Tackle Talk Tuesday
Tackle Talk Tuesday
Jerkbaits
It’s Tackle Talk Tuesday!
I’m going to do my best to remember to post every Tuesday about a different tackle discussion.
Let’s start the year off with a bang! Let’s talk Jerkbaits! Known as a cold water killer up here in the north but can also do some damage in those warmer months.
What are every ones favorite jerkbaits and why?
What colors do you prefer here in MN?
What setup does every one throw their jerkbaits on?
Is there specific structure you are looking to throw this bait around?
How many of you tweak your jerkbaits?
Are the high dollar baits worth it?
If you can think of anything else you would like to discuss on this bait, post away!
How many of you tweak your jerkbaits?
Are the high dollar baits worth it?
If you can think of anything else you would like to discuss on this bait, post away!
Be sure to check out Omnia’s jerkbait section and pick your poison! They have a great selection
Comments:
I should be fishing them more often but for whatever reason jerkbaits are usually my last resort when going for green ones. I almost always have one tied on when going for brown ones though. I obviously like the vision 110’s but also still throw shadow…
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Rapala clown baits flat catch fish. My early days throwing a jerkbait that’s all I would throw and just pounded fish with an xrap
I can start it off.
And I’ll start it by saying I absolutely love jerkbait fishing! I first started using jerkbaits back when I was young (mid 90’s) in South Dakota fishing the Missouri River for smallies. At this time I only remember using two different jerbkaits and that was the Smithwick Suspending Rogue and the Rapala Original Floating Minnow. Man we had some amazing days on those baits but look how far the jerkbait game has come since then.
My favorite jerkbaits : Megabass Vision 110, Berkley Stunna, and Jackall Rerange. These are the 3 I reach for the most in my arsenal.
The Vision 110 is just all around one of the greatest jerkbaits ever made. From the paint, to the action, not sure there is anything else out there that beats it.
The Berkley Stunna quickly became a favorite of mine. The action on these are crazy and the slow sinking action is perfect for certain situations where I need to get that bait down and a slow sink triggers bites.
The Jackall Rerange is just an all around good jerkbait. Not as spendy as the Vision 110 but still has great action, colors, and casts like a bullet. It’s also a little bulkier of a jerkbait which I like in some situations. It’s also great to throw in place of the Vision 110 in those pike invested waters 
As for colors, I am kind of all over the board. I have bright colors, mat colors, and natural colors. It all depends on the body of water and how the fish react in my experience. I had an experience a couple springs ago on a murkier smallie lake where I was throwing an Elergy Bone color 110 and I was getting a few fish but not a ton and then I switched up to Wakin React color and it made a huge different. Those fish were destroying that color. Must have looked a little brighter in the water to them
I throw my jerkbaits on two different setups. I have a 6’10 Poison Adrena Medium Baitcasting Rod with 10lbs fluoro and a 7 ratio reel. I’m a shorter guy so the shorter rod works well for me. The medium rod I use has an awesome tip for not pulling those trebles out of the bait but also has great backbone for controlling those fish.
I also throw some smaller jerkbaits on a 7ft Medium Spinning Rod with 10lbs braid to a 8lbs fluoro leader. I feel like sometimes I can get better action out of using a spinning reel with a jerkbait than I can with a baitcaster and also the drag on some of the spinning reels I use are great for fighting those bigger fish.
I throw jerkbaits around anything and everything. Rocks, weedlines, sand transitions, timber, docks, etc. They are great for almost everything.
The big question is how do you fish the jerkbait and the answer for me is that you need to let the fish tell you! Those fish could want erratic twitches or they could want that bait sitting still for 10-15 seconds. You just have to experiment with it.
For me, I initially spent the money to try Megabass out because why would a $25 dollar bait not be the best. For me, they are worth the money. Great action right out of the box. Suspends just like it should and the bait can flat out catch fish. Doesn’t mean you have to spend the money on these higher end baits. There are a lot of cheaper baits that for sure will catch you fish, there’s no doubt about it. I still will throw a Rapala Xrap every once in awhile!
