When do you think is the prime time for each bait? (Crank, spinnerbait…)

[clemsondds]

Just curious if everyone would like to share when they think the absolute prime time is for each bait.  so if you could throw a bait only one time during the year…when would you use it? 
squarebill

crankbai

lipless

spinnerbait

blade

chatterbait

buzzbqit

swimjig

erc

this may be a dumb topic but heard a famous bass guy recently say Fall was a  perfect time for a certain bait…so it got me thinking…

[Darth-Baiter]

I think we should let TNriver46 lead the spinnerbait discussion.  

 

this year, I learned a square bill, and lipless is a summer bait when the bass are in deepish water, nestled in the grass.  ripping them thru the grass is exciting.  I didn't kill em, as I was working out the kinks in the presentation.  but the ones I did catch got my heart pitter-pattering.  

 

I had a somewhat difficult time telling when the baits hit the grass and it was time to "rip".  but it got better.  using lighter braid was the key for me.  way more tactile of a feel (I could feel the lure stop wiggling as it entered the grass), and the line seem to slice the grass easier. 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

9 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I think we should let TNriver46 lead the spinnerbait discussion.  

 

this year, I learned a square bill, and lipless is a summer bait when the bass are in deepish water, nestled in the grass.  ripping them thru the grass is exciting.  I didn't kill em, as I was working out the kinks in the presentation.  but the ones I did catch got my heart pitter-pattering.  

 

I had a somewhat difficult time telling when the baits hit the grass and it was time to "rip".  but it got better.  using lighter braid was the key for me.  way more tactile of a feel (I could feel the lure stop wiggling as it entered the grass), and the line seem to slice the grass easier. 

 

 

Hahah!!!

 

squarebill: summer 

lipless: winter

spinnerbait: $&@&$ never

blade: winter

chatterbait: all year but better fall and spring

buzzbait: summer and fall

swimjig: spring and summer, probably works in fall too but I haven’t really tried that

adding my own: plastic worm! 365 24/7

[clemsondds]

Lol I said only once…gotta pick only one time of year to use each …

[TOXIC]

The thing to remember is that all of those baits will work year round but excel more at certain times or certain conditions.  The more experienced you are you can adapt them to the conditions you are in.  Take for example a SPRO Little John crank with the computer chip bill.  Originally it was a cold water crank due to its tight wobble, tungsten wrapped bearings and slow retrieve.  If you can force yourself to slow retrieve it, even in warm water, it produces well.  A spinnerbait can be burned in summer, slow rolled in cold water and waked  as almost a topwater.  

[Deleted account]

36 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

When do you think is the prime time for each bait? (Crank, spinnerbait…)

IMNSHO that's not how it works.

[volzfan59]

First, let me say that I don't fish in the coldest part of winter anymore. That said, I keep a crankbait of some sort tied on year round.

Buzzbait/top water, once the water hits around 60.

Spinnerbaits, pretty much year round.

Bladed jigs, spring through fall.

Swim jig, I'm still trying to learn them.

[roadwarrior]

25 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

adding my own: plastic worm! 365 24/7

 

 

                                                          

[clemsondds]

20 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

IMNSHO that's not how it works.

It was just meant for a fun question.don’t take it too seriously 

[Bankbeater]

Chatterbaits in the spring and fall.  Buzzbaits in the summer when it is raining.  The rest I fish all year long.

[scaleface]

We all have different experiences ,fish differently ,  frequent different waters but I'll do my best to play.

 

Crankbaits , squarebill and lipless . Right now

Spinnerbait , muddy water so spring

Blade bait , after turnover  , were talking about silver buddy type lures right ?

Chatterbait , havent fished them enough

Buzzbait , early summer

Swim jig , never tossed one

Texas rigs  summer

Jerkbait  early winter

[NorthernBasser]

1 hour ago, clemsondds said:

It was just meant for a fun question.don’t take it too seriously 

There's always that one guy...and it's usually him. 

[casts_by_fly]

5 hours ago, clemsondds said:

Just curious if everyone would like to share when they think the absolute prime time is for each bait.  so if you could throw a bait only one time during the year…when would you use it? 
squarebill

crankbai

lipless

spinnerbait

blade

chatterbait

buzzbqit

swimjig

erc

this may be a dumb topic but heard a famous bass guy recently say Fall was a  perfect time for a certain bait…so it got me thinking…

Ill play. 
 

