That ALWAYS works....

[joshuaray83]

For me, it's the T-rig with a stick or creature. I have so much more confidence that I can cast that into thick vegetation or trees without getting hung up (I only bank fish) and I know that's almost always where a fish is hanging around. Second to that would be a jig with a craw trailer for similar reasons. Though they do get snagged more often, they produce much larger fish, so it's worth it.

[MN Fisher]

14 hours ago, ajschn06 said:

What’s your most versatile lure? And by versatile I mean no matter what season, water temp, conditions,etc what is the lure you can always reach for and be confident that it will produce...?

 

If there was such a thing for my waters - then I wouldn't need 3 tackle bags worth of lures/plastics

 

1 minute ago, Fishes in trees said:

No such thing.   If I start telling myself that "bait X" will work under all conditions, that I ALWAYS have confidence in it, the only person I'm fooling is myself.

 

Just now, scaleface said:

I dont have that lure .

 

Exactly - temp, depth, time of year, weather - any little difference can change what the bass will chase.

[J Francho]

18 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Exactly - temp, depth, time of year, weather - any little difference can change what the bass will chase.

Other than ice out, I have yet to encounter a situation where a spinnerbait does not work.  You could say the same for a jig, but in my hands, the spinnerbait can cover more water quickly, and be fished like a jig, if necessary. I think someone more proficient could answer with a jig as their bait, and I certainly throw one more than a spinnerbait.  Faced with needing just one fish on a truly terrible day, I'll tie up a spinnerbait.  I don't buy into that, "they were biting this bait today," dogma.  I think it's something else, that can't really be figured out by any of us.  We just assign these absolutes to confirm our bias or make excuses.  Put the bait in front of a biting fish, and you can catch it.  Maybe?

[MN Fisher]

15 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Other than ice out, I have yet to encounter a situation where a spinnerbait does not work.  You could say the same for a jig, but in my hands, the spinnerbait can cover more water quickly, and be fished like a jig, if necessary. I think someone more proficient could answer with a jig as their bait, and I certainly throw one more than a spinnerbait.  Faced with needing just one fish on a truly terrible day, I'll tie up a spinnerbait.  I don't buy into that, "they were biting this bait today," dogma.  I think it's something else, that can't really be figured out by any of us.  We just assign these absolutes to confirm our bias or make excuses.  Put the bait in front of a biting fish, and you can catch it.  Maybe?

I've been in the reverse situation. Nothing I tried with a spinner got even a chase...size, color, trailer...nothing made a bit of difference. Tied on a swim jig and suddenly I'm getting hit...in the same locations a spinner struck out on. Another time it was a chatter they wanted...after trying spinner and swim jig with nothing happening.

 

I stand by my position that there is no one lure that works all the time...based on experience

[garroyo130]

Mepps Yellow Dot Black Fury #3 dressed

[GaryH]

Whichever one is getting hit. To many variables to even think about using just one. I do love a Ned 

[Team9nine]

Nothing ALWAYS works, but the traditional/original “Ned” rig is the closest thing I’ve thrown yet, along with a small black marabou or hair jig.

[ajschn06]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

I've been in the reverse situation. Nothing I tried with a spinner got even a chase...size, color, trailer...nothing made a bit of difference. Tied on a swim jig and suddenly I'm getting hit...in the same locations a spinner struck out on. Another time it was a chatter they wanted...after trying spinner and swim jig with nothing happening.

 

I stand by my position that there is no one lure that works all the time...based on experience

Obviously nothing is going to work ALL THE TIME.  If it did, we would never take it off.  My purpose in starting the thread was thing- you've all got a lot more in-depth experience than I do.  You've seen more lakes and probably paid attention to more variables than I can think of.  It might not work all the time, but even for you there's something in your box that you have the MOST confidence in regardless of any other variables.

 

Look at it this way- you're getting put into a time machine and you know you'll be popping out next to one of your honey holes.  You don't know what the conditions will be like or what time of year it will be.  What lure are you tying on?

[roadwarrior]

5 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

Look at it this way- you're getting put into a time machine and you know you'll be popping out next to one of your honey holes.  You don't know what the conditions will be like or what time of year it will be.  What lure are you tying on?

