Help Me Find A Second 'go-To' Bait

[Huntrava]

So I've got a problem.  The issue isn't that I"m a novice fisherman--it's that I'm just not a very good fisherman.  I've been doing it for years--but very poorly.

 

To date, in the last few weeks of fishing, I've landed a hundred baitfish, and dozens of small largemouth (0.1-1.5 lbs) but nothing worth writing home about.  All of these were pulled in with 2" Arkie Grubs, or some other variant of a grub.  Mostly white and brown colored.  My issue is that I can't seem to catch anything with a different bait, and I think this is limiting me to smaller fish.  

 

I've spent hours pitching with creature baits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, spoons, etc.  Nothing, ever.

 

TL;DR: I need another 'Go-To' bait that will land me a fish (any fish, preferably a big one) besides these d**n white grubs.

[MIbassin]

Senkos

[Catch and Grease]

Zoom trick worms

[Raul]

In your own words: "I've spent hours pitching with creature baits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, spoons, etc.  Nothing, ever."

 

Don´t you think that you are not fishing those baits in the right location with the right presentation ? I´m sorry and I excuse me if I sound like an *** but you don´t need a second go-to bait, what you need is to learn how, when and where fish those baits, there´s a ton of articles in the library that you can read and dozens of videos that you can look that cover in practical terms all the situations and conditions where you can make use of those lures.

[Catch and Grease]

And another thing is don't expect to be proficient with a lure after a couple of hours like you mentioned.

[F14A-B]

It may be the very water you fish as well, but you just need to focus on upsizing to plastic worms, and study best time periods, as in seasons,etc..

If you're not even catching a occasional fish on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, re- visit basics, or, find new water...

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Since you are already quite proficient at fishing grubs, maybe try going to a 3-5'' grub.

[roadwarrior]

In your own words: "I've spent hours pitching with creature baits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, spoons, etc.  Nothing, ever."

 

Don´t you think that you are not fishing those baits in the right location with the right presentation ? I´m sorry and I excuse me if I sound like an *** but you don´t need a second go-to bait, what you need is to learn how, when and where fish those baits, there´s a ton of articles in the library that you can read and dozens of videos that you can look that cover in practical terms all the situations and conditions where you can make use of those lures.

 

Regarding alternative baits:  Rage Tail Structure Bug, Cut-R, GYCB Senko, Fat Ika & Kut Tail (MegaStrike ShakE2) and MegaStrike MegaTube Craw.

[MG3370]

I'd at least give a fluke a shot.  Pretty easy to at least get some action out of just a twitch-twitch pause, and it has always been a bait thats been relatively sucessful for me in any water (large resevoir or small pond) and every season.  Pearl white and albino are my typical go-to colors. Just make sure you hook it straight.

[geo g]

Lots of good suggestions.  Senkos, Flukes, Trick Worms are excellent choices that will catch fish of all size, in waters from coast to coast and south to far north.  I personally love the 4" senko type bait,  in watermelon red, junebug, or black.  I fish it weightless or with a 1/32 bullet weight.  Throw it shallow or throw it deep, in the thick junk or in open water.  Fish it slow, or fish it fast.  Dead stick it,  walk the dog with it, or just pull it.  Its a no brainer.  Fish will bite it, just find out what they want THAT DAY!!!!

[Tony L.]

5" senkos and zoom trick worms. Fish them SLOWLY

[Loop_Dad]

Huntrava, I know it is probably overwhelming to go through posts after posts to figure out when you are new....If you are someone I know, I tell them to do the following. Keep it simple silly (KISS) approach. 

 

Get a 4" senko in green pumpkin (color is not that important IMHO but oh well)

Get 1/0 offset worm hook,

Pinch the burbs (because you'll gut hook them)

Get a split shot weight about 4" from the worm,

And cast it out to the area a bit deeper than where you usually throw grub

Watch the line and set the hook if something is different. Keep the line tight (because you have no burb)

 

4" is small enough so you'll continue to be able to catch the small fish you've been catching, but may have a chance at bigger fish.

 

Make sure to learn how to unhook, in case you gut hook a fish

[smalljaw67]

Since you are already quite proficient at fishing grubs, maybe try going to a 3-5'' grub.

