Beaver/creature Vs Worms

[Dypsis]

Just trying to further improve my plastic game.  In what situations would you prefer a Beaver/Creature (Sweet Beaver, Flapping Hog, etc) vs a senko type bait.  

 

Does cover influence your decision, depth, time of year, confidence?

 

I know the fish can take or leave any bait on any day but what are some things you look for when deciding what to throw first.  

 

Thanks!
 

Matt

[fishinphilly]

Just trying to further improve my plastic game.  In what situations would you prefer a Beaver/Creature (Sweet Beaver, Flapping Hog, etc) vs a senko type bait.  

 

Does cover influence your decision, depth, time of year, confidence?

 

I know the fish can take or leave any bait on any day but what are some things you look for when deciding what to throw first.  

 

Thanks!

 

Matt

i mainly only fish beavers when punching or flippin laydowns (netbait b bug) i like senkos for skipping docks, as for when i throw them usually whenever the suns out and i know there in cover

[Choporoz]

I'll play a Rage Tail Structure Bug on the first team.   Senkos come off the bench.

[doyle8218]

I'll play a Rage Tail Structure Bug on the first team.   Senkos come off the bench.

X2 - creature then worm.

[eyedabassman]

I like Beavers on a jika rig or even as a jig trailer. Creature baits I like on a C-rig or T-rig, jig trailer. And Worms just about on anything.

[Joedodge]

Very interested. I throw a lot of stick baits and ribbon tails. But I'm really trying I get into the creature baits. I'm gonna start flipping them in cover side it's always so hot and sunny in Florida. But I'm also considering texas rigging it and working it like a worm.

[DTack]

Just trying to further improve my plastic game.  In what situations would you prefer a Beaver/Creature (Sweet Beaver, Flapping Hog, etc) vs a senko type bait.  

 

Does cover influence your decision, depth, time of year, confidence?

 

I know the fish can take or leave any bait on any day but what are some things you look for when deciding what to throw first.  

 

Thanks!

 

Matt

I am a "seat of the pants" kinda guy.  I don't fish a bait for too terribly long if I'm not getting bit.  We all have our confidence baits though.  Typically I will have a beaver style bait when I am flipping or if fish are primarily eating crawdads or bluegill.  If I am fishing "finesse" I typically use a straight tail worm, the exception if I will throw a beaver style bait on a shakeyhead as well.  Once again this is typically if I believe the fish are more keyed in on crawdads or bluegill.  I hope this helps. 

[Munkin]

Creature baits work better in the spring and fall than a worm for me. Summer it is a toss up except worms are better for the grass.

 

Allen

[A-Jay]

Don't under estimate the seductive fish catching power of a Big Worm.

 

Over sized worms in the 10 inch plus range, have been fooling Big Bass for a long time.

 

A-Jay

[eyedabassman]

Don't under estimate the seductive fish catching power of a Big Worm.

 

Over sized worms in the 10 inch plus range, have been fooling Big Bass for a long time.

 

A-Jay

A-Man Brother!!!!!!!

[Felix77]

I tend to use beavers for flipping and pitching over a senko. When in light grass or dragging something I would use the senko.

Frankly both would work using both techniques but this is how I generally would fish them.

[Joedodge]

Would it be acceptable to fish a creature type bait with a hop hop pause like a worm? And still get bites and be working it effectively? ( not hi jacking trying to get more info provided op)

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I use big  worms in the summer and fall.

 

spring summer fall I use creature baits.

 

like Ajay said big worms have been catching big bass for a long time.

[Choporoz]

Would it be acceptable to fish a creature type bait with a hop hop pause like a worm? And still get bites and be working it effectively? ( not hi jacking trying to get more info provided op)

Certainly.

 

I'd first put a beaver on a weighted hook or a swing-jig.  I like to work it in messy laydowns.  If I'm patient, I'll work it back to the boat along the bottom, but most strikes are on the fall through timber.

[J Francho]

I see creature/bever baits as "drop baits," as in drop in holes or gaps in cover.  Worms to me are "penetration baits, and get through cover to deeply buried fish.  Obviously, there is a TON of crossover.

[Dypsis]

Don't under estimate the seductive fish catching power of a Big Worm.

