Best Bait For April/may?

[NC bassin]

hey guys, went out fishing today and didn't have much luck, caught a little one on a river bug but didn't land any others, I have been tending to use strike king, Shim E Sticks alot, I hooked into a good 5 pounder but the hook didn't set proporly, any tips on how to better rig a texas/wacky rig so that it is a forsure hook up and you dont lose the fish? or any other baits that are working. Thanks:) - James

[5fishlimit]

I've been doing well with Rage Tail craws TX rigged in the Falcon lake color. Rat-l-traps in red. Chatterbaits in white, chartreuse, and white/chartreuse have also gotten some bites, too.

[NC bassin]

what time of day have you been fishing this baits?

[5fishlimit]

I'm usually out from safe light until about 1 or 2pm. The fish will let you know what they want.

[NC bassin]

alright apreciate it hopefully tommorow ill get out about 10, I have to go load up my new tackle box.

[Quitlimpin]

I've tend to do better with moving baits this time of year. Almost all of my fish this spring have come on a swim jig.

[NC bassin]

I've never really learned how to fish a swim jig, whats the best way to do it?

[Quitlimpin]

Shoot, just chunk it out there and reel it back in. I'll go like 5 casts at a normal pace, 5 slow, 5 fast, and so on. Just kinda play with your retrieve; stop & go, quick jerks, etc. If you haven't dialed in any fish after a bunch of casts, just move on to something else.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

The majority of my fish this year have come on spinnerbaits.  Mostly chartreuse and a couple on white and red ones.

[bwillis]

Almost all of my bass I've caught in the last week have come on a chatterbait.  Different colors and sizes, but usually on a steady retrieve.

[Felix77]

Most of mine have come on finesse swimbait type baits (Grubs, Keitech minnows, swimmin super fluke jr)

[roadwarrior]

 NorthStar Original Swim Jig (bluegill)/ RageTail Menace

 

Red Eye Shad

 

Smithwick Rogue

[PondBoss]

Been doing really well with Bomber Square-A, Wacky rigged trick stick, and a blade bait called the Katana.

[NC bassin]

thanks guys!

[roadwarrior]

Well now, some of our sponsors offer the #1 bait/ lure in a number of categories. 

I have been fishing these with good success this spring. However, I will suggest a

few others (not sponsors) that have always been great producers for me:

 

MegaBass PopMax and LC Sammy

LC Pointer and MegaBass ITO Vision 110

GYCB Senko and Fat Ika

XCalibur Xr50 (Blue Chrome)

Norman Fat Boy

LC 2.5 & 3.5

Hollow Belly, Keitech Swing Impact Fat and Shadalicious

Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad

 

 

 

Me

[Hogsticker]

Jerks - Pointer 78's, Damiki Slim Jacks, and Storm twitch sticks. Smaller profile baits with more roll than wiggle.

ALSO - Finesse spinner baits, 3/16 to 5/16 oz., 3 inch Senkos nose hooked with a tiny portion of nail weight. 

[PABASS]

My top producer for me this year has been a Smithwick Suspending Rouge chrome/black orange belly and with red hooks.  Caught my 3 Largest fish on them this year.  Going out Sunday and hoping it produces then, I believe its still pre-spawn but since the last time I had fished a month has past and Bass still appeared to be in pre-spawn.

[iceintheveins]

For me it's a spinnerbait. Jigs second place.

[Toeshots]

Red Eye Shad by a mile. Nothing else has really produced including my beloved jig.

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

In VA nothing is better than a SENKO this time of year.   Weightless or with a small pegged sinker.  I mean nothing is better except maybe some of my secret home made baits............LOL

 

Jay

[SissySticks]

If I'm beating the bank, I'll usually start with a grub, a #6 x-rap, a #5 shad rap, or a 3/8 swinging jighead with a creature on it to cover some water. 

 

Then if I need to  I'll slow down with a 3-4" senko, a 7" SK Super finesse worm on a shakey head, or some kind of 3-4" zman softbait on a 1/16oz. open mushroom jighead.

 

I'll fish a drop shot worm, the 3/8 football head, the 7" finesse worm, or the grub or small softbait on a heavier jighead for offshore pre/post spawners if I'm not finding active fish shallow.

 

If I really get in "oh crap" mode, I'll drop shot a 3" tiny brush hog on a short leader around bedding areas.