What lures do you intend to use more in 2025?

[NelsonIII]

I usually throw Ned Rig or Whopper Ploppers/Frogs (when applicable).

 

This year I would like to learn the Texas rig and wacky rig.

Super common, but I have personally never used them. 

[gim]

On 1/29/2025 at 2:39 PM, Swamp Girl said:

but I've promised @AlabamaSpothunter that I'll be using them more in 2025.

 

Use what works.  Don't try to shove a square peg into a round hole if it doesn't fit.  Clearly what you've been using in recent memory is effective.  Continue to strike that iron while it's hot.  I think your situation is unique here because the bass you target aren't as pressured.  So it's of my opinion that nearly anything would work at least for a while at first.

 

On 1/29/2025 at 3:26 PM, casts_by_fly said:

Around here, I think a lot of people throw them and the fish turn off quickly.  The past two years haven't been great for them here in that regard (the year before though that was the bait).  You don't have the same angler pressure issues.

 

This ^

 

They were dynamite here for about 2 seasons too years ago.  But as time has worn on, they have become less effective solely based on the number of anglers using them, me included.  This isn't anything new though.  Over used lures often come and go.

 

[Swamp Girl]

39 minutes ago, gim said:

your situation is unique here because the bass you target aren't as pressured.

 

There are unpressured bass in other places. It's just that most anglers either aren't willing to do the work to reach those places or have purchased boats that can't reach such places.

 

However, there are easily reached places that are also great. I had fishing sessions in Wisconsin that equal what I've enjoyed in Maine. The Mississippi River is a fish factory. I caught big bass on Lake Pepin, as well as big walleye, pike, crappie, bluegills, and white bass.

 

Lakes Superior and Michigan are great too.

 

Living in Minnesota, you sit right below northwestern Ontario, where I enjoyed the greatest fishing of my life. 100-bass-days-per-angler were common there, but those weren't lodge lakes. They were bush/backcountry lakes with portages and running whitewater rivers and crossing swamps, all challenges that many anglers avoid, but if you're willing to do the work, you can reach Nirvana. Up north, Pain = Gain.

 

I have observed other anglers catching far fewer bass than I catch while fishing the same water. It's not just where you fish, but having a knack for catching bass. You've heard my stories of being surrounded by other boats on the Mississippi and the Great Lakes when I was catching fish and they weren't. Not everyone has the knack and sidling up to a craft where fish are being boated is no guarantee that you too will catch 'em.

[MonsterZero]

10 hours ago, NelsonIII said:

I usually throw Ned Rig or Whopper Ploppers/Frogs (when applicable).

 

This year I would like to learn the Texas rig and wacky rig.

Super common, but I have personally never used them. 

Texas rigged 4" Berkley Pit Boss was a money maker for me last fall. It was my first time digging into it as well.

[Pumpkin Lizard]

Frogs, Buzzbaits and I want to finally figure out jerkbaits

 

My usual mainstays are literally 5-6 different baits.

 

Swimbaits (Magdraft and the Mayor)

Magnum Zoom Lizards (pumpkin/chartreuse)

Jigs (I catch 70% of my fish on jigs)

Spinnerbaits

[Bankbeater]

I've been reorganizing the terminal tackle again, and looking at the larger swivel bell sinkers.  I'm thinking that I should put together a poor man's free rig and see how it fishes.

[DogBone_384]

On 1/10/2025 at 9:52 AM, A-Jay said:

I've already had some time to think about this one.

 

Did you put your Crayolas back in the box in the same order when you were a kid?  All 64 or 128 of them?

[A-Jay]

12 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

 

Did you put your Crayolas back in the box in the same order when you were a kid?  All 64 or 128 of them?

Yes, doesn't everyone ?

I'm working on getting my tackle organized the same way.

I'll be sure to tag you @DogBone_384 when it's posted.

Probably going into Brown Bass Tools . . .

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/211811-brown-bass-tools-~-questions-answers/

A-Jay

[Swamp Girl]

57 minutes ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

Swimbaits (Magdraft and the Mayor)

Magnum Zoom Lizards (pumpkin/chartreuse)

Jigs (I catch 70% of my fish on jigs)

Spinnerbaits

 

I too love swimbaits and spinnerbaits. And I've caught them with lizards. But jigs still intimidate me. I've caught a LOT of walleyes with jigs, but with walleyes, of course, you jig a jig and so I really don't know how to catch bass with a jig without jigging. I am so open to a little direction. 

