What to throw?

[VTFan]

The entire month of April here in central Virginia a Dudley Wacky rig was the ticket for me. I figure I'll throw it until the fish get tired of it.  Then what?  A Brushhog maybe? Or a lizard since they will probably be either on beds or very close? When should I start throwing a chatterbait?

[Skunkmaster-k]

In my corner of the world a gulp minnow on a jig head is catching a whole bunch of smallmouth. Gulp minnows rule !

[Pat Brown]

Been catching them on a Jerkbaits, Glide Baits, Chatterbaits, Swim Jigs, T-Rig Creatures and Spinnerbaits.

 

Another couple weeks and it's gonna be frog and spook and buzzbait time.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, VTFan said:

The entire month of April here in central Virginia a Dudley Wacky rig was the ticket for me. I figure I'll throw it until the fish get tired of it.  Then what?  A Brushhog maybe? Or a lizard since they will probably be either on beds or very close? When should I start throwing a chatterbait?

People catch with chatterbait even in cold water 

[Mobasser]

You can never go wrong with a plastic worm fished slowly.

[DaubsNU1]

Got on the water for two hours yesterday...conditions were rough...39 degrees, winds out of the north 20-25 with gusts to 35 MPH. Water temps were 52.5 degrees.

 

I had two base layers on, insulation layer, and gore-tex shell...and I wore my 1200 chest waders, neoprene gauntlet decoy gloves with chemical hand warmers tucked in side.  Ugh!

 

Smaller lake, there were a few areas where I could get out of the wind. Managed seven small bass on a white chatter bait in two hours.

 

Called it quits...I was really cold.

 

When the wind is blowing that hard I try to throw something heavy that I can work with gloves on.

[roadwarrior]

12 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

You can never go wrong with a plastic worm fished slowly.

 

Whether it's the right choice or the best choice, a worm is ALWAYS a viable option.

I like fishing a jig even when I know something else would be a better choice.

[Bird]

Here in NW Virginia I've caught bass on several different baits.

Biggest fish on swim jig.

Most fish on a Spinnerbait.

And several on square bill, dropshot, Keitech on 1/8 underspin, flukes and Mojo rig.

Heading down your way for a week at Philpott lake.

[Jig Man]

Shaky, swim bait and Ned have been producing 30 to 50 bass per trip for us.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I start throwing a chatterbait in mid to late Feb and fish them heavy into the spawn.  I start to rely more and more on a swim jig instead of a chatterbait.  I will throw a chatterbait if have enough wind/clouds or rain, otherwise Im throwing a swimjig.  Towards the end of the prespawn I start to fish mojo and t rigs, especially on tough days.  A couple days that started rough turned out to be pretty good, for me anyway.  Not very durable, but that Berkley water bug is great on a mojo rig.  Ive done really well with a Palmetto Bug on both mojo and t rig, they really last too.  

[Munkin]

In Western Maryland it has been a spinnerbait on the river for 2 weeks. Square bill was working really well one day.  Caught a bunch of lake LM on a Ned creature bait. 

 

Allen 

[Bankbeater]

Late February, March, and most of April the bass were tearing up spinnerbaits, and to a lesser extent, swim jigs. 

[VTFan]

As figured the wacky bite has slowed... at least for me. I tied on a watermelon/red brushhog with the tails dyed chartreuse and that seems to be the  bait of choice for the present time... at least for me. 

[looking45]

The fish can give you a better answer than anyone on this forum. Let them tell you what to use.  Try different baits until you start catching them. 

[king fisher]

The correct answer can't possibly be something you already have in your box.  Look at what you already own, then go buy something you don't have. You may not catch fish, but at least it wont be because you don't have the right lure.

[bowhunter63]

Rage Bug or a swimming worm. Smallies here have been tearing a Rage bug Rage rigged