Recommendations for beginner moving baits

[patx]

Second post!  I picked up bass fishing a few months back and have loved it. I’m bank fishing lakes around Austin, TX and thus far using finesse presentations - Ned rigs, small t-rigged zoom worms, and the occasional senko.
 

I recently bought a baitcaster reel and rod. What sorts of moving baits would you recommend for someone bank-bound and fairly new to this?  I bought a few small finesse jigs when I placed the rod order based on a recommendation from a friend, but I’d love to start branching out into some stuff that moves, I just don’t know where to start. Any recommendations?  
 

I’m on the bank, casting to structure and drop offs. I’m aiming to learn and build confidence, not set any records.

 

If winter isn’t the time to start moving lures, I’d appreciate any recommendations for the coming spring as well. 
 

Thank you!!

[WRB]

What rod & Reel combo did you buy?

Tom

[softwateronly]

If you have weeds and clear water a 3/8 oz dirty jigs swim jig w/ a 3.8" keitech fat swing or gambler ez swimmer and a 1/2oz damiki tot double willow spinnerbait, I also use the same swimbaits as a trailer, are great moving baits for me. Skirts that have a blend of white, silver, brown, and/or green pumpkin are my most universal.

 

Virtually weedless, can be fished fast or slow, steady or erratic, all fish attack it, and is extremely fun to fish.  

 

You're correct that these are not the first choice for winter but I would never not try.

 

scott

[patx]

2 minutes ago, WRB said:

What rod & Reel combo did you buy?

I’ve got a 150-sized bait caster on a MH 6’6” rod and a M 7’ spinning rod with a 3000 sized spinning reel. 

[FishinBuck07]

I second a swimjig, usually good around cover and doesn't get hung up much.  Since you are bank fishing that would be a good thing.  Chatterbait would work also, and maybe a soft plastic swimbait on a belly weighted hook to make it weedless and less snaggy!

[Mike L]

Also, grab yourself a bag of swim worms…

 

Rage Cut R, Zoom UV Speed worms etc. 

You can throw them as a top water bait, or with a small unpegged weight.
Throw them in and around any type of vegetation while dropping in any holes along the way. 
 

 

Mike

[rtwvumtneer6]

Spinnerbait is a staple in the bass fishing world.  Although you can certainly manipulate your presentation, it will catch fish on a straight retrieve to start.

 

My "standard" spinnerbait is a War Eagle 3/8oz double willow in Spot Remover. YMMV.

Edited January 8, 2022 by rtwvumtneer6
Added brand

[scaleface]

For me  ,  fishing from shore ,  everything is in play except for diving crankbaits .

 

What is the type of cover that you encounter ?  Weeds , rocks , trees...

[PressuredFishing]

2 hours ago, patx said:

Second post!  I picked up bass fishing a few months back and have loved it. I’m bank fishing lakes around Austin, TX and thus far using finesse presentations - Ned rigs, small t-rigged zoom worms, and the occasional senko.
 

I recently bought a baitcaster reel and rod. What sorts of moving baits would you recommend for someone bank-bound and fairly new to this?  I bought a few small finesse jigs when I placed the rod order based on a recommendation from a friend, but I’d love to start branching out into some stuff that moves, I just don’t know where to start. Any recommendations?  
 

I’m on the bank, casting to structure and drop offs. I’m aiming to learn and build confidence, not set any records.

 

If winter isn’t the time to start moving lures, I’d appreciate any recommendations for the coming spring as well. 
 

Thank you!!

A good starting lure, you will hear guys say spinnerbaits or crankbaits, maybe even a chatterbait. I would reccomend choosing the lure based on a multitude of reasons

 

1. Forage

2. Water clarity

3. Speed of retrieve

4. Temperature

5. Light conditions

6.wind/current

 

There are hundreds of videos, But in a nutshell dirtier water  overcast/rainy windy conditions in spring-fall do better with more rackety lures, and clear, bright, no wind days do better with more natural and subtle baits. Colder weather usually means slow, hotter normally means fast. This is all just theory though. Finally think about what you are fishing through so you snag less

 

grass: Swimjigs spinnerbaits and chatterbaitsswimbaits come through grass decently

 

Wood: squarebill crankbaits spinnerbaits and swimbaits come through wood well

 

Rock: squarebills, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, jerkbaits come through well

 

Topwaters can be intimidating but they come through all submerged cover well.

Open water: everything can work but I really like baits with treble hooks because the hookup ratio is nice.

[Trox]

The moving bait that seems to always get bit for me in the Austin area is Ott's Garage Series Slim crankbait in "big shad" color... It's caught fish on Lake Austin for me when nothing else would, I've whacked 'em on Lady Bird Lake (call it "Town Lake" for bonus points with the locals lol) with it, and almost won some money with it recently (December) on Lake Travis... If I had to choose one, that would be it. Something about that silent tight wobble, that specific color, and that clearer water works year around out there, I dunno. Tends to produce better in windier conditions, but I've caught em with no wind as well.. Now, I'm not fishing from the bank, but I am typically casting it at the bank, so it should work just fine for you as well.

