I have had lures I have been using for over 30 years because they seem like they ALWAYS produce fish, even when nothing else seems to be working and I make sure I never leave home without them. I know everything pertains to location, species, water clarity, natural diet/local fauna/microfauna , etc etc, but WHICH lures do you guys swear by and never leave home without because they always seem to make things happen for you????
I will begin with a few of my favorites and most effective colors for my area:
#1 - Rebel's Crickhopper, Fire-tiger, Chartruese-mix, Natural or Yellow
***** a floater-diver which can be twitched, slow or fast retrieved and worked in practically any way you like. Small enough for Panfish but erratic and intriguing enough to attract the larger fish, especially Trout and Smallmouths. A highly versatile lure diving to about 3-5' , but can be worked through the shallowest riffles because of it's low-profile and it floats so it always returns to the surface if you stop a retrieve.
#1 - Rebel's Teeny-wee Crawfish, Natural
***** By FAR, the deadliest lure I ever owned for Smallmouths, since I 1st started using this lure in the late 1980's I have credited over a 1,000 fish to this lure/color. Tied for the top spot w/ the Crickhopper, and most of the same information pertains, the Crawfish weighs about a 1/16 oz heavier and comes w/ slightly larger trebles which I will replace w/ size #14 for Trout and leave the default hooks for other fish. Anyone who owns one already knows the hype.
#2 - Yakima/Worden's Roostertail, color pertains to season, all colors effective
******Another heavy producer, especially in early Spring when the water is too cold for many fish to be active, but also great in the hot Summer months when fish are lazy as well. There is a size for nearly every fish, although the larger sizes can be difficult to find as a lot of people simply move up to Mepp's Musky Killer or Giant Killer or an Aglia at that point.
#3 - Strike King Crappie Spin - color pertains to season, all colors effective
******* a mini-sized Spinnerbait that is heavy enough to cast w/ stout tackle, but light enough for UL tackle, it will catch any fish that larger spinnerbaits will attract, smaller and medium ones and is also a great tool for tricking those big stubborn fish who have been ignoring the larger spinnerbaits previously. Works splendid w/ a trailer, like a split-tail eel or a spring-grub for added bulk. My Uncle SHOCKED me by using one to catch a 6lb+ Largemouth in a small farm pond while they were all avoiding every other bait, including live shiners......may he R.I.P.
#4 - Berkley Powerworms - Pumpkinseed, Chartruese, Motor oil, Purple/black, Natural
****** as with any lure, the color you use depends on the water clarity and the amount of sun (or moon) currently, but those colors always seem to work no matter what for me, a 6" worm rigged on a Spider-Sliderhead or Weedless Sliderhead works wonders when retrieved at a snail's pace through a hole ( as long as you found the fish), but Texas or Carolina rig is also effective. Personally, I prefer no weight at all and simply rig it w/ a a Tru-Turn hook, weedless and twitch and work it accordingly - 75% of my strikes occur the moment it hits the water or 30 seconds after when fished this way. Wacky-rigged is also a favorite of some. Any way, the scent Berkley impregnates them with really works, and will catch fish anywhere you find bass.
"Runner's Up" #5 - A Silver Spoon, it is what it is.....one of the oldest lures in existence, simple, basic, deadly - troll it, rip it, vertical jig it, do it how you want, one of the most versatile lures on Earth. Daredevel, Kastmaster, and Gator are among my favorites.
#6 - Rapala Jointed Floating minnow, Rapala Shallow Shad Rap - If it's one company who makes quality lures, Rapala is still on top after all these years. These 2 lure types will produce when you need it and have triggered strikes from some of my biggest lunkers.
#7 - Panther Martin, Mepp's, Swiss Swing and Blue Fox - Need a good quality Spinner? These guys are at least top 5. Mepp's hold's various world records, including George Perry's 24lb 4oz. Largemouth. 'NUFF SAID.
#8 - Arbogast Jitterbug/Hula Popper, Heddon Torpedo/Zara Spook, Moss Mouse/Frog - When you need a topwater lure, few can compare to these classics. There is another company (I forget who) that makes a hard-bodied floating mouse w/ weedless wire-guards that is also an amazing topwater lure.
#9 - Blakemore Roadrunners, Beetle-Spin and In-line Spinners w/ Spring-grub trailers - any of these 3 variety of spinners w/ a yellow or chartreuse spring grub seems to fool fish in many instances. Keep 'em handy and you'll thank me.
#10 - Storm's Wiggle Wart, Flat Wart, Wee-Wart, Steelie-Wart, Bomber's Thunderstick, Deep Thunderstick, Long A, Deep A, Hellbender, etc ; 2 more companies that really know how to make lures that the fish want, both Storm and Bomber's large assortment of Crankbaits offer a variety of fish-magnets that should be kept in every Fisherman's tacklebox, for Fresh or Saltwater.
