Jig. Plain and simple jig. Whether I hope them, drag them, or swim them. And the trailer doesn’t matter. A jig. 
 

best thing I did was pretty much tie on some kind of jig all season this year. I’ve caught them on other stuff. Still love a 10 inch ribbon tail. The Neko rig was a ton of fun to play with too!!! But a jig changed how I fish. Made me think more. Be more observant.

 

but if I had to list lures that have killed it so far.

Berkeley chopo 75/105

berkley bullet pop 70 
Siebert sniper 3/16-5/16 jig 

neko rig (doesn’t matter what worm) 

12 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

 

Buzzbait

 

I’ve noticed a lot of your pictures the bass have buzzbaits in their mouths.

 

It’s a bait I’ve only thrown a small handful of times and I think I only have one in my arsenal.

 

What are you throwing?

 

I’m going to get a few on of these days.

 

Thanks

35 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

I’ve noticed a lot of your pictures the bass have buzzbaits in their mouths.

 

It’s a bait I’ve only thrown a small handful of times and I think I only have one in my arsenal.

 

What are you throwing?

 

I’m going to get a few on of these days.

 

Thanks

 

 

I threw the Picasso hog snatcher in black with usually some kinda jr fluke trailer, no trailer hook,  1/2 oz.  I had to retie the skirt and made a bluegill pattern for that.

 

It's caught me some huge fish this year.

 

Funny thing is - I throw a ton of buzzbaits and they all seem to work - I have done really well on the 1/8 oz size buzz baits. 

 

I really like the lunker lure, prototype, accent, Nichols offerings - really they're all gonna work if the fish want a buzzbait +/-.

 

 

1 hour ago, Pat Brown said:

 

 

I threw the Picasso hog snatcher in black with usually some kinda jr fluke trailer, no trailer hook,  1/2 oz.  I had to retie the skirt and made a bluegill pattern for that.

 

It's caught me some huge fish this year.

 

Funny thing is - I throw a ton of buzzbaits and they all seem to work - I have done really well on the 1/8 oz size buzz baits. 

 

I really like the lunker lure, prototype, accent, Nichols offerings - really they're all gonna work if the fish want a buzzbait +/-.

 

 

 

The only one I've really used and if I had to guess it's the 1/2oz. It's got a clacker on it.

 

Seems like I have to reel it in going Mach 5.

 

Rod tip high, try to reel before it even hits the water, even use braid.

 

I need to find something different.

 

Thanks again.

I have never had much luck with the clacker variations. I like the buzzbait because it is rather subtle and the clacker sort of defeats the purpose of that. I like them to squeal. I like an 8-speed reel. I like 50 lb braid and a long Stout rod with a moderate action. The key with the buzzbait is covering water and casting to as many good looking targets as humanly possible in a day.

4 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

I have never had much luck with the clacker variations. I like the buzzbait because it is rather subtle and the clacker sort of defeats the purpose of that. I like them to squeal. I like an 8-speed reel. I like 50 lb braid and a long Stout rod with a moderate action. The key with the buzzbait is covering water and casting to as many good looking targets as humanly possible in a day.

Ive never been a big buzzbait guy just because I never get good casting distance with them. Normally with topwater I try to get the most casting distance possible but I’m sure they are great in the right situations. 

1 hour ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

Ive never been a big buzzbait guy just because I never get good casting distance with them. Normally with topwater I try to get the most casting distance possible but I’m sure they are great in the right situations. 

 

Yeah this is kind of something where you just go down the bank and cast a lot and it doesn't have to be very far. It's just more about making a lot of casts to good looking pieces of cover usually.  I do pretty good on flats but I'm not super confident when it's much deeper than about 6 or 7 ft.

9 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

 

Yeah this is kind of something where you just go down the bank and cast a lot and it doesn't have to be very far. It's just more about making a lot of casts to good looking pieces of cover usually.  I do. Pretty good on flats but I'm not super confident when it's much deeper than about 6 or 7 ft.

I’ll pick one up when there’s lots of water to cover and it’s getting dark quick. I’ll try to burn as much bank as I can and find a couple willing to eat before I go in. The MN state record was caught on one so I always have that in the back of my mind.

 I only got to go twice this spring until surgery has set me back' I had productive days for numbers not size. Caught my fish on

 

Flying Lure. Yep the one from the infomrecials.

Bomber Prop A. which is a Long A Minnow with a tail prop.

Home made spinnerbait

T rigged Rage Tail Cut R worm.

One thing I noticed being in the boat with Pat Brown is his pace with a buzzbait for covering water is very fast. Trolling motor is on high.  He reels slow, but he covers a wide area with just a few casts. If he gets a bite or really likes an area he may slow down. It is worth paying attention to Pat with a buzzbait because he tends to catch more buzzbait fish than most on this site. 

