My Most Productive Baits ~ 2020 Edition

[A-Jay]

 

I’ve been dragging my feet on this, but

with 2020 about to come to an end, I finally decided to do it.

My choice to mainly target Brown Bass hasn’t changed, nor will it in the immediate future. However, I have to admit that by my own standards, this wasn’t a particularly good season.  Definitely the worst for numbers & size since I’ve been running the Pro-V bass boat.  I had some decent trips early & mid Spring in 2020, but the summer and fall bite was mostly non-existent in my rig.

  Beyond the far too many days of truly unfishable wind & weather, that I battled anyway, I really can't explain it.  In fact, I’m not even going to try.  Instead, I’m putting the whole mess behind me and moving on.

 

   So back to the matter at hand – productive baits.

 As I’ve mentioned before in the previous versions posted (links below) I might not always use the ‘best’ presentation for the conditions I fish.  So there’s a decent chance that some of the ‘most productive’ baits listed are simply my favorite baits that I caught fish on.  I imagine that a thread entitled & containing “Baits I fished and zeroed with” would be entirely too long and seriously depressing.  So let’s not even go there.

 

  As always, please feel free to add your own selections to this thread should the mood strike you. We like pictures too.

 

Right away, it might be obvious to even the most casual observer that the overall list length might be smaller than in previous years; I think you can figure out why. Additionally many of the same players keep showing up year after year.

There’s a reason for that as well.   

Either way, here it is:

 

Jerkbaits 

 My Jerkbait addiction continues to be as strong as ever.

The Megabass ITO Vision 110 and the 110 plus 1 both accounted for some good ones.  A new & highly effective player in my personal Vision 110 stash is the SILENT bait.  Had a couple of memorable trips where I picked this one up and never put it down, all day.  GP Pro Perch, Yup.  The SK KVD 300 and especially the 300 Deep continue to shine.  The 300 Deep (AYU) took my largest brown bass of the season at 5.88 lbs.

And don’t bother putting a red treble on the front – I mean who does that ?  Finally, despite re-homing a fair portion of my jerkbait arsenal, it did make more room for some new Megabass additions; hello Vision 110 +1 Jr.

 

Vibrating jigs & trailers ~  Z-Man Evergreen Jack Hammer both the standard & Tungsten head.   The Z-Man New Freedom model became a staple (after an A-Jay modification/hook replacement)  All these baits were either 3/8 oz or ½ oz.  My trailer selection has really been narrowed down the past two season.  The GYBC Zako and more recently this sweet little Goby swimbait deal was accounting for a few Plus size fish for me.  This one’s hand poured by Paul Krews (he’s a FB seller)

 

Crankbaits

 The Spro Mike McClelland Rock Crawler 55 Crankbait in Red Crawfish & Phantom Brown is my crank of choice in that 6-10 ft zone.

The 6th Sense Crush Flat X75 in Baby Bluegill is almost always tied on because it’s a solid producer in areas of less than 7-8 feet for me.  But this past season saw it share almost equal time with the Megabass Sonicside Crankbait.  Not because it has out produced the 6th Sense bait, but because it just looks so good. I love this one – that GP Pro Perch bait is sick !  OK, I might have a problem.

 

Lipless ~  ½ oz RES and the RES 2-Tap both see action.  And when I’m short hopping a Rattle bait off the bottom like a blade bait – the Duo Realis G-Fix Vibration Tungsten Lipless Crankbait is almost like a secret weapon.  It has a small thin profile but is ¾ oz.  Casts like a bullet and sinks just as fast.  Don’t buy any.   

 

Swingheads ~ I am still throwing the same two version of this bait listed in previous years and I have this one rigged & ready every trip it seems.  ½ & ¾ oz covers it all for me.  There’s a ton of them out there but I’ve narrowed my preference down to two basic deals.  A tungsten football style that I use for deeper area and a Lead head model for just about everything else.    I like to be able to choose & change my hook as needed and both of these accommodate that ability.

 The deeper bait starts with the RPE Tackle Tungsten Swinging Football Jig which is sold in bulk and comes without a hook. This one features a rather unique rigging deal that takes a little getting used to but offers everything I need.  Note: I do add a #2 Owner Oval Split Ring to the front (line tie) of this rig to prevent the tungsten head from moving forward and wearing away at the knot (a simple & effective fix).

