What’s Your Go-To Search Bait?

[KSanford33]

I started with a spinnerbait, but found I did more searching than finding. Now I currently use a jerkbait, but I’m curious as to what everyone else uses. 

[Todd2]

If I'm not fishing at targets with jigs or plastics, crankbaits are my main thing for covering some water. Shad Rap, Normans..I like them all. 

[FishinBuck07]

Squarebill or DT10 depending on depth I am searching in!

[A-Jay]

A chart / map of the lake ~

A-Jay

[Mr. Aquarium]

A swimbait! A swimbait like a glide will draw out fish. They just come to investigate it even if they won’t bite.  They can see it long distances.  A glide bait has a ton of drawing power.  When you find a school of fish or big fish. Sit in that area or come back to that area and catch em

[Big Rick]

17 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

A chart / map of the lake ~

A-Jay

I'll bite.

 

So, after you've perused the maps and charts and have landed on the spot you chose what is the bait you pick with the most confidence that you'll get bit?

 

I understand it all depends on the "spot". But, I know in your mind there's that one bait that you gravitate to. 

 

As a side note, you've spent so much time on Menderchuck you shouldn't need a map!  I figured you had it memorized!

 

In warm water mine is a topwater. In cooler water it's a spinnerbait or Jackhammer. 

[Captain Phil]

Rattle Trap...   

[DitchPanda]

Depends on the cover. Lots of lay downs or rock I like a spinnerbait...grass or scattered stick up its A swim jig...Clean bottom I use a lipless.

[A-Jay]

26 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

I'll bite.

 

So, after you've perused the maps and charts and have landed on the spot you chose what is the bait you pick with the most confidence that you'll get bit?

 

I understand it all depends on the "spot". But, I know in your mind there's that one bait that you gravitate to. 

 

As a side note, you've spent so much time on Menderchuck you shouldn't need a map!  I figured you had it memorized!

 

In warm water mine is a topwater. In cooler water it's a spinnerbait or Jackhammer. 

 

OK, I can openly admit that I do have favorite baits, the ones that have taken the biggest bass for me.  Recent early season success has been with jerkbaits & vibrating jigs.

But I've also got some plus sized fish on tubes, neg rigs, topwater baits and spinnerbaits.  

Honorable mention has to go to the swinghead as well. 

 

However my personal preference when it come to the approach might be a little different I guess.

 When I endeavor to accomplish the bold type above, THAT is My searching. 

So when I arrive I do have a bait and or a presentation or two in mind.

(Usually tied up the night before)

But I'm not searching with them.

I am hoping to feed them to the fish I am anticipating are there and hopefully ready to eat.

When the area(s)  I'm fishing are small (relative term) like cover on structure,

 stuff I can cover with a few casts, boat position becomes critical and condition dependant.

My approach will be to fish whatever bait I think will get me the biggest bite. 

Could be many deals , from topwater to bottom contact baits to whatever. 

 

Coming off plane, getting to an area and machine gunning the water to a froth with a search bait - doesn't appeal to me and rarely results in my best catches. 

 

The closest I come to using what could be considered a traditional 'search bait' is when I need to cover a larger area, like a mid to deep water flat.

Even in these instances, there's almost always cover involved and if it's spread out on the flat,

it's simply a matter of finding which pieces of cover are holding bass; if they are at all.

Fortrex and the Talons usually get a workout right there.

A-Jay

 

 

[FishTank]

4in paddle tail swimbait or a chatterbait.

[gim]

Spinnerbaits would be my first choice.  Lately I have taken a liking to a chatterbait/bladed jig though too.  The spinnerbait generally needs to be worked a swifter pace than a chatterbait so in that sense the chatterbait is a little more versatile.  The chatterbait can also be worked at deeper depths.

 

Topwater used to be a popular choice for me years ago.  Primarily a buzzbait.  Lately it just sucks because nothing bites on it.

 

 

[Mobasser]

Clear water- plastic grub. Off colored water- spinner bait or lipless baits.

[Deleted account]

Usually a spinnerbait or chatter, but sometimes a swim jig or crank. During warmer weather, sometimes a topwater.

[EWREX]

chatterbait with a smaller profile trailer

[scaleface]

I cant list just one . Spinnerbaits , crankbaits , buzzbaits , toads...Sometimes I'm searching deep flats and I 'll go with cranks , Carolina rigs , Little George...

[LrgmouthShad]

38 minutes ago, gimruis said:

The spinnerbait generally needs to be worked a swifter pace than a chatterbait so in that sense the chatterbait is a little more versatile.

I admit to never having tried slow rolling a chatterbait but sometimes I reel spinnerbaits so slow I'm crawling it on a 5:4:1. 

 

Spinnerbait is my #1 lure period, 'search' bait or not. I generally use them to explore an area I believe or know that holds fish, anywhere from dirt shallow to about 15' feet. And sometimes deeper. 

 

I agree with those that said you use a fish finder to find fish. It's in the name. 

[gim]

1 minute ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I admit to never having tried slow rolling a chatterbait but sometimes I reel spinnerbaits so slow I'm crawling it on a 5:4:1. 

As long as the blades are vibrating, the lure is working.  In that sense, a chatterbait can be worked at a slower pace than a spinnerbait when I'm using it.  Obviously the size and shape of the blades on a spinnerbait can alter the speed too.

 

I don't see as many anglers using spinnerbaits as I used to.  I think the chatterbait has replaced it for some.  Not me though.  I use both.  And this past season a black spinnerbait was perhaps my most productive lure.  Its possible that the lack of spinnerbait usage by others lately has helped my productivity with it, as the fish have probably not seen them in a while.

[CrashVector]

Keitech easy shiner or a chatterbait.

[the reel ess]

Lipless cranks, spinnerbaits, topwaters, including buzzbaits. All the junk fishing favorites.

[lynxcat]

Cleaner water: Swim jig; albeit I am trying the stealthblade in these circumstances a bit more (since the thump is so weak)

Average/Muddy: Chatterbait

 

My new technique: Wakebait/super shallow diving crankbait. Have a small one that goes about 0.5ft deep...perfect for the shallow ponds I fish. I think this will be highly effective in the fall.

[FrankN209]

Another for spinnerbaits. Also, lipless cranks and chatterbaits. 

[Hawkeye21]

Usually a chatterbait but have been throwing more crankbaits lately.

[KP Duty]

Early spring/prespawn- slow rolled 1/2oz spinnerbait (jerkbait for lightly stained or clear water).  Going to try slow rolled red eye shads and heavy chatterbaits this year.

 

Spawn- shallow diving crankbait 

 

Post spawn- compact 1/4oz spinnerbait or mini chatterbait.

 

Summer- buzzbait early, then fat shallow crank (b2/bds2)

 

Fall- buzzbait, fat shallow crank, trap.

[Koz]

What I like to throw are spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. But that doesn’t mean I should be throwing those.

 

That being said, over the past 9 months I have primarily used beetlespins as a search bait because both the LMB and stripers will hit it.

[DINK WHISPERER]

Big 10" live golden shiner free lined! Finds em every time.... ?