Fishing Forum

I’m one of those that grew up trout fishing but has changed his ways and want to catch some bass. I’d like to go small mouth fishing soon but have no idea on what lures I need. Can you guys help me out with the basics? What should I not leave home without to fish for small mouth bass?
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"Think" senkos, tubejigs, husky jerks (gold/black), panther-martin spinners, crawlers, crawdads (plastics), grubs, and dropshotting.

Hot orange works wonders so does pumpkinseed colors. keep it small. If perch or other garbagefish gets on it, upgrade it so they cant fit it in their mouths.

Go shallow, if nada, then go deep try dropshotting. You'll get into them. Good luck swearing off your trout addiction, it's a piece of cake.[]
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Do NOT leave behind the stickbaits. When I say that I mean the senko style soft plastics, such as senkos, kinami baits, maniacs, etc. My favorite way to rig them is wacky style, which is a single hook right in the middle of them and letting then ends just hang down below it. You can cast it out with no weight whatsoever and let it "float" softly to the bottom. Often you will get hits on the way down the first time, so try to keep very little slack in your line and watch it closely for subtle twitches or jerks. Let them take it a sec. and then sweep your rod to one side to set the hook. I caught a couple of nice sized largemouth and some smaller smallmouth bass last summer at Deer Creek one morning from the bank using this technique. Some good colors to get would be smoke sparkle/white and chartreuse/green. If you get the maniac lures, I hear the changeable craw is a good color too.

Here is a picture of a stickbait:

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I would use what is called the rockhopper made by MOJO and their dropshots weights (how to use is in package) Sportsmens has them and I would use them with Gamakatsu hooks and a grub or sink-0 or 4 1/2 to 5 in worms. Maniac at [url "http://www.maniaccustomlures.com"]www.maniaccustomlures.com[/url] has some great bates.


Good fishing and please CP&R.
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What size tubes and stick baits are we talking, 3” – 5”?
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yes 3-5" 3" will catch you more fish including perch if you fish lake X 5" will result in more and bigger bass
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I wouldn't go with anything smaller than 4". 4 and 5" are the best all-around size if you want to get into some fish. Some fish bigger ones for the real hawgs. I caught plenty of small 8 - 10 inch smallies even with the 4" senko.
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I am talking about a sink-0 it is not a stick bait, the size I use is a 4in one not 5 or 3, the 4 in. works the best for me.

The color well I use a lot of them no one all the time, each lake is different and may chang at different time through out the day.

The tubs are three inch, you can dropshot them or use the rockhopper both work at times.

Do you live in SLC ?

Let me know if I can help any more.
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Everyone should have a variety of lures in their arsenal. Three and four inch Kalin grubs, tubes in three to five inch, small drop shot worms, reapers, and salted stick worms. That would get you started in soft plastic. You should have a few crank baits. And if your fishing for LMB you need to get a few spinner baits go simple with spinner baits a few single blade spinner baits, a few tandem blades, in white, white/chartreuse, blue/chartreuse. And maybe a couple small buzzbaits. They don't need to be big, Iv'e caught more bass and more often than not, caught bigger bass on smaller buzzbaits than I have on the big ones. You don't need to spend a bunch of money, to get started. You could always go to Sportsmans in Riverdale,on saturday at 5:30pm for the seminar. I would be more than happy to show you lures that work for me, and how to rig them. The best way to learn how to use a lure, would be to take only that lure with you fishing. and only use that one in a few different colors. Sometimes we get caught up in our old ways and the same old lures. It can really pay off to try new lures and new techniqes. Good luck on the bass pond!
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I am talking about a sink-0 it is not a stick bait, the size I use is a 4in one not 5 or 3, the 4 in. works the best for me.

The color well I use a lot of them no one all the time, each lake is different and may chang at different time through out the day.

The tubs are three inch, you can dropshot them or use the rockhopper both work at times.

Do you live in SLC ?

Let me know if I can help any more. [/reply]

I did a search for Sink-o baits and all I found was Yamamoto Senko's. What is a Sink-o?

No, I don't live in SLC, Cache Valley is where I call home.
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The sink-0 made by Yamamoto , but others made copes of it with more salt or sent but they are all sink-0.
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These guys are killing me. Lets start beginner and affordable. Three baits: 1) grubs; 2) tubes; and 3) Senkos/Stickbaits(maniac's).

1) Grubs can be used everywhere. You can rig them on a jighead, texas rig with a bullet weight,drop shot them, or a light carolina rig(otherwise known as a splitshotting rig). 3 to 4 inch grubs are just right. I used to teach scouts for $10 you can buy a pack Yamamoto grubs and alot of jigheads.

