Go to bait

[kylakenitro]

Rootbeer bandits dont work. Especially for smallies in the river. Better try something else.

I am a believer in the Rootbeer bandits and the Rootbeer/chartruese Bandits in the 200 and 300 series I have caught fish (GOOD FISH) in every body of water ive been on with these baits. Caught SM and spots on the Cumberland river below Barkley and also in the Tennesee River as well. Ive almost always got a Bandit tied on whenever im on the water

[pointer]

Hey, I wasn't suggesting that you (or anyone else) should try out the rootbeer bandits. I was just saying that it's my favorite go to. We'll all have the fish in Kentucky condidtioned to the rootbeer bandit by the end of May. LOL

[Col Forbin]

I think if they are not used to them by now, we don't have to worry about it. There are times when I can'tfind them around kentucky lake. I guess they are like cheeseburgers - I've seen a million of them, but I still love them.

[Bad_Company]

Rootbeer Chartruse Bandit 300, Watermelon red Brush hogg, Eatkins Green pumpkin jig, and jointed shad rap fire craw. They are all tied for my go to baits

[HURRICANEBOB]

Smoke Purple Tube...

In this case, was "smoke" a verb or adjective? I got to tell you, vanity prevents me from smoking tube. Please tell me this was an adjective......you're scaring me dude.

LMAO

[HURRICANEBOB]

Just wondering what everyone's go to bait is when they cant seem to catch anything? Mine what have to be a black grape finese worm by zoom. Seems like it always catchs something.

Try Bourbon for Redheads, and Tequilla for Blondes. Beer works for Brunette, and I find long necks get bit twice as often as cans.

[csparks643]

power worm,black and blue jig,4 inch yum tube

[ScalyB]

Lots of good options already pointed out here. For tough bites, I like a small, original Rapala minnow in either floating or countdown (3,5,7 series in silver) to turn the trick. You kinda have to play with different retrieves untill you find one that works. Sometimes its just small twitches with long pauses. Other times, its a series a sharp, snapping jerks with shorter pauses.

Another finesse approach is 4" slider worms or Zoom lizards in purple or black variations. I'll use a 1/0 wide gap hook with a small bullshot (1/16-1/8 oz.) about 4-6" up the line. Just a simple drag and pause retrieve. You really have to watch for line movement with this as they seldom whack it.

Neat discussion topic.

[Col Forbin]

Not too good at picking up the sarcasm...

Actually they are my go to bait for warm water smallies.

Yeah, I wrote that and thought maybe you were being sarcastic afterwards - tone is hard to pick up on in plain text.

Didn't intend to sound rude - I get fired up over my bandits. I would have taken less offense had you insulted my wife. Lol.

[18'stratos]

For me I guess I have several go-to's. #1 X-rap jerk bait in Ghost,#2 Bitsy-bug jig with small trailer(Black&Blue),#3 Shakey head,#4 Senko's,#5 Fluke (extremely slow, almost lifeless)

I would consider myself to be a Power Fisher and to go to these baits is a hard thing to do as they are finess type presentations. But when the bite gets tough I do what I gotta do to get'em. If I only had one of these to choose from it would be the jig! Since it is the most versitile bait of the 5. Tight Lines Everyone!

[fisherman0625]

I would have to say 1. Jig with uncle josh pork trailer 2. Baby paca craw texas rigged 2. cabin creek tube texas rigged. Have alot of favorites but I almost always land one with these baits.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Truth be actually told about it,

ANY LURE THAT I HAVE TIED ON AND IS JUST ABOUT TO BE SENT AIRBORNE TOWARDS MY FAVORITE FISHING HOLE, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ANY FISHING HOLE UNDER WATER IN ANY LAKE DURING ANY TIME OF THE YEAR UNDER ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS WHETHER THEY ARE BITING OR NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to wet a line soon, tired of flipping into the bathtub from my recliner, starting to chip off the paint on the tub. I guess if I changed to a weightless fluke instead of this 1oz football head jig it would not scratch the tub as bad.