X2 on the buzzbait..

I've caught too many on top walkers to even think about adding that.. They're not the most versatile but they're not the least for sure

Wire buzz bait vote here as well.

wooden plug buzzbaits are great however and found mostly in esox genera's and much more versatile.  

The Banjo Minnow

Doug Hannon's Snake

Bill Dance's Dancin Eel

Et al

I don't care the circumstance, don't catch anything but anglers.

 

Hah....Ive actually caught fish on the dancing eel.   Nothing to write home about, but there were fish grabbing at it. 

This. Unlike most topwaters, you can't change the cadence, only the speed.  With hard body baits you can change both the speed and cadence including dead still. 

Another vote for the buzzbait. Actually you can't really change the speed much either, seems like with most buzzbaits I have to reel pretty fast for it to run right and be effective.

Hah....Ive actually caught fish on the dancing eel. Nothing to write home about, but there were fish grabbing at it.

Dude your should be on Rippley's Believe It or Not. I have a Dancin Eeli can't throw it away, because it looks like it should work. I like the action,.but honestly you're the first person I know of who has reported catching a fish with one.

Cow tongues work great. Crankbaits work great...dancing eel. Never fished one and never will but the idea just does not seem half bad.

Dude your should be on Rippley's Believe It or Not. I have a Dancin Eeli can't throw it away, because it looks like it should work. I like the action,.but honestly you're the first person I know of who has reported catching a fish with one.

I was using an erratic retrieve.   A random mix of start-stops, and short rod sweeps.  Made it look like something that was struggling unsuccessfully to get down into deeper water.

 

That seemed to entice mostly the dinks.

In California , 

 

least versatile bait has to be a spinnerbait.  period hands down. 

Buzzbait. It only works under a few select conditions. But when it works, BOY does it ever.

a rig

In California , 

 

least versatile bait has to be a spinnerbait.  period hands down.

Agreed. In fact I've never caught a fish on a spinnerbait in california!

Real deal Crawfish Cranks, and Rattle Traps. 

Because, bass seriously feed on these little guys for a specific time period, and when there not actively feeding on them it gets tough to get a constant bite. To understand when to use Craw imitating baits, you have to know when the craws are out and about.February through May is the first major period of crawfish activity, based on geographic location. When the water temperature reaches approximately 50 degrees, crawfish emerge into the great wide open and begin looking for receptive females.

Many of the emerging crawfish males and females are still sexually active from the previous fall. What's significant about this two to three week period in spring (depending on rising water temperature), is that it's one of the few times males walk on top of rocks, exposing themselves to bass. which is why this is the prime time to catch bass with these lures. 

So during the spring when the water temp starts to reach 50 degrees the craws come out to breed and the bass take advantage of this and munch down. Now just make sure your lure is the one they eat! 

You can also tell when the bass are feeding on them by the color of their gums/teeth. They usually seem to be a redish color when their feeding on them.

I hope this helps, and in my opinion is the bait that depends mostly on the water conditions(for the crawfish) and the time of year to slay them with it.

Also read this topic, it goes hand & hand with what i'm saying.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/80469-red-teeth/

Real deal Crawfish Cranks, and Rattle Traps. 

Because, bass seriously feed on these little guys for a specific time period, and when there not actively feeding on them it gets tough to get a constant bite. To understand when to use Craw imitating baits, you have to know when the craws are out and about.February through May is the first major period of crawfish activity, based on geographic location. When the water temperature reaches approximately 50 degrees, crawfish emerge into the great wide open and begin looking for receptive females.

Many of the emerging crawfish males and females are still sexually active from the previous fall. What's significant about this two to three week period in spring (depending on rising water temperature), is that it's one of the few times males walk on top of rocks, exposing themselves to bass. which is why this is the prime time to catch bass with these lures. 

So during the spring when the water temp starts to reach 50 degrees the craws come out to breed and the bass take advantage of this and munch down. Now just make sure your lure is the one they eat! 

You can also tell when the bass are feeding on them by the color of their gums/teeth. They usually seem to be a redish color when their feeding on them.

I hope this helps, and in my opinion is the bait that depends mostly on the water conditions(for the crawfish) and the time of year to slay them with it.

Also read this topic, it goes hand & hand with what i'm saying.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/80469-red-teeth/

LOL....I have a rayburn red or other craw lipless year round.  I only throw those two colors year round.  Lipless baits have to be the second most versatile bait behind a jig.

you can jig a lipless, burn it on top, treat it like a spoon, crank deep with slower retrives, etc. etc.

For the topic, buzzbait or jitterbug.  Stupid simple baits and they either work or they don't.  I will only give both about a 20-30 minute window before I swap them out.

Dude your should be on Rippley's Believe It or Not. I have a Dancin Eeli can't throw it away, because it looks like it should work. I like the action,.but honestly you're the first person I know of who has reported catching a fish with one.

I still have one of those from back when it was called the "Dance's Eel"; the thing must be about 25 years old.  Never caught a thing on it either, and I don't think I've even tried it in the last decade, at least.