hey guys, went out fishing today and didn't have much luck, caught a little one on a river bug but didn't land any others, I have been tending to use strike king, Shim E Sticks alot, I hooked into a good 5 pounder but the hook didn't set proporly, any tips on how to better rig a texas/wacky rig so that it is a forsure hook up and you dont lose the fish? or any other baits that are working. Thanks:) - James

I've been doing well with Rage Tail craws TX rigged in the Falcon lake color. Rat-l-traps in red. Chatterbaits in white, chartreuse, and white/chartreuse have also gotten some bites, too.

what time of day have you been fishing this baits?

I'm usually out from safe light until about 1 or 2pm. The fish will let you know what they want.

alright apreciate it hopefully tommorow ill get out about 10, I have to go load up my new tackle box.

I've tend to do better with moving baits this time of year. Almost all of my fish this spring have come on a swim jig.

I've never really learned how to fish a swim jig, whats the best way to do it?

Shoot, just chunk it out there and reel it back in. I'll go like 5 casts at a normal pace, 5 slow, 5 fast, and so on. Just kinda play with your retrieve; stop & go, quick jerks, etc. If you haven't dialed in any fish after a bunch of casts, just move on to something else.

The majority of my fish this year have come on spinnerbaits.  Mostly chartreuse and a couple on white and red ones.

Almost all of my bass I've caught in the last week have come on a chatterbait.  Different colors and sizes, but usually on a steady retrieve.

Most of mine have come on finesse swimbait type baits (Grubs, Keitech minnows, swimmin super fluke jr)

 NorthStar Original Swim Jig (bluegill)/ RageTail Menace

 

Red Eye Shad

 

Smithwick Rogue

Been doing really well with Bomber Square-A, Wacky rigged trick stick, and a blade bait called the Katana.

thanks guys!

Well now, some of our sponsors offer the #1 bait/ lure in a number of categories. 

I have been fishing these with good success this spring. However, I will suggest a

few others (not sponsors) that have always been great producers for me:

 

MegaBass PopMax and LC Sammy

LC Pointer and MegaBass ITO Vision 110

GYCB Senko and Fat Ika

XCalibur Xr50 (Blue Chrome)

Norman Fat Boy

LC 2.5 & 3.5

Hollow Belly, Keitech Swing Impact Fat and Shadalicious

Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad

 

 

 

Me

Jerks - Pointer 78's, Damiki Slim Jacks, and Storm twitch sticks. Smaller profile baits with more roll than wiggle.

ALSO - Finesse spinner baits, 3/16 to 5/16 oz., 3 inch Senkos nose hooked with a tiny portion of nail weight. 

My top producer for me this year has been a Smithwick Suspending Rouge chrome/black orange belly and with red hooks.  Caught my 3 Largest fish on them this year.  Going out Sunday and hoping it produces then, I believe its still pre-spawn but since the last time I had fished a month has past and Bass still appeared to be in pre-spawn.

For me it's a spinnerbait. Jigs second place.

Red Eye Shad by a mile. Nothing else has really produced including my beloved jig.

In VA nothing is better than a SENKO this time of year.   Weightless or with a small pegged sinker.  I mean nothing is better except maybe some of my secret home made baits............LOL

 

Jay

If I'm beating the bank, I'll usually start with a grub, a #6 x-rap, a #5 shad rap, or a 3/8 swinging jighead with a creature on it to cover some water. 

 

Then if I need to  I'll slow down with a 3-4" senko, a 7" SK Super finesse worm on a shakey head, or some kind of 3-4" zman softbait on a 1/16oz. open mushroom jighead.

 

I'll fish a drop shot worm, the 3/8 football head, the 7" finesse worm, or the grub or small softbait on a heavier jighead for offshore pre/post spawners if I'm not finding active fish shallow.

 

If I really get in "oh crap" mode, I'll drop shot a 3" tiny brush hog on a short leader around bedding areas.