     The other head I really like starts with the Freedom Tackle Stealth Swim Jig – I am just using the head here.  With the line tie on the front this one slides nicely along the bottom and fairly easily through whatever medium to light cover may be there.

 I will fish three trailers: a SK Rage Bug (Green Pumpkin), a 4.75” SK Rage Swimmer (Ayu) and the Rage Tail Eeliminator (also Green Pumpkin).  These are Texas rigged onto one of two 4/0 hooks.  The regular wire Gamakatsu EWG or the Owner Wide Gap Plus Black Chrome. 

 

Topwater ~ The surface bite never really materialized for me like it had in past seasons. History showed that my top performers were the larger sizes here, the 4.5” 7/8 oz SK Sexy Dawg, the 5” ¾ oz River2Sea Rover and the 4.75” ¾ oz Reaction Innovations Vixen; in mostly shad & bait fish type colors & patterns. I did manage at least one picture worthy smallie on a walking bait – and it smashed the newest SK HC KVD Sexy Dawg Hard Knock.  That was a fun bite.  The other topwater that’s always on my deck in the Megabass Pop Max.  Still love the bait – but I don’t think I got a single bass on it this year – sort of pathetic actually.

 I also invested in a modest Spro Rat selection, hoping to get in on some of that Rat Mania I’d read about.  While I have no doubt regarding the baits effectiveness, I just never got any bass on it; well none that we bigger than the bait anyway.  Maybe next year.

 

Spinnerbaits  ~ The ½ oz SK Burner and the ½ oz & ¾ oz Biovex Stangun single & Double Willow bladed baits are a still two of my favorites.  As is the Megastrike Strike Back spinnerbait also in ½ oz & ¾ oz.  Another new to me bait here is the Megabass V9 Double Willow Spinnerbait.  I made the mistake of picking one of these mostly over-priced baits on sale.  And wouldn’t you know, they were all over it first trip out. Mostly green bass interestingly enough. My initial attraction to this bait revolved mostly around the blade shape; reminiscent of the long drop blades found on the Luck E Strike Rick Clunn Trickster Spinnerbait.  Either way the V-9 catches.  And I have been able to secure a small assortment of the Rick Clunn bait since as well.  So we’ll see how that goes.  When using a trailer on a spinnerbait I like the SK Blade minnow as well as the Hog Farmer Spunk shad.

Rarely use a trailer hook any more.

 

Hair jig ~ Still have total faith in the just one bait –

the Outkast Tackle Feider Fly Marabou Jig in 1/8 oz ~ black or brown.  For YEARS, I fished these with no trailer.  Mostly because the super subtle do nothing action didn’t seem to need it and every little bait I hung on one just messed it up more than anything else. But along came Berkley MaxScent, and the world changed. And so did my no trailer on hair jig ways – about an inch and a half of the tail section from a Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Flatnose Jerk Shad rigged vertically is freaking dynamite ! Can’t be too big, rig it so that little tail section of the shad is just visible & clear of the hair on the jig.  When you get it right, you’ll see the magic and you’ll know.  Don’t tell anyone.

 

Ned Rig

Past few seasons this one has been coming on strong and almost replaced my hair jig fishing – almost. (see above) There’s no denying it effectiveness and past this season I fished the 4” Z-Man Big TRD almost exclusively.   Never was able to recreate the magic I had with it first time out in 2019, but that didn’t keep me from trying. I like the darker colors and usually hang it on an 1/8 oz Owner Block Head Jig Head or the Outkast Tackle Perfect Ned Head; both have a solid 1/0 hook.

 

Drop shot baits ~ I have a Gazillion ! Literally.  And they have all been almost completely replaced by – Say it with me . . .

The Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Flat Worm – Wow !  Been a while since I’ve seen a bait take off like this thing has and then to actually catch fish to match or even exceed the hype is impressive.

I’ve got nothing else to say except if you are not drop shotting this bait – IMO, you are missing fish.

