Best lures for bass fishing?

The WV DNR does a fish report weekly or close to it. It's typically vague, suppose it relies on reports from fisherman who take the time to contact them.

Today I was on a local river which I've honestly never seen any type of reporting about fishing. There was a story last summer about a gator that was running loose around there lol but that's it.

Pond fishing sucks here too because all the ponds are on private property with douche owners or gated communities where you get the authorities called on you any time you sneak in. I seriously looked up about 10 ponds on google earth and wasn't a allowed to fish any.

Weather is finally getting warmer and the bite is picking up. Can't wait for the pre spawn/spawn season starting next month.

Here's a link to the fishing report for the state for reference.

[link to www.wvdnr.gov]

I'm shit with a buzzbait. Can only successfully cast it once per maybe 10 times without the line getting wrapped around it. I am admittedly an amateur angler at best but only way to get better is keep trying

Oh yeah here's the dink rock bass I snagged today. Hiding under the trunk of a downed tree in the water. He was pissed haha.

[link to imgur.com]

Go old school with a Hawaiian Wiggler or Hula Popper.

Nothing more exciting than a Giant Bucketmouth on Top-water.

Oh man hula popper takes me back to the 90s used those when I lived in Texas. And trust me I have an arsenal of topwater lures for mid to late summer when the topwater bite is prime. Nothing hitting right now every fish I've pulled out so far has been super cold to the touch so they're not coming up unless they are dragged up with a hook at protest.

Cool. Anyone who loves fishing knows that more than half the fun is just being out in nature with the peace and quiet. Any catch, even a small one is just an added bonus.

I like using leeches personally.

For me, if it's cold and you gotta go deep and slow, it's all about the Plastic worm.

Tried a lot of that with no luck yet. Using a finesse worm on a weightless hook Texas rig style. Wacky rig didn't produce either. Know any other setups that would be beneficial?

great thread.5 stars

Thanks for the thread OP, I haven't fished for so long, I'm excited to get back into it now that I have access to a gated community with multiple fishing lake/ponds stocked!

Hula Popper!!....if you can find one.....caught me a 23" largemouth

If i'm going lores I like senkos, which I think is a trade name, there are also generics. They are easy to work. I had a monster day in a bass lake with them before.

I do more live bait though, fatheads and what not.

Also, when I use a senko I rig it wacky, which is just an o-ring around the middle with the hook in it. Makes them last longer.

One more thing, I've had better success with senkos in camouflaged water, weeds and such. Clear water I do better with live bait. I'm an amateur at best angler though.

I bought some jigs over the winter and will give them a try this summer.

Hulapopper and Bigeye.

Been having great results lately with the most basic setup. A jig head maybe 5/16th oz with either an orange or chartreuse grub on it.

Weather has turned cold and rainy so won't be able to get back on the water for at least a few days :(

Its still early and water is cold so they are deep. Deep diving crank baits off drop offs and points. Once the water warmed up they will start bedding and then all u need to do is drag a Texas rig senko or I like a gitzit for bedded bass. They will bite it just to move it off their beds. I'm going for crappie in a few hours. Good luck.

Crappie are fun to catch. Hope you do well today!

Ugh...got to get out and renew my license.

Supposed to rain today but for 50° not to bad out.

I like fishing jig heads... especially if I don't know what's gonna bite. Split tail grub and shad body but not quite as heavy as 5/16.
Sometimes it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

Chartreuse bass assassin jig.

These have never failed to bring in large mouths, stripers hit them quite often as well.

I was always too cheap to buy the expensive jig heads and when I did I would loose them in short order.

I can use the ones with a weed guard but only on a heavy rod otherwise I lose em, too

Nice fish but that's not a rock bass. That's a red eye and it's a good size one!! They don't get very big.

It's 100% rock bass. But yeah they don't get big, 7-10" is as big as I've ever landed.

i used to call them "Red Eyes" too
lotsa names for the same fish

Here where I'm at a purple plastic on a Texas jig is absolutely the best I have found, and if you can find bass assassins tequila sunrise 6" you're in it. It must be like crack to them.

MARION!!1...



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Last Edited by Desert Dude on 04/23/2017 11:43 AM

Yea your right. Where I'm from we fish for "rock bass" i.e. stripper. Also hybrids so to keep.it from being confusing we always called them red eye. Of course you have spots as well. With all the variations I guess they end up with local names.

Oh and to answer your question with out a doubt I would fish a plastic worm. It's the only lure that was considered being ban due to how effective it is. It's the only lure that fish ( in a tank) would strike day after day.

You say you new so here's the 101

Use only enough weight to keep it on the bottom (1/8 to 3/16 is usually enough). Never move the worm with your reel. Only use the tip of your rod.

I like to start with the rod tip pointed towards the spot you casted. Raise the rod slowly to the 12 o'clock position ( straight above your head ) and repeat. The slower you do this the better. If it's not to windy I like to also watch my line laying on the water. If I think I had a bite I will immediately drop my rod to the starting position and watch the line. Anything you feel, or if you see your line trailing off lower your rod slightly until you determine if it's a fish. If it is drop the rod tip back to your starting position. Slowly reel the slack up until tight and set hook. Hook sets are free so if you unsure set it!!

Since your bank fishing worms (Texas rigged obv) also serve as a good depth finder and structure ) ( with a 1/4 oz weight it will fall about 1 foot per second so you can count it down) when you get good with it it will be your go to lure. You can build a mental picture of the body of water your fishing. Dark colors work best in stained water. Black and purple are my favorite. This time of year as others have said I like lizards.

Rapala usually works good for bass fishing but crappie rigs work best of all. 2 jigs spaced about 1.2 ft apart. Good to go.