What's your "hard head" bait?

[Teal]

On another thread, a member revealed that he throws a jig when he knows there are better options out there.  Man he hit the nail on the head.  Thats me all day.  Although we all try to be the best we can be an have a variety of tools in our belt, theres always "old faithful " that you try even though you know it's probably not the best at the time... but it's been such a good producer in other times, places, and situations you have a hard time getting away from it.  One can call it the bread and butter of what you do, but I can admit, there have been times when my bread and butter just ain't gonna be a great idea, but I cant myself wasting casts and time with something that I know isnt the deal.  Sometimes it has worked out and caught a fish or two, but I know if I'd gotten outta my comfort zone, i might have gotten more results.

 

I'd like to hear from you guys honestly, what's a hard head bait or technique that you have a hard time getting away from sometimes even when you know pointless.

 

Mine is definitely a jig.  I know there are a million ways to rig it and present it to make it different but  for me particularly is a 3/8 arky or grass jig, with a rage bug, z hog, or something in that form.  keep one tied on, and I'm gonna try it even if I know it's not the deal. please tell me I'm not the only one here that hard headed and has a hard head lure.  

 

My fishing buddy, his hard head bait is a buzz bait.. hes caught at least 10, 7pounders in the last 2 years on one, and he is gonna throw it every time he goes out. 

[the reel ess]

The Zoom Trick Worm. It stays tied on my MH spinning combo even when I know something else will probably work better in a certain situation. Topwaters and frog come to mind.

[A-Jay]

Mine is more of a 'directional' preference rather than a single bait.

I totally prefer to fish horizontally as opposed to vertically. 

Meaning somewhere in the water column, on top, middle or on the bottom, I want to be pulling a bait.

Doesn't have to be fast, in fact I'm very comfortable with a slow stop & go - as long as it's coming back at me in some way, shape or form.

And while I've had some fantastic drop shot trips, I'm always looking for another way to get bites.

I'll do it if i have to, but I'm not starting off the deal with it very often these days.

But 'the drop shot season' is almost upon us here, so we'll see how it goes. 

btw, the old ball & chain does not exist in my fishing.

A-Jay

 

[roadwarrior]

Nope, not me...Drop shot is VERY effective for catching fish, but it kills too many for me (one is too many).

I NEVER use this any more.

 

[Mobasser]

I like spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, but my hard head bait is a simple T rig plastic worm. I use a variety of worms. Zoom, Manns, Culprit, and others. It's caught more fish for me than all other baits combined.

[roadwarrior]

Well,  I like a variety of lures, but if was just about "catching" I would probably fish nothing

but Senkos, Rage Structure Bug, RES and jigs.  Okay, Maybe a Sworming Hornet/ FLT Live

Magic Shad and Rage Tail Menace.

 

[DitchPanda]

Spinnerbait..while this is effective often where I fish because of water color and cover types there is a lot of times in the year it's not the best bait..but I still rely on it even when I shouldnt

[Jason.Domingo]

Ned rig/spinnerbaits. I’ll throw these regardless of conditions. Probably missing out on a lot of fish being hard headed throwing a spinnerbait even when its blue bird skies and flat calm lol

[papajoe222]

55 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Nope, not me...Drop shot is VERY effective for catching fish, but it kills too many for me (one is too many).

I NEVER use this any more.

 

You should try using circle hooks. You’ll never gut hook a fish again. 
 

Without a doubt, for me it’s a jig. Flip it, pitch it, swim it, stroke it, dead stick it, shake it or punch it, I can always find a presentation/ jig combo that is ‘right’ for the conditions. 

[king fisher]

For me it is spinner baits.  I will change size, color, blade type, slow roll, wake surface and everything in between,  trying to get one to work, when I should just change to another type of bait.  I almost became a fly fishing purist because of the same stubborn attitude.  Thankfully I like to catch fish too much to let my hard head take over completely.  

[Finessegenics]

Mine is definitely the ned rig. The worst part is it almost works all the time if fish are present. Kinda hard to put down. 
 

I’ll start off by throwing a  presentation to hopefully get a big bite but then I always default to the ned rig or even a weightless senko when that doesn’t work...I feel horrible doing it because I am not learning anything new by always throwing the “old reliables” but it seems like the fish really only want those some days. 
 

