What is your #1 go to bait? Why?

[OUTLAW]

What is your go to bait for Largemouth, and Smallmouth? and why?

[Cheetam]

Largemouth= Mann's Baby Minus 1 (I like to fish shallow, stumpy junk)
Smallmouth= Tube (green pumpkin, any variation of flake, typically black and purple), 3/8 ounce rattle jig head

[fowlmouth]

Largemouth= Zoom Horney Toad, I like to cover alot of water
Smallmouth= Senkos

[bucketmouthhauler]

Weightless tube over grass=$$$

[gbaade]

Have to agree on the Mann's Baby Minus...excellent colors and great for knockin on wood.


For smallies I always can get a bite on a 4 or 5 inch Dinger....Pumpkin with Chartruese tip in dirty water being my all time favorite.

[Durand Dan]

Largemouth-Rattletrap/White with grey back

Smallies-Strike King Mini Tubes

[PIGSMALLIE]

definately senkos both species

[bosshawg]

for both - easy, topwater.......i just love it!

[Hooksetter]

For largemouth, a 5" senko, black/blue flake, Texas rigged weightless on 2/0 HP hook.

For smallies, a Canadien Mist 4" tube rigged on a 1/4 oz 60 degree jig head.

[Bassman24]

Largemouth - pumpkin senko weightless on 2/0 gammy and Brown jig & pig.

Smallmouth - 5" tube - pumpkin on 5/16 rattle jig head.

Why? They are confidence baits.  You always fish different when you have a bait that has been successfull for you in past.

[LGMOUTH]

Largemouth    Smithwick 5 1/2" suspending Rouge-I can catch bass on these no matter what time of year.

Smallmouth     Poorboys Darter-Catches smallmouth very consistently

[OUTLAW]

Largemouth    Smithwick 5 1/2" suspending Rouge-I can catch bass on these no matter what time of year.

Smallmouth     Poorboys Darter-Catches smallmouth very consistently

What is fastgamblers best bait THE NET,

[outdoorkid]

for largemouth i like a 4or 5 inch senko wacky style or a crankbait.

smallmouth i like a poorboys goby dropshot or a white/sliver or chartruse/gold spinnerbait.

reason being is because allmost everybody can catch fish on them, easy to use,and works good

[fiker]

Largemouth or Smallmouth - stick bait (green pumpkin or Canadian Mist) or tube bait (green w/purple & gold inland, Canadian Mist on Clair).  (Stick baits on a 3/0 EWG and the tubes on 1/16 to 3/8 depending on depth/current/wind).

Back up back= Fluke type jerk bait.  Almost always white

If these don't work, open up the tackle box and employ the 10 cast rule.  If in ten casts I don't catch a fish, the bait gets scolded, and put back in the box.  Next!

[McCarter]

Jigs, for both.  with the exception of LSC, Erie, and connecting water ways, i catch the majority of my fish on a jig.  Jigs work consistantly year round and it has become the bait i have built the most confidence in.

Strike king bitsy bugs have proven to work best for me.  I like black with a green pumpkin zoom super chunk jr.  Blk/blue with a black super chunk jr, and water melon with a black or green pumpkin trailer. 1/4 or 3/8 oz depending on condition, but im not afraid to throw a 1/8 either. 

McCarter himself

[MaizeNBlue]

watermelon tubes for both, with different weights depending on what and where I am fishing. My back up to that is a California 420 Sweet Beaver.

[gbaade]

Off topic but for Cheetam and anyone else who uses them. Gander Mountain has Mann's Baby's for 1.99. Mostly older colors but it didn't stop me from stocking up! This was at the Grand Rapids and Lansing stores but I asked the Manager and he said it was chainwide.

[Cheetam]

Off topic but for Cheetam and anyone else who uses them. Gander Mountain has Mann's Baby's for 1.99. Mostly older colors but it didn't stop me from stocking up! This was at the Grand Rapids and Lansing stores but I asked the Manager and he said it was chainwide.

Sweet!  I'll try and check out the Novi store this week sometime!

[chase5004]

For both, I would have to agree with consistently Over Rated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, (I mean MaizeMBlue) about watermelon tubes, especially after what I learned last year working with tubes. Mostly watermelon with blk flake on 1/4 to 3/8 oz bit me jig heads.

A second choice would be senkos fished various ways.

Pat
(just a friendly jab at the arch enemy!!!!!!!!!!!!) 

[Revtro]

Largemouth - Green Pumpkin or Watermelon/Red Flake 5" Senko.  No matter what the mood of the fish, you can always get them to bite a Senko.

Smallmouth - St. Clair Goby Tube or Jerkbait...depending on the depth.