Big-O

Roadwarrior has it right. Hope he can send you a picture.

Guide nights, and been with many non believers. I always fish rattle jigs and sometimes clients don't, they will chg. quickly due to bite percentages and be glad they did before the night is done. They become firm believers. I am sure this translates to day fishing as well just like many members have posted. It is also my opinion that in clear water they are not very important unless deep or cloudy or thick mat vegetation. See a couple of my pictures on chunk product page Bend a rod.

30 ib bass is a biggun like i have never seen, Maybe a typo error.

Looks like you are getting alot of good info and this forum is definately the place for it. As some of the above threads advise, keep it simple at first and use the 4 most popular bait techniques and try to learn them well. Spinner bait 3/8 oz white and chartreuse with willow leaf blades in silver and copper. Lipless crankbait like chrome and black rattletrap or SK diamond shad chromes or bone color. Soft plastic 4" to 6" worms and/or Craw worms in watermelon, green pumpkin, or june bug colors. Tx rig them with 1/8 to 3/8 oz weight to start. Soft plastic top water baits like frogs and/or buzzbaits. With these 4 styles of fishing, you will learn the basic foundation for bass fishing and you will catch fish but more importantly, you will have fun doin it. Good Fishin

Hope you like'em Maltese, let me know what you think about them after you have had a chance to fish them.

Hey Troutfisher, I tend to agree with Maltese. You have posed a really tuff question. If I only had one bait and I haven't connected with the fish, my brain would fry thinking about all of the other baits and techniques that have proven themselves and that might work in any given water that I am covering. At my age thats not healthy, I might have a nervous breakdown or something. Now you wouldn't want that to happen to one of us now would you? I think an interesting question might be phrased " In _____ lake, during the ____ of the year, with water temp being _____, with a wind speed of approx ____and from ____ direction, in ____ type of cover, and _____ clouds and weather conditions, in _____ depth of water and you have already worked ______ , _____, _____, _____ and _____ types of baits without much success, what would be your last resort bait to bank on or finish up the day provided your fishing day ends up at ____ o'clock? Now, some of us can make a decision without getting too ancy. LOL Really I have favorites in each different condition so hard to choose. Good Fishin

Great fish Chris, read your post about it. U Da Man

Yep, I agree with Catt, Once you catch a few on the jig, your life will change for the better. Don't leave home without'em. Heck, keep one in your pocket for a good luck charm.

Both have there time and so does the Rage Tail Toad. It's pretty versatile.

Has a shad or cod type of scent and it works well for me

I agree with Ohio, open water only.

One thing I always make sure of, is don't get on the lake without a green pumpkin jig and green pumpkin trailers. This color is a mainstay in most all water conditions and will get you bites if the fish are biting jigs, and that is most of the time. You can fish a jig in any and all water types and cover but you will often have to match your weight and style of jig to the structure type. Rocks-football or stand up jigs. Matted vegetation-heavy pointed head jig to punch thru top and use a trailer that won't lose its appendages too easily. It's not absolutely necessary to match trailer with jig and with green pumpkin, I will often spike it chartreuse on claws. When deciding on color to match day or water just think about dark with dark day or water and light to medium color on lighter or clearer water. This does not hold true in all cases but only a basic guide. Greens and browns are hard to beat and black and blue is always worth having tied on as well. Vary your jig weight according to depth of water and line size or amount of wind to contend with. Super clear water and shallow go small and light. Stay in contact with the bottom as much as possible and short hop and or drag to start with. As you get more experience you will start to feel how the fish want you to present the bait in different situations then you will adjust accordingly. Sometime the fish want a rip up and let it fall and other times they want a constant slow swimming motion. As with most things, time and experience is the best teacher but learning the majic of jig fishing is well worth your time to experience it. Good fishin.

Rage Tail Shad gets the vote here.

I agree about the Rage Tail Toad and I like the Rage Shad better than any buzzbait on the market. These are some serious top baits and the time of year is getting right as well. Good fishin.

I like the Strike Hing elite model jig the best cause the hook is bigger. The Rage chunks and craws are great trailers. Decent color selection too and I understand that they are coming out with new colors as well.

Use smallest and lightest jigs that won't bury up in the grass. fishing it only on top of grass. Use a light but very active jig trailer like Rage Tail chunk that has great action even on smallest jigs. Also grease them up with your favorite oily attractant like megastrike. This makes it come thru the grass easily instead og grabbing it. You can purchase mineral oil at the grocery store that is unscented and works extremely well too.

Experience level should be your judge. Soft plastics more bang for the buck, but small jigs and then use tail sections of your used soft plastics will carry you a bit further down the lake

Usually I'll fish a jig'n craw or a big worm in the Spring, then go to a jig'n craw or a big worm in the Summer, followed by a jig'n craw or a big worm in the Fall, and finally I'll use a jig'n craw or a big worm in the Winter. I know that's alot of information to process but after 50 years of bass fishing, I can't find anything that constantly produces big fish any better than these. Or maybe at my age I just can't remember any others. Good fishin!

Here in Texas they are already getting the job done in a big way. Great baits

I like'em too. Not mant things more fun than see'in a frog get smashed in the thick of things. I too think the Rage Tail's are gonna be awesome this year. Good fish'in.

great all around soft plastic, year around. I understand that Rage Tail is coming out with a new lizz in a couple of months that will rock. Can't wait to see it on the market.

I like'em too but Rage Tails have replaced them as my favorites

Use fast or quick retrieve baits til you find if there is a pattern to it. If not slow down with med retrieve styles, frogs etc. Find the water depth and grass weed lines in conjunction with pads and flipp'em.

Most all of them are lucky if you fish them right, in the right water, at the right time. My favorite style of bait is jig and craw trailer. When I follow my own advice and do the above, it's plenty lucky.

Small craws and worms t rigged will bring the thunder in tough situations. Change colors due to water type and amount of sunlight.