16 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

One thing I noticed being in the boat with Pat Brown is his pace with a buzzbait for covering water is very fast. Trolling motor is on high.  He reels slow, but he covers a wide area with just a few casts. If he gets a bite or really likes an area he may slow down. It is worth paying attention to Pat with a buzzbait because he tends to catch more buzzbait fish than most on this site. 

That could definitely be my problem. When I picture fishing a buzzbait fast I picture reeling it fast not making less cast and fishing them slower but moving the boat quickly. Thanks for pointing that out. 

Edited July 24, 2025Jul 24 by 10,000 lakes Bassin

15 hours ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

How does the magic worm compare to the Roboworm 6” fat? 

 

awesome man! 

That’s something ive never put much time into but know I should. What’s your main ribbon tail? 

Wow, you gotta stop making the rest of us Minnesotans look bad 😂

The Magic worm comes in a 14 pack, has a different action on free fall through the water plus Roboworm quality and colors. Our local lakes have been pounded by Roboworms for decades and the Missle Magic worm is different enough the bass eat it.

Tom

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

Flying Lure. Yep the one from the infomrecials.

 

 

Is that the one where it was weighted in the back so it was supposed to glide backwards??

 

If so, man I wanted those when I was a kid!!!   

41 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

Is that the one where it was weighted in the back so it was supposed to glide backwards??

 

If so, man I wanted those when I was a kid!!!   

They work just like  the ads. I like them on rip rap.

Early on this spring - RAID Libero (7g size) - MB Spark Shad - MB Hazedong -- all three of those were good

 

Currently - the limited fish I have caught recently have mostly come on - MB Pop-X - Deps Buzz Jet Jr. - RAID Avi-50 and throwing some deeper cranks has caught a few

 

I read about many people catching fish on Wacky/Drop Shots/Ned-Neko Rigs - so I may have to slow down and try some of those techniques  

On 7/24/2025 at 11:08 AM, Pat Brown said:

I have never had much luck with the clacker variations. I like the buzzbait because it is rather subtle and the clacker sort of defeats the purpose of that. I like them to squeal. I like an 8-speed reel. I like 50 lb braid and a long Stout rod with a moderate action. The key with the buzzbait is covering water and casting to as many good looking targets as humanly possible in a day.

 

Went out last night for a very quick outing on a bank with the buzzbait.

 

Water is pretty dirty from some major rain.

 

Was trying to retrieve parallel and as close to the bank as possibly. Managed two bass.

 

I'm pretty sure the one I have is a 1/2 oz Booyah with the clacker.

 

IDK, I hate it. Maybe it's user error.

 

OK it's probably user error.  LOL

 

I have a hard time trying to reel before it hits the water.

Been a decent year so far.

 

Two baits for smallies have been home wreckers for me.

 

1. Rage Tail Menace on a 1/4 Ball Head Jig

2. Strike King Baby Z Too on a Ned Head

 

Largies have been the same story as in years past.

 

1. 1/4 Swim Jig with a Rage Tail Menace Trailer

2. Rage Tail Space Monkey-Rage Rigged

I have never caught a thing on a buzzbait. And I spent a lot of time trying.

 

But throw a buzztoad in the same places?  They eat it!! 

 

Have been fishing the Neko almost exclusively and have done very well with it.

I'm still team-FREErig.  Dolive Beaver.  I have to be, I bought a metric ton of the stuff.  it is embarrassing.

 

 

Just now, Darth-Baiter said:

I'm still team-FREErig.  Dolive Beaver.  I have to be, I bought a metric ton of the stuff.  it is embarrassing.

 

 

Yea, me too...generally. It's just so good.

 

But I've been putting the work in with the Neko lately, so I've been Free Rigging a bit less

3 minutes ago, RRocket said:

Yea, me too...generally. It's just so good.

 

But I've been putting the work in with the Neko lately, so I've been Free Rigging a bit less

I did well with the Neko as well.   but I have a duffel full of Beavers.  

 

I'd love to fish with you one day @RRocket.   I am shopping for a travel van and will do a country wide sweep maybe next year.  I'm knocking on your door..hahahha

 

lets see if my plan hatches.  

22 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I did well with the Neko as well.   but I have a duffel full of Beavers.  

 

I'd love to fish with you one day @RRocket.   I am shopping for a travel van and will do a country wide sweep maybe next year.  I'm knocking on your door..hahahha

 

lets see if my plan hatches.  

Well....I'm in Canuckistan. But you're quite welcome here.

This year has been a little different for me. I usually have one or two baits that really stick out, but that has not been the case this year. I’ve caught them on a little bit of everything.
 

My best days have been from:

bladed jig

Ned rig

Senko

10” Power Worm

Football Jig 

T-Mac Shakey Head

D-Bombs

A Ned rig is always my most productive bait but a Neko rig is becoming a staple bait for me.  

19 hours ago, Robinhood21 said:

I usually have one or two baits that really stick out, but that has not been the case this year. I’ve caught them on a little bit of everything.

This definitely describes my year so far