Does Anyone Lindy Rig For Bass?

[Misfit95]

Hi, everyone, I'm new to this website...so I hope I'm putting this topic in the right section. 

While on vacation up North with my family, the fishing proved to be quite horrible....the only way we could seem to catch any fish was by drifting lindy rigs with a 3/8 oz walking-style sinker with a 3-foot leader rigged with a jumbo leech...We caught a little bit of everything, but, man, those Smallmouth up there loooooved the leech on that lindy rig...And drifting with the wind allowed us to cover water, and since we didn't have a trolling motor, or even know the lake, that proved invaluable. 

Anyway, question I wanted to ask was, Does anyone ever drift lindy rigs with minnows, leeches, or crawlers for bass?  Any tips for that? 

Thanks in advance, sorry if I posted this in the wrong section. 

[Scott F]

For me, I can't fish that way. It's just way to boring. I have to be casting.

[Bluebasser86]

No, but it's pretty similar to Carolina rigging for bass, which TONS of bass guys do. 

[smalljaw67]

That is more of a walleye technique, for bass we use a drop shot which isn't the same thing but close and works on a similar principle. There are a few guys who fish live bait for bass but most use lures including myself, I find this to be more challenging and rewarding to fool the fish into biting something that isn't real. Don't get me wrong, I have had the privilege of fishing with some really good live bait guys who had some serious skill in presenting live bait but I prefer to search for active fish and get them on something that I have to impart the action on. 

[basscatcher8]

I do. I run lindy's and drop shot rigs with crawlers for bass on the local river here. Some folks refuse to throw it in the bass world but if you just wanna go chill and have fun reeling in numbers and dont ever know whats biting its a really good time. Smallmouth get aggresive on crawlers and you will wear your arms out. The fun for me is the actually locating the fish right now and use live bait to learn my electronics and what I'm seeing. But like everybody there are days you want the challenge.

[primetime]

Lindy makes a slinky style weight and a walking style sinker that does not snag on a drop shot or carolina rig, and using a leech is something I only use in Ponds or smaller lakes here in Florida....I prefer creature baits and craws on drop shots, or the Dream shot worms which have an awesome look in the water no matter how you fish it. A Trick worm or any finesse worm is usually good as well.....If it works for walleye, it will work for Bass, at least that has been my experience as I did alot of walleye fishing in college in upstate NY and we would catch plenty of Bass using walleye rigs.

[Paul Roberts]

... use live bait to learn my electronics and what I'm seeing.

That's a good idea.

[Misfit95]

Yeah, figured I would be the odd one out, I know most bass guys kinda prefer throwing lures as opposed to live bait.  I like that, too, but I've always been someone who does some of both..I do some lure fishing, and some bait fishing.  Thanks for all the replies, everyone, was just curious to see if I was the only person who fished that way for bass

[Mswen]

It wasn't exactly a Lindy rig, but I caught that bass in my profile pic using a bottom bouncer with a smile blade and a leech.  I've been trying, without luck, to catch walleye at a local lake all summer, but I don't know anyone locally who knows much about them.  I have however, caught plenty of bass, crappie, perch, and even catfish every single time.  That one hit when I was trolling past one of my favorite points, because I had caught a 4.5 pounder just a month earlier (pretty good for northern MO).  I'm not sure if it will help, but both fish hit right after I had stopped the boat, the first time because my other line was snagged, it grabbed a sinking crankbait.  And the second time I was getting ready to turn around, when I went to pull in my lines, there she was.  So you might try pausing near likely spots and letting the bait sink for a moment.

 

Typically I only use live bait if I'm planning on keeping my catch, because of the possibility of hooking them deep, and I rarely keep bass intentionally.  It's mainly because bass don't tend to be as finicky as crappie or walleye, and live bait is a pain to keep alive.

[basscatcher8]

That's a good idea.

 

I figured about all species will bite a night crawler. Why not drop down real quick and figure out what those arches are. Has worked pretty good for me.