Favorite bass rig?

[scottb]

Lately I've started getting some smallmouth and an occasional largemouth. Just out of curiousity, what's your favorite lure (or bait) for getting bass?

[40boy]

My favorite way to catch big bass has always been topwater lures just before sundown.

Otherwise, I've always liked Rattle Traps or spinnerbaits. You can cover a lot of water, and the active fish will pound those 2 types.

If it's the middle of the day, or after a front when they're less active, a plastic worm rigged Texas style, or a jig pitched into hiding holes can entice some to bite.

I never have had much luck with lipped crankbaits or Carolina rigged plastics, but in the right conditions they should produce fish too.

[doublebucklemonk]

Live frogs rigged on weedless worm hooks and cast into the lilypads.

[stobes21]

I've always been partial to crankbaits of various types, primarily lipless shads. But a recent trip up north had me pulling more bass out of the water than I ever have before on a simple lindy rig with a minnow hooked through the lips.

[Alraz]

I love surface lures, particularly my torpedo. Always deadly at sundown.

Al raz.

[_JP_]

I prefer a fly rod with either a deer hair or hard bodied bug. I'll also use streamers if they aren't hitting the surface.

[ackvil]

Top water lures are the most fun. But for catching bass down here in Florida, plastic worms or lures work well. On a recent trip to Indiana I fished at a farm pond and pulled out many good size bass with a jig and twister as well as spinner baits.

[Mr5x5]

I like rooster tails

[rod251]

Rebel pop-r in baby bass or a zoom brush hog in watermelon seed rigged texas style

[scottb]

Caught this one Saturday on a chatterbox rig. As I pulled him in he jumped off and landed between my feet (I was in a kayak.)

He was happy to get back in the water, but not so fast that he didn't try and give me one last tail slap to the face.

181157

[Doghouse]

My favorite bass rig is a classic all tube Ampeg SVT paired with a 410HLF. It's a great way to lure folks out to dance a jig, doin' twisters and spinners all night long. Works up a healthy appetite for some good fish eatin' too!

[DrColossus11]

7in power worm in pumpkin seed.

[ScoutHikerDad]

After struggling the last couple of years with using a fly-rod for smallmouth, I finally had enough of constant line tangles, back-casting issues, depth issues, and getting outfished 4-1 by my brother on gear.

We fished a local river yesterday morning from 8 to noon. Though I caught fish on the fly, once I switched to gear (namely a Johnson's Beetle Spin), it was almost one right after the other, both LMB's and SMB's, until the heat shut down the bite. That's it, I told my son and brother, "Spin fishing for me from now on on warm waters." In fact, I'm gonna give that magic beetle spin a try again this week.

Now for mountain trout, I will stick to my trusty fly-rods, thank you!

[dickenscpa]

I love to take the old bass boat out on the water and it's most enjoyable working a 6" lizard T-rigged. When it's what they're biting, nothing's more enjoyable to me than working soft plastic baits T-rigged.

ETA: A close 2nd would be a crankbait that goes 4-8' deep. If I ever had success with my topwaters, I'm sure I'd love that too. I really prefer shallow water. Never been a drop shot guy.

Brad

[CubReporter]

When I saw "favorite bass rig," I thought you meant bass guitar. But I do love fishing!

[Obiwan]

I tend to favor spinners and crankvaitd unless it's sundown or nightfishing. Then it's a 5/8 black jitterbug......which is deadly.

[retiredguns]

Top water is certainly thrilling but feeling that bump on a rubber worm is also fun. It really varies by season for me. I catch really big bass in the colder months on jig & pigs.

[DAN ARMSTRONG]

My favorite bass rig is a classic all tube Ampeg SVT paired with a 410HLF. It's a great way to lure folks out to dance a jig, doin' twisters and spinners all night long. Works up a healthy appetite for some good fish eatin' too!

