What is your go to lure?

Everyone has their own go to bait, their confidence bait. It's something you can throw out their when the bite is hot or the bite is off. You can throw it year round, regardless of water temperature, clarity, depth etc. and know that it CAN catch fish.

For the bays mine is a ghost shrimp T&C swimgrub. On this bait I've caught legal hali's, white sea bass, big spotties, croaker, jacksmelt,macs, lizards and probably a few more species.

For freshwater (which I rarely do, and i suck at) it's a texas rigged roboworm.

So what is your go to bait?

Im sure some of ya'll have a few baits that you won't share with everyone...which is fine. I'm looking to do more fresh water fishing this year and plan on stocking up on some good baits that I can have confidence in...after all confidence is a huge factor when it comes to catching fish vs. getting skunked.

And color doesn't have to be included....i just mentioned mine for the heck of it even though i have confidence in just about every T&C I throw as long as it's rigged correctly.

Again, don't share your secret bait...but what lure has produced the most fish for you in different locations? This could get interesting.

Mine would be the O.T.S. Custom baits curly and the slick...

* Salt: Cutbait of squids, octopus, whole small sardine, whole shrimp, whole small anchovy, and mackerel

* Freshwater: meal worms, wax worms, maggots, crickets, mini marshmallows, marinated chunks of mackerel in ground shrimp-anchovy-Velvetta cheese-garlic powder-salt juice, and crawdads. If I forgot my live/cut baits, go for the Mr. Gary Senkoswim (watermelon), pink trout worm, or swirly grubs. Only have 1 or two of each per arsenal.

Don't like to use plastics. Live/cut baits work more efficiently, and rewarded the fishes as I released them (mainly bass). They worked hard to hammer your bait, so, reward them with a bit of treat before they head off. But panfish (5" to 7"), catfish, and carp. Give them a nice last meal before you make a meal out of them.

right now mine is warbaits and big hammer.

^ The warhammer is always a good combo.

What do you guys think about using a swimbait for freshwater? Im not talking about giant trout imitation lures....but typical 3-5" models used year round?

TheAsianGuy wrote:* Salt: Cutbait of squids, octopus, whole small sardine, whole shrimp, whole small anchovy, and mackerel

* Freshwater: meal worms, wax worms, maggots, crickets, mini marshmallows, marinated chunks of mackerel in ground shrimp-anchovy-Velvetta cheese-garlic powder-salt juice, and crawdads. If I forgot my live/cut baits, go for the Mr. Gary Senkoswim (watermelon), pink trout worm, or swirly grubs. Only have 1 or two of each per arsenal.

Don't like to use plastics. Live/cut baits work more efficiently, and rewarded the fishes as I released them (mainly bass). They worked hard to hammer your bait, so, reward them with a bit of treat before they head off. But panfish (5" to 7"), catfish, and carp. Give them a nice last meal before you make a meal out of them.

Do you float tube harbors and estuaries and target spotted and sand bass?

MASSfisher wrote:^ The warhammer is always a good combo.

What do you guys think about using a swimbait for freshwater? Im not talking about giant trout imitation lures....but typical 3-5" models used year round?

They work very well sir.

Swimbaits are a good tool to keep as part of your arsenal. I tried to use oak wood blocks to carve out segmented shiners, around 1" to 4". Perfect thing to have if you can get a few and keep it in your arsenal. Awesome for landing basses and larger games. Not so much for smaller. Got a few of the 2" to 5" variety from Rapala too. Worked wonder on greenies and stripers. Landed my 1st halibut on the 5" shiner as well.

waxon67 wrote:Do you float tube harbors and estuaries and target spotted and sand bass?

This was before my float tubing time. Used to be on friend's boats, in the harbors and estuaries. Aimed for anything that bite. Also stood on the bridge and casted into the estuaries late in the days. Use do do a lot of pier fishing at Newport and Santa Monica as well. Got old fast when you have to fish with tons of people, elbows to elbows.

Well fer fresh water id have to say my new found ikas!!! It seems that everythin eats crawfish year round.

been trout fishing a lot lately and even when nothing else seems to be working a trusted old super duper seems to get em every time

Super Dupers are dare i say it "Super Duper" I also go to the Kastmaster or Roostertail.

I'm not big on carrying a tackle shop around so I usually stick to the basics. I've been fishing with robos for a great deal of time, and they been good to me.

MASSfisher wrote:^ The warhammer is always a good combo.

What do you guys think about using a swimbait for freshwater? Im not talking about giant trout imitation lures....but typical 3-5" models used year round?

Hammers work well.

Taking a few up with me in May. Hope they can handle the cold.

Too many variants in freshwater but for saltwater:

Inshore bays: 4" and 5" Single Tail Curly Grubs, colors: Red Moonstone (it's the same color as a live razor clam), Clear w/Red Flake, Lime Green, Rootbeer w/Silver or Gold Flake, Chartreuse w/Silver Flake, Motor Oil w/Silver or Gold Flake and White.

Trolling: Deep Diving Bomber Model 6A in colors: G-Fleck Bengal Firetiger, Silver Flash or Metachrome Black Back

Long Beach Breakwater:

Daylight: 4" Split Tail Trailers in colors: Chartreuse w/Silver Flake w/Chartreuse Skirts and tipped with a squid strip (3/4 oz. jigheads), but for the keeper Halibut and Large Sand Bass: the Hopkins® Shorty® 75 (3/4 oz.) Stainless Steel (Chrome), Hammered Spoon with a single hook and a 5" Chartreuse or Red Single Tail Curly Grub attached.

Nightime: Same Split Tail Trailers or 4" and 5" Scampis but in Hot Pink w/Pink Skirts, also tipped w/a squid strip (3/4 oz. jigheads).

MASSfisher wrote:^ The warhammer is always a good combo.

What do you guys think about using a swimbait for freshwater? Im not talking about giant trout imitation lures....but typical 3-5" models used year round?

In that case a baby bass or shad swimbait in 3.5 inc Tru tungsten

Freshwater Swimbaits: I have a friend in Alabama that fishes the Southern Bass Circuit and he swears by (and I've seen photos of his Largemouth Bass (1 trip, 8 bass all over 5 lbs.)) a 5" Swimbait in Bass Glitter Color w/Anise Flavor (Jeff can get them for you).

Yes I can I can get them for you thanks 73Camaro

Bootlace and a paperclip.

waxon67 wrote:Bootlace and a paperclip.

In what colors?

73Camaro wrote:Freshwater Swimbaits: I have a friend in Alabama that fishes the Southern Bass Circuit and he swears by (and I've seen photos of his Largemouth Bass (1 trip, 8 bass all over 5 lbs.)) a 5" Swimbait in Bass Glitter Color w/Anise Flavor (Jeff can get them for you).

Ive been wantin to try a 5" bass.... Theres all kinds of companies that make that size to many choices.

waxon67 wrote:Bootlace and a paperclip.

I seen this before n the guy used a bubble gum bobber it was great!

The Senko is hard to beat 3"-5" I have a modified 3 inch version that I use it works great.

Hey guys
Saltwater,.... chrome spoon
Fresh,.... chrome spoon

bodfish

I mostly fish for trout... so as far as lures..
Streams --> Panther Martins
Lakes --> Panther Martins, Thomas Bouyants, kastmasters

But, I mostly use plastics.. mainly power worms or Gulp worms. Colors widely vary, depending on conditions and the unexplained reason why one fish likes a white worm and the one next to it likes the red one