 

Swimbaits ~ A 3.8”, 4.3” and 4.8" Keitech Swing Impact Fat Swimbait in Ayu and Perch as well as the 3.75” and the 4.75” SK Rage Swimmer also in AYU and KVD Magic.  As sort of a mid-line finesse deal, I presented these on or near the bottom with medium spinning gear 10lb braid and an 8lb or 10lb FC leader.  My jighead of choice here is the Keitech Tungsten Super Round Jighead ¼ oz that sports a quality 3/0 hook. Also the Dirty Jigs Tactical Bassin' Finesse Swimbait Jig Head is pretty sweet (I’ve started using this on my A-Rigs as well).

A new to me bait in this category was the Dark Sleeper.  Mid-summer I was gifted with a few ½ oz baits.  Sort fell in love with them right away and eventually picked up more; although the colors I like are often “out of stock’ most everywhere.  Looking forward to fishing these again in the spring. 

 

A-Rig ~ Past few seasons this one has been a very good bigger brown bass bait for me.  But if anyone remembers for last year, besides becoming mostly addicted to throwing this thing, I’ve developed a bit of a love / hate relationship with it. Long story short, the Strike King Short Arm Titanium rig I had so much success with, was breaking apart while fighting picture worthy brown bass. Total Bummer. So this year I have been sort of back to the drawing board looking for a rig that would get bites and stay together to actually land the fish. At the time of this posting, I am still looking.   I fished a couple of different Hog Farmer rigs south of the border this past fall.  They are Very Stout and handled green bass up to 8 lbs.  However I have some concerns that they may be over kill for my local needs.  More to follow.

 

 BTW –  Past  few seasons my A-Rigs baits were rigged with VMC Boxer heads – 1/8 & ¼ oz. However, since they came out, I have switched to the Dirty Jigs Tactical Bassin' Finesse Swimbait Jig Head (same weights). Swimmers are still the same - 3.8 or 4.3 Impact Fat swimbaits and similar sized SK Rage swimmers work as well – AYU.

 

I am still and will always continue to replace stock trebles and well as suspect quality split rings and line ties.

Mustad KVD 1x Strong 2x Short Triple Grip Treble Hook, Gamakatsu EWG Treble Short Shank Magic Eye

and Owner Short Shank Treble Hook ST-35 are my choice and I plus size when & where I can.

Owner Hyper wires split rings are solid and I’ll always use the oval & or pear shaped versions at the line tie; which prevents the line from slipping into the ring itself.  I hate that.  

 

Line(s) used: On my casting gear most everything is FC – Seaguar Tatsu or InvisX; Only use braid on revolving spool tackle to throw baits into or over the jungle.  Then it’s 50lb Sufix 832.  

Main lines on all my spinning gear is braid and a leader.  Mainline is either 10, 15, or 20lb Sufix 832 or Seaguar Smackdown.  Leaders are usually Big Game green mono or in a few instances, FC; then it’s still Tatsu, InvisX or when needed, AbrasX

The few times I may use bigger mono for topwater I’ll reach for the Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo Nylon Line in 22 lb.

 

Attractant – Megastrike – goes on just about everything I fish.

  Original & Crawfish- both work well for me.

 

And so there it is – as sad as that was.  Already making ‘plans’ to fish some of the presentations I didn’t fish much last season, a little more this next time around. Tubes, Jigs, and dare I say it, maybe even some Uncle Josh Pork trailers.

 

Anyway, thanks for playing along and I sincerely hope everyone has a Safe & Happy Holiday.

A-Jay

(Previous versions of this same theme linked below)

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/183215-most-productive-baits-~-a-seasonal-review/

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/209845-2018-~-my-most-productive-baits-by-season/

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/221344-my-2019-list-of-productive-baits-~/

 

[roadwarrior]

[gim]

That was a long read.  I had to skim it half way down.  The photo helped though, as a picture is worth many words.

 

I'll keep mine shorter and simpler.  Keep in mind that 2020 was the best fishing season I've ever had in 22 years.

 

I had three presentations that probably caught the most fish:

1) chatterbait/vibrating jig of some kind using a rage tail menace trailer

2) texas rigged weightless stick bait which I primarily used to skip docks

3) super shallow running crank bait, primarily a discontinued storm subwart and an XPS crank

 

I did quite well using a ned rig in 2019, but in 2020 it produced almost nothing.

