What is your "fish finder" bait?

[jb_adams]

Thanks again to everyone for responding!  There is a lot of great information here.

It appears that rat-l-traps, spinner baits. and crank baits are the prefered favorites for the fish locating baits or what some call "scout baits".

I am still somewhat new to the bass fishing scene and I already have that glazed over look in my eyes wanting to catch more bass.  I have read various mags. on various techniques, baits, strategies, and ways to try things different.  I could spend days trying them all but I may or maynot have much success on a pressured lake.

All of the suggestions here so far may work on average lakes but when fishing on a pressured lake, many here are using jigs, tubes, flukes, crank baits, and carolina rigs from what I have heard.

Has anyone ever tried fishing with a bobber, split shot, and a minnow hooked through the nose?  The bass here are gorging themselves on minnows.  I have fished in salt water with this tactic and it worked great for redfish and snook.  The minnow just swims around and then panics when it sees a larger fish.  Does anyone think this is a good idea once you locate the bass?

Thanks again!

[papa smurf]

On a pressured lake I like a carolina rig for fishing deep and a super fluke for fishing shallow.  These baits allow you to cover water and are a lot more subtle than crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Once you locate the bass live bait can be an excellent technique, especially for bigger bass.

[jb_adams]

On a pressured lake I like a carolina rig for fishing deep and a super fluke for fishing shallow. These baits allow you to cover water and are a lot more subtle than crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Once you locate the bass live bait can be an excellent technique, especially for bigger bass.

So what live bait do you use? I have often thought of using shiners. Obviously night crawlers would work on lots of different typ of fish but I am affraid I would catch carp or catfish instead of bass. Or even worse, the Brim would pick off the bait.

Also according to the poll, spinnerbait and crankbaits are the preferred choice.  I fished both in several spots yesterday and didn't get a bite.  The fish were there and the bite was on a little.  I caught more on my Beetle Spins than any other baits including worms, flukes, c-rigs, etc.  Post spawn must be a hard time to fish.  What could I be doing wrong??

[papa smurf]

When I live bait fish I buy shiners at the local bait shop.  Postspawn is a tough time fish, especially with the conditions you described earlier.

[BD]

Out of the options. none of the above.

jerkbaits, or jigs for me (especially around cover)

[jb_adams]

Out of the options. none of the above.

jerkbaits, or jigs for me (especially around cover)

I'm diggin' the "Danger Mouse" Penfold avatar!  I haven't seen that since I was a kid!

I tend to agree on the jigs.  I have caught all of my bass lately on it.

[Whopper-Stopper]

I just found my new favorite "fish finder"; A swim bait. I know I should have tried one before yesterday, but wow!!! those things are the ticket for locating bedding bass. I have been fishing this lake since february of this year. I know every nook and cranny in it; but I was finding beds that I have been fishing over for a week and I didn't even know they were there. I was just casting and burning it under the surface, a bass would hit or charge at it and I would throw back with a slower retrieve and get the fish every time. I don't think these bass have ever seen a swim bait so to them it's the real thing. I had been trying to catch a 3 # of her bed all week and I brought a swim bait past her, hooked her and lost her at the bank; I casted again and got her.

I am going to fill my tackle box with these.

[Alpster]

I voted for a Texas rig plastic worm. Can fish em in all kinds of cover and depths. JMHO

Ronnie