Buzzbaits, squarebills, spinnerbaits, flipping jigs.

Honestly, that’s a hard question to answer.

I refuse to throw anything “finessey” with small baits on light line with a spinning rod so that entire segment of what’s available is eliminated.

For me it’s more about what presentations I’ve quit throwing instead of which particular bait I’ve quit on.

Mike

Drop shot. I hate it.

Crankbaits? I’ve got two full 3700‑size boxes of them. Haven’t caught a single fish on one in ten years — probably because I’m always fishing from the shore.

Berkley Chigger craws. I used black and blue chigger craws both as a jig trailer and on a Texas rig in the bigger rivers around Saginaw. I used them pretty much exclusively in 2018-2022 and caught a ton of bass on them. In 2023 like a light switch the bass were done with them. I don’t think I have caught a bass on them since 2022. I loaded up on bags and I think I still have 3-4 bags left. Yum spine craws have replaced them.

Whopper Plopper. Love fishing this thing and it slaughtered. It was unbelievable how many big fish it caught. However, in the last few years it has caught less and less fish. They became ubiquitous with the Choppo and now are rarely my first choice topwater.

Paddletails are still good, but fish seem to have got used to them too, at least compared to 5+ years ago.

Last year, War Eagle Spinnerbaits. specifically the screaming eagle series.

It's been at least 5 years since I caught anything on a buzzbait.

Allen

Whopper Ploppers and Choppos have really fallen off for me these past few years which is particularly unfortunate because I acquired quite a few of them when they were my goto top water along with poppers. By last year, wake baits completely replaced them in calm water and walking baits have replaced them when there is wind. I think I will end up taking them all out of my “starting roster tackle boxes”.

The good news for everyone here is that my experience has been that you do the sport long enough - fads come - fads go - the bass forget old fad baits and bite them again and stop biting the new fad baits.

It’s expensive and exhausting trying to figure out what lure will make them bite like live bait - just use live bait!

Eventually you learn that any bait can work on any bass if you throw it at the right time to the right place and that’s why old staples catch old Smart Bass.

Eventually you learn that 90% of fisherman struggling with any bait is the fisherman.

Look at most any tournament and they catch fish lots of ways with and without the aid of electronics - same with local urban pond hammers.

Eventually you learn that the bass will bite a bait you used to love well again if you just give it some time - don’t sell them all on eBay and buy 3000 urchin baits.

It’s good to have a nice variety of things around - not 60 of one thing you like - contrary to popular belief.

Wacky rigs and chatterbaits. Used to be my go to baits. Not anymore!!

Not that it doesn't work but the whopper plopper (130). The first year I started using it was a year or two before it got REALLY popular and I swear I had that thing tied on almost the entire year I was using it and getting bit in just about any conditions.

9 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

The good news for everyone here is that my experience has been that you do the sport long enough - fads come - fads go - the bass forget old fad baits and bite them again and stop biting the new fad baits.

It’s expensive and exhausting trying to figure out what lure will make them bite like live bait - just use live bait!

Eventually you learn that any bait can work on any bass if you throw it at the right time to the right place and that’s why old staples catch old Smart Bass.

Eventually you learn that 90% of fisherman struggling with any bait is the fisherman.

Look at most any tournament and they catch fish lots of ways with and without the aid of electronics - same with local urban pond hammers.

Eventually you learn that the bass will bite a bait you used to love well again if you just give it some time - don’t sell them all on eBay and buy 3000 urchin baits.

It’s good to have a nice variety of things around - not 60 of one thing you like - contrary to popular belief.

Pat's post is so good that I quoted the whole thing because it's worth a second read...or third...or....