[A-Jay]

14 minutes ago, gimruis said:

That was a long read.  .

I got nothing but time until at least April.

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I got nothing but time until at least April.

A-Jay

I liked it all myself

[diehardbassfishing]

 

CULPRIT WORM - 7.5"

 

 

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

How many has the service coin caught?

[A-Jay]

38 minutes ago, Hewhospeaksmuchbull said:

How many has the service coin 

Thank you for your service.

A-Jay

[detroit1]

Either you spent alot of time on the water or you are changing baits too often !  ?

[roadwarrior]

36 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

Either you spent a lot of time on the water or...

...maybe he catches too many GAINT fish, both brown and green.

 

If you are not compiling a TW wish list or at least taking notes, you

are missing an opportunity to raise your game.

 

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

If you are not compiling a TW wish list or at least taking notes, you

are missing an opportunity to raise your game.

FireFox plug-in - 'Save as eBook'

 

I highlighted Andy's post, saved it to my 'Articles' folder in E-Pub format...read later at my leisure on my tablet.

[Michigander]

Wind was a real issue for me in central Michigan too this year! Had a great early spring but after that it was harder to get bit than previous years.

 

My three all stars for the year were (not necessarily in this order):

1. A green pumpkin Rage Bug with an Owner 4/0 CPS hook and a 1/8 or 1/4 tungsten weight.

2. A brown and blue Snack Daddy tube on a Secret Lures Stupid Tube jighead.

3. Jackall Archelon in the gray blue color with a tungsten weight and flipping hook.

 

Those three baits resulted in most of my keepers for the year.

 

Honorable mention to the humble jig, who picked up the slack countless times.

[BrianMDTX]

@A-Jay, I wanna be you when I grow up!

 

Crap! I’m 60! ?

 

I’m going to try a few of your selections (here cometh the Monkey again!) and see how they work for green bass down here in TX. As far as the attractant (I have some but rarely seem to reach for it), can you detect a difference if you don’t use it? 

[roadwarrior]

10 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

As far as the attractant (I have some but rarely seem to reach for it), can you detect a difference if you don’t use it? 

 

For more than twenty years I have NEVER fished a soft plastic without a dab of MegaStrike.

 

[A-Jay]

12 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

@A-Jay, I wanna be you when I grow up!

 

Crap! I’m 60! ?

 

I’m going to try a few of your selections (here cometh the Monkey again!) and see how they work for green bass down here in TX. As far as the attractant (I have some but rarely seem to reach for it), can you detect a difference if you don’t use it? 

Ok, well I only have a year on you so you don't have far to go.    Megastrike is like a clear gel when it is cooler and gets a little juicy when air temperature goes over 70 or so. I keep it in the cooler when I need to.  It needs to be applied by hand and it makes both you and your bait slippery.  I like it on the bait but there's always a rag handy.  To me, it has a subtle odor, no stink though.  I say it makes fish hold on and even take a second swipe at a bait they missed on the first attempt.  I put it on everything all the time.  You'll have to see for yourself I guess.

A-Jay 

[BrianMDTX]

@A-Jay @roadwarrior  I’m never to old to try new things. I’ll give Megastrike a thorough workout. I tend to fish a lot of soft plastics so I’ll buy the large size lol. 

[ajschn06]

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Also the Dirty Jigs Tactical Bassin' Finesse Swimbait Jig Head is pretty sweet (I’ve started using this on my A-Rigs as well).

 

 

 

 

I've had a lot of success with the Ayu and Mossback Golden Fat Impacts- I've been wanting to try the TB Finesse head, but it bothered me that it didn't come in anything darker that would go better with that bait.  I suppose if @A-Jay is comfortable throwing it out like that, I should be too.....

[A-Jay]

9 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

 

 

I've had a lot of success with the Ayu and Mossback Golden Fat Impacts- I've been wanting to try the TB Finesse head, but it bothered me that it didn't come in anything darker that would go better with that bait.  I suppose if @A-Jay is comfortable throwing it out like that, I should be too.....

I am only comfortable if they eat it and end up in the net.

Which they do.

