Best 5 lures for small mouth May-August

[Bass-fisher]

Hi sorry if this is a broad topic but wat is the best 3 lures or best lures ever u guys can think of don't be picky plastics cranks spinners wat ever what do u guys think? And wat color would it be.my lake is 3-12 ft deep in most spots with 1 side being 12-30ft and very clear water I've tried alot of lures/baits in my yrs from swim baits to senkos to cranks plz feel free and give me the best u got!

[tbone1993]

Erie Darters on a drop shot work wonders. 

[Turkey sandwich]

is the lake mostly weeds? Rock? What other species are in the lake?

 

tubes, jig/craw, and dropshot rigs can work in most places.  If the water is clear, keep the colors natural.

[Bass-fisher]

54 minutes ago, Turkey sandwich said:

is the lake mostly weeds? Rock? What other species are in the lake?

 

tubes, jig/craw, and dropshot rigs can work in most places.  If the water is clear, keep the colors natural.

There r Pike and rock bass in the lake and even a very small amount of crappie and mainely no weeds or nothing not much vegetation tyle deal except a back side with LILLY pads no rocks just open water and docks with a island in the mjddle

[lou304]

Ned Rig

[Spankey]

What is the natural forage in the lake?

[Attila]

I'd go with a popper in a frog pattern, a crawfish coloured crankbait, a dropshot of some type, a curly tail grub in smoke, and a jerk bait in black/silver....but that's just me, and it really comes down to what the forage is in your lake as others have mentioned.

[Bass-fisher]

Sorry guys but forage as in what? I don't know exactly what that means like plants and weeds and stuff?

 

 

[Glenn]

Forage is essentially the other living species in the lake that the bass eat.

Two quick primers on forage below can explain it far better than any forum post can:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/forage-fish-location.html
http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/forage-fish-locations.html

Bonus article for advanced reading:
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/forage_bass.html

[juicebass]

Dt 6 craw dad colour.

black spinnerbait

topwater frog green 

Flipping jog or havoc Pitt boss

Baby bass senko

 

[WI_Angler1989]

Mine are:

1) 2.5" cabin creek tube on a draggin            head 

2) 4" kalins grub on mushroom head jig

3) Rapala Husky Jerk 

4) silver/black rebel pop-r 

5) bomber 4A creek craw color

 

[Bass-fisher]

15 minutes ago, WI_Angler1989 said:

Mine are:

1) 2.5" cabin creek tube on a draggin            head 

2) 4" kalins grub on mushroom head jig

3) Rapala Husky Jerk 

4) silver/black rebel pop-r 

5) bomber 4A creek craw color

 

Omg yes! Black and silver REBEL pop r I've had awesome success with

Forage fish here would be minnow shad craw fish 

[WI_Angler1989]

6 minutes ago, Bass-fisher said:

Omg yes! Black and silver REBEL pop r I've had awesome success with

Forage fish here would be minnow shad craw fish 

It's hard to beat the thrill of a popper haha. If you have crawfish then any jigs, plastic craws, tubes, etc on the bottom should work well. It's a slow, patient game though. 

[Bass-fisher]

There isn't a large amount of craw here but at all but there r some here and thx

[bowhunter63]

Craws,Tubes,Swimbaits and Spinner baits are my go to summer baits.The Rage blade is another great option.

[Bass-fisher]

Any other suggestions guys? Maybe what's the best color

[paleus]

1. Ned Rig

2. Ned Rig

3. Pop-R

4. Inline Spinner

5. Ned Rig

Green pumpkin on the Ned Rig, baby bass Pop-R, white Spinner. 

[Fishinthefish]

Inline spinners, worms, craws, grubs, spinnerbaits.

I fish light colors in spinners, and spinnerbaits. White on white, white charteuse, golden shiner colors.

Pink worms, purple worms with flecks, pb and j, motor oil colors. White grubs, craws depend on the craw color in the lake, river, or pond. Personally for me I've got grayish and blue clawed craws in my river.

[Damn Yankee]

5" gonzo grub black blue.

[Bass-fisher]

Craws here are like a darker red/black

[J Francho]

Up here, the location in May, is drastically different than in August.  Pre-spawn and spawn in May, deep, structure based summer haunts in August.

[IndianaFinesse]

Ned rig, jerkbait, and a small grub will cover just about every situation.

[Neil McCauley]

Big deep diving crankbaits for me. Everything else a distant second and I don't use them enough to tell the difference. Rapala sitter pops have worked well for me May-June, not much after that. 

[Hurricane]

Rapala DT6

Ned Rig

SpinnerBait

BladeBait

Jerkbait

[everythingthatswims]

Weedless wacky head with a trick worm, compact flipping jig, war eagle double willow spinnerbait white skirt silver blades, Super Spook Jr, and maybe a swim jig. I typically fish rivers with very clear water deeper pools can be 6-8'