[Holetail]

Not technically a moving bait, but a weightless or belly weighted fluke worked like a jerk bait almost always produces if they are in the biting mood…

small paddle tail on a light jig head, or a slider head with a trick worm are good options as well

[BlakeMolone]

4.3 swimbaits and small double willow spinnerbaits have both been good to me this year. I have discovered with spinnerbaits that my fish won’t bite them when the water is hot but when it’s warming in the spring and cooling in the fall they can be amazing.

[papajoe222]

I'd avoid treble hooked lures, at least for now.  You'll likely end up loosing them to snags and get turned off to moving baits. The two baits I'd start with would be a spinnerbait and its close cousin, a swim jig. You can target shallow cover to deep structural changes (the entire water column) with them as well as present them fast or slow.

[patx]

3 hours ago, scaleface said:

For me  ,  fishing from shore ,  everything is in play except for diving crankbaits .

 

What is the type of cover that you encounter ?  Weeds , rocks , trees...

 

Primarily trees, tree roots, and underwater vegetation.

[Kenny Yi]

for my first 5 years of bass fishing, i only used a spinnerbait, bump it into everything possible, crank parallel to the bank

[Captain Phil]

A spinnerbait is one of the deadliest most versatile bass baits available.  To get the most out of these baits, you should know the following.  Most anglers do not fish spinnerbaits close enough to the fish.  How close is close enough?   Inches.  Anglers move along the bank casting at everything they see.  When they don't get bit on a single cast they move on.  A good spinnerbait fisherman will make multiple casts to a likely area. He/she will cast back in or beyond the cover bringing the lure as close to it as possible.  Hitting the cover on the retrieve can trigger a strike.  Sparse or individual pads are perfect for this.   In addition, most anglers fish these lures too fast.   Cadence is very important in spinnerbait fishing.  The best reel gear ratio for spinnerbait fishing is 5/1.  Most spinning reels are much too fast for spinnerbait fishing.   Size can make a big difference, much more than color.  The smaller the bait, the more fish you will catch.  The larger the bait, the bigger fish you will catch.  Of course there are always exceptions, but this holds true the majority of the time. 

[Bankbeater]

From shore this time of year I like fishing with a lipless crankbait, bladed jig, or a shallow running crankbait. 

[Catt]

16 hours ago, patx said:

I’m bank fishing lakes around Austin, TX

 

13 hours ago, TroxBox said:

The moving bait that seems to always get bit for me in the Austin area is Ott's Garage Series Slim crankbait in "big shad" color...

 

 

[lynxcat]

Recommend staying away from crank baits and jerk baits. Lipless can work from the shore. 
 

Chatterbaits are what work in my ponds so I fish those throughout the year (strangely, even fish them during TX winters albeit I have been using the stealthblade). 

[BlakeMolone]

29 minutes ago, lynxcat said:

Recommend staying away from crank baits and jerk baits. Lipless can work from the shore. 
 

Chatterbaits are what work in my ponds so I fish those throughout the year (strangely, even fish them during TX winters albeit I have been using the stealthblade). 

Just curious, why do you recommend staying away from jerkbaits? They have been great to me from the shore and in my float tube, started fishing them a little over a year ago and they are by far my favorite technique now.

[Koz]

Spinnerbaits and more spinnerbaits in white, chartreuse, and a combination of those colors.

[Junk Fisherman]

I catch a lot of bass throwing a 3/16th oz leadhead jig and a 4" Keitech swing impact (not the fat) swimbait.  Go with a basic ballhead jig with a 3/0 hook.  A slow retrieve will catch fish and with the exposed hook you will not need much of a hookset.   Chatterbaits and swimjigs will definitely catch fish and often bigger fish but to start gaining confidence in moving baits, I'd go with the 4"Keitech.  Good luck.  

[lynxcat]

8 hours ago, BlakeMolone said:

Just curious, why do you recommend staying away from jerkbaits? They have been great to me from the shore and in my float tube, started fishing them a little over a year ago and they are by far my favorite technique now.

I typically find ponds (at least in the south) still have a lot of grass and are shallow. For someone starting out, it’s a pain to pick grass off after each cast and can be disheartening. 
 

If OP has deeper areas he is fishing or rock bottom with minimal grass, then cranks and jerk baits may be feasible. 

[Luke Barnes]

1 hour ago, lynxcat said:

I typically find ponds (at least in the south) still have a lot of grass and are shallow. For someone starting out, it’s a pain to pick grass off after each cast and can be disheartening. 
 

If OP has deeper areas he is fishing or rock bottom with minimal grass, then cranks and jerk baits may be feasible. 

What about if OP threw a floating jerkbait? I have one I use in ponds and it rarely hangs as long as I don't throw it into areas I can see are super shallow. It floats back up to the surface when paused and doesn't dive terribly deep. 

[Ben77]

Rage swimmer 3.8 in pearl on a owner flashy.

Lucky craft 1.5 in chartreuse black back.

T rigged 10 inch power worm in blue fleck.

5 inch gy senko black with blue fleck.

Super spook Jr in bone.

These are just some of my favorites. Any of these will catch you a bass good luck.