I plan to fish a lot in a deep highland reservoir for spotted bass between now and next spring. Four spinning rods will be on my deck. One will have a swimbait, another will have some sort of Ned rig. What would you throw on the other 2 rods? Thanks for your suggestions.

Rage Menace

Rage Structure Bug

Outside of just whatever you'd normally be fishing with, I'd have as many versions as possible of swimbaits with different jigheads.

 

The best Spotted Bass lure I've found is a Chatterbait Flashback Mini in the 1/8th model.   Doesn't matter what color because you'll be tossing the supplied swim bodies.    Then you pick up a few packs of different colors of Armor Shads in the 3" model.      I've caught hundreds of Spotted Bass on this bait over the last two months.     I average 15-20 Spots per Armor Shad as well which is incredible.

 

Another bait that I just added is the MegaBass Screwhead Jigheads with the same 3" Armor Shads, just a dialed back approach.   

 

Both of these baits can be burned, or Yo Yo'd around bait pods.

 

I'm new to A-Rigs, but I can already see they are very effective for Spotted Bass, and they shine in general in the winter.

 

Lastly, Spotted Bass are suckers for suspended jerkbaits.     

 

 

A spoon for suspending fish and probably a jig

* Jigging spoon(#1 between now & Spring)

* +1 or +2 Vision 110 depending on just how deep you're talking 

Spoon and suspending jerkbait

drop shot.  (wait..is this a trick question?  :D)  of course DROPSHOT

 

the small megabass hazadong shad as the bait.  well, one of the baits.  

Skinny Bear Pro series jig 1/4 oz, brown/chartreuse, with Iovino 2” craw honeycomb.

Jackall  Flick Shake 4.8 watermelon candy, drop shot, wacky rigged size 1 Drop Shot hook.

Tom

Spotted bass and shakey head goes together like peas and carrots 

15 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Spotted bass and shakey head goes together like peas and carrots 

You mean like lamb and tuna fish!

Peas go with nothing.

3 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

You mean like lamb and tuna fish!

 

29 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

Peas go with nothing.

Ok ok mashed taters and gravy???

Now you're  talkin"!

I would have a Slider and a 300 series Bandit...maybe a "Bee".

Use with caution:

10 hours ago, detroit1 said:

Peas go with nothing.

Enjoy your McRib...

Drop shot or split shot w/ a RoboWorm or PowerWorm. 
 

Berkley PowerTube or PowerGrub. 
 

I have no experience fishing a deep highland reservoir but I believe the above baits will catch me a bass where ever they be. 

I was gonna suggest a tailspin, but wasn't sure how they would do on a spinning reel.

2 hours ago, Spankey said:

Drop shot or split shot w/ a RoboWorm or PowerWorm. 
 

Berkley PowerTube or PowerGrub. 
 

I have no experience fishing a deep highland reservoir but I believe the above baits will catch me a bass where ever they be. 

right.. I would also move this up the list to the 1st position.  a drop shot saved me a skunk on a highland reservoir in 40 feet of water.  

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I was gonna suggest a tailspin, but wasn't sure how they would do on a spinning reel.

right.. I would also move this up the list to the 1st position.  a drop shot saved me a skunk on a highland reservoir in 40 feet of water.  

I’d be like a fish out of water at the depth you’re fishing.  

On 11/16/2022 at 6:35 AM, Deleted account said:

Enjoy your McRib...

Pea lovers are a little touchy...

The little spots won’t stay off my jerkbait unfortunately, I’m sure the big spots like them too but we don’t have many of those where I fish.

Actually I know the big spots love them, caught 6 huge spots one after the other one day on table rock fishing a pointer from the bank.

I fish the SC/GA chain as my home waters plus Lanier.....all full of spotted bass.....bigguns too.

 

A small jerkbait is my #1; Vision 110jr. and 110jr. +1 often going smaller to match forage size like Duo Realis 85,  Nanahan x75 and Lucky Craft 65.

 

A small 2.8" Keitech on a 1/4oz to 1/2oz. Bad Shad or Guppy head with 1/0 hook is good to work the 0-40' water column. Small underspins like the CoolBaits work well too.

 

Cant beat a drop shot year round!

 

Neds, shaky heads and nekos are great, but I prefer a tiny tungsten 1/4-3/8oz. peanut jigs like the Fitzgerald or Picasso Lil Spotty.

 

Always have a topwater; I like the Spro E-Pop, Evergreen JT95 & ShowerBlows 77 and Lucky Craft GunFish 95....or a nose hooked Super Fluke Jr.

 

Damiki Vault blade baits are excellent year round and super versatile.

 

You might be able to rig up a Shane's Baits Mini Blades of Glory Finesse A-Rig to throw on a spinning rod, but even with 1/16oz. heads, you are at 3/4oz total....really more suited to a baitcaster.

 

The above baits thrown on spinning gear will serve you well to capture spotted bass.