Whats a good plastic bait for a beginner. I dont care what type of plastic whether a worm lizard grub or crawdad but what plastic have you guys found that have worked the best that are easy to use.

Also I have no boat so just fish from shores in little ponds and creeks.

If you've never fished plastic before, I'd say go with a texas-rigged action tail worm.  In fact I'd go with a Berkeley Powerbait 7" power worm.  http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_38256_100007001_100000000_100007000_100-7-1

Color is up to you, but I'd go with watermelon/red flake, green pumpkin or motor oil as good all around choices.  

Starting with the t-rigged worm will teach the basics that you can extend to senkos and other t-rigged baits like lizards, creatures, beavers.

JMO...

Is it still texas rig without the sinker? What are the correct sizes for the sinker and hook? and what type of hook.

Also you could give a grub a try.  Put a jig head on it, you'll catch a lot of fish and there really isnt a wrong way to rig it.

Is it still texas rig without the sinker? What are the correct sizes for the sinker and hook? and what type of hook.

Well, technically a texas rig means with the weigth (I think).  But a lot of people will say texas rig when they're just talking about the way the bait is put on the hook.  I recommend going with the weight at first.  Try 1/8 or 3/16 for starters.  You'll get lots of opinions on hooks, but I like a 3/0 or 4/0 EWG (Gamakatsu is my favorite).  The 4/0 looks huge at first.  My dad joked that I look like I'm fishing for sharks with those hooks.  But I've hooked PLENTY of dinks with a 4/0 EWG, so it's not too big for any bass.

I gotta go with 5" Senko Texas rigged weightless.  I have rigged these up for my wife, daughter, son and countless other newbies and they nearly always produce.  Also, a hookset is seldom even necessary.  The fish won't let go.  I've seen many newbies just reel them in and catch a fish without even working them or setting the hook.

do you fish senkos the same way as other plastics

Senkos are the best and easiest to catch fish with. You can't fish a Senko wrong. (You can, but you'll still catch fish, just maybe not as many.)

Use 4" Senkos to start, you'll catch more fish, although some won't be as big. Just to get started use the 4" and move up to 5" where the big fish are or in not as clear water.

T-Rig a senko weightless, with a weight, or Carolina. All work well and have produced for everyone.

Fish it any way you'd like, weightless let it drop (watch on the drop you'll get TONS of strikes), put a weight on it and just drag it on the bottom, there's unlimited uses for the senko.

I third the Senko comments.  When all else fails, weightless rigging a Senko is tough to beat.

Try a YUM Buzzfrog during the summer/fall rigged weedless/weightless. Just keep the pole tip high so the bait stays on top, and retreive just like you would a buzzbait. Retrieve this frog directly over weeds/pads/stickpiles and anything else you can think of. They'll nail it, other good soft plastic frogs are Stanley Ribbits, Sizmic Toads, and Zoom Hornytoads.

NO doubt about it.  a 5" senko in any color with the words "watermelon" or "pumpkin" in the name.

Hook it anyway you like.  I t-rig.  just don't use weight.  it's heavy and casts like a bullet.

cast it to a target and it slowly shimmy down like a dying minnow.  it is probably the single best bass lure ever invented.

Don't be tempted to use the knockoffs.  Start with the yamamoto senko or kinami flash (same bait)

then when you get the hang of it you can play around with the off name brands.  Some of which are very good.

I gotta go with 5" Senko Texas rigged weightless. I have rigged these up for my wife, daughter, son and countless other newbies and they nearly always produce. Also, a hookset is seldom even necessary. The fish won't let go. I've seen many newbies just reel them in and catch a fish without even working them or setting the hook.

Senko, huh?

That might work.

I always recommend a 4" ringworm texas rigged with a 1/0 or 2/0 hook and a 1/8oz bullet weight.  Trust me, you will get all the practice you need setting the hook .

Texas rigged refers to the way that a hook is set on the worm.  With a slide sinker, it is known as a Carolina rig.    Just to clear that up.  From there, you might want to start with any cheaper worm, Wal-mart has a great selection of worms, that will produce the same fish, as the more expensive senko worms.    I have experience with all sorts of worms, and my favorite senko style is the tiki sticks by wave.    GL.

what size are the hooks for the senkos

I recommend 4/0 Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hooks.

Sounds like most people are saying to go with a senko.  That's obviously a good choice, but there are two reasons I recommended the texas-rigged powerbait worm first.

1. Bass will hold onto the powerbait worm a little longer giving you a better chance to set the hook.  I know some people will disagree with that, but I'm willing to bet that those people have forgotten what it's like to be a beginner and not know for sure the difference between hitting a stick, snagging a weed, and getting a bite.  

2. With the t-rig worm you'll build skills that can be extended to fishing senkos and pitching/flipping other plastics.  

Regardless, if you go with the senko you won't be sorry.  

yea fatboy i cant tell a bite from the bait hitting the bottom. hopefully these baits will work

Well call me old school but if you ever find some Manns Grape Jelly worms (purple color) they work great . I caught thousands of bass on them but I cant find them in stores no more

I now like 7.5 inch culprit fire and ice colored worms they are a red and purple color with a metal flake color

I will add a pic of the culprit

when they hit it it will feel like a tap tap on your rod , also they will hit a worm while sinking so watch your line if it moves faster than the normal sinking rate a bass often has it