I know this was long but it was everything I could think of for the jerkbait. I know there are some jerkbait masters in this group and I hope they will share some knowledge as well. I’m no expert but I can tell you that I have at least 1 tied on most of the year.
Chase Hull: Do you still use snaps? If so, are you connecting to the split ring or do you remove those?
Tony Lee : I do. I don’t attach it to the spit ring. I take split rings off a lot of my baits. But sometimes I’m lazy and don’t haha
Great bait here in the mid south, bass have seen them alot so not the magic bullet they used to be. Made a good jerkbait video few weeks ago.
I’ve only committed to fishing a jerkbait once, when I was getting my butt kicked on Mille Lacs in early Nov. I wasn’t getting bit on the ned or drop shot, ended up throwing the perch 110 I’ve had in the boat. All my learning happened once I focused on pulling the bait back in the livescope view. I was getting lookers but not bitters, this showed me where they were, and I did get but once I started fishing super slow with long pauses. I plan to get some more expendable jerkbaits to use as a search bait in largemouth waters with thr forward sonar. Even of your not getting bit, they may show themselves
I had a couple of awesome days early in the year for Browns and Greens. Had my best days with Luckycraft Pointers and Bevy Shads.
I throw mine on a Powell Max Bass in either a 6’8 MH EF or the 7’2 MH EF. These rods are a little light for a MH but work so good for jerkbaits and small spinnerbaits
My favorite jerkbaits at the moment are the 110 and 110+1 knockoff blanks I get from PredatorBassBaits to not only fish with but paint and sell. They are close in action to the Megabass with a big price advantage even with the Owner Split Rings and Gamakatsu trebles I use. Makes it easier to swallow when the occasional big pike happens to bite them off lol. I also have great success on Lucky Craft Pointers and of course the OG Megabass Visions although my KOs are slowly taking over their place.
As far as colors, my favorite is Ghost Minnow followed by Elegy Bone and my Black Crappie pattern.
I now have two setups for jerkbaits: My newest 1. Shimano Metanium B 150HG paired with a Shimano Expride 6’10 Medium and #2 is a Shimano Aldebaran MG7 paired with an older St. Croix Rage 6’8” Medium XF. I generally use 10# Sunline Sniper but occasionally go up to 12# or down to 8#.
I will throw a jerkbait pretty much anywhere including docks at times.
I tweaked my baits for proper suspension depending on the water temperature during the colder months. I found out after painting so many jerkbaits that even a different color pattern on the same bait can affect it, mainly on Vision series and the KOs. Most of the time though changing one split ring going up or down one size can greatly affect the suspension of a bait.
On price I’m not 100% convinced that the expensive baits are worth it depending on what you consider expensive. There are gems at every price point depending on what you are looking at what you want the bait to do. I will say the MB Vision line is definitely the gold standard but I’ve had days with my KOs that out produced the Original by a lot and had it go the other way as well.
I am going to have agree with Tony’s 3 picks on the jerkbait. The berkley stunna quickly became a regular in my arsenal. The rerange is a great bait as well. The first time threw out the rerange, I thought something broke on my setup and that bait was long gone, nope just the weight transfer being magnetic! Typically throwing them on a 684 Dobyns Champion crankbait rod spooled with 10 lb flourocarbon. Love me a good bite on the “steel!”
I always seem to do decent on them on the spring and then they fall out of my line up by mid June. I really need to work on getting them out more often!
Duo Jerkbait 100 or 120sp, dont think there’s a jerkbait that casts better than the 120, the rerange is close. The 100 for colder temps, it’s super balanced and doesn’t kick as hard as other jerkbaits which can be good thing or bad thing, everything on the market is super erratic. For modifications. I change hooks… I was one of those guys that weighed hooks to keep them suspending or heavier hook on front to make the jerkbait sit more at an angle… some I make slow float, some slow sink.
On our lakes I like throwing perch or gill colors, rivers mostly shad type stuff depending on clarity but if it’s less than 5 feet of clarity I dont throw them at all.