I even try to imitate the style of the ned rig or senko. Unobtrusive, natural. I’ll try finesse jigs or even 3” swimbaits slowly dragged on bottom and they just don’t seem to work as well as the other two. 

[scaleface]

I really dont have one . I'm pretty good at rotating through the lures that I think are appropriate   .I use to be hard headed about Texas rigs bot not any  more .

[RoLo]

 

I gave your question serious thought, but keep coming in with a 3-way draw: 

Plastic Worm - Jig & Trailer - Soft Swimbait   

 

Roger

[Teal]

1 hour ago, RoLo said:

 

I gave your question serious thought, but keep coming in with a 3-way draw: 

Plastic Worm - Jig & Trailer - Soft Swimbait   

 

Roger

Just a coincidence- but I just got back from the lake ( went out for 2 hours)  those are the only three rods that I got outta the rod locker.   I got some 8" hand pours in an oxblood color that saved my little trip.  Those three rods and spinner bait rods have been doing the bulk of the work lately.  

 

[Black Hawk Basser]

I'd say a jig, but there's really no good reason to NOT fish a jig in most situations in most places, I think.  I'll say that a spinnerbait is the hardest thing for me to put down, even when I know slowing down with something else will probably work much better.

[Bankbeater]

I use to be that way about crankbaits, and then plastics. I will keep a jig tied on, but I will keep changing the trailers if I don't get bites.

[Log Catcher]

For me it is probably crankbaits but I am not as bad about it as I used to be. I still love them and they are still the first thing I use 99% of the time.

[camman]

Squarebill.  Never leave the house with at least one tied on

[keagbassr]

Buzzbait for me. I'll throw them any time anywhere.

[Armtx77]

T-Rigs...I just cant quit them.

[MN Fisher]

Spinnerbait - no matter what else I may have tied on my other rigs - one of my MH/F rigs has a spinner on it.

[Bird]

I'm loaded up ready to leave at O dark 30 in the the morning......tied on 5 rods in boat waiting is buzzbait - spinnerbait - fluke - Jerkbait - Senko. 

 

Jigs and brush hogs were considered but probably won't need to tie a knot tomorrow unless I hang. Lol

[Teal]

8 minutes ago, Bird said:

I'm loaded up ready to leave at O dark 30 in the the morning......tied on 5 rods in boat waiting is buzzbait - spinnerbait - fluke - Jerkbait - Senko. 

 

Jigs and brush hogs were considered but probably won't need to tie a knot tomorrow unless I hang. Lol

 ONLY 5?  I wish my fishing OCD would allow me to only have 5 rods ready.   I take all my.rods inside every time I get home and put at least 10 to 13 or so in the boat before I wave out again.    my girlfriend thinks I'm an idiot.   She.still doesnt understamd.why I have to have almost 2 dozen set.ups in the shop because once I'm on the boat I may use any where.from 2 to 5 of them the entire trip. I like being prepared  ?  ONLY time I take 5 or was is if I'm fishing someone elses boat??

[MN Fisher]

18 minutes ago, Bird said:

I'm loaded up ready to leave at O dark 30 in the the morning......tied on 5 rods in boat waiting is buzzbait - spinnerbait - fluke - Jerkbait - Senko. 

I'll be tying on just before I leave at 9am tomorrow - 10 rigs in the canoe.

Whopper Plopper - Shad Rap - T-Rig - Spinner - Rapala Floating - Rattlin' Rap - Donkey Rig - Drop Shot - Mepps Comet - Ned

[Bird]

2 minutes ago, Teal said:

 ONLY 5?  I wish my fishing OCD would allow me to only have 5 rods ready.   I take all my.rods inside every time I get home and put at least 10 to 13 or so in the boat before I wave out again.    my girlfriend thinks I'm an idiot.   She.still doesnt understamd.why I have to have almost 2 dozen set.ups in the shop because once I'm on the boat I may use any where.from 2 to 5 of them the entire trip. I like being prepared  ?  ONLY time I take 5 or was is if I'm fishing someone elses boat??

What's even worse is 3 of the 5 mentioned may sit in the boat all day as an ornament.

 

When I start catching on a certain bait I become fixated. Lol