2) Tubes easily the most verstile lure of all lures. Just like grubs, all the same riggings apply. Again, 3" to 4" are the sizes you need. We mainly used texas rigs at just about everywhere(saves time on re-rigging).

3) Senkos and other "Stickbaits", They come in all sizes and flavors. I try to stick the 4" baits.
again rig'em: Texas Rig
carolina Rig
jigheads
drop shotting
wacky

These are not cure alls by any means. Try these out first because they are affordable. If you want to go nuts, I get get you to spend $100,000 in no time.

Keeping asking questions, there is no right way. Pro's and experts have bad days and get shutout all the time. Don't take it too seriously, its fishing![cool] Read, watch and study as much as possible. All the baits I described for you are affordable and can fit in a large pocket. Take your breath, Cabelas opens 9-9-05.
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I'm not familiar with the sporting good stores in Cache Valley, but look on [url "http://www.maniaccustomlures.com"]www.maniaccustomlures.com[/url]. He's located here in UT and has a good selection of sinko's and drop shot worms. Grubs and tubes you can pick up almost anywhere...Walmart, Shopko...some local groceries and hardware stores.

Maniac's sinko's and other products are a little less expensive than some places. I've used them in the last few tournaments with great success...till I ran out.

I suggest Mojo weights...because they carry a good selection of drop shots, carolina rigs, rock hoppers and more...plus each package comes with written instructions on rigging, which is useful especially for beginners who may not know the various styles of lure presentation. [url "http://www.mojolures.com"]www.mojolures.com[/url]. If you have any questions on rigging...just give me a PM.
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Excellent suggestions Maniac, []
I have caught as many bass on grubs and reapers as any other lures out there. A small crawfish patterned crank bait would be good as well. What ever happened to the pig-n-jig combo, awesome for the largies!
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Ya your right, I forgot the jig and pig. Awsome bait for sure Iv'e been making my own for years. I don't like a lot of them on the market. They put too much rubber hackle on them. And make the skirts too long. If there is too much bulk and the rubber is too long you wont catch as many fish. The same goes for spinner baits and buzz baits. The jig and pig is a very good for big fish, It's hard too beat at Powell in the spring. There has probably been more early spring tournaments won at powell on jig and pig, than any other lure! If I was getting started on a budget I would grab some grubs, tubes, senko's, salt sticks. And go catch some Bass.
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Man, I appreciate this site. It's responses like yours Tomegun that I'll file away under the "Essential Bass Gear" category for future reference.

So far this year I've been pitching a few jigs and lures for bass at Utah Lake with no results as yet. Last year, I used some of these same artificials at Lake X when I had my boat and coaxed a few smallies to play.

Thanks for all of the informative responses thus far.
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a couple of years ago i hit utah lake hard for the large mouths i just fished the banks in AFBH and lindon using plastic worms and spinner baits in dark colors fished them tight to the bank and caught some nice bass up to 20" give it a try its bound to work for you

also try sending utbass ( cliff ) a PM he fishs LBH alot and is always willing to help out a fellow fisherman
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If you want to go nuts, I get get you to spend $100,000 in no time. [/reply]

I wish I had $100,000 to spend, I'd throw a new bass boat into the mix as well.

Thanks to everyone for the tips, I'm going to go to Sportsmans in Riverdale after work tonight to pick a few things up. Are maniac lures sold there? Her is my list so far.

Stick baits in 4"
Tube jigs in 3" - 4"
Reapers in 3.5"
Grubs, I have a good selection of 4" Yamamoto Hula Grubs, will these work or should I pick up some single tail grubs as well?
Jig-n-pig, I have a couple of 1/2oz jigs with some trailers, are 1/2oz to big for small mouth?

I could still use some help on color selection, since I live in Northern Utah I will be fishing Hyrum the most for large mouth and Pineview for small and large mouth. The water on Hyrum is a bit stained right now and I haven't been to Pineview yet so I'm not sure of the clarity.
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I would love to see us have a day where a bunch of people get together for a day on the lake to educate us novices in different kinds of fishing. Tips and hints on a message board are good, but are no substitute for fishing along side someone that knows what they are doing.
I know I would volunteer my boat (provided I get it running well, it sat all last year and haven't started it yet this year).
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A good color for jig and pig is black & blue the same for sink-0 and green Ppkn.pepper for sink-o and gubs.
You can go to Maniac web he has some color for smallmouth listed.

I have done seminars at the boat & outdoors show for years and can do one at Sportsmans if they would like to get my no. send me a pm . For more detalls an To get the time and dates set up.
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