 

This is very good advise. You may have tried other baits and you can't get bit because you either fished them at a time what you were using wasn't right or it may have been location but one thing for sure, you lacked confidence in what you were doing. There are tons of other baits you can use and dozens upon dozens of other techniques you can use but you must gain confidence. So, what I would suggest is you upsize the grubs first, if you upsize the grubs you will probably get fewer bites but keep track of the size and then the very next thing to try is a Senko, it does catch all kinds of fish, to me it is the closest thing to fishing live bait.

[Driftb]

You didn't say anything about the water you fish.  There are a lot of waters that contain stunted fish and all you will catch in them is small bass.  Finding bigger bass may take some doing.  With the small baits you are using, you might have to wade through hundreds of fish to get one big fish. To most people that isn't a bad problem to have, as long as they are catching fish.  If there are big fish in your water, might try and find out what successful fishermen in your area are using.  If you go to a local bait shop, ask what's been popular for bass.  It's usually a good sign when a particular color of a lure is constantly sold out. 

 

It's also a big help to use an appropriate hook size and jig weight for the bait you are using.  If I was going to suggest a lure, I would also say a four or five inch red shad or green pumpkin  Yamamoto senko worm hooked through the middle  on a 1/0 circle hook. I like to use an o-ring. Don't use any weight at all. Cast it out, pick up your slack and let it sink to the bottom.  Lift your rod tip slowly and reel it slow for a few feet.  Let it sink again, then reel slowly again.  If a fish bites, drop your rod tip, let him swim with the worm to the count of three, then gently lift the rod and start reeling.  You will catch fish.

 

BTW- Most people want big fish too, but are usually very happy with a 1 1/2 lb bass.  That's a nice fish and about all I caught as a kid, aside for a few big ones.  Keep at it and you will get there.  It doesn't  happen overnight.

[Huntrava]

Thanks for the advice everyone.  Lots of good suggestions.  

 

Here's some more information regarding my current situation:  

• I fish structure from a kayak. 
• My primary fishing areas are in northern virginia.  I hit the Potomac river on a regular basis (Seneca, Algonkian, Gravelly Point), Lake Accotink (there's not much there), Occoquan River and Occoquan reservoir.  To-date, the best fishing has certainly been at Occoquan reservoir.  
• I don't have electronics.

I know some of you are saying I'm fishing the hard baits wrong.  There's no question about that.  It is certainly user error.  I'm going to continue practicing with them until I'm proficient.  

 

In the meantime, just to shake things up, I've got some good ideas from you guys.  I think the 3.5" grubs are a good idea; that's probably what I'll go with first. Seems like Senko's are getting a lot of love from the experts.

 

Regarding alternative baits:  Rage Tail Structure Bug, Cut-R, GYCB Senko, Fat Ika & Kut Tail (MegaStrike ShakE2) and MegaStrike MegaTube Craw.

 

Here's a follow-up question: all the advice and articles I read indicate watermelon/brown/purple soft baits are ideal, but when I fish with white grubs, I'll land twice as many bites as with any other color.  Would I be a moron to pick up some of these baits in white?  

 

Make sure to learn how to unhook, in case you gut hook a fish

 

This is one of the main reasons I'd like to use a different bait.  At the reservoir a few days ago I hooked a fish pretty good through the vein that runs up the top of the gills near the spine.  Hope it wasn't lethal, but he was bleeding pretty well.  I'd sacrifice some of the smaller bites to keep things safer for the fish.

 

@DriftB: seems kinda like what I see people doing with the wacky worm.  Is that about right?  I'll definitely give it a shot.  

[hatrix]

A 1.5# can eat a creature bait but maybe the water just stinks and is not really good. I take a friends son fishing at there apartment pond. And they are soooo small. I can slay them though on mini sweet beavers. But of I go any bigger at all like a baby D-Bomb I can't catch them. It is only the tiniest bit bigger to. These fish are like 1/4 pound small though. I went out to actually buy stuff to use there when we go. I didn't own any small lures

[geo g]

Everyone nicks a gill once in a while.  If its not too bad they will make it.  I have caught bass with old gill injuries where a gill plate was actually separated from the others and that bass fully recovered.  Just treat them with care once you land them.  Also like the post above said, learn how to unhook a gut hooked fish.  There is a trick to it.  You will be an expert before long.  There are videos on this technique.  Be a constant line watcher and set the hook quick after seeing any movement.  This will greatly reduce the number of gut hooked bass.  I would also find other ponds to fish.  There is nothing like variety.

