Baiting for Success!
With John Marshe
www.meegsonline.com

Without a doubt the method of catching trophy Bass can be a controversial topic at times. Every bass angler has a "Go-To Bait" and they are generally different. In my experience of fishing Largemouth Bass I have witnessed bass anglers throwing everything from leaches and worms to frogs and crayfish. Do you ever find yourself asking a fellow Bass angler what works best for them? I'm sure you do! I'm also sure the answers often vary. The reasons for why every angler has a different bait of choice are endless. It could be because of water clarity, bottom structure, depth or simply because the angler has put their time in with a given bait. Because one angler has more success with a plastic worm doesn't make the plastic worm the most successful overall. When stocking your tackle box be sure to include a variety of plastic and hard baits so you can change up a presentation to find one that works for you.

Let's look at some proven baits that can catch you trophy bass.
Stik-O Worms

The Stik-O Worm by Bass Pro Shops is without a doubt my favorite Bass Bait. Rig it Texas Style for a nice side-to-side darting action or Wacky Style for some, well, wacky action. The larger the worm you use the larger the fish you will catch. I like to use the 4 inch worm but I know many people that only toss a 10 inch. Any size of the Stik-O will land you fish!

Zoom's Fluke

The Fluke and Super Fluke by Zoom is probably one of the most successful baits you'll ever buy when hunting Bass. This bait is rigged Texas Style and with a very light jerk it will dart left to right and looks very much like a wounded baitfish.

Spinner Baits

Proven over and over again is the classic spinner bait! These baits will land you anything from Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Pike, Musky, Rock bass and Walleye (Pickerel). There are many manufacturers of Spinner Baits but my all time favorite is the Northamfishing baits pictured here. The colors and craftsmanship in these spinners are nothing short of amazing and have produced more fish for me than any other maker of the classic spinner bait.

Slopmaster

When you want big fish use big tackle is what I always say and the Slopmaster by Roberts Outdoors Inc is such a bait. These baits have a wide body that is somewhat flat and a specially angled shaft that allows the bait to easily glide through weeds to find those suspending fish. Originally designed for Musky by Joe Bucher but equally deadly for Bass.

Tubes

Soft bodied tubes are what I call loadable baits. They are hollow in the center where you can add things such as tube rattles, garlic or fruit for scent or even a product called "Crackle" which looks like a pill in capsule form and releases bubbles and makes a popping noise to help attract fish. Use a tube weight and bottom bounce these wonderful baits on deep rocky bottoms will land you some excellent Smallmouth Bass!



Top Water Frogs

If you are seeking the thrill of the strike then using a top water frog or rat might be a viable option for you. These top water baits will produce some amazing explosions on the surface that will get your heart pumping. Work them slowly over lily pads and you are sure to find some heavy hitting Bass!

I could go on forever about the hundreds of different baits available on the market today. The listed baits in this article will help get you started in the world of Bass fishing. The most important key to remember when fishing for any fish is presentation. A bait that worked yesterday may not work today so be ready to change up your presentation for when the fishing gets tough. Being ready to change not only the style of the bait but also the color will help you "Bait for Success".