What was you're best lure and set up this year?

[Mike L]

26 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

I sound like a broken record...For 26 years the Senko rules! My newest "best lure" is a tie:

Rage Tail Menace and Structure Bug.

Every time you mention the Menace I say to myself I gotta buy me some and never do. 
 

Doin it right now! ?

 

 

 

 

Mike

[LonnieP]

Caught a lot of bass on various crankbaits this year but probably caught the most on a 3/8 peanut butter and jelly jig with Green Pumpkin Zoom Ultravibe speed craw trailer.

[GreenPig]

Soft Jerkbait is always my #1 producer in my grassy herring filled lake.

[Hook2Jaw]

Early this year, the Jackall Rerange and KVD Deep crushed it for me in the prespawn.   The spawn was largely a bust for me, but a shakyhead with a Z-Man Fattyz in The Deal caught fish everywhere I went, all the way to now.  I finally bit the bullet and started throwing the Chatterbait Minimax and Jackhammer with Kamikaze Swimons or a Razor Shadz trailering them and caught size and numbers through late summer to the fall.  I've been studying web development like a mad man for the last three months, but I'm about to get my certification and a jerkbait gets to come out soon.

[king fisher]

     This is the first year that my answer isn't some type of hard bait.  I started the year off with a 10.3 pound bass caught on a weightless 7 inch Senko rigged weedless. ( T rig with no weight for those that are not offended by that terminology ).  No more DD. but the 7 inch Senko caught most of my bigger fish.

      My best numbers bait was a 1/4 ounce T rig with a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm.  Same bait fished on a C rig came in 3rd.

    I always start off with moving baits, but this was definitely the year of soft plastics for me.  A few years ago, I didn't even catch a single decent size bass on any soft plastic, and this year both of my top baits were plastics.  I am not sure if the bass have changed, or if it is me.  If next year my top producer is a Ned rig, I may have to move out of Mexico.

[wadeboyzfishing]

 

 

1) wacky rigged Yamamoto Senko ( natural green colors) played with the yum dingers but yamas out fished the dingers easy 3-1 maybe 4-1.

 

2) carolina rigged yum 6" lizard june bug

 

3) crankbait bandit 100 in rootbeer or bluegill.

[ATA]

On 11/18/2022 at 9:22 AM, Bartableman7 said:

I fished something completely different this year with excellent results.  (I'm a heavy equipment jig pitcher so this was way out of my comfort zone.) 15 lb braid on a 7 foot medium spinning rod.  1/2 oz egg sinker in front of a swivel and a 3 foot 6 lb test fluoro carbon leader tied with a #3 silver Mepps.  I fished rock piles in 20 feet all year long.  Caught tons of bass letting it sink, then giving it a quick snap to get the blade going then a slow steady retrieve.  I lost a bunch of baits but caught enough to make it worth it.  Catfish and drum pounded it too.  Carolina spinner set up.  Fun!

I try to understand your setup, Please send a picture if possible.

 

For me I hooked up more towards spinning tackle and add some. So tube fishing with 2500 Stella and 6 to 8lb test fluorocarbon became my thing specially in hard days. Dont get me wrong I am all in with casting setups but I have add 30 percent spinning now compare to before which I only had one spinning combo.

[Friggs]

I was thinking about this post for a couple of days trying to think what was my best lure and setup. And to confirm my thoughts since my memory is shot, I went to my log book app. I did not count them and figure it exactly. But really there were 3 lure types that where my best. And it was so close I will say it is a 3 way tie.

 

90mm & 75mm Whopper Plopper in loon.  (I have caught fish on this even in time and conditions people say you won't catch them on top water. So almost every time out I first throw this.)

Setup- Dobyns Fury 705 CB. Daiwa Tatula CT. P-Line Topwater Co-Polymer 15lb.

 

Of course Senkos

Setup- St Croix Mojo Bass MJS68MXF 6ft 8in M XF. Daiwa Legalis 2500 Daiwa J Braid 15lb Seaguar Invizx 12lb

 

Z-Man Ned Rig  

Setup- St Croix Triumph TRS79MLF 7ft ML F. Daiwa Regal 2000 Suffux 832 10lb braid Seaguar Invizx 8lb

 

My largest of the year and my new PB LMB was on the 90mm Whopper Plopper in Loon.