Am I the only one that likes Strike King jerkbaits? X-raps are pretty solid as well. There’s times when a pink or orange X-rap is lights out on smallies.
The Spro McStick is a quality jerkbait
I agree with Tony Lee on the top three baits but I will say this…
A good jerkbait angler with a cheap bait will outfish a bad jerkbait angler with a Megabass or other quality bait. No other bait’s success depends on the anglers ability as much as a jerkbait.
I fell in love with jerkbaits throwing a clown xrap 08. Now almost all I throw is gill color-ways or very natural patterns. In my opinion the high dollar baits are absolutely worth it. The vision 110 is tied on all year for me. There’s a time and place for all of them and a very special place in my boxes! I run a number of rods for jerkbaits as well to include the 610m Expride, levante jerkbait special, orochi xx ronin, Seth Feider tatula elite, levante flat side special, and the evergreen combat stick 71mxf
I am relatively new to jerkbait fishing (really got into it last year and only dabbled a little the year before) but I’ve got to say it’s one of my favorite ways to catch bass now. I’ve only been using Rapala shadow raps because of price and because I mainly fish the river (which equals many pike), but I will most definitely be trying more expensive ones this year so I appreciate this post! I mostly used clown and sliver as my 1 2 punch but color is another area I am looking to expand in as well. I don’t have a dedicated jerkbait setup which I think is very important, but don’t be afraid to try it without a dedicated setup, you can still catch fish! I agree with the above comments that how you fish it is truly the most important part of jerkbait fishing, and part of that is listening to the fish.
It was crazy this fall how much I saw this. End of August into early September, the browns and greens were chewing the fast, aggressive twitches, with not much pause in between. As the fall went on, by the end of October I would have to wait 5 or 6 plus seconds before twitching and the twitching was not that aggressive at all. If anybody wants to learn more, TacticalBassin on YouTube has great videos on how to fish a jerkbait!
I suck at jerkbaits but with live sonar on my boat hoping to gain a lot more confidence in this tactic. Caught some fish on them this year just didn’t get it dialed in. My favorite jerkbaits I own are the Berkley Stunna’s and the 6th sense provokes, maybe a few shadow raps mixed in too. Haven’t dabbled to hard in the high end stuff. I’ve been throwing them on a spinning rod. Thinking about trying a bait casting set up to see if I like that better.
Perch colors, white/bone, and silver has produced for me. Clown for Smallies.
Nobody ever mentions the Evergreen Faith jerkbaits and they’re as good as anything on the market. Maybe it’s better that way 
I like Vision 110s best in cold water. Visions, Evergreen, and the Stunna once it warms up a bit, and mix in the occasional LC Pointer in the summer, too.
Jackall Rerange and Evergreen FA are the best casting ones I’ve found for windy days. As somebody pointed out, a skilled herkbait angler with a Shadow Rap will outfish a jerkbait noob throwing a Vision 110 eight days a week.
Super fun bite, my favorite way to catch em in the spring.
Finesse Jigs
It’s Tackle Talk Tuesday!
Today’s tackle talk is a good one that I think everyone will enjoy.
Let’s talk about finesse jigs!!! One of my favorite baits to throw all year long.
What are you favorite finesse jigs to throw?
What size do you typically throw?
When do you choose to throw finesse jig over a regular sized jig?
What setup do you throw you finesse jigs on?
Is there a certain color you prefer over others?
Let’s get this conversation going!
You can now also find prior Tackle Talk Tuesday conversations at https://minnesotabassheads.com/tackle-talk-2/
Also, Omina has a great selection of finesse jigs. Go check out their jigs section and filter by finesse. Good stuff!!
https://omnia.direct/Finesse Jigs
COMMENTS:
I don’t throw them ever but will be this year. Looking forward to learning from this one.
That keitech there is my go to. 3/8oz. Love throwing it as a follow up to a big roller jig. Falls different and the tungsten feels great. Throw it on a fast MH 7’3”.
