession ! P.s I know you're retired.

I got out for a couple hours earlier... Caught a few bass... And noticed some catfish prowling the shallows... So I decided I was going to catch a couple gills and use em for bait.. well I ended up catching some brutes on some crappie nibbles. They were thick too.