Spinnerbaits with a big ole single colorado blade. I've only used them at night, but I've never gotten a bite on one.

After plastics, spinnerbaits have always been my most productive baits.

Even big ole single Colorado blades.

Hootie

Spinnerbaits haven't worked for me yet.

Jerkbaits

Would be easier to list the baits I DO catch fish on.

 

> Spinnerbaits

> Buzzbaits

> Swimjigs

> Chatterbaits

 

Honorable Mention

> Frogs - Only because I at least get a lot of missed strikes on the frogs, but no hookups yet.  

 

 

 

 

 

That is all....so far

 

But Im ok with this, because it helps me to simplify my gear, and thats what I want. 

I'm really suprised at all the buzzbait responses! Definitely my favorite bait, especially for river smallmouth.

Buzzbaits - I always seem to do better on a prop bait than with a buzzbait.

 

Frogs - 100% hookup ratio, just don't get many strikes.

 

Kinda surprised at the jerkbait responses, they seem to work really well for me.

 

Buzzbaits - I always seem to do better on a prop bait than with a buzzbait.

 

Frogs - 100% hookup ratio, just don't get many strikes.

 

Kinda surprised at the jerkbait responses, they seem to work really well for me.

Maybe the fish in your area are more lethargic? Are you getting bit on the prop bait when you are pausing it? It could also be a profile thing..

Buzzbaits - I always loose these, and only caught one fish on them this season. Lost the one when I was digging out a backlash, the bait got stuck in submerged timber. Then I lost a Cavitron to a freaking goose at night...

 

Jerkbaits - I used to always use these and catch tons of fish on them when I was younger on spinning gear, now I can't catch anything on them

 

 

Deep Cranks. I fish them all the time in the summer but cant seem to catch anything. Do much better with a big jig

After plastics, spinnerbaits have always been my most productive baits.

Even big ole single Colorado blades.

Hootie

Spinnerbaits are one of my most productive baits as well.  Pulled this baby out of the Arkansas River today in 45 degree water with a spinnerbait.  You know she's a pretty goodun' if she barely fits in the shot from this angle lol. She was about 4 lbs I'd say. She went 20 inches though.  I don't carry a scale anymore. Need to get another one.  I'm 6'3 with basketball palming size hands if that helps with the size comparison.  

 

 

I've only thrown the one's with big colorado blades a few times at night.  It's the only bait I could think of. 

Why would you keep fishing with a lure you don't get strikes? Repeating the same mistake is insanity...

For me, it isn't insanity, rather a case of unbridled optimism sprinkled with Alzeheimers.

There always seems to be a couple of times per year when conditions match the traditional scenarios for A-rigs. I just know the bass are suspended or feeding on schools of small baitfish, so an A-rig just HAS to work. I incorporate it into the days rotation and by the end of the day, wonder if bass can laugh at ones bait selection.

Tom, you have fished many more SoCal resevoirs than I. In your experience, do you see A-rigs being as an effective tool here on the West Coast as they are in the South & Midwest?

It's nice to hear about lures that don't work for folks for a change, rather than the ones that do.  Spinnerbaits work really well for me.  I would really like my jigs to be productive but have never caught a fish on one.

Buzzbaits and spinner baits have NEVER caught any fish for me!...

Spinnerbaits are one of my most productive baits as well. Pulled this baby out of the Arkansas River today in 45 degree water with a spinnerbait. You know she's a pretty goodun' if she barely fits in the shot from this angle lol. She was about 4 lbs I'd say. She went 20 inches though. I don't carry a scale anymore. Need to get another one. I'm 6'3 with basketball palming size hands if that helps with the size comparison.

I've only thrown the one's with big colorado blades a few times at night. It's the only bait I could think of.

Really nice fish. Now, you are in an area where I usually fail. That's water temperatures below 50 degrees.

Hootie

Never caught anything on poppers, though I usually don't use them, so that is the real reason!

Really nice fish. Now, you are in an area where I usually fail. That's water temperatures below 50 degrees.

Hootie

Sounds like a good name for a thread lol. "Baits that you use that don't catch fish in water temps below 50 degrees"

Blade baits like the Silver Buddy and flutter spoons. I understand why they work, I have an idea how to work them, I even have areas where I'm confident they'll work, just never been able to connect the dots and make it happen. 

Those jointed rapala minnows, I don't get why but that dog won't hunt. At least I got them on sale.

I know that it's sacrilege around here, but I'll say it anyway...spooks and other similar baits. I get the presentation, I can walk them pretty well, but I catch nothing.

 

Also, anything that's firetiger colored. The bass around here seem to have an aversion to that color.

 

Tom

The only lures are the lures that I have not bought. I have caught a fish on every lure I have (not color obviously but style frog, lipless, chatterbait, etc). I am the type to only buy what works for me. Obviously I haven't caught a fish on every soft plastic I have because I use about 15% of what I have.

chatterbaits, but i still keep trying.

Lipless cranks. Caught a few fish from time to time. But never consistently. I think I have trouble with depth control and fish them to fast/shallow

Lipless cranks... Not going to say I never caught a fish on one but definitely not a confidence bait for me at all.

In my regular rotation - Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, Frogs, Flukes, Dropshot, Jerkbaits, Crankbaits, Jigs, Wacky rig...I've caught fish.  This is my standard rotation.  This season I've taken the skunk off my crankbaits. 

 

I tried the to introduce shaky head in my arsenal more this season, I've yet to catch one.  So the shaky head at the moment is my goal for 2015. 

Swim Senkos.  I don't bother anymore.  I know you can catch on them.  I won't be, because I don't buy them anymore.