[Str8BraidPowa]

Mine was about 50/50 with the better fish on the latter. Love both to be honest.

 

1. White hulagrubb w/ blue and red flake on a 1/4" lead jighead on a 7'2" ML Zodias w/ SLX BFS reel

2. PB and J finesse jig w/watermelon candy z craw jr. on IMX Pro 894 JWR with Cronarch MGL HG (this is my most confident bait)

 

Note: I have better equipment than skill.

Edited November 21, 2022 by Str8BraidPowa
More info

[LrgmouthShad]

Well my fishing season was broken up significantly by injury but I’ll go with my best springtime lure setup because I think in a short span of time, it accounted for a large portion of my success this season.

 

iRod Genesis III 704C

Tatula 100 6 speed

Trilene Big Game 15#
Siebert Grass N Swim Jig 3/8 and 1/2oz

Rage Menace trailer 
 

 

On 11/19/2022 at 8:33 AM, Mike L said:

Every time you mention the Menace I say to myself I gotta buy me some and never do. 
 

Doin it right now! ?

 

 

 

 

Mike

Wait you ain’t tried the menace? 
 

I hope you followed through and got them. You will be super pleased with the bait. Very versatile

[Mike L]

10 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

 

Wait you ain’t tried the menace? 
 

I hope you followed through and got them. You will be super pleased with the bait. Very versatile

Yep

As soon as I logged out!

 

I have a charity tournament up coming and plan on trying one first as a stand alone and then add a skirt for more bulk if needed and go from there. 
 

I know you and others use it as a trailer on most moving baits, but since I flip/pitch or punch more than anything else that’s where it’ll get its most work. 
At least to start. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[roadwarrior]

The Menace is designed as a "stand alone" bait. It's Big O's version of a grub.

[JohnFromLisbon]

The one that got me the most bites was probably my crankbait setup fishing the DT-6. The one that got me my best bites was the NRX+ 844C MBR paired with the Curado 151HG MGL on 40lb Sufix 832 to a 12 lb Sniper FC leader, on a Bass Patrol 1/2oz football jig and a Rage Chunk.

Next year I might swap the Curado MGL for a Metanium. I was going to do it this week but the bait monkey (and his more seasonal cousin, the winter and rain gear monkey) got to my wallet first. My favorite local store has the USDM 2020 Metanium for 339 EUR ($347, give or take), so that's next.

[Bankc]

This year it's been a shaky head with a Zoom trick work on a 6'10" ML/F Abu Garcia Zata spinning reel and Veritas rod.  

 

But every year it seems to change.  I couldn't seem to buy a bite on spinnerbaits this year, but typically they've been a top producer.  I think the drought and warmer than usual temperatures have contributed to that.  

[lunkerboss923]

Dobyns Sierra 734C with a Shimano SLX DC 150...chatterbaits

 

Dobyns Fury 735C with a Shimano Chronarch 150 XG...Lipless Crankbaits finesse hooks, 65lb braid, rippin grass. 

 

Dobyns Fury 703SF with a Shimano SEDONA 2500

...Snappin' Tubes, Finesse Shaky Head

 

Runner Up

 

Dobyns Champion XP 744C with a Shimano Scorpion DC 150XG...Swim Jigs and Texas Rigs 

 

Pictured below was the fish of the year caught on a 703SF snappin a tube! 

 

 

[A-Jay]

What was you're best lure and set up this year?

 

Not sure how we are defining 'best' in this one.

However for me best means biggest and that was a 6.54 lb brown bass

and happened right here :

https://youtu.be/o9xew3tWuuU?t=1013

My set up included:

 

QUANTUM TOUR KVD TKVD150SPTH Limited Edition casting reel 6.6:1

Spooled with 15 lb Seaguar Tatsu 

on a QUANTUM TOUR KVD MICRO GUIDE TKVD706MB composite cranking rod.

Bait was the notorious 3/8 oz Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer 

with a 4 inch Yamamoto Zako Swimbait ~ Both Green Pumpkin

and heavily coated in 

Megastrike Fish Attractant Original 

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

[Woody B]

My biggest of they year (7lbs 13 ounces) came on a texas rigged motoroil worm.  1/8 ounce weight.  4 of my 10 over 5 pounds this year came on a Devils Horse.  4 were on some type of crank bait, and 1 was on a spinner bait, 1/4 ounce single colorado, chartruse with a Mann trailer.   The 7-13, or another fish in the same area hit at but didn't take my Devils Horse.  I followed up with the worm.  It hit it on the way to the bottom.   

