Best bait for small bass

[gim]

On 6/1/2021 at 4:41 PM, ironbjorn said:

Try a Ned Rig.

 

Definitely try this.  When I use it and I catch a lot of small bass on it.  It will sometimes catch a bigger fish too but the diminutive size targets pretty much every fish in the system.

[Michigander]

Weightless fluke on a lightwire offset hook.

[gunsinger]

On 6/1/2021 at 1:57 PM, Fisher0517 said:

Don’t know that they looked at it I’m thinking maybe a rattle will help?

I've found a blue/chrome rattletrap to be good for schooling bass as well.

[Fisher0517]

1 hour ago, gunsinger said:

I've found a blue/chrome rattletrap to be good for schooling bass as well.

I actually have that but I’ve never throw it

[gunsinger]

1 hour ago, Fisher0517 said:

I actually have that but I’ve never throw it

I've caught some nice ones on it when they're busting shad.  An erratic retrieve usually does the trick.  Be aware of the depth of the area you're throwing it though.  It is a sinking bait an those trebles love stumps and submerged cover.

[jdr99a]

If you just want to catch a bunch of little bass, I’ve had tons of luck with a 1/32 oz jig head and some sort of soft plastic made for crappie/panfish.  When I take my kids out that’s what we’ll throw just to keep their attention. 
 

I throw mine on a light spinning rod with light line. Most of the fish we catch on this setup are half a pound or so, but it’s amazing how much fight a 1.5 pounder puts up on ultralight gear. The smile on my kids face is worth not catching the giants. 

[gunsinger]

I saw in another thread where they were talking about throwing road runners.  No experience with them myself. 

I will say this.  One of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten was when an old timer told me to quit chasing after that latest and greatest magic bait.  Hard to beat that classic TR worm or a wacky rig.  

[RB 77]

If you still haven't caught one, drop shot a 4" nose hooked finesse worm on light line. This is a close to a "sure thing" as it gets IMHO. Senkos, Inline spinners and Ned rigs are also good options.  

[Ratherbfishing]

Never fish for the fish you can see.  Not ONLY can they see you but they are usually (99 times out of 100) in a negative mood.  Fish for the bass you cannot see.

 

But to answer your question, I'm with Tom on this one:  A small original floating Rapala in silver is almost a sure bet.  I've not caught any monsters with one but many average-sized bass and plenty of dinks.  Try different retrieves from slow and steady to jerk, reel, long pause, repeat, etc.  Even pressured bass will sucumb to a small Rapala.

[Bankbeater]

I can catch little bass all day with a 3" BPS Stik-o on a split shot rig. I usually fish it around water willows, or the outside edge of the vegetation.

[Fisher0517]

5 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

I can catch little bass all day with a 3" BPS Stik-o on a split shot rig. I usually fish it around water willows, or the outside edge of the vegetation.

What’s a split shot rig?

[TriStateBassin106]

Beetlespin inline spinners and smaller rapala minnows 

[Bankbeater]

8 hours ago, Fisher0517 said:

What’s a split shot rig?

My split shot rig is a weightless texas rig with a split shot above the bait about 12" or so. 

[roadwarrior]

Zara Puppy, silver & black

 

https://www.lurenet.com/heddon-zara-puppy

[Columbia Craw]

Based on the club event I fished yesterday, every bait I threw was effective at catching small fish.

[greentrout]

Cast unobserved with spinning using 4# pound test ... adjust drag ... twitch and slightly snap ... experiment ...

 

will catch anything in the pond ...

 

Rebel Critters ...

 

  

Good Fishing ...