School me up ladies and gents. Jigs have never been my forte
@Eric Geesaman get a solid MH, 12-14lb flouro and some finesse jigs. For starters grab the dirty jigs like clausen finesse jigs and Yamamoto double tail grubs. 4inch. That’s the basic combo and starter pack. You can jump up on line if you’re fishing heavier cover. 16 is the heaviest I go or 40lb braid.
Obviously Luke Clausen finesse jigs work because they’ve been sold out on Omnia for two years!
I mean, I set an email notification for a couple different weights and colors and nothing. It’s seriously been years.
@John Slusarczyk I have a few and don’t really use them. Might have to work out a trade, but Sounds like the trade value should go in my favor!
I haven’t really gone too deep into the jig pool but I use the Booyah finance jig A LOT! It is one of my favorite things to throw and I always have one tied on! I throw usually a 1/2oz and I throw it on a 7’4” heavy rod with a 8.1 reel on 50lb braid, go to color is black and blue with a black and blue trailer usually but sometimes I use a Googan baits rattlin chunk in black and blue to cause a little more of an attraction with the rattle! it does awesome on my local lakes! Love jig fishing!
As Daniel and Eric said above I have not used finesse jigs so I am excited for this! I have used regular sized jigs but I have noticed when the water is clearer/fish are more pressured sometimes they won’t bite that full profile. Excited to hear everybody’s recommendations!!
Brian Riesgraf made a great video covering finesse football jig fishing. Maybe he can link the video here. For finesse flipping jigs it’s hard to beat the missile baits Ike mini flip. I tend to use 3/8 oz the most, paired with a missile baits mini chunk or baby D-bomb. I also like Beast Coast lil magnum tungsten flipping jigs, and their open water sniper finesse football jig is money.
Those jugs are 
!! The small jaws love em!
!! The small jaws love em!@Matt Klug the brown and green love em!
I tried some Keitech tungsten finesse jigs this fall and gave them away. Hook had way too small of a gap for me and I had big fish throw the jig twice during a tourney. Love the head and the skirt, but the hook was too small and bent way too easy for my liking. 10lb line and a Medium-Fast rod, shoulda been fine for keeping pinned.
Would love to know what jigs guys are using that has a good hook.
@Tom Dobbins I honestly have no issue with the keitechs. I like how small their hooks are and Ive caught some absolute donkeys on them. I use heavier line thought with less stretch. 17lbs-20lbs fluoro.
@Tom Dobbins I agree nice head but terrible hook!!
In a football head, I like the Strike King finesse football, it kind of a year round jig for me when fishing any rock. As John Slusarczyk mentioned, hard to beat the Luke Clausen finesse jig in the spring before the weeds come up thick
I’m actually kind of obsessed with finesse jigs. I always always always have one tied on. In general I love jig fishing. I tend to have 3-4 jigs tied on at all times and a finesse jig is usually one of them.
A couple of my favorites are the Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen finesse jig. I love that this jig comes in a 7/16oz size. I’m usually a guy that throws a heavier jig. I rarely throw anything under 1/2oz so if I can get close to that with a finesse jig, I’m going to do it. I feel like this jig is just an all around amazing jig. Fish it in the grass, timber, rock, or around docks. It does it all and really does get bit a ton. Most of the time I will pair this jig up with a cut down dbomb.
I also love throwing finesse football jigs. There are quite a few of them out there that are awesome. I tend to use ones that have tungsten heads on them. Beast Coast, Fitzgerald, Keitech, and NorthStar Custom baits (hairy craw) are all great jigs. I really really like netbaits paca chunk on my football jigs. Not sure why, but I always gravitate towards that trailer.
Like I stated, I usually throw the heavier sizes of these finesse jigs. So right around 1/2oz. I will throw them on a NRX 893 (MH) rod with 17lbs-20lbs fluoro.
I like to throw these in all the same places as typical jigs. Once the water warms up I tend to pick up my big jigs more but if those aren’t getting bit in the areas I know there should be fish. I will start working that area with the finesse jigs. If I’m fishing an area that I know gets a lot of pressure, I will throw these jigs as well. I tend to think, especially for largemouth, that people use those bulkier profile jigs more than finesse. So something different and a little bit smaller gives them something different to look at. Either way, I have two full boxes of finesse jigs in my boat at all times. A box for finesse footballs and a box for your ball head type finesse jigs.