 

squarebill- pre-spawn spring. We have too much grass after that. 

crankbait- fall after the grass has died and the fish are gorging 

lipless- early spring as a reaction bait

spinnerbait- on a grey windy day 

blade- if you’re talking a sonar or vibx I don’t fish them. 

chatterbait- late spring prespawn

buzzbait- late summer early mornings 

swimjig- mid summer when the fish retreat into the grass

[LonnieP]

I throw crankbaits all year

[papajoe222]

Early spring...........................jerkbaits and bladebaits

Late spring/pre spawn.....crankbaits

Post spawn............................T-rig and drop shot

Summer..................................Jig/trailer

Late summer.........................Spinnerbait/topwater

Early fall....................................Lipless

Late fall......................................Bladebaits/ jerkbaits

I don't throw bladed jigs and although I will swim a jig, it isn't something I do regularly at any particular time.

[Fishlegs]

On 10/9/2022 at 9:33 AM, TnRiver46 said:

plastic worm! 365 24/7

[clemsondds]

On 10/9/2022 at 10:32 PM, papajoe222 said:

Early spring...........................jerkbaits and bladebaits

Late spring/pre spawn.....crankbaits

Post spawn............................T-rig and drop shot

Summer..................................Jig/trailer

Late summer.........................Spinnerbait/topwater

Early fall....................................Lipless

Late fall......................................Bladebaits/ jerkbaits

I don't throw bladed jigs and although I will swim a jig, it isn't something I do regularly at any particular time.

Great response!  exactly what I was wanting to see. 

Any other thoughts? 

[Woody B]

There's going to be variations by region, and even from lake to lake within a region.   

 

Squarebill/flatside -anytime of year when the bass are up on the flats feeding.  Also great for bouncing off stumps and lay downs anytime the water is above 55 degrees.  

 

Crankbait- anytime of year bass are suspended on ledges

 

Lipless- believe it or not, skipping docks, anytime of year

 

Spinnerbait- muddy water. I used to fish a spinnerbait a bunch- now on the lake I fish most EVERYONE is throwing a spinnerbait or buzzbait.   You need to be different than the crowd.

 

Blade- Winter

 

Chatterbait- not really my thing.  Didn't exist when I fished before-  I'll try some someday. 

 

Buzzbait- Overfished around here.  No offense intended but I consider them to be a lazy mans top water lure.  I get better results top water with a Devils horse or a Spook.   Unlike a buzzbait you can't simply cast these lures out and reel them in.   

 

Swimjig- not really my thing.  I use some type of crankbait (flatside, square bill or regular crank) in swimbait situations.  There's very little grass in the lakes I fish in.  I suspect a swim jig would excel in grass.  (?)

 

Around here I see a BUNCH of people fishing spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and crankbaits.  They just thrown them out and steadily reel them in.  The people I talk to at the landing rarely catch much of anything.   There's also quite a few fishing texas rigs with HUGE weights.  

 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Simple- topwater all year. When that don't work crankbaits. When that don't work, worms. When that don't work start downsizing till it does

 

 

[clemsondds]

Thank you for taking the time to share that great response! 

On 10/14/2022 at 6:52 AM, Woody B said:

There's going to be variations by region, and even from lake to lake within a region.   

 

Squarebill/flatside -anytime of year when the bass are up on the flats feeding.  Also great for bouncing off stumps and lay downs anytime the water is above 55 degrees.  

 

Crankbait- anytime of year bass are suspended on ledges

 

Lipless- believe it or not, skipping docks, anytime of year

 

Spinnerbait- muddy water. I used to fish a spinnerbait a bunch- now on the lake I fish most EVERYONE is throwing a spinnerbait or buzzbait.   You need to be different than the crowd.

 

Blade- Winter

 

Chatterbait- not really my thing.  Didn't exist when I fished before-  I'll try some someday. 

 

Buzzbait- Overfished around here.  No offense intended but I consider them to be a lazy mans top water lure.  I get better results top water with a Devils horse or a Spook.   Unlike a buzzbait you can't simply cast these lures out and reel them in.   

 

Swimjig- not really my thing.  I use some type of crankbait (flatside, square bill or regular crank) in swimbait situations.  There's very little grass in the lakes I fish in.  I suspect a swim jig would excel in grass.  (?)

 

Around here I see a BUNCH of people fishing spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and crankbaits.  They just thrown them out and steadily reel them in.  The people I talk to at the landing rarely catch much of anything.   There's also quite a few fishing texas rigs with HUGE weights.  

 

 

[Standard]

I'm with @NittyGrittyBoy

 

If topwater isn't working, I'll switch to crank or jerk baits starting with shallow runners and getting deeper until a consistent bite.  Then tube / worm / ned rigs if they're looking for something slow moving.