Seasonal Tackle

[roadwarrior]

What have you found to work at particular times of year that are noticeably different in other seasons?

At the top of my list is the Alabama Rig. I have no idea why this thing works so well in winter, early spring and fall, but is worthless during the warmer months.

 

 

[ec1]

Blade baits don't seem to work for me above 55f. Topwaters I usually will stop throwing by early October.

[BrianinMD]

I am with ec1....blade baits are strictly colder water for me. Can't get anything at all once it hits that mid-50's mark.

 

[primetime]

In early Spring and Summer, It is the only time I really notice that Color matters for sure. I noticed when I was a young kid that an orange/chart, orange/red spinnerbait in spring or red crankbait will often out fish any other color. I am sure other colors work, but in the Spring through July, I put orange or Red in almost every skirted bait I fish.

I notice in Summer I will do better with chart/White patterns for the most parts or just black.

I find Jerkbaits both floating and suspending work well all year round, it just depends on water clarity, but a Jerkbait that matched the action of the fish will always work.

I find that Lizards do not work  as well in the Fall, end of Summer nearly as well as they work early in the year, and in cold water, I do well on Road Runners even small ones and catch good sized bass, but I try them in the summer and only catch panfish. 

I think a Jig, Jerkbait, or slowly worked soft bait can work all season, but Tubes seem to excel in the Spring then taper off as well. Not sure why but maybe it is just me.

 

I never throw the A-Rig, but that is interesting. I would think an A-Rig worked slowly in Summer would be a slam dunk, but then again, figuring out Bass is just not easy. I never could get into the A-rig, I know it works but it is just heavy, I always feel like I am trolling for Bluefish and I hated doing that as a Kid. 

I think I need to try the better versions. I have only used the original versions with thick wires that were clearance and seem to never sell online at any price. I guess I should invest in one of the better versions that cost a bit more. I bet they would be great in Saltwater as well.

[Onvacation]

Early spring, I like red on my crank baits.  

[Master Bait'r]

I've found these to work quite well throughout the winter months.   

 

[papajoe222]

With me, it's lipless cranks for spring and fall.  I can't seem to buy a strike on one during the summer.  Although I will use a jerkbait during the summer with some success (mostly floaters), they, too produce best for me in the spring and fall. And it goes without much debate (I would guess), hollow body frogs are a summer presentation.

[Paul Roberts]

I have to factor in water clarity and amount of cover. So, I start, and end, the years with UL, L, and M spinning gear. I'm using MH and H, spinning and casting, by summer.

[A-Jay]

Some traditionally fished "seasonal" baits have proven effective moving into the next season; with a little modification in presentation.

 My examples are Blade baits, Jerkbaits & Lipless crankbaits.  Early season colder water scenarios with all three of these usually dictate a some what slower presentation which often includes a certain amount of pause where the bait either suspends, falls slowly or in the case of the Blade bait, is often taken while sitting motionless on the bottom.  

   As the season progresses, the water warms & the metabolisms increase, these baits still remain very viable options.  The location of the fish can & often does change.  However, by adding the element of speed to these baits they become both decent "search baits" and effective strike getters once bass are located, being responsible for both numbers & size.  With a faster stop & go / erratic cadence, more horizontal and / or vertical speed, these lures take bass well into the summer season.  Just how much speed always need to be tested but most times faster is better.

Then with the onset of the fall season and the cooling water, reverting back to the early season locations & presentations often keeps these baits in play.  And the cooler it gets the better.   But I don't slow the presentation down too soon.  With fall bass in such an eating mood, seems they are still very willing & able to get on a bait that's on the go a little more so in the fall than at the same water temp in the spring.  I don't know exactly how or why 50 degree water in the fall is different from 50 degree water in the spring - but sure seems like it is.

btw - I could probably add a squarebill to this list as well.

A-Jay

[Bluebasser86]

Suspending jerkbaits are a colder water bait, less than 60 degree water, for me. I've tried and tried during the warmer months, even following the advice of the man himself, KVD, on how to catch fish on jerks in warm water, just can't make it work. 

[Bankbeater]

Bladed jigs seem to work best for me in the late fall, winter, and early spring.  I can't get a bite on them after the temps start to warm up.  Jigs work all year.  I match the hatch with crankbaits all year except in the fall.  In the fall it is all about size.  Lipless crankbaits are good in the spring and in the fall.  Again in the fall it's all about size. 

[ww2farmer]

I am with several of the other posters in this thread.

Blade baits work very very well for me in high 30-low 50 degree water, but get put away out side of this temp. range.

Lipless cranks are another bait I do really well on in 40-60 degree water, but struggle to get bit with in late spring - early fall, a handful of fish here and there outside that, but I always seem to try and make them work with little success in the summer.

Suspending jerkbaits are best for me in 40-60 degree water as well, 

Frogs/other top water don't see much use until the water hits the mid 50 degree range in the spring, and get put away in the fall when the temps dip below that. 

Deep cranking is very season specific on my home lake, they seem to haul water until mid-late summer when the water is at it's warmest point that it will reach all year, and will continue to work well until early fall..........or the first big drop in water temp.

To counter the baits/presentations that seem to work in seasonally specific conditions, I have found these baits/presentations to work across the board, no matter the season or water temps, provided you are using them in the right locations.

Square bill cranks.......40 degree water to 80 degree water, if fish are in areas where a square bill shines, they get bit.

Chatterbaits and swim jigs........same as above

Jigs...........dragging football jigs, flipping jigs into cover, etc....get bit year round

Drop shotting.............one of two rigs/presentations I have ties on year round, the other is:

Wacky jigs............either with a worm or stick bait, there are very very few times I don't throw it for at least a little every single time I am on the water, and even fewer times, not matter the time of year, in which a few fish don't make it to the boat on a wacky jig, no matter the season or water temps.

Carolina rigs.........I have caught fish on carolina rigs with my guides iced up, or when it's so hot out it's almost unpleasant to be on the water

and last but not least....the good old Texas rig............baits used, and sinker weights may vary during the year, but it works all the time.

[smalljaw67]

For me it is hair jigs, I have caught fish on them in warm water but for me they truly shine in water under 60 degrees. Another is the underspin or fish head spin, I know they work for suspended fish in warm water but I only have been able to catch a few fish on them then, however in sub 60 degree water they have produced really well for me.