Need Spinnerbait/crankbait Help

[Big Stick Joe]

Hey everyone,

I understand these are two totally different baits but i need help. I can never seem to get any bits with them. As for Spinnerbaits, i mostly use 3/8 and do have a few 1/2 ounce and have all the common color skirts and blades and i always try 3 different retrievals ranging from stop/go, burning, slow roll. My question is what are some of your guys favorite styles and retrievals?

Crankbaits, again can't seem to get any bites. I have all shallow cranks (0-10ft) with all different colors, bill style (squared/round). I usually do a nice steady retreat trying to make contact with the grass/timber. My question is what are some of your favorite styles and retrievals?

I understand that maybe alot of my problems would be solved if someone could watch me fish these lures but asking this forum is the next best thing.

Thanks guys. I hope i didn't confuse anyone.

[lynyrdsky1]

I don't see anything wrong with what you have or what you are doing but got to know though, where are you fishing and what type of conditions?

[Vinny Chase]

I'm at work and don't have time to write a book, but I certainly could.

Like lynyrdsky1 said, what types of conditions are you fishing? You might just be fishing in times when the bass are lathargic, like in the middle of summer. When it gets hot, try and think of the mood you would be in....probably sitting on your couch relaxing. Bass like to so the same thing, so here are two options:

1) throw deep diving cranks that will get down to where they are more comfortable.

2) pitch light jigs, worms, or creature Baits under docks, or heavier versions in deeper water..

I am just guessing that the conditions are the problem, but ignore this if I was the wrong assumption.

[Big Stick Joe]

Vinny and Lynyrdsky1,

Thanks for your replies. I've been fishing a pond i found 2 weeks ago. It has lily pads around the entire pond extending 10 to 15 ft out from shore. From what i can tell the pond isn't to deep, i'm guess no deeper than 10 feet. The water is stained with visibility in the range of 3 feet or so. The air temps in the high 80's/low 90's and humidity around 60%, Scatter cloudy and i mostly fish in the early afternoon (10 to 1). Vinny, I always thought in the summer time the fish are active cause of the warm water, am i wrong on my assumptions? I have caught fish with sweet beavers and drop shot along the lily pads but that's it. Another note, i don't really think there are bait fish in this pond or at least from what I've seen. I'm thinking these fish are feeding on small turtles and frogs, would that be a problem with using a spinnerbait and crankbaits?

[Big Stick Joe]

i forgot to mention, i don't like throwing crankbaits in this pond. there is way to much lily pads and grass for it to get hung up and lost.

And is September really consider fall? The temps are still hot. Am i better off keeping the spinnerbaits in the tackle box till Oct?

[Marty]

I can't see what you're doing that's so terribly wrong. It's inconceivable that you wouldn't be catching some fish on these if you were fishing them where the fish are.

Is it possible that your lack of confidence in these lures is a factor? Are you fishing them in high-percentage situations?

I used to fish with my favorite lures and when the fishing was bad I'd pull out some lure I never caught anything on. Naturally I didn't catch anything since I was only using them after establishing that the fishing stunk. So I'm wondering if you start right in with these lures upon arriving at a high-percentage spot or do you fish them only when you're not catching on your other lures?

[Big Stick Joe]

Marty, I think a lack of confidence is a part of it. When i tie on a Spinnerbait/Crankbait that i think works with the conditions i'm presented with, there is a small part of me that thinks i'm just wasting my time. It gets a little worse when i see a fish break the surface just moments after i cast in the location. As for when i use my SB/CB, It depends but most of the time its after I've fished something else. Next time i go out there i will try a SB/CB first. I think i'm fishing them in high % situation. I'll fish them at the same location were I've caught something earlier.

[hookset on 3]

Big Stick Joe, I think you're dealing with educated bass.This has happened in all the ponds and small lakes that I fish.

The fact that they are hitting the beaver and drop-shot tells me they have not been exposed to these lures like they have with spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

The bass in my home lake rarely hit spinnerbaits like they used to when I was first given permission to fish this private lake 15 years ago. Every couple of years I need to use a completely new technique and lure.For example,the Yamamoto Fat Ika gets whacked on nearly every cast since I put them in my lure rotation this spring.

[guitarkid]

I too, am mostly a pond hopper. The best place I have found for a spinnerbait is right along weedlines. The closer you can get to the edge, the better. Although, sometimes ripping that spinnerbait over the weeds is the hot ticket. But with all those lilly pads around the bank, the only things I would be throwing are pretty much anything weedless. spinnerbait = semi weedless.

-gk

[lynyrdsky1]

Im fishing a pond with the same type of conditions you are. It is extremely small and has lilly pads and grass pads surrounding the whole pond. What I have found that works the best is actually square bills, top water frogs,pegged rage tail craws, and also small weightless flukes that I throw right up against the edges. The pond I fish is probably 50ft by 50ft if I'm lucky but I catch alot of fish in the afternoon when it is hot because the fish are all up underneath the pads and grass. You can either fish the edges with spinnerbaits and squarebills( I recommend KVD 1.5 black chartruese if the water is stained) or throw up in there with a top water frog like a Koppers which works pretty well for me, or a t-rig plastic like a horny toad or rage craw. I'd say probably using a horny toad would work best because you can swim it across the the grass and pads then let it drop when your out of the cover.