Ok guys and gals - what do you like to toss in your neck of the woods??
I will begin with a few of my favorites and most effective colors for my area:
#1 - Rebel's Crickhopper, Fire-tiger, Chartruese-mix, Natural or Yellow
***** a floater-diver which can be twitched, slow or fast retrieved and worked in practically any way you like. Small enough for Panfish but erratic and intriguing enough to attract the larger fish, especially Trout and Smallmouths. A highly versatile lure diving to about 3-5' , but can be worked through the shallowest riffles because of it's low-profile and it floats so it always returns to the surface if you stop a retrieve.
#1 - Rebel's Teeny-wee Crawfish, Natural
***** By FAR, the deadliest lure I ever owned for Smallmouths, since I 1st started using this lure in the late 1980's I have credited over a 1,000 fish to this lure/color. Tied for the top spot w/ the Crickhopper, and most of the same information pertains, the Crawfish weighs about a 1/16 oz heavier and comes w/ slightly larger trebles which I will replace w/ size #14 for Trout and leave the default hooks for other fish. Anyone who owns one already knows the hype.
#2 - Yakima/Worden's Roostertail, color pertains to season, all colors effective
******Another heavy producer, especially in early Spring when the water is too cold for many fish to be active, but also great in the hot Summer months when fish are lazy as well. There is a size for nearly every fish, although the larger sizes can be difficult to find as a lot of people simply move up to Mepp's Musky Killer or Giant Killer or an Aglia at that point.
#3 - Strike King Crappie Spin - color pertains to season, all colors effective
******* a mini-sized Spinnerbait that is heavy enough to cast w/ stout tackle, but light enough for UL tackle, it will catch any fish that larger spinnerbaits will attract, smaller and medium ones and is also a great tool for tricking those big stubborn fish who have been ignoring the larger spinnerbaits previously. Works splendid w/ a trailer, like a split-tail eel or a spring-grub for added bulk. My Uncle SHOCKED me by using one to catch a 6lb+ Largemouth in a small farm pond while they were all avoiding every other bait, including live shiners......may he R.I.P.
#4 - Berkley Powerworms - Pumpkinseed, Chartruese, Motor oil, Purple/black, Natural
****** as with any lure, the color you use depends on the water clarity and the amount of sun (or moon) currently, but those colors always seem to work no matter what for me, a 6" worm rigged on a Spider-Sliderhead or Weedless Sliderhead works wonders when retrieved at a snail's pace through a hole ( as long as you found the fish), but Texas or Carolina rig is also effective. Personally, I prefer no weight at all and simply rig it w/ a a Tru-Turn hook, weedless and twitch and work it accordingly - 75% of my strikes occur the moment it hits the water or 30 seconds after when fished this way. Wacky-rigged is also a favorite of some. Any way, the scent Berkley impregnates them with really works, and will catch fish anywhere you find bass.
"Runner's Up" #5 - A Silver Spoon, it is what it is.....one of the oldest lures in existence, simple, basic, deadly - troll it, rip it, vertical jig it, do it how you want, one of the most versatile lures on Earth. Daredevel, Kastmaster, and Gator are among my favorites.
#6 - Rapala Jointed Floating minnow, Rapala Shallow Shad Rap - If it's one company who makes quality lures, Rapala is still on top after all these years. These 2 lure types will produce when you need it and have triggered strikes from some of my biggest lunkers.
#7 - Panther Martin, Mepp's, Swiss Swing and Blue Fox - Need a good quality Spinner? These guys are at least top 5. Mepp's hold's various world records, including George Perry's 24lb 4oz. Largemouth. 'NUFF SAID.
#8 - Arbogast Jitterbug/Hula Popper, Heddon Torpedo/Zara Spook, Moss Mouse/Frog - When you need a topwater lure, few can compare to these classics. There is another company (I forget who) that makes a hard-bodied floating mouse w/ weedless wire-guards that is also an amazing topwater lure.
#9 - Blakemore Roadrunners, Beetle-Spin and In-line Spinners w/ Spring-grub trailers - any of these 3 variety of spinners w/ a yellow or chartreuse spring grub seems to fool fish in many instances. Keep 'em handy and you'll thank me.
#10 - Storm's Wiggle Wart, Flat Wart, Wee-Wart, Steelie-Wart, Bomber's Thunderstick, Deep Thunderstick, Long A, Deep A, Hellbender, etc ; 2 more companies that really know how to make lures that the fish want, both Storm and Bomber's large assortment of Crankbaits offer a variety of fish-magnets that should be kept in every Fisherman's tacklebox, for Fresh or Saltwater.
Ok guys and gals - what do you like to toss in your neck of the woods??
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