Snagless Search Baits?

[Rucksack]

The waters around me are full of submerged pine trees, have less than two feet of visibility, densely wooded banks, and muddy bottoms. Just about anything with an exposed hook gets stuck in a few casts. 

 

I'm currently confined to the bank. Any suggestions for search bait(s) that isn't going to get hopelessly stuck? I feel like some sort of texas rigged swimmable soft plastic might be the ticket, but I'm so new to this I really only have have experience with t-rigged stick and creature baits.

[gulfcaptain]

Well spinnerbaits do well, swim jigs, a weedless swimbait as well.  I would probably throw a swim jig with a swimbait or some sort of kicking craw trailer (rage craw cut down a bit). Make sure it has a good weed guard and work it through.  A spinnerbait is very good in woos. The arm keeps it from hanging up pretty good but it will hang just like every thing. Hope this helps and welcome to the forums. 

[softwateronly]

I'm not around a lot of timber, but with what I know I agree with @gulfcaptain.  Crappie and bream colored swimjigs with paddle tail trailers are a super successful constant for me and spinnerbaits do great getting through wood.  Your water clarity sounds like either will be a good option and preference for one over the other could go back and forth.  Check your line frequently for knicks and good luck!

 

scott

[A-Jay]

39 minutes ago, Rucksack said:

The waters around me are full of submerged pine trees, have less than two feet of visibility, densely wooded banks, and muddy bottoms. Just about anything with an exposed hook gets stuck in a few casts. 

 

I'm currently confined to the bank. Any suggestions for search bait(s) that isn't going to get hopelessly stuck? I feel like some sort of texas rigged swimmable soft plastic might be the ticket, but I'm so new to this I really only have have experience with t-rigged stick and creature baits.

This is EXACLY WHAT you're looking for.

It's essentially a light punch rig.

Consists of a bobber stop, a bullet weight, a shirt on a hub, an ewg hook and the plastic of your choice.  

Rigged right, comes through anything. 

I use this when fishing new water when I'm not sure what type of mess I might be throwing into. A lighter weight can slow you down, get more bites and save you from constantly being snagged. 

Takes a few seconds to rig but totally worth it.

A-Jay

 

[fishballer06]

Keel weighted swimbaits and flukes will be your best friend. 

[scaleface]

Dont forget the buzzbait. Incredibly snag resistant.  

[bottom_dollar]

Sounds like a good spot for a Texas rig speed worm with 3/16  weight, you can go heavier or lighter if you want but I always start with a 3/16. 

[webertime]

Poke around with a Fat Ika

[Choporoz]

Search bait?

[F14A-B]

I’m with AJay on his rig, with all those Christmas trees in there, heavy line and a strong hook and just probe those bad boys. I’m thinking it will be worth the effort. 

[casts_by_fly]

What AJay posted is a good shout if you have all of those components.  You basically make a texas rigged plastic swimjig.  Or a swimming punch rig.  Or a texas rig with a skirt.  The name doesn't matter as much as the fact that its texas rigged plastic (very snag resistant), a good profile, and weighted appropriately.  That will come through a little cleaner than a true swim jig with a brush guard, but both will work.  I carry a set of strike king swinging swim jigs for the same purpose.  Less flexibility in the weight and skirt, but easy to just tie one on and grab a trailer of your choice (mine have trailers on them in the box already).  The pointed nose comes through pretty clean.

 

 

 

I also agree on the flukes and swimbaits.  They come through wood well.  A D-shad on an owner lite 4/0 with a light weight is my go to.  I'll throw it up on the bank into the trees and brush and drag it out from there without worry.  And if you do snag one you're not out $10 for a vibrating jig (for instance).

[Bass Rutten]

Nothing is as snagless or fun as topwater lures (assuming minimal surface vegetation). Toads, whopper ploppers, buzzbaits, and spooks will cover water with a minimum of fuss.

[Pat Brown]

Fluke

Swim Jig 

Spinner Bait

Buzzbait

Buzz Toad

Swimbait + flashy swimmer

Frog

Mag Speedworm

Carolina Rig (hard structure)

Drop Shot (soft structure and grass)

Texas Rig (brush and wood)

Wobble Head Jig/Football Jig (rock)

Shaky Head (steep ledges)

Punch Rig (dense vegetation)

 

 

[FishTax]

I'd go with a lighter weight on whatever you choose, and for soft plastic use something with a flat bottom like a beaver instead of a worm so it doesn't roll over and hook as bad. When you get snagged, don't yank it because you're just setting the hook into wood. Lift the rod tip gently and see if you can pull it over the wood. If it pulls back and swims, yank it  

[Happybeerbuzz]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

This is EXACLY WHAT you're looking for.

It's essentially a light punch rig.

Consists of a bobber stop, a bullet weight, a shirt on a hub, an ewg hook and the plastic of your choice.  

Rigged right, comes through anything. 

I use this when fishing new water when I'm not sure what type of mess I might be throwing into. A lighter weight can slow you down, get more bites and save you from constantly being snagged. 

Takes a few seconds to rig but totally worth it.

A-Jay

 

Ugh, now I have to go buy some skirts and rattles.  At least there are Labor Day sales, I guess.  

[RRocket]

A Jika Rig comes through cover effortlessly.

[Choporoz]

KISS.  Rage Bug weightless, or up to 1/4 oz worm weight.  1/8 is under- appreciated, IMO.  

8 minutes ago, RRocket said:

A Jika Rig comes through cover effortlessly.

This isn't said often enough.   It may be counterintuitive, but adding a dangly weight doesn't hurt much in the gnarliest wood.

[gim]

4 hours ago, gulfcaptain said:

A spinnerbait is very good in woos.

 

What the heck is woos?

[RRocket]

32 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

 

This isn't said often enough.   It may be counterintuitive, but adding a dangly weight doesn't hurt much in the gnarliest wood.

Indeed. 

 

I did an exhausting "world series" of rigging over the course of 3-4 years. And the Jika was so versatile and had so many benefits that are underappreciated. You can go as heavy (power, punching) or light (finesse) as you want.

 

In addition, I think most aficionados of the Ned Rig would LOVE the Jika as I feel it's an improved Ned, too.

 

This video has some underwater footage of it coming through sticks and cover. I really do appreciate underwater videos.

 

 

[WRB]

Search bait is a term coined by Rich Tobar after winning the US open at lake Mead describing using lures to cover a lot of water fast.

Bank angler fishing heavy wood cover you are not looking for a search more a saturation slower presentation.

What rod, reel and line you have determines the lures you can effectively use. So what do you have?

Tom

[GRiver]

Thanks for the video @A-Jay

I’m going make some of them.

[A-Jay]

41 minutes ago, GRiver said:

Thanks for the video @A-Jay

I’m going make some of them.

You're welcome.

That was The First Video I ever posted

over 12 years ago.

My wife murders bass with that deal using spinning gear, a 3/16 oz lead bullet weight and a Rage Craw.

It's almost impossible to fish it "wrong".

Good Luck with your rigs.

A-Jay

 

[Catt]

[Drew03cmc]

7 hours ago, scaleface said:

Dont forget the buzzbait. Incredibly snag resistant.  

I came here to say exactly this!

[OmegaDPW]

6 hours ago, Choporoz said:

KISS.  Rage Bug weightless, or up to 1/4 oz worm weight.  1/8 is under- appreciated, IMO.  

 

 KISS is my main idea, too. Mine is a curly tail lizard- weightless and weedless for my ponds.