BTW try throwing into or near openings in the pads or grass because I've gotten a lot of hits by dropping into a "sweet hole" in the cover.

[Jig Man]

Try your spinnerbaits early and late. Just after dawn or just before dark and see if you can get bit. I usually have the spinnerbait in the box before 10 am and it stays there until just before dark.

[Big Cat]

Spinner baits should be one of your "go-to" lures providing the right conditions are evident. If I think the bite will be good (i.e. weather looks good, water looks good, early morning or early evening) I will throw a spinner almost anywhere/anytime.

Ironically last night we were pond fishing in a johnnie and on about my sixth cast I said to myself, "I should slow my retrieve down a bit" I immediately caught several nice pounders in a row once I slowed my retrieve. Varying your retrieve with a spinner can make all the difference in my opinion. If you are dealing with grass or pads you may burn the spinner like a top water bait. If you are fishing across flats or deeper water, you may want to troll it lower toward the bottom. Fishing it a foot below the waterline may be the answer in other conditions.

After the spinner bait, I tied on a black buzz bait and caught bass consistantly for over an hour. In fact it got so silly I decided to try other techniques that I am new too, such as the floating worm, just to shake it up a bit.

Keep with the spinner's, make sure you have white, chartruese, black, etc, silver, gold, etc. once you land that 4 or 5 lbder on that spinner you will be hooked.

[Jigfishn10]

Nice post lynyrdsky1!

Don't be afraid of throwing a single willow spinnerbait or any single blade for that matter (willows are the best at coming thru the weeds, but I have used colorados in the past with great success), right thru those weeds. Don't be afraid, you won't get hung up as much as you think. Don't try ripping it thru either, you'll kill the presention, reel thru it until you can't reel thru it, then rip it thru and try again in another spot. MHO

[Glenn]

Perhaps of interest...

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/spinnerbaits-bass-fishing.html

[river-rat]

From the way you described the pond being shallow with lily pads, I would use the following (in no certain order).

Snagless Sally (3/8 or 1/2 oz.) with an Uncle Josh #11 pork frog. The Sally is an inline spinner bait and comes through vegetation really well. They have been in production for over 40 years and still work extremely well. I use them on a regular basis.

Johnson Silver Minnow (1/4 or 1/2oz.) Extremely effective around lily pads. Use a pork frog or a 4" grub as a trailer. The plating process used to manufacture the lure requires that you sharpen the hook before using.

Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm. Use a texas rig either weightless or a light slip sinker and swim this through and over the lily pads.

Spro Frog or a toad type bait (Horny Toad, Ribbit, etc.)

I love to fish the type of pond you described and these lures usually produce for me.

[hatrix]

Maybe just try a new retrieve with your spinners or cranks. A couple you did not mention but are maybe familiar with is a stop and go retrieve with a crank. I usually catch the most that way or burn it down to the depth u want and slow way down. As for spinners some times a sorta yo-yo retrieve works best for me. I will try to stop my crank or yo-yo my spinner in high % areas I think a bass is watching it and just keep trying. It might take you 10 casts to catch it also try coming at different angles through the same place u think fish are holding.

[Big Stick Joe]

WOW guys, thank you all for your response. Let me see if i can respond to all of it.

@Hookset on 3: I think your right or they are stubborn and like to watch my fail lol

@guiaterkid: i cant really get to parallel to the grass due to the way the shore line is but i do burn it across the top.

@lynyrdsky1: I have the CB you mention, i'll try that next time. As for all the baits you recommend, i've tried all of them in some shape/form. I have a SPRO bronzeye pop but i've only had 1 hit, never a hookup on it. I usually pitch my t-rig sweet beavers into the lily pad holes when i see it. I want to buy some chiggers craws and try those. Also, i've been cutting my sweet beavers in half and using the craw ends on my jigs to give it some more action.

@Big Cat: I have all those SB colors but the only one i haven't used is my black one. It is a hugh single blade colorado blade 3/4 ounce beast that i don't think will work in this pond.

@Glenn: Thank you for the link

@Riverat: This is what i use. Dropshot zoom finesse worm (morning dawn chart tail), 1/2 black/blue sweet beaver, 1/4(i think) black/blue jig with sweet beaver trailer. I've had success except for the jig.

Thanks again guys. keep them coming. this is all good advice.

[Glenn]

Also check the "best of" thread pinned at the top of the forum. There's a couple of terrific crankbait threads that will really accelerate your learning.

Good luck!

[Colton Neal]

well first make sure you're where the fish live. Make sure you understand bass' seasonal movements.\

Match your color with the forage/water clarity.

Clear water - translucent shad patterns, grays, perch, bluegill colors.

Stained water - chartreuse/ black or blue backs, red craw, or chrome colors.

With spinnerbaits you want to match your blades; in stained water use indiana, clear equals willowleafs, and muddy water you should use colorado blades for max vibration.