[T-Billy]

On 1/10/2025 at 10:22 AM, Swamp Girl said:

When you read about those anglers who score with lures you don't use, don' cha wish you could sit in a boat with them and watch them fish?

If you haven't yet, give a bladed jig a try before sunrise once the water gets up to about 70. Outside weed edges and over top of submerged vegetation are prime, as is bumping it along bottom on rock structure. 

[Swamp Girl]

5 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

If you haven't yet, give a bladed jig a try before sunrise once the water gets up to about 70. Outside weed edges and over top of submerged vegetation are prime, as is bumping it along bottom on rock structure. 

 

Is it largely casting and retrieving? I can't imagine bumping a jig on the bottom because a lot of Maine's lakes have jagged boulders on the bottom, boulders as big as cars or buses. I can see the big rocks on sunny days. 

[Pumpkin Lizard]

53 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

I too love swimbaits and spinnerbaits. And I've caught them with lizards. But jigs still intimidate me. I've caught a LOT of walleyes with jigs, but with walleyes, of course, you jig a jig and so I really don't know how to catch bass with a jig without jigging. I am so open to a little direction. 

I’ve found there is almost no wrong way to fish them. And they work under nearly any circumstance or condition. The key is to have the right tool and presentation and even if you don’t it may still work.

 

Next time you find yourself in high percentage area just try hopping it or simply dragging it along the bottom. Fish it almost just like you would a Texas Rig on the bottom.

 

You can even take those VMC Rugby Jigs and just rig your favorite soft plastic on it. I like the Strike King Rage Bugs.

 

 

[T-Billy]

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

Is it largely casting and retrieving?

Yep. Chuck and wind when fishing around weeds. Make several speed changes during the retrieve. Bites mostly happen right after a sudden speed change.

 When fishing rock structure, I have two retrieves that work well for me. #1 I'll let it hit bottom, give a few turns of the reel handle to get the blade going, and let it fall back to bottom on a tight line. Most bites will come on the fall. #2  A slow steady crawl along the bottom also works well. Just fast enough to get the blade working. You want it banging off the rocks as it crawls along, much like a swing head jig. A bladed jig comes through rock really well, and when it does hang up I can usually free it. 

It's been my favorite bait for fishing in the dark for many years now, and second place ain't even close. I prefer a 3/8oz for fishing weeds and a 1/2oz for bottom bumping.

[Swamp Girl]

@T-Billy: I just want to be sure: By blade bait, you mean a chatterbaits, right? If so, @Siebert Outdoors is making me five of them, as well as spinnerbaits in the colors he suggested. 

 

1 hour ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

I've found there is almost no wrong way to fish them.

 

That is comforting.

[T-Billy]

7 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

: I just want to be sure: By blade bait, you mean a chatterbaits, right

Yep.

[AboveAverageAngler]

Pretty much any all tackle I’ve bought in the past 3 or 4 years. Haven’t used hardly any of it yet.

[Swamp Girl]

I just bought some new poppers. I caught soooo many bass on poppers last year in the latter half of 2024. If 2025 works like 2024, I'll start the year with underspins cast to emerging weeds, switch to poppers cast pretty much everywhere, and score with spinnerbaits all year. Fingers crossed I can catch some bass with chatterbaits too. Mike Siebert just sent me some of his and I'm excited to use them. I'll also be using the bait that Alex suggested. I can't remember its name, but it's that bait that goes up and down on the retrieve. 

[Bazoo]

I want to get some more experience with flukes. And I'll be working with jerkbaits and Rapala's more I think. I also want to get into tubes.

[Swamp Girl]

46 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

I want to get some more experience with flukes. And I'll be working with jerkbaits and Rapala's more I think. I also want to get into tubes.

 

Nice to see you posting again, Mr. Bazoo!

[MonsterZero]

2 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I want to get some more experience with flukes. And I'll be working with jerkbaits and Rapala's more I think. I also want to get into tubes.

I use the bubble gum colored ones on a weightless EWG, fish like a jerk bait. Gets a LOT of attention from the fish. They love that profile.

[MRQturbo]

Finesse baits on spinning gear.... Will try to target off shore smallies more this season...