[missouribigbass]

10 inch ribbon tail worm. Every lure has certain conditions they're effective in. The ribbon tail worm CaN be fished in all conditions. To me it's the most versatile of all lures. On those tough days where fish just aren't active I'll throw out a t-rig worm and feel confident I'll put some fish in the boat. Very simple to learn as well. If your wanting to start catching bigger bass consistently forget the 5 inch stuff. Go big and put bigger bass in your kayak. Go with atleast 10s

[FirstnameLastname]

Get a rapalla floating minnow in either original gray or that orange green stripe pattern. That should catch all kinds of bass. If you want a lure that will catch fish in general, a inline spinner should do it. Any color should work, expirament.

[FishTank]

Senkos, Fat Ika, and Zoom Lizards (in that order)....

[papajoe222]

I'll echo a couple of things mentioned that I beleive are the most important.  First if you haven't caught anything over 1.5lb. and you're consistantly catching fish, you need to change locations.  That dosen't mean you need to make a dramatic change of location, a change in depth or relation to deeper water may be all that's needed. I'd stick with soft plastics and the suggestion of switching to a bigger grub is a good one, but seeing as you asked for another confidence bait, a stick worm (Senko) or a Fluke type would be my recommendation.  If gut hooking is a concern when learning to use them, try using a circle hook. It's next to impossible to gut hook a fish with one, but you need to remember not to set the hook with your rod, just reel and keep your rod tip elevated.

[TheSmilingSwordsman]

This time of year, I would try either a lipless crank or a spinnerbait. Both are relatively easy to learn. Check out bassresource on YouTube.

[Comfortably Numb]

Since no electronics I assume you are fishing fairly shallow near the shore

 

May I also assume you are using a jig head with exposed hook?

 

My first change would be to go weedles/snagless. Either with a Texas rig or a hook/jighead with a weedguard. Get into the heavy brush, logs, weeds etc that you may be afraid to throw into now. 

 

I use a weightless 5" stick bait knockoff wacky style with an o-ring or shrink tube. 

 

Second is a Rage craw on a rage rig. Light as possible. I use 1/8,3/16, or 1/4 twistloc hooks for shallows.

 

Both skip well on spinning gear. Skip it right up to the bank under docks and tree limbs.

[TorqueConverter]

Baits are basically tools.  There is no magic bait that does everything and when you locate fish it's amazing how receptive they can be to variety of baits, so I would put emphasis on locating fish by seasonal movement and classic seasonal patters over bait selection.  Don't be afraid to anchor and take you time picking apart an area.

 

Here's some real good tools:

 

1/4oz - 3/4oz jigs with a creature trailer.

 

Shallow crankbait

 

double willow spinnerbaits (if it's too weedy for the crankbait)

 

some sort of do nothing stick bait like a stick-o

[JGBassinAL]

Either I missed something or TorqueConverter was the only one to mention throwing a jig? I throw a jig 90% of the time and it has accounted for many big bass. I used to only throw crank baits when I first started out (the person I fished with all the time throws them almost always). With the pace he trolled the boat I had no other option but to throw a crankbait as well. Once I got my first boat, I started dabbling in other baits. I couldn't catch fish with anything but a crankbait still, but then I took all of my crankbaits out of my boat along with my crankin rods, and left only jigs and soft plastics in my boat, forcing myself to throw them. I now seldomly pick up a crankbait. I don't feel that I am an expert at throwing a jig, but I feel that I am very proficient and I have full confidence in them. This summer I picked up on a carolina rig, and have caught a lot of good fish on it too. I feel what made me better with these baits was to fish them all the time by not bringing my comfort baits. I would suggest to try some jigs and squarebills. Squarebills are awesome search baits as you can cover a lot of water with them and will work very well in shallow water around cover.