I have started to get cabin fever really bad and I was just wondering what the rest of you think are your best techniques/baits for catching bass on the river. I personally believe that it is hard to beat a deep diving crank coming off of a rock bar into about 15 feet of water. I have however started to really find a lot of success with carolina rigs in and out of the current. What about the rest of you?
-spinnerbait: works in wood, weeds, rock anytime of the year
-senko type bait: hot new bait that does incredible when you do nothing with it, under docks or in any cover, can be wacky or texas rigged
-bass jig: flipping or casting a jig around wood, weeds, or rock is deadily any time of the year and is a proven big bass bait
honorable mention: scum frog, which does well in the slop during the summer months
I am looking forward to everyones responses!!
Here’s my top 3 list for the river—
1. Crankbait—–StrikeKing Series 1
2. Jig————–BitsyBug with a Gambler BabyGuido as Trailer
3. Topwater——ChugBug..
Honorable Mention:
Pulse Worm-Berkley
Snag Proof Frogs…… 
dhnitro,
I also like to use the Berkley pulse worms. I have been told though that they are no longer going to make them. I have looked for them at a variety of stores (BassPro, Gander and Cabela’s) and they have said that they are discontinuing them. Have you heard anything about this? 
Bassman
Wow, Pandora’s box. The thre best in spring are different than the three best in summer, are different than the three best in fall. The 3 best for smallmouth, largemouth, or both? Three best for numbers, or large fish? Three best for high water, three best for low water? The possibilities are endless!!! 
Just joking with you, because I find this a super hard question to answer.
Breaking it down by species:
Smallies I like 1) Fluke or Senko type bait because it works in all seasons 2) Topwater because I think it brings in bigger fish, and is by far the most fun 3) spinnerbaits (I think cranks catch more, but spinnerbaits much bigger smallies).
Largies are super tough 1) Plastics (flipped, T-rigged, Carolina Rigged) – personally, I like Brush Hogs and Tubes. 2) I guess jigs, because they work across all seasons and conditions, and generally seem to yield bigger average fish. However, I don’t seem to use them as often as I should. 3) Topwater – just the most fun way to fish, and usually brings big fish. I am amazed by a buddy of mine who is a die-hard buzzbait fisherman on the river. He catches bass, and big bass, on buzzbaits across all water conditions, and times of day, when I would have never even thought of using one.
Of course, I probably should have thrown spinnerbaits in there, because as Glenn pointed out, they work across seasons and cover. But they aren’t great in thicker weeds, which is why I think I don’t use them much alot of the time. And I would have put scum forgs etc. in there, but I often find using plastics across the top in these situations increases my hook rates.
This was a real tough question for me. Of course, Tom Monsoor could probably just answer with 1) jigs, 2) jigs, 3) jigs going off his reputation as the jig master!
That’s what I love about fishing, always learning and discovering new and fun ways to fish.
Have you guys tried the Zipper worms? They seem to me to be about the same as the Pulse Worms and hold up (a little) better than the power worms.
I love flippin 4″ tube jigs in the rocks for the smallies. I need to get out and do more lower pool 4 backwater largemouth fishing too.
If we are talking year round for smallies and buckemouth. One and two are very close with tubes winning in most patterns other than shallow rocks once late June comes and the traps screaming all year on the rocks.
#1 Tube jigs– Crayfishy and crawlery colors 8th or 16th Oz jighead- Gotta be salt and scent…..many good makers.
#2 Rattlin Trappy Generic(Taylor Tackle) 3 crawfish patterns
#3 Taylor Tackle flutter tail on 8th or 16th Oz. jighead-again crayfishy or crawlery colors(easily 80% of my fish in prespawn-spawn).
basspack,
I am interested in a little bit more info on how you use shallow cranks on the river? Where and under what conditions do you use them? Are you fishing for smallies, or largemouths? I have read much about using them as an alternative to spinnerbaits, but have never seen the success. Just looking to learn more.
Bassman 
Bassman,
I use shallow crankbaits as well. I use them around shallow weeds or weed, especially in the fall or late summer. I think that the bass have seen a spinnerbait so much throughout the spring and summer, that a crankbait in under 3 feet of water, is something different to them. I like the Manns baby 1- in shad color, timber tiger dc-1.
bassman–I have not heard the Pulse worms being discontinued.. I hope not..That has been one of my go to baits. I love the Electric Grape color.. well I guess I’ll be stocking up more on them now. I also use mostly cranks in the shallows. 4ft and under. I’ll use them in rocks, sand flats, points and whereever…I prefer the StrikeKing Pro-Series model 1. Bandits are good also but hard for me to find withour orders via internet. Of course if and of you tourney guys know where we could order some of these would be great. Also, do anyone out there have Strike King as a sponsor or know any one that does? And since basspack said that Berkely may be discontinuing the Pulse worms, I’d glad accept any left over you all may have…..Grape 4 inchers…lol…..
dhnitro,
That is just what I have heard from a few people. They may still be making them, but in general, it has been hard to find them here.
