Ok guys, so the last couple of times I've been out fishing, I've gotten very impatient to fish plastic worms, and want to try something a bit more "Exciting".

Don't get me wrong, I'll always fish Senkos and Finesse worms, but I think its time to improve my range of fishing skills, and learn something new.

What would you guys suggest? Fast action, Easy to Catch, and not the sitting looking at your line to twitch type of fishing.

I'm looking into Crank baits , Spinner baits, Swim baits (although it must be light cause I fish a 6"6 ML Rod and 8-10lb line), or anything else for that matter. So advice on any of those (which is most effective more often then the others.

Whatever you suggest, if you could give me a brand / model / colors that work best that'd be great.

Thanks all!

Everyone needs to know how to fish a spinnerbait.  I prefer T-1 Terminator spinnerbaits with one willowleaf blade and one colorado, and a chartruse/white skirt.

Good luck.

Spinnerbait. Try the 1/2 oz War Eagle in white silver or white chartreuse

The rig you are fishing with sounds like a good pointer rod. Try jerkbaits, or light spinnerbaits if the water is stained.

Thanks guys, yah spinnerbaits are what I'm leaning towards. I have a few white and some white with chart, also one black with chart, so we'll see how it goes. What's the best place/way to fish them? I've only used them a few times, and just casted any which where and reeled it in, any special techniques?

Anything else guys?

Thanks so far!

Guys, I'm getting very into looking at this spinner bait website where you can design your own.

How does the size of the Willow blade affect the fishing?

Is it good to have colored blades? There's chart colored blades, and all that, would that help or do you want silver so it reflects and shines in the water?

Is it better to have the willow blade on top or the colorado on top?

HeavyCover.Com is what i'm looking at, I figured I'd order 3, so if anyone doesn't mind, help me build 3 solid ones that I will have the best success with and that are the most VERSATILE.

Lipless cranks are an absolute must.

the 1/2 oz. ratltrap in chrome/blue is the classic.

Lipless cranks are an absolute must.

the 1/2 oz. ratltrap in chrome/blue is the classic.

Holy crap, I've never fished a Lipless Crank, but in fact just bought one today on my way home. Crazy.. It's a RatLtrap, Blue top silver body, BUT it's a 1/4  :'(

 Should I return it? Or will that catch me a pretty 3lber?

The 1/4 will work!

As far as the spinnerbaits go, I don't fish them much. But when I do it is either slow and bumping into stuff (bottom, rocks, trees, tulies...etc) or fast, just beneath the surface in shallow water.

This time of year in California though, you gotta try a popper! Fun times there!

The 1/4 will work!

As far as the spinnerbaits go, I don't fish them much. But when I do it is either slow and bumping into stuff (bottom, rocks, trees, tulies...etc) or fast, just beneath the surface in shallow water.

This time of year in California though, you gotta try a popper! Fun times there!

Haha, thank you, I hope the 1/4 will work, if not, I'm coming after you!

As for spinnerbaits, any reason you don't fish them? Or you're a swimbait kinda guy?

If you let me know what kinda popper and how to fish it, and WHERE , I'll go for it!

I'm just trying to open up some options and see what else is out there!

Dude I fish a TON of normal stuff. I have just lost confidence in a spinnerbait. Most of the water I fish is extremely clear and I just have a mental block about it. But the Delta or Clearlake I could do it (although I still don't ).

A popper is a bait that I don't have real specific parameters for most of the time. The few I have are this:

Whitish coloring/red mouth.

Good hooks

feathered treble.

I would sacrifice any of them besides the good hooks!

Fish it in 1-15 feet of water unless they are busting shad over deep water. If you find shad getting smashed, get that bait in there and prepare for some SERIOUS fun!

i think avid is right on about a 1/2 oz rattletrap being the classic but with the setup youve described i think that 1/4 oz will work much better for you.  

Where are you fishing?  

There is nothing quite like using a buzz bait or a scum frog.  You just have to be careful when setting the hook or you will have a "Between the Eyesfull"  of your bait.  The buzz bait allows you fish a lot faster than using worms.  I think I still fish too slow when using them.  Any opinions on how far apart the casts should be when buzzing?  I would guess that every 15 or 20 feet???

You need to enroll in the "Members Challenge"!!

w/ a ml rod and 8-10lb. line your limited somewhat.a s.b is fine but your going to get disappointed real fast,a 1/4 oz. trap is a good choice but the chunk and wind can get old real quik also.i can throw a trap all day w/o a bite but if you dont have confidence in it you might get bored.imo,a topwater bait,a minnow imitation,rapala,bomber longA,floating rogue would be a good choice.easy to master,the visual aspect keeps you interested and the anticipation and actual bite on topwater is unmatched.there is a period after the spawn that topwater action is great.and for that matter all yr. you can catch fish on topwater.

Zoom Super Fluke. Soft plastic thats not boring. Fish tend to hammer them also, no line watching required.

Guys, I'm getting very into looking at this spinner bait website where you can design your own.

How does the size of the Willow blade affect the fishing?

Is it good to have colored blades? There's chart colored blades, and all that, would that help or do you want silver so it reflects and shines in the water?

Is it better to have the willow blade on top or the Colorado on top?

HeavyCover.Com is what i'm looking at, I figured I'd order 3, so if anyone doesn't mind, help me build 3 solid ones that I will have the best success with and that are the most VERSATILE.

Heavy Cover is a great site and good baits.  

I pick the type of blades based on the water clarity.  In clear water I use double willows, in stained I use a tandem-a Colorado balde in front of a willow blade, and in muddy I like a big, single Colorado blade.

If I had to pick 3 here is my recommendation:

A 3/8 0r 1/2 oz. shad colored head with a glimmer or baitfish colored skirt with a size 3 or 3 1/2 silver willowleaf blade in front of a number 4 willowleaf silver blade.  Good for clear water and sunny days.

The second would be a  chartreuse head with a translucent skirt with a little chartreuse in it, a number 3 silver Colorado blade in front of a number 4 gold willowleaf.  Good for stained water or some cloud cover

The third would be a gold head with a gold/silver skirt, size 3 copper Colorado blade in front of a size 4 gold willowleaf.  You don't see many spinnerbaits with copper blades, but they produce real well when it is cloudy, and since most folks don't fish them the fish haven't seen them.

I make my own spinnerbaits and use smaller blades than you find on off-the-shelf spinnerbaits.  The reason is I like to burn a spinnerbait just under the surface and the smaller blades allow it to run straight no matter how fast I bring it in.