 

Sheer numbers were probably best on crankbaits.   Before I got active target I done a bunch of searching.   Crankbait used depends on the time of year, water conditions and what mood I think the fish are in.   Early spring, and recently I've been using a crankbait that's actually a little bit too deep for the water I'm fishing.  A slow erratic retrieve will have it bouncing off the bottom and triggers strikes.    I also had good luck when they were up on the flats feeding burning an OG4 or 6, as well as Bandit 200's and various Rapala DT's.   

 

Right after I got active target I caught several 2 to 4 pounders suspended near a ledge with a 5XD and DT16.   I was watching them on my screen.  I'd get the crank down to the level they were suspended (12 to 14 feet) then basically fish it like a jerk bait.   

 

I caught my first Alabama Rig bass last Friday.   Before active target I had never gotten a nibble on an a-rig.   I didn't realize how slow it sinks.  It's really heavy, but sinks really slow.   It takes quite a bit longer than a big bladed spinner bait to sink to any depth at all. 

 

For rods and reels, I normally fish with 3.  I had 2 bps rods but broke guides of both of them.  I've used a Lew's Mach, 7' Med/Mod that I've used all year.  My current other 2 are a Lews Tp1 black, 7'3" med-hvy/fast, and a Duckett Silverado 7'3" Hvy/Fast 

 

My Grandkids marveled on my DC reels that I bought used.  I gave them to them.  I bought another Slx -dc, and a Daiwa Zillion to replace them.   

[Kevhead19]

Most Bass for 2022 (plus surly toothy critters) either 1/2oz Bruised Green Pumpkin Jackhammer + 4.5 inch green pumpkin OSP Dolive Stick on Daiwa Rebellion 7'4H Glass / Daiwa Tatula SV reel    or  Megabass 110 (various color) Nameless Customs 702 spinning rod / Daiwa Kage LT 2500

 

 

Largest Bass for 2022: Baitsanity Explorer Gill 6 on Nameless Customs 786 rod / Zillion HD.

[Choporoz]

GP Rage Bug.  Reg and Magnum.

Same as every year.  Maybe because that's what I throw most....by a bunch

[BigAngus752]

That changed with the seasons. 

[Cdn Angler]

Most fish caught were on the same setup: 6'8 Shimano Sellus, Nasci reel, 12 lb flouro, fishing a fluke style bait: mainly a Yamamoto D Shad or a Castaic jerky j. The D shads were mostly green/white. I also had surprising success on bubblegum. 

 

Usually #1 would be a whopper plopper, but I had less luck with it this year.  I often used an Ima Skimmer in ghost minnow instead, which is a skinny Spook essentially. I kinda hated it as it walked funny, but it got bit. 

 

 

[Jweller]

Lethal Weapon swim jig with a Zoom Fat Albert was my most consistent bait by far this year. 
 

Either black, bluegill colored, or white. 

[Bass Rutten]

As previously mentioned it changes as the year progresses. Early in the year a zman baby goat on a 1/16 or 1/8 jighead was killing it for numbers, swimming it old school grubbin' style. T-rigged z-hog did well too, caught my biggest fish of the year. Throughout late spring to mid-summer the chatterbait took over. In the mid to late summer months I had a 1-2 punch combo of a spook/soft jerk that was really working for me, an evergreen justine and a strike king caffeine shad. Fall was unfortunately a bust for me, got no reliable patterns going.

[TheBaitMonkey]

I had a lot of success bomb casting a dropshot along weedlines in the late summer and throughout the fall. The most productive way was slowly reeling in a 3" Spark Shad or a 4.2" Hazedong Shad with a ~2' leader rigged weedless with an EWG hook and a 3/8 oz weight. The heavier weight helped the swimbaits have the right action, 1/4oz seemed to work too but I didn't seem to get as many bites once I went below 1/4 oz since the bait didn't get enough resistance.

[throttleplate]

This for smallies in the rivers and along for the ride come the muskie and walleye.