Hello bass world. Thinking about trying out lizards in the spring here on my lovely lake st clair. Never used them before but overheard some guys talking about em. Any suggestions on basic colors,sizes, rigging options? Dont wanna walk into Bass pro this weekend during the spring sale with the deer caught in the headlights look...well thats gonna happen regardless. Does every year. Thanks all
I have fished lizards for both largies and smallies. On LSC I would recommend fishing them on a Carolina Rig. Use smaller size lizards as they can be rigged on a 2/0-3/0 wide gap hook. On LSC you can not go wrong with Green Pumpkin color for any plastics. In addition to Green Pumpkin you could have red or puple fleck or even a chartreus tail. Watermelon color works well too. In addition to lizards on your Carolina Rig try some Case Plastics (a GLB sponsor) Beavers. I slayed the El Salto Bass with them on a Carolina Rig Good luck!
Examples: http://www.caseplastics.com/Products/Lizard.htm
Green pumpkin is a great all-around color. I like the green pumpkin chartreuse maybe better, especially for darker water, or smallies. For real clear water, watermelons can be really good - had my butt kicked a few times that way (once really bad on Lake Okeechobee).
I use a green like above, and a dark most of the time - like black, dark smoke or Junebug. If you have a green and a dark, you can cover many waters.
Good topic. I have often wonder how they work on LSC never used them my self any input from guys that have fished them. how well do they work.
Dan and Wags pretty much summed it up - green pumpkins, chartruese tails, watermelons if it's really clear. I throw em on a c-rig like Wags said, although I do like them on a t-rig or stand-up jig head (like a spot remover) as well (especially during the spawn when working beds).
Also when bed fishing, try them on a dropshot. Nose hook em on a 2/0 Octopus style hook.
I agree natural colors, but more importantly (to me anyway) is the size. I throw a zoom 8" almost exclusively. They look big but dont be intimidated, even with smallmouth.
I have never used lizards in Michigan. However there seems to be testimony that they can be a hot bait here. I have heard of guys having great success using them. I have only used them down south.
BD ;D
I use them on the inland lakes and they work well just never tried them on the great lakes.
Ok, I am going to confess right here and now................
My wife's nickname used to be Lizard Lips.
Now I am not going to elaborate on it.
Just take it for what it is.
And for the record, that's not her nickname anymore.
Ya'll got me thinkin' about the past with lizards. Back in the mid 80's nobody had lizards. I had read about them being used instead of worms or french frys (remember those?) on a carolina rig.
Only place I could find any at the time was Barlow's tackle in Richardson Texas. Sleek black ones in 4 & 6 inch. Never used the carolina rig because I mainly fished weedy northern lakes; but I did throw them on a texas rig. Used to love 'em. Everbody else was throwing worms, culprit was a big name back then. But I could roll up behind most guys and nail bass they had fished right past. The lizard shape was just different enough to tempt those jaded bass.
Then they became all the rage on the pro circuit, and everyone was throwing them. They became just another plastic shape in the box like the others.
Been a while since they've been popular, maybe they might be worth a little trip down memory lane...
In Mexico they pronounce it "Leeeeezhard" ;D
I've had good luck with smaller black lizards, with green tails carolina rigged on bedding fish.
Well, I was at Meijers today and wouldn't ya know they had Zoom 6" Lizards for $1.74 a pack. I have a Lizard stash now!!
Thanks for all the help guys! Much appreciated!
Lizards can also be a killer topwater bait if fished weightless and swam across the top!
That is so true. I once got on a killer top water bite in a Northern Lake around Clare, MI. Dragged weightless lizards across the top of lilly pads and slayed the Largies.