Gosh dang I love jig fishing!!! Feeling that thump and laying into a biggun, there’s nothing better in my opinion.
We use the Booyah baby boo 3/16 and 5/16 in watermelon red and green pumpkin on a tuned up custom rods medium power. 30lb braid.
I only throw finesse jigs when the other guy in the boat is catching multiple 5 pounders doing it
Does anybody use ballhead jigs such as Picasso’s little spotty? Wondering what the advantages are of a ballhead vs a traditional head like a bitsy bug?
@Chase Hull yes the sumpin sumpin jig is a ballhead like that. I’m sure of all the advantages but hookup ratio is great. Also the ball does not get hung up in rocks and seems to come through the weeds amazing. The little spot jig is great for when you need the feel of tungsten.
@Brian Casey I think it’s just a all around great head design.
Works well in everything
For me finesse is anything 3/8 and under. My jigs are:
Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen finesse jig
Keitech finesse football jig
I typically throw finesse jigs when pressure is high or in colder months. It’s a great fun fishing bait for me when I’m just trying to find a bite. The lighter stuff goes on a spinning rod 1/4oz and from there it’s a medium or medium heavy depending on line, cover, and where I’m fishing.
Trailers:
Yamamoto DT grub 4&5”
Z-man Crawz and Bugz
RI Smallie Beaver
Berkley Chigger craw 3”
Spinning rod: 10lb braid to 10lb flouro
Casting rod: 12-14lb flouro
My all time favorite finesse jig was the Jackall spade jig, they discontinued them a few years back. Now I’ve been throwing a bottom up gap jig and it’s been just as good.
The Jewel Baits Pee Wee in 5/16 and Riot Baits Lil Creeper in 3/8 are my go to finesse football jigs.
Favorite trailer is either the Riot Baits Tantrum or Arsenal Fishing Ballistic Ned.
Sumpn’ Sumpn’ jigs. His finesse jig and football jig. Both work great around here. You can get them at Scheels in Eden Prairie or from Howie Lee himself.
I use Do-it Weedless Roundball jig and football jig molds to pour my own finesse jigs. Powder coat and wire tie a finesse style skirt.
5/16 is my default size but will use 3/8 and 7/16 in deeper water or heavy wind.
Currently I use a few setups: Shimano Metanium 16 MGL HG with 10# Sniper on a custom built 7’ Medium St.Croix SCV blank, a Shimano Metanium 20 MGL XG with 12# Sniper on a custom built NFC X-ray SJ736, and a Shimano Metanium MG7 with 12# Sniper on a custom built NFC HM805 that I trimmed down to 7’6”
I use Black/Blue, PB&J, and Brown with a hint of Orange most of the time.
I should add that on my finesse football and heavier 3/8 and 7/16 finesse jigs I use a Shimano Metanium 20 MGL HG with #16 Sniper on a NRX+ 893
Pour my own 90 degree hook football head with a 2/0 hook.usually 2 pads of skirt material hand tie of course need that flair to it.
Nine times out of 10 I will just throw a tube instead of a finesse jig. Tubes are not only for smallmouth.
Stealth Feider jig is very compact in 3/8 and even 1/2 Oz. Love it around any weed cover. Have had trouble with it around wood. Weed guard is a bit soft. Need to start fishing more finesse compact jigs though, don’t do it enough.
@Joe Flicek the dirty jigs Luke Claussen finesse jig is really good in timber. I found the same issue with the stealth Feider and cage Feider. Not a good timber jig but other than that, it’s fantastic
i like the kitech ones on MH Rod with the 2” berkley chunks.