Bassman
Bassman, I use the shallow cranks in a couple of places I seem to end up with my kids every time I take them out. (I’m not sure if it my idea or theirs’ 
)There are spots that I like to fish that have some shallow structure that I bearly touch with a shallow crank catching both smallies and largemouth. I also like to use them over submergent vegetation early in the year.
Also on my only trip on the river at Red Wing I seemed to have better success with a stop and go retreive on the smallies with a shallow crank than burning a spinnerbait. I did well on the Wisconsin side along the tracks fishing over the gravel looking for any spot the was different than the rest of the shore.
I MUST SAY THIS IS A FUN QUESTION TO ANSWER. I HAVE MANY FAVORITES. I AM GOING TO ANSWER WITH MY HEART.
1) I LOVE THE BUZZBAIT. CATCHES BOTH LM AND SM. IT VERY EXCITING WAY TO FISH. THE FISH YOU CATCH ARE VERY AGGRESIVE. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE WATCH A SMALLMOUTH CREATE A WAKE BEHIND YOUR B-BAIT? IT SEEMS YOU CAN CATCH QUALITY WITH THIS LURE ALSO.
2)I AM ALSO A SUCKER FOR THE SLOP FROG. FOR THE SAME REASONS AS THE BUZZBAIT. I HATE TO RELY ON SLOP FISHING FOR TOURNAMENTS, BUT AS FAR AS FUN IT’S HARD TO BEAT.
3)JIGS ARE PROBABLY THE BEST BAIT FOR CATCHING BASS. IT’S VERSITILITY IS UNMATCHED. I HAVEN’T EVEN BEGUN TO TAP INTO THE MANY DIFFERENT METHODS THIS LURE CAN BE FISHED.
I KNOW THESE AREN’T THE BEST METHODS, BUT I HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE IN EACH. I REALIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CRANKBAITS. I HAVE NOT COMMITED TO LEARNING IT’S ABILITIES. I WILL THOUGH. THANKS, IT WAS FUN TO GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO THE QUESTION. TBASS
1. Jigs, pitching, swimming and flipping in that order. Flipping was more consistent before the zebra came to town but I like the clearer water now anyway.
2. Crankbaits, shallow divers, raps and deep divers occasionally. Most of the active bass I catch are shallower than 5 feet.
3. Flukes, Senkos or other plastics. Flukes and Senkos weightless and all other platics either Texas or Carolina (or Mojo) rigged. Of the other platics I have done well on bigger tubes of late.
4. Blade baits, either spinnerbaits or buzzbaits. Lots of fun in spring with lesser luck during summer and picking up again in fall. Likely the most versatile of the lot but fish see alot of them and I feel get gun shy on them after spring.
My top three lures would be:
1) Super Fluke or Power JerkShad from Berkley
2) Spider Grubs from Yamamoto, Berkley, or Chompers
3) Shallow diving crankbaits, Bandit 100, Baby 1-, Baby 4-, Wiggle Wart, Frenzy Shallow Divers.
Other top lures would be: Spinnerbaits, Jig n’ Craw, Jerkbaits (i.e. Rogues), buzzbait, and the almighty tube.
Like someone had already mentioned, time of year is crucial to lure selection and presentaiton. The river is such a diverse body of water that (in my opinion), a variety of baits are needed. Current, Slack Water, rocks, weeds, wood, smallies, largemouth, and determining their prey, it could be crawdads, shad, small juvenile bluegills, bugs, larvae, just about anything. The thing about the river that keeps me coming back is there is always something new and interesting that I learn when I fish it.
Jig
Crank
Tube
fluke
grub
jerkbait
hairjig
gobi
ratl;trap
I could go on forever…… yep in this order much of the time
jc
I would have to say my top 3 would be
1. 4″ Tubes
2. sinko’s
3. bandit crank
My 3 best baits for early season bassin are:
1. Jig ….. swimmin or pitched
2. Super fluke
3 Spinner bait ..Large thumpin blades
Spinnerbait
Tubes
Jig
fluke
sinko
small worm
poppers
buzzbait
these are my favorites in order Keep a tight line Buzzer.
Good question- I think I am kind of beating a dead horse- i would rate spinner bait, jig then crank (4-5 foot depth diver). I do ok on topwaters early in the day, and am learning the way of the fluke. Not much success with carolina rigs- maybe due to lack of confidence, ineptitude, or other. In general, how long of a leader do you all use for carolina rigging (to narrow it down, in pool 10, average flow, average water clarity (or lack thereof)?
spinner dave- looking out my window all i see is white, then I read your post and dont see “I gotta get off this tractor…”- kind of depressing and another sign of cabin fever.
Well, off to re- organize my tackle .
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
