7 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I like to keep things simple so I don't have to buy 10 of every bait

Spinnerbait monkey does not approve of this. I'd say that the spinnerbait monkey is like a subcategory to the bait monkey, but that would not adequately describe my dilemma. The spinnerbait monkey is a devil. I am glad you have steered clear. 

Canadian craw trd fished on the lightest head possible for your conditions.  Stretch some of the salt out and lather it in mega strike.  Swim it, hop it, or dead stick it.  Be happy you get to travel home without the a skunk following behind.

14 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Spinnerbait monkey does not approve of this. I'd say that the spinnerbait monkey is like a subcategory to the bait monkey, but that would not adequately describe my dilemma. The spinnerbait monkey is a devil. I am glad you have steered clear. 

When I first started fishing spinnerbaits I went into BPS and bought every size and blade combination of their store brand Uncle Buck spinnerbaits they had in white, chartreuse and white/chart. I still have a couple of those and they will still catch a fish. They must be 25 years old.

2 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Yes.

No. Weightless. It's the opposite of a floating bait. Very dense. You can chuck them a mile on casting gear rigged weightless. Looks great on the fall. Once it hits the bottom you can treat it in a number of ways. It's up to you. Dragged slowly the tail with kick up a bit. Like I said, everything tries to eat it down there. With the hooks shown below its very weedless. Throw them where you'd like and fish them how you'd like. Like a traditional fluke, or whatever. Super versatile bait, and they like it. The Owner Twistlock Light 5/0 and 6/0 are more like a traditional long shank round bend, not an EWG. Helps the bait to come through slop and cover nicely.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_KVD_Perfect_Plastic_Caffeine_Shad_5_8pk/descpage-SKPCS.html

 

cool.  I was thinking of another bait.  this one has the bubble in the tail?

I go back to the basics 

Texas rigged, weightless or as little as I can get away with, Bass pro’s 7” ribbon tail in watermelon pearl or Junebug, in garlic scent. I start working the shore line, going slow, in and around any cover I can find. Even if I don’t see the cover, I’ll throw about 10-15 feet apart moving along the shore, sometimes I’ll feel the cover under water.
I usually catch something, just trying to keep the skunk away.

Drop. Shot. Gets. Bit.

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

 this one has the bubble in the tail?

No, it's not an "air tail" type, but its shape sort of looks like one. Regardless, the tail is narrow at the body, then gets wider, and it ticks up when dragged. It gets attention. I treat it like a heavy 5" senko at times, and at times like a fluke.

 

Years ago it was a white power-grub on a small lead-head. 

 

Now it's a green-pumpkin TRD on light NED head jig. 

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

No, it's not an "air tail" type, but its shape sort of looks like one. Regardless, the tail is narrow at the body, then gets wider, and it ticks up when dragged. It gets attention. I treat it like a heavy 5" senko at times, and at times like a fluke.

 

I'm going to try this one out I already have the baits 

#3 Mepps or Blue Fox Vibrax inline spinner

Charlie Brewer Spider Slider  head. 1/8oz. Any thin 4" worm will work. Fish it slowly

To avoid skunk, I just simply downsize my presentation.  Works fine