I usually end up throwing a drop shot when things get tough but yesterday even that wasn't getting bites. I had one of these on another rod and it ended up being the only lure that worked for the day:

 

I realize most people are into strolling or shaking a minnow these days, but I usually try go with something a little different and this particular setup (willowvibe with a mooch minnow) is fun to throw and has done pretty well for me. Is anyone else throwing a willowvibe these days? Alternatively, have you found another lure that seems to do really well for you even though you don't see a lot of other people using it?? 

I'll have to give that a shot. It looks like a fish catcher for sure.  Thanks, Brian

FM

I like straight tail minnows namely the freeloader and mooch minnow on an underspin. You can say what you want about Jacob Wheeler but that man is a genius when it comes to designing baits.

I bought some of those last year but have not tried one yet. Next time I have a slow day I will break one out. 

I haven't gotten anything out of the mooch minnow yet on a jighead or underspin, but the vibrating blade looks like a good idea. 

I also love the drop-shot as a skunk killer, always works here.

BUT also consider a Mepps #3.

16 hours ago, Bird said:

BUT also consider a Mepps #3.

Thanks I've seen these but never tried one before. Saw one at Walmart and given one of the first quotes I've read about them was 'Mepps are the best all purpose lure ever made. I will die on this hill' I figured it would be worth dropping $6 to try one. We shall see how she does.

 

On 6/6/2025 at 10:52 AM, IYAOYAS said:

say what you want about Jacob Wheeler but that man is a genius when it comes to designing baits.

I actually really like Jacob Wheeler from what I've seen he carries himself pretty well. Also like a few of the crush city lures and realize some say the bronco bug is a knock off but lure companies copy each other all the time and honestly you could say the same thing about almost every stick bait out there. He also released a video a couple of weeks ago where it showed him NOT winning a tournament and it hit close to home for me since I also had a similar experience recently where I went for something I really wanted, gave it my all, thought I did about as great as I could have and still just didn't get it and ended up feeling really disappointed. That said I respect that he posted the video and thought he handled it well and overall a good reminder that while you can control the effort you don't always get to control the outcome and all you can do is get back out there and try again...great quote on the end of that one too 'we'll be out for the next one I promise you that'.

On 6/6/2025 at 9:06 AM, Brian11719 said:

I usually end up throwing a drop shot when things get tough but yesterday even that wasn't getting bites. I had one of these on another rod and it ended up being the only lure that worked for the day:

 

I realize most people are into strolling or shaking a minnow these days, but I usually try go with something a little different and this particular setup (willowvibe with a mooch minnow) is fun to throw and has done pretty well for me. Is anyone else throwing a willowvibe these days? Alternatively, have you found another lure that seems to do really well for you even though you don't see a lot of other people using it?? 

 

I bought another willow vibe mostly for my smallmouth adventures in the city but have continued to forget to tie it on.  Thanks for the reminder!  The mooch minnow had all sorts of hype and for me it's actually over delivered.  Shaking, swimming, underspins, scroungers, even a ned, it catches everything.

 

Not a skunk buster, but it has opened up days from average to epic.  I have found that the scottsboro finesse sniper head and now their finesse pro head with a 4-5" segmented straight tail worm is a fantastic tight vibrating shad/shiner swimbait for cold water bass.  The finesse pro hook change seems to really help on the hook up/landing ratio, but I have less time with them.  Geecrack revival shad and Deps deathadder have the best action so far, an incredibly tight roll and snake action with a vibrating pintail, but I'm hoping to find a just as good domestic option.  Trout Trick and sluggo are close, but definitely a wider wobble and seemingly less effective in the cold.  The 1/2 and 3/4oz in 2/0-4/0 have done the damage in 15-25' fow.  Scroungers aren't new, but getting this smaller profile in a tighter action has really upped my bites on days when the wider wobble wouldn't get them to commit.

 

scott