What Baits have produced Sharelunkers?

[Matt Fly]

I have searched over 20 years of Sharelunker records.    Most of you know that from Oct. 1, thru April 30th, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will take Bass that weigh 13lbs or more for spawning and research studies aiding in the pursuit of larger bass.

Jigs have accounted for 93 Sal's

Shinners/minnows 20

Spinnerbaits 42

Chatter Box? 2  Don't recall what a chatter box is.

Jigging Spoon 7

Top water 2

Senko 8

Long A or Jerk baits 8

Sluggos 7

Lizzard/brush hogs/ creature baits, and lizzards dominated by name 66

Worm/plastics 61

Shad rap 3

Crankbaits 13

buzzbait 1

swimbaits 2

craw worms 23

rattle traps/vibes 11

Water Dogs 13

crappie jigs 3

AC Plug 1

Bass bug?  3

I have accounted of approx. 398 out of 427 entries, the others did not list the bait it was caught on.

Lake Fork accounts for 230 of the entries that comes from 55 public lakes and 12 private waters.

Some food for thought for those that are making the March trip.

Hookem

Matt

[Alpster]

Good work Matt! It looks like Jigs and plastic worms took a lion's share. That's good news for me, cause they are my favorites.  

Ronnie

[Shad_Master]

I had to laugh when I read about the "chatter box" - this is what one of the guys in our club insisted on calling Chatter Baits last year, but I am certain he did not catch any SL's ;D

[Catt]

Jigs & Plastic is by far the most popular baits in Texas accounting far 251 of these hawgs  8-)

Keep both tied on at all times year round  

[Siebert Outdoors]

I'm suprised these 2, rattle traps/vibes 11 and Water Dogs 13 didnt account for more.  

Very informative.

So you guys going to fork better stock up on jigs, plastics and a couple other things.  Play the percentage.

[Alpster]

So you guys going to fork better stock up on jigs, plastics and a couple other things.  Play the percentage.

I can barely lift my bag for the Jigs & plastics.  ;D It will look pretty funny to have six rods in the boat with the same baits tied to each one. Different color & sizes only. LOL

Ronnie

[Catt]

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got

My plastics box weighs 35 lbs & my jig box weighs in at 30 lbs  

[Long Mike]

I stacked up every lure I own on the bathroom scale, and it comes to ... hmm, let's see here ... about four pounds, including the tackle box, digital scale and bottle of scent.  ;D

I've still got about a month and a half before the fork trip.  By that time I'm sure I can add another pound to the contents.

[Long Mike]

Matt,  thanks for the info.  That must have taken a lot of digging and a lot of time.  You are hereby awarded one official Attaboy.  

[roadwarrior]

Thanks Matt!

So, all I need is my little traveling kit of soft plastics and one rod...cool!

[Siebert Outdoors]

One thing I noticed isnt on there.  Tubes.  Unless its mixed in with plastics.  

[roadwarrior]

I'm guessing "worms/ plastics 61" covers a lot of ground.

I wonder if a Fat Ika will get special mention?

:

[Catt]

Listed under plastic

Senko 8

Sluggos 7

Lizard/brush hogs/ creature baits, and lizards dominated by name 66

Worm/plastics 61

Craw worms 23

Total: 165

It would be safe to say these were Texas, Carolina, & Wacky

Knowing those Texans they would probably say plastic instead of a specific bait

[Matt Fly]

If I was to do a comparison just on Fork alone and its 200+ SAL's, I would bet the jig would be tops on Fork.

Also noticed what guides from Fork have caught their SAL's on and I am compiling those stats also.    

Brush Hogs and such were not mentioned as much as I thought they would be.   The lizzard was mentioned more than any of the creature baits.

I love to pitch and flip craw worms Texas rigged.  Most of those craw worms were early years, 80's to early 90's.

The tube jig was mentioned a few times, I just classified them a jig.

Plastics were classified as plastic baits, most just mentioned "a plastic worm".  

The grub was mentioned a few times also.   Mainly associated with a jighead.

Black and Blue's dominated colors for jigs and plastics.  In general, dark colors.

Hookem

Matt

[Vyron]

thanks man for the statistics

only 2 swimbait bass?

[Mattlures]

Matt do you think all those SAL's had the real baits listed when they were reported? I ask because I know before I started selling baits I would always report that I caught a big fish off another bait that was no threat to my way of fishing. I would say I caught it on a spinnerbait or crankbait or something else I never used. I knew alot of guys did this to throw people off. Now I either tell the truth or I just dont report them. But I read reports in the paper where a guy catches a 10lber on Senko when I seen him get the fish on a jig so I know it still happens here. Maybe its diferent because of the SAL program and you get the recognition and the mount but If I were there and had nothing to gain(selling baits) I might not want to give up my bait especialy if I was the only one using it.

BTW I am not questioning any of those #s they actualy sound about right to me. I would think Jigs and worms would be 1&2

Give swimbaits a few more years out there and you will see them make their case.

Vyron Texas is just geting started with swimbaits

[Matt Fly]

Stats for any fishing could be as you say a "little fishy" and it don't matter what state you hail from, fishermen are just that, fishermen.

EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE, FISH LIKE HELL, AND MAKE UP  LIES.

For the most part, I do believe the Texas Parks and Wildlife Stats to be very close.       Its no secret that the jig is one of the most productive baits thrown at Fork or any number of Timber/Grass filled lakes.

As for most lakes, it not a secret on what baits to throw, its what holes to throw them off into.     The area is more of a secret than the bait!!!!!!!!!!

Hookem

Matt