 

Over sized worms in the 10 inch plus range, have been fooling Big Bass for a long time.

 

A-Jay

 

Something I am adding this year - picked up a few items and hopefully get a couple nice toads on them!

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/148058-looking-to-add-a-10-12-worm-to-my-arsenal-suggestions/

[Trek]

Early spring when the females are starting to move up to their beds I'll toss a senko. I know at that time of the year they are a little spooky and a slow falling bait works well. Then as the summer mood comes in and they get up or into cover I just think it's hard to fish a senko and go to more of a beaver style bait. But I'm looking for more of a reaction type bite then. Then come fall they will start schooling on the shad to fatten up for winter and I switch to a crank bait. For me a senko would work all three seasons but maybe not be the best producer of the better fish in summer and fall. But you could catch good numbers all year on it.

[Trek]

Early spring when the females are starting to move up to their beds I'll toss a senko. I know at that time of the year they are a little spooky and a slow falling bait works well. Then as the summer mood comes in and they get up or into cover I just think it's hard to fish a senko and go to more of a beaver style bait. But I'm looking for more of a reaction type bite then. Then come fall they will start schooling on the shad to fatten up for winter and I switch to a crank bait. For me a senko would work all three seasons but maybe not be the best producer of the better fish in summer and fall. But you could catch good numbers all year on it.

[Dypsis]

So for example bass were fairly shallow yesterday and relating to wood mostly with deeper water nearby.  There were plenty of stumps to cast and drag/hop back to the boat.  I caught all of my bass on T-Rig senko, Shakey head Robo and T-Rig/Shakey Fuse 4.4.

 

I don't know why I started with the worms but it worked and after looking back today, I was curious as to why I randomly choose a worm (it worked).  But now I am trying to decide under what circumstances should I choose one over the other for future.  I was curious how the day would have gone if I had started with a beaver or something - the world will never know.

 

Thanks for all the replies and shared tactics.    

[papajoe222]

Would it be acceptable to fish a creature type bait with a hop hop pause like a worm? And still get bites and be working it effectively? ( not hi jacking trying to get more info provided op)

Hopefully that isn't the only way you fish a worm, but yes that can be productive at times.

Irreverent creatures and beaver style plastics more for a falling presentation, but with a much faster fall rate than a Senko. Whether it's wacky style, nose hooked, or even on a weighted swim bait hook for my use, a Senkos works best when falling slowly.

Worms, on the other hand, I tend to present more horizontally.

[Catt]

Don't under estimate the seductive fish catching power of a Big Worm.

Over sized worms in the 10 inch plus range, have been fooling Big Bass for a long time.

A-Jay

The consummate reaction lure

[Joedodge]

I will say some of my nicer bass so far have been hooked on a 10 inch ribbon tail worm

[BarefootBassin]

A T-rig senko can be much more versatile than most people think. I'll dead-stick it in post front cold water conditions or fish it somewhat like a a fluke in the spring when the water is warming. I agree that nothing beats a large ribbontail in the summer heat, but I will still fish them throughout the summer in the backs of creeks or twitch and burn them over weedbeds after a summer front has past.

As far as creature baits are concerned, they are great for laydowns or anytime you need to target fish that are holding close to cover. I tend to go with the beaver style for heavier cover of any type in the summer. Creature baits are a broad category as well. I will fish larger creature baits like brush hogs, lizards and D-stroyers from late spring to late fall, but I fish them more like I would a large worm in the summer. While flipping and pitching are the more popular techniques, don't discount casting a large creature bait. I've caught plenty of large bass from FL to TX dragging creature baits across grassbeds. I still use them at times in the winter, I just lighten the weight and slow my presentation. The possibilities are limitless. Both types of plastic are highly versatile depending on HOW you fish them. Don't be afraid to experiment and see what works for you.

[A-Jay]

Blew a little dust off this one . . . . . .

A-Jay

[padon]

I llike a creature bait a lot of times if I want some bulk,like in dirty water or thick grass.beavers seem to be best for me in spring like a jig when the fish seem to be on crayfish etc.i like them for flipping and pitching heavy cover as well. having said that ive caught tons of bass in summer grassbeds on a 10 inch ribbon tail worm too so I guess you don't always need the bulk of a creature.