I like the way you think. I have a 1969 SVT

[slooby_doo]

War Eagle double willow spinnerbaits in 3/8 or 1/2. Or a nice 1/4 buzzbait. Occasionally break out the 8wt fly rod and through 1/0 poppers.

[scottb]

I've only caught one on a plastic worm this year, which is making me crazy. Most of my luck has come from spinners and spoons.

Last week I picked up a rattle-trap and a couple new plastic baits, maybe things will change this weekend.

[cat4025]

3/8 oz jig flipped up into structure along the banks, black/blue or chartreuse depending on water color. Works all day long, especially when water levels are high. In the evening, I switch to my black/red/silver frog (I call it the Earnhardt) on lilly pads.

[jlanger]

On of my favorite rigs for smallies and large is a nice green plastic worm. In heavy structure a bright green or black/orange spinner bait. Often catch a nice big northern or two with the spinners as well.

[scottb]

This time of year the weeds seem to be an issue..some of my favorite spots are now choked up to 30 ft. out (I usually have to fish from the bank, with only occasional access to a boat.)

I've been using a worm either hooked Texas-style or as part of a weedless rig, but haven't had much luck. I was thinking of switching to one of the jigs cat4025 mentioned; they seem to have a prominent weed guard.

Any other suggestions?

[RHVette]

The best luck I've had is using a deep diving crankbait. The hardest hits were when the bait dove deeper than the lake (i.e. 10 feet in a 8 ft. deep lake) The bait rooting around on the bottom and making a mess seems to really rile up SMB. It only works on certain waters, though. Too much junk on the bottom or too murky water and they can't see it.

[jlanger]

The best luck I've had is using a deep diving crankbait. The hardest hits were when the bait dove deeper than the lake (i.e. 10 feet in a 8 ft. deep lake) The bait rooting around on the bottom and making a mess seems to really rile up SMB. It only works on certain waters, though. Too much junk on the bottom or too murky water and they can't see it.


Good way to lose that $10 crankbait too!!!

[RHVette]

Good way to lose that $10 crankbait too!!!

That's why you've got to know when to use it. There's a couple of spring fed lakes nearby with silt bottoms. The fresh water flow keeps the lake pretty clear and the silt bottom means there's less likelihood of snagging. I can pull bass out of that lake with a crankbait when nothing else is hitting because it gets their attention. I would imagine it would work in rivers, too, but I've never tried it on one.

[finnmcool]

I've always had luck with a Mepps Aglia in copper, undressed.

[kzoo1]

I've always had luck with a Mepps Aglia in copper, undressed.

Shhh! You're not supposed to tell people that trout lures work on bass!

[Alraz]

When I use my spinning rods, I love my torpedo and my poppers. I also use Texas rigs occasionally. What I like the best is flies!!!! I have caught 7+ smallmouth bass with 4 tippet and prince 16 and 18s.

Al raz.

[Argonaut]

Plastic worm, black with white spots and a white auger tail. 7" or larger with no added weight. That way it will make a big slap when it his the water, and sink nice and slow. BTW I do most of my fishing in a float tube in farm ponds.

[darkwing1]

For me nothing works better than a Sweet Beaver Texas Rigged!!!

[Adam R]

In creeks & ponds spring through fall:
Weightless Plastic worms and flukes have been money for me in the past large and smallmouth. Some guys call it Senko or finesse rig.
Tubes are good search baits with the weight to get down to the bottom in current.
Spinners or chatterbaits when the water is murky after a rain

Wintertime -creeks - float and fly can be fun in creeks. You can catch bass in zero degree weather when the lakes and ponds are frozen.
I'm no expert but I love to catch bass.

[Comet]

I prefer a fly rod with either a deer hair or hard bodied bug. I'll also use streamers if they aren't hitting the surface. I like the Gurgler Fly for top-water and the Mickey Finn Streamer if they are lower.

[Comet]

Live frogs rigged on weedless worm hooks and cast into the lilypads. A live frog on a big 2/0 bass hook with couple of splitshots 2 feet above the hook will work great on a rock shoal too