8 minutes ago, kevinmyfsu said:

 Anyone know any good, budget alternatives to these baits?

Well, nothing I fish works like the Flatworm, but generic worms will work sometimes.

 

Wacky hooked Jackall 4.8 Flick Shake worm, green; watermelon candy

Brown, cola or camo

Nose hooked Roboworm Sculpon or FlutterCraft* 3 1/2” Reaper ( nose hook flat side up).

Colors, hologram shad &Oxblood lt red flake.

^^^^^Alternated to Flat worms^^^^^

Tom

*Flutter Craft Custom Baits

48 minutes ago, kevinmyfsu said:

That being said, I desperately need to find cheaper baits because $7 a pack is absurd. Anyone know any good, budget alternatives to these baits?

 

Interesting point. It seems the baits that work the best for me are all pricey, Nikko for instance being some of my favorite.  

1 hour ago, kevinmyfsu said:

 3" Hazedong 

Hazedong sounds like a condition that occurs when I drink too much whiskey.

Maxscent Flat Worm or a 6" Roboworm in Folkestad Special.

22 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

These are not my favorite, but last season they were the fish’s favorite:

 

Berkley Gulp Leech (Early Spring)

Zoom Finesse Worm (Spring/Summer)

Zoom Tiny Fluke (Summer/Fall)

Gulp leach is a real sleeper. I dont use it enough.

Roboworm 4.5" nose hooked, after that a zoom finesse worm

44 minutes ago, MN_Bassin24 said:

Roboworm 4.5" nose hooked, after that a zoom finesse worm

Just picked up a few packs of those this winter as well. Havent done much with em yet, but they look really good in the water. Zoom finesse worms and senkos are the other go to’s for me.

On 3/21/2023 at 2:57 PM, WRB said:

Wacky hooked Jackall 4.8 Flick Shake worm, green; watermelon candy

Brown, cola or camo

Nose hooked Roboworm Sculpon or FlutterCraft* 3 1/2” Reaper ( nose hook flat side up).

Colors, hologram shad &Oxblood lt red flake.

^^^^^Alternated to Flat worms^^^^^

Tom

*Flutter Craft Custom Baits

Thanks bud!! Gonna have to check these out.

On 3/21/2023 at 3:50 PM, KP Duty said:

Hazedong sounds like a condition that occurs when I drink too much whiskey.

You ain't wrong. 

Jackall Cross Tail Shad for smallmouth

Live Target Ghost Tail Minnow for big water smallmouths.  

I don't DS quite as much as I used to.

But when I do, 

I find myself reaching for one of Paul Krew "Custom Hand Poured Baits" offerings.

They are super soft and get bit. 

Especially before Flatworms came out. 

A-Jay

10 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I don't DS quite as much as I used to.

But when I do, 

I find myself reaching for one of Paul Krew "Custom Hand Poured Baits" offerings.

They are super soft and get bit. 

Especially before Flatworms came out. 

A-Jay

When “match the hatch” is executed perfectly! I’d be reaching for those baits  as well.

KVD Dream Shot, Berkley Flat Worms and OSP Mylar Minnow. This will probably change depending on what they are biting on.

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I don't DS quite as much as I used to.

But when I do, 

I find myself reaching for one of Paul Krew "Custom Hand Poured Baits" offerings.

They are super soft and get bit. 

Especially before Flatworms came out. 

A-Jay

They look a lot like the Ghost minnows I use.