so I have a few rapala countdowns and I have used them in the past, when trolling for trout but I was curious if the bigger ones have any applications for bass? I thought they could be really good burning through the early morning summer conditions in clearer water 10-20 ft vis, but does anyone do anything else with them, maybe like fishing offshore to catch suspended bass or dredging deeper water in winter? just curious because I havent fished with em in years.

I use them. I got away from fishing them for awhile. Since the spring I’ve been using jerkbaits like crankbaits and hope to continue to do it all season. 
 

Granted only small fish so far this season. But that has been with everything I’m using. 

I usually add a clip in lieu of direct tie, to get it to be a nose down, slow drop for Summer fishing

I have a couple LC Staysee 90 signed by Gary Dobyns that are labeled slow sinking. I like using them over deeper water like 30-35'. They will get down to 12-15 on 10lb braid and will work deeper if you pause to let them drop. They are most effective worked on long leads & paused intermittently when looking for deeper bass. I have got some nice smallies on them. 

I like the shadow rap 

I've ripped Countdowns for years, but generally they catch more walleye than bass around here.  You could always swap out for larger hooks or add lead tape to any suspending jerkbait to make it a sinker.

I read @A-Jay‘s piece on smallmouth fishing. IIRC he said that he liked using them for fishing offshore structure, but that he started using swinging jigs instead

28 minutes ago, Buzzbaiter said:

I read @A-Jay‘s piece on smallmouth fishing. IIRC he said that he liked using them for fishing offshore structure, but that he started using swinging jigs instead

Deep Jerkbaits always play a significant role in my fishing.

 

Fish Hard

A-Jay

I fish the countdown Rapala in our river and catch brown bass, walleye and pike on them. Actually I get rock bass and crappie on them too. I haven't been using them so much lately but there's no reason other than I have more choices in baits than I have fishing time.

 

I'm usually fishing them pretty shallow but the whole river is shallow.

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Deep Jerkbaits always play a significant role in my fishing.

 

Fish Hard

A-Jay

thanks this provides some good ideas for me!

I tried a few but there was no interest. I will be trying again as it gets hot here.

Fish the Shadow Rap Slow Sink standard & deep alot.

I use them in moving water for white bass and wipers. 

 

I use a lot of slow sinking jerkbaits in cold water.