I’m huge finesse jig fisherman . I only throw one finesse jig brand made by kbl lures. 3/8-1/2oz depending on depth. Trailer is mostly always a twin tail trailer. 7-4Mhxf rod with 7.3 -8.1 reel. 30lb brand to 16-18lb leader
If your into to tying your own skirts BOSS Tackle makes a jig head called the Finesse Flip and it is a great little finesse jig. It has a pretty beefy hook for a smaller jig and comes in three sizes 3/16, 5/16 and 7/16 oz.
The googan lil juicee finesse jig has been a go to since it came out, the dirtier the water the better. Black and blue with a green pumpkin trailer catches anything that swims
Tubes
It’s that time of week again. It’s Tackle Talk Tuesday! This week’s bait was brought up last week by a fellow BassHead who said if conditions call for a finesse jig then he would rather tie on a tube.
So for this week’s Tackle Talk, we are going to discuss the good ol’ Tube!!! (Not a crawtube)
What are some of your favorite brands of tubes?
What is your preferred rigging method of a tube?
What setups do you use to throw your different tube applications?
Do you tend to throw tubes more for smallmouth than largemouth?
What time of year do you tend to throw tubes more?
Why chose a tube over a jig or another craw type lure?
Let’s get this discussion going!!!
Check out Omnia’s selection of tubes as well. Be sure to filter under soft baits for tubes. I know they just added Howie’s Tackle Tubes to the sight and it looks like those are some favorites of the BassHeads.
Comments:
Tom Warren: @Sam Rardin did you know I love tubes?
Sam Rardin:@Tom Warren I may have seen you use a tube a time or 10
Tony Lee: Personally, I don’t think I throw them enough. I always have one tied on for opener on Mille Lacs but tend to barely ever pick it up. I always reach for a ned instead. Not sure why because I use to crush fish on tubes all the time and now I feel like I have kind of gone away from fishing them.
Growing up in South Dakota we use to fish the Missouri river a ton and we absolutely just hammered the smallies on pumpkinseed and blue fleck colored power tubes. Literally before I really knew what I was doing I would just slowly reel in a tube and crush fish.
I also use to throw a flipping tube all the time and have went away from that as well. I really need to get back into those. The Strike King Coffee Flippin tube caught a ton of fish for me.
Again, not sure why I really went away from it but I am really looking forward to reading all the tube knowledge from the fellow bassheads in this group.
Typically for my smallie tube fishing I pick a green pumpkin 3″-3.5″ tube and throw it on a 7ft MH spinning rod with 10lbs braid to a 8lbs fluoro leader.
For my flipping tube setup I throw it on 20lbs fluoro or 40lbs braid on a 7’4 heavy action rod with a 8ratio reel.
Tony Lee I have found that the ned has slowly replaced the tube in my arsenal. But there are times that the fish are preferring a bigger profile, and tubes work better. With that said I tend to work tubes over rocks more than ned rigs, because they don’t hang up as much. (But I did just discover the football ned head by Z-man so that may change.
Tony Lee I love me some Power Tubes. Fished for smallies in Canada a few years back and PowerTubes out produced any other tube
I throw tubes for both. I think they are overlooked baits. I like smaller tubes for Smallies I’ve recently been using howies tackle tubes, max scent tubes for traditional style rigging exposed hook.
Time of year for Smallies I’d say tubes are a staple on the deck no matter what.
Largies anytime I feel like the Texas rig bite is good or a pitching to cover bite is good.
I like tubes because they are different and I feel like it’s not the “cool” thing to throw anymore.
I don’t think I’ve ever thrown a tube Or ever had one in my tackle arsenal
Tube brand: Strikr King or X-zone
Jig hook
MH 16lb flouro
Mainly fishing for smallies, I’ll Texas rig a tube for largies then I go casting.
Summer to fall.
It’s what I learned to catch smallies on when river fishing.
Coffee tubes and Chompers are the go to brands for tubes. Weightless or simply rigged on a jig head is the best way to throw a tube for me on the same spinning setup regardless. The mix of smallmouth and largemouth depends on the conditions but typically I tube for smallmouth more. Spring time is my go to tube time. The tube offers that different presentation and also allows for a better hookset in some situations which makes me throw a tube much more.
