When I was 10 we vacationed at a timeshare in Florida, and my parents bought me a pole with some 2” yellow grubs to fish in the pond by the pool. I remember casting up against shore near some wood, and thought I had snagged up. Second big pull and all heck broke loose. I wish I had a picture but I know it was big, and the local kid that was watching was amazed at the size of fish. So in my mind that is my biggest bass, not sure if it was now or not, but the fact that I remember the feel of the take 36 years later, it was a big bass regardless. 

Trolled live shiner.

A wacky rigged Senko.

 

First 8+ = Senko

 

Second 8+ = Bandit blue with chartreuse back crankbait

I already stated that the jig n pork frog caught my largest . My largest smallmouth was on an unknown popper . All I know it had a Japanese name and the rear hook pulled out .

Cotton Cordell Wally Diver - the green and yellow one with black stripes.  I've had success with all colors, but the Bass seem to prefer this one.  This is by far the most versatile lure that I've used.  In addition to both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, I've caught Pickerel, and all kinds of Panfish with it.  

Mann's Jelly Worm, 6", grape, T-rigged.

 

Tom

8 hours ago, Pkfish49 said:

Cotton Cordell Wally Diver - the green and yellow one with black stripes.  I've had success with all colors, but the Bass seem to prefer this one.  This is by far the most versatile lure that I've used.  In addition to both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, I've caught Pickerel, and all kinds of Panfish with it.  

+1 for the Wally Diver in perch. First "big bass" I ever caught was on one. No scale, but 4 or 5 lbs. I never hear of anyone fishing it for bass, but it does extremely well for me as a mid-depth crankbait. 

Booyah 1/4 oz. Chartreuse / White Spinner Bait (Colorado / Willow Combo)

Senko.... 9 lbs. 

Largemouth 5.75lbs- 3 inch Pit Boss in Watermelon Orange Flake(same bait that caught the fish in my profile pic too)

Smallmouth 3.25 lbs- Trd Craw on a Split Shot rig in Drews Craw color.

Rainbow Trout 3.54lbs- Get Bit Baits 2.75 inch tube in Green Pumpkin Red Flake.

12 lb - 14 oz: Poe's 400 cedar crankbait on 10lb mono.

10” Powerworm for the one in my profile picture 

 

6XD for second place biggest

On 3/22/2020 at 11:59 AM, Pkfish49 said:

Cotton Cordell Wally Diver - the green and yellow one with black stripes.  I've had success with all colors, but the Bass seem to prefer this one.  This is by far the most versatile lure that I've used.  In addition to both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, I've caught Pickerel, and all kinds of Panfish with it.  

 

On 3/22/2020 at 8:49 PM, Cdn Angler said:

+1 for the Wally Diver in perch. First "big bass" I ever caught was on one. No scale, but 4 or 5 lbs. I never hear of anyone fishing it for bass, but it does extremely well for me as a mid-depth crankbait. 

I'm very surprised to here other people use the walley diver for bass too! I thought I was the only one, that and the Big-O are my go to crankbaits. Which size do you guys use most? I use the magnum (4.75") one a lot for deep diving (its rated at 10-20 feet). I've struggled with the smaller ones for some reason. You guys use them like you would a squarebill?

1 hour ago, Finessegenics said:

 

I'm very surprised to here other people use the walley diver for bass too! I thought I was the only one, that and the Big-O are my go to crankbaits. Which size do you guys use most? I use the magnum (4.75") one a lot for deep diving (its rated at 10-20 feet). I've struggled with the smaller ones for some reason. You guys use them like you would a squarebill?

The ones I get are 4 x 4 x 1.5.  

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R8UMGU/

 

I have some squarebills, but haven't caught anything with them.  I just saw a video with somebody recommending using a squarebill to deflect and it showed the lure bouncing over rocks.  Either my technique is lacking, or my terrain is different, but I can't fish like that.  If I get too low, I usually either get one of the trebles stuck in a rock and may have to cut line off and lose it, or I end up getting snagged in weeds, which interferes with the diving action.  When I throw a wally diver from shore, I sometimes add a little splitshot so I can throw it farther.  I find a medium retrieve works best. Other times, I troll at a modest speed. 

 

 

I've only used the normal sized wally diver. Also in Canada where these things are common, which is probably why I'm also a user. Doesn't look widely available in the USA - not on Tacklewarehouse at least.

 

Compared to all of the fancy/expensive crankbaits out there the wally diver looks cheap, has crap hooks, doesn't cast the farthest etc....but it gets bit and is solid if you want something medium depth.

 

 

7 hours ago, Cdn Angler said:

I've only used the normal sized wally diver. Also in Canada where these things are common, which is probably why I'm also a user. Doesn't look widely available in the USA - not on Tacklewarehouse at least.

 

Compared to all of the fancy/expensive crankbaits out there the wally diver looks cheap, has crap hooks, doesn't cast the farthest etc....but it gets bit and is solid if you want something medium depth.

 

 

What fancy/expensive crankbaits that cast farther are your referring to?  Hoping to be able to escape the city on May 2nd for a fishing trip and am always looking for new lures.  I have some Rapalas (I think around 4 inches) that are great for trolling.  I've had both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass go after them when I was going at slow and even medium speeds, but because of the light weight, they are also hard to cast far.