[MN Fisher]

15 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

Look at it this way- you're getting put into a time machine and you know you'll be popping out next to one of your honey holes.  You don't know what the conditions will be like or what time of year it will be.  What lure are you tying on?

10 rigs on the canoe - I'll have 10 different things tied on to start with.

[ajschn06]

14 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

I really thought that would be a fool proof way to get him to pick one...

[J Francho]

30 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

10 rigs on the canoe - I'll have 10 different things tied on to start with.

Don't comment if you're just gonna be cute.  You flipped your canoe, and can only save one rig.  What is tied on it.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, J Francho said:

You flipped your canoe, and can only save one rig. 

I'm not trying to be cute here - I'm being realistic for my situation.

 

If I flipped - I'd only LOSE one rig - one's I'm not using at the moment are leashed in the rack.

[J Francho]

Everything failed, you can only get one - your choice - which is it.

[ajschn06]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

I'm not trying to be cute here - I'm being realistic for my situation.

 

If I flipped - I'd only LOSE one rig - one's I'm not using at the moment are leashed in the rack.

Lmao… come on man!  I'm really interested since we fish similar parts of the country.  You get ONE lure.. what is it!?

[J Francho]

In reality, if someone tells me I can only fish one lure, then I'll do another hobby

 

A spinnerbait still works almost all the time.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, J Francho said:

Everything failed, you can only get one - your choice - which is it.

 

Just now, ajschn06 said:

Lmao… come on man!  I'm really interested since we fish similar parts of the country.  You get ONE lure.. what is it!?

Fine - I've lost all but one rig and I'm limited to that.

 

MH/F - 3/8oz swim Jig in some green variant, bulky trailer also in a green variant - I've caught more bass on that setup than any other rig.

 

(still think it's silly to say 'one lure to rule them all'.)

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

In reality, if someone tells me I can only fish one lure, then I'll do another hobby

 

In reality - also given the 'out of food' gif....I'd go with my Avocet ML rig, bobber and worm - hunt panfish.

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

 

Fine - I've lost all but one rig and I'm limited to that.

 

MH/F - 3/8oz swim Jig in some green variant, bulky trailer also in a green variant - I've caught more bass on that setup than any other rig.

 

(still think it's silly to say 'one lure to rule them all'.)

 

In reality - also given the 'out of food' gif....I'd go with my Avocet ML rig, bobber and worm - hunt panfish.

Panfish only leave me craving more. Life would be so much easier if there was more meat between the ribs and the skin of a bluegill 

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

In reality, if someone tells me I can only fish one lure, then I'll do another hobby

 

A spinnerbait still works almost all the time.

One time a spinner bait is guaranteed to fail is if I’m throwing it 

[J Francho]

15 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

One time a spinner bait is guaranteed to fail is if I’m throwing it 

Good thing I wasn't answering for you

[ajschn06]

43 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

 

Fine - I've lost all but one rig and I'm limited to that.

 

MH/F - 3/8oz swim Jig in some green variant, bulky trailer also in a green variant - I've caught more bass on that setup than any other rig.

 

(still think it's silly to say 'one lure to rule them all'.)

 

 

Precisely the information I was looking for- and that answer makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside....

[TnRiver46]

39 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Good thing I wasn't answering for you

Well if y’all need to get see one really haul water, give me a shout 

[Fishin Dad]

I would probably have to say a senko.  Always have it tied on and it seems to work on small and large fish, on active and lethargic fish, can fish it deep or shallow, faster or slower.   

[Columbia Craw]

Spinnerbait

[garroyo130]

2 hours ago, ajschn06 said:

Obviously nothing is going to work ALL THE TIME.  If it did, we would never take it off. 

 

I question that logic. If i had a lure that was guaranteed to catch fish under 1lb but rarely caught anything bigger it would almost never be tied on.

 

In my home waters, a Mepps spinner works best for consistency but its definitely not what I throw most. Sure its great for getting tons of fish 1.5lbs and under but im after quality rather than quantity. 

[ajschn06]

6 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

 

I question that logic. If i had a lure that was guaranteed to catch fish under 1lb but rarely caught anything bigger it would almost never be tied on.

 

In my home waters, a Mepps spinner works best for consistency but its definitely not what I throw most. Sure its great for getting tons of fish 1.5lbs and under but im after quality rather than quantity. 

 

A lure that only catches fish under 1 pound is not "working" imo...