What baits would you bring?

[ErieCan]

I fish a very large, mostly clear water bay (of Lake Erie) in the summer/fall.  I'm experienced with fishing smallmouth here. But this season, I want to target the largemouth more. Essentially, most of the largemouth areas are sandy, silty, marshy bottoms with all sorts of mixed vegetation.  Lily pad areas, cat tails, tape grass, sago, coon tail, milfoil, etc. There are some large deeper weed beds (8-10').  I'll also be fishing the various marinas, rows of boat houses, and marsh channels.  Not much as far as rock or other structure. Pretty much weeds everywhere, a lot of areas to cover, and a lot of bass (and pike to make your baits go bye bye. Musky numbers are increasing too). 

 

So, the fun question here is, what baits would you bring? 

 

I'm thinking some basics. 

- Senkos (wacky or texas rig) 

- swim jigs w/ trailers

- chatter baits

- frogs and toads

- jerkbaits for the deeper beds

- creature baits/craws for punching

 

 

 

 

[Mobasser]

T rig plastic worms, buzzbaits and spinnerbaits sound good for this area also. Maybe a topwater popper or Zara Spook too

[ElijahH]

Since the bottom is mostly soft I would personally stay away from jigs and go with a light or weightless T-Rig. Other than that anything should be fine. If the water is unusually clear you'll probably have to go to a drop shot or shaky head with lighter line. 

[papajoe222]

Two gotta have baits...Jig and T-rigged plastic worm. You can cover the whole water column, punch the weeds with a heavy jig, or peg the sinker on the worm and swim it over or through the weeds

[ErieCan]

8 minutes ago, ElijahH said:

Since the bottom is mostly soft I would personally stay away from jigs and go with a light or weightless T-Rig. Other than that anything should be fine. If the water is unusually clear you'll probably have to go to a drop shot or shaky head with lighter line. 

 

Some areas are hard compacted sand as well.  I use drop shots a lot on the bay, though for smallmouth. There's a huge area of gravel flats but that's smallie territory. Never tried drop shot near weeds but I'll have to give it a go. 

[rtwvumtneer6]

Tube.  Owner has a Phantom weighted tube hook up to 3/16.  If you need heavier, you can stupid rig a different jig head.  Both are weedless presentations.  

 

 

[ElijahH]

3 minutes ago, ErieCan said:

 

Some areas are hard compacted sand as well.  I use drop shots a lot on the bay, though for smallmouth. There's a huge area of gravel flats but that's smallie territory. Never tried drop shot near weeds but I'll have to give it a go. 

Another tip, I know they get a lot of crap, but if the bite is slow, fishing the pads and weeds with a weightless T-rigged senko can sometimes get a few bites that a weighted creature bait or jig won't get. 

[Mobasser]

Another good one to bring is a Johnson Silver Minnow, a classic bait for throwing over weedy areas.

[Dens228]

In clear water I really like underspins coupled with an appropriate sized Keitech Impact Fat. 

[Mbirdsley]

4 inch zoom Green pumpkin tube.  Either on a tube jig or t-rigged. What ever your preference on how you want to rig it. Dragged on the bottom. Green pumpkin tube is  Almost a dead ringer for a goby or anything else actually.