Confidence Bait

[YakenMax]

Recently on bill dance outdoors I saw an episode about confidence baits. A confidence bait is a lure you can count on when nothin else is working. I guess my confidence bait is a sk KVD 1.5 squarebill crankbait in sexy shad color. So what is your confidence bait?

[Skeeter Driver]

Wow, great question.

I would have to say a white spinnerbait. I know, sounds crazy, but I can cover lots of water with it and that will usually lead me to find some activity. From there I can dial in on the and adjust the lure and its presentation to meet their desire in that circumstance.

Also, In Texas, it gets really hot in summer and you need to wiling to fish offshore structure and do so effectively that would lead me to add a red 10in Berkely Powerbait to the list.

[olegs]

One of my confidence baits is Rapala Jointed Shad Rap in Firetiger color

 

[rockchalk06]

Jig!

Specifically 2. North Star flip n swim in Mistake and Black Series Brown Craw. No matter the time of year, temp, weather etc, I can always count on them to produce.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

I'm better with moving baits.  I can usually get bit on a squarebill or a spinnerbait.

[Bluebasser86]

Jig or a shakyhead depending on the water clarity. 

[aavery2]

Jig or T-rigged worm, if I can't catch a fish on one or the other, I know it's gonna be a long day.

[SirSnookalot]

After 60 years fishing confidence in a lure is the last thing I think about, I will catch them on anything providing they are turned on.  If they are turned off no matter what I use it's going to be a slow day.  Worms, jigs and trailers probably produce as good if not better than anything, 2 baits I don't use very often, I don't care for that brand of fishing.

[Bass Junkie]

Give me a Pointer and a Jig any day of the week.

[MrSwimJig]

Swim Jig would be mine. 5/16oz in white or sexy shad with a kinami 4 inch single grub trailer.

[RAMBLER]

Zoom trick worm, watermelon/red.

[trupp30]

I would have to go with a T-rigged Yum dinger or a Strike King Rage Craw on a rage rig.

[Teal]

I think ive answered a similar question on this board already, but my answer stays the same.

A Jig and craw trailer. I can always count on a jig fish and i have confidence in my ability to fish it comparable with any other tyype of lure.

Shallow or deep cover

deep structure or humps

weed lines

skipping docks

Punchin holes

Swiming it deep like swimbait or spinng bait

Its a very versatile bait and when alot of other both vertical and horizontal presentaions fail, ill just fall back to a jig. And i put it whereever i think the fish are.

[YakenMax]

Another one for me is an sk pro series rattle jig in 1/2 ounce. I like the pumpkin seed colored one

[Stingray23]

For me its a weightless zoom super fluke. D-E-A-D-L-Y

[mr.kagrise]

Though a recent switch to both, KVD Sexy Dawg, JR. in white and ZOOM ultravibe craw in watermelon seed.

[flippin and pitchin]

I don't mean to spit in your lemonade, but I have never understood or grasped having a single confidence bait. I suppose if you fish the same location it's reasonable to have that confidence bait. If you fish a variety of water with multiple scenarios, I can't see a specific lure, be it your "confidence bait" filling every or even most needs. My " confidence bait" on my home lake would never fly at the location I fish exclusively for smallmouth. Having confidence baits for situations is the point I'm getting at. Just rambling as usual.

[HeavyDluxe]

For me, soft plastics (particularly t-rigged/weightless stickbaits and the GYCB Fat Ika) fished really slow.  I really want to gain more confidence in jig fishing this year - and will, if we ever get another stretch of warm weather here in New England.

 

In my head, I know that what another poster said is true... Finding active fish is the real key.  And what confidence baits do for me is allow me to take a deep breath and fish slower.  That means keeping whatever lure in the strike zone longer, more patiently, and thus even enticing a few more bites from even the more passive fish.

[Brian6428]

My confidence baits are a 1/2 oz black and blue jig or a sexy shad colored square bill.

[Basseditor]

My problem is using the same slow presentation baits over and over. I need to cover more water trying to find active fish. It seems I always assume fishing will be slow so I start with a Weightless Senko or super fluke. It's just an old habit I guess because more often then not, fishing is slow most of the time I get to go.

[YakenMax]

My 3rd confidence bait is a rapala jerk bait with a black back red side strip and an orange bottom

[McAlpine]

When it's tough I grab a 1/4oz Terminator T1 double willow or willow/Colorado spinner bait with a white/silver, white/chartreuse, or river minnow skirt based upon water clarity.  Total confidence that I will find fish with this bait fished slowly around weeds or wood.  Super disappointed that they stopped making the 1/4oz.  I have been looking for a replacement as that 1/4oz is nice because you can fish it slowly and it just comes through the water at the right speed.  I've tried some war eagles and picked up some new spinnerbaits from a local producer recently that I have high hopes for but haven't been out with them yet.  Regardless; Rapala has lost my business on this bait by discontinuing the best of the line.