A-Jay

[Columbia Craw]

COVID shut my entire spring down.  By the time waters opened, it was into summer patterns.  So,  deep was dominant.  Robo Worm, Dream Shot and an assortment of other drop shot baits came in first. The 6th Sense Curve 55 was a producer in crayfish patterns.  
 

In the fall, the Dark Sleeper was a sweet bait.  The fish choked it!  I also committed to deep cranking and had some good success.   Normans DD 22, 6th Sense Cloud 9 and SK 6XD baits all came through.  I expect to expand on this bite in 2021 and A-Jay was kind enough to sell some perfect deep runners to me so things look promising.

 

I, like most of you want to get this year behind me.

[OkobojiEagle]

MaxScent performed as advertised for me this season.  Lunch worm on a jighead fished in it's full length or shorten to "grub" length was my most proficient bait at bringing smallmouth to hand.

 

oe

[schplurg]

Stick worms, T or Split-Shot rigged. Wacky too.

 

First bass of the year was on a chatterbait (first chatterbait fish for me). After that it was all worms I think (first time catching with a worm). Yum Dingers and a few BPS Stik-Os. Green pumpkin, green pumpkin and white, june bug with black flakes.

 

Fished a creek most of the time which is why I used them.

[Bankbeater]

This past spring was the worst I can remember.  My total fish caught for March, April, and May total a whopping 27. Then in June it was like a switch was flipped and the bass turned back on, but only if you were fishing the right bait.

 

1. Zara Spook.  Bass this year wouldn't hardly touch topwater, and this one was the last that I tried.

2 and 3.  It was a tie.  Jigs down deep along bluffs, and finesse worms in the vegetation.

4. Crankbaits around drop offs. 

5. Senko type baits.  3", 4", and 6" around cover.  The thicker the cover, the bigger the bait.

[ajschn06]

Unfortunately, my "2020 most productive baits" list is quite short.

 

A black and blue Sieberts brush jig with a rage craw did most of the damage.  2nd place, but not a close 2nd, would be the BHite Delite Jackhammer with a GP rage menace.  I didn't throw much else for long enough to make them productive.  A few on a toad and a few on the Keitech...

[detroit1]

Just bustin' your chops Ajay...nothing but love sir. Once again, it was various d/s baits, my bud's homemade bladed jig, and wacky stick baits took the majority of my fish.

[Hook2Jaw]

This year was probably more of the same and much like @A-Jay, I should probably start tracking it.  I imagine it helps to up his game.  I'm always looking for ways to elevate my own.

 

My number one most productive bait for putting inches of largemouth on the Hawg Trough was a BOSS Gary Klein Original Flipping Jig in Light Green Pumpkin.  The skirt matches the trailer perfectly, the silicone is also by BOSS and is the Black Brown Amber variant.  A YUM Craw Chunk 3.75 in Craw threaded onto the hook leaves you with a giant profile that attracts giant bites.  I like to pitch it and cast it.

 

My breakthrough baits of the year were squarebills, one the H2O Xpress CRS and the other the 6th Sense Crush 50x.  I primarily threw these in bold colors(matte whites, chartreuses) and the Crush 50x colors allowed for some ghost shad patterns to be mixed it.  The 6th Sense offering was a murderous affair in the densest cover, it's buoyancy backed it out of snags on the regular.  The H2O Xpress CRS is, in my opinion, the best value in a hard bait.  She is a 6x6.  She is a Marsh Master.  It has better deflection properties than the 6th Sense bait and all the others I've thrown.  That's enough about squarebills.

 

Ol' reliable?  That goes to the dropshot.  The YUM Killshot was my limit getter year round, catching my deepest spot at 32' and first sonar fish.  It also caught bass between 8" and 20".  It gets smoked.  Sadly, YUM smoked it, because it's no longer in production.  I have a feeling 2021 will see the Missile Bomb Shot and Roboworm 6" Straight Tail vie for the title of old reliable.

 

Honorable mentions go to Neko rigging a YUM Money Craw, the Booyah Pad Crasher, winding and waking a Booyah Blade spinnerbait(double willow), and...

 

STOPGOREGULARBURNFASTPOPSNATCHKILLING a 6th Sense Quake 70.  Congrats, Quake, you're the first lipless I believe in.

 

Merry Christmas, ye animals!