For smallmouth tubes work ok but there are far better lures.
I use really only 3.5 finesse profile with 90 degree but I am newer to the smaller tube game like the 2.5-2.75” size chubby tubes for smallmouth.Curious what brands would be good to look for as the brand that I have only limited experience northland tackle impulse tubes the fatty 2.75”but they are hard to find unless you guys know of some I am in rue market for them still.Also whats the preferred 60 degree or 90 degree or is there a huge difference ?
Chase Skinner Howies tubes
I still like the Bass Pro shops tender tubes. Only problem I have is the hook system I like the most is now obsolete. Shaw Grigsby hook from Eagleclaw. Internal weight. I bought almost everyone I could find on the web(only got about 2 years worth left lol) and I’ve learned to make my own weights. Love em for skipping docks and other finesse situations.
I throw tubes all the time. 2.5″ Howies for smallies in the spring/summer. My set up is 6’6″ spinning rod with 15lb braid and 10lb copolymer leader. For largemouth I use a St. Croix 7 ft Mojo bass heavy fast dock sniper and 20lb Power Pro braid with a 4″ Strike King tube, Mustad 4/0 wide gap hook, 1/8 – 3/8 oz Tungsten weight. My colors vary but mostly green pumpkin or white.
I almost always have at least one rod with a tube tied on whether it’s largie or smallie fishing. Tubes are awesome for dock skipping, great action on the fall. A big chunk of my fall smallie fishing is throwing 3/4oz tubes on casting gear around deep rocks.
Brand: Big Bite Baits, SK Coffee Tubes, and a 4” Tube that I make myself.
Rigging: depending on what I’m doing. I will flip with them and I will put a tube jig inside for smallmouth.
I tend to throw tubes more for smallmouth but every year it’s becoming more and more situational which is probably a mistake. Use to be what I used to catch 70% of my yearly smallmouth on but it’s now probably only bring in 25% as the dropshot just gets more and more the deal.
I’ve caught fish on a tube from as soon as you can legally fish to ice up, I always have one on even though it doesn’t see as much use as it use to.
I use a tube over a jig or craw lure first if the smallmouth are just not having it with a dropshot. For largemouth I use a tube over a jig on heavy grass.
3″ old school smoke power tubes for smallies. I think they quit making them years ago but I have some left.
Snack Daddy. either T- Rigged or on a jig head.
Ohhhhhhhhhh baby!!!! Tube fishing is hands down my most grabbed bait in my boat. Heavy tube, light tube, exposed hook, stupid tube, Grass, rock, clean sandy bottom, docks, wood, it doesn’t matter. I fish it EVERYWHERE. Some places i break off more than others lol. And sometimes that Ridiculous spot you’d never throw it is what lands the big one.
Anyone throw a stupid tube? If so what size of tube? 3”? What hook do you use
Jake Schultz I know Rich Lindgren throws it a lot.
Rich Lindgren what about the hook? I think that is my biggest issue. I’ve tried the vmc tube hooks and I think they are just a bit too big for a 3” tube and the point ends up falling out or sticking through.
Or it looks like you just use a larger tube. 3.75
3.75″ tube is normal for me
Jake Schultz swagger tungsten tube jigs hooks. They work well for this.
I always have a 1/2-3/4 ounce exposed tube head jig tied on for cracken it works pretty good for turning a school on !!
Tubes are underrated. Not that many guys throwing them and they just straight up catch them. I like throwing a stupid tube under docks for largies. For smallies I prefer a smaller size like 3”
Craw tubes my go to for flipping.
Like Tony I’ve gotten away from tubes although I know they can be awesome.
I want to figure out a bait caster setup for neds and other finesse applications. Anyone have the answers on that yet?
Kalin tubes…
Snack Daddy Tubes for tube jigs, just a confidence thing for me when chasing smallies.
For Largies I like using the Berkley Flipping Tube. Not even sure they make them anymore
I like the Northland rattlin tube head when the water clarity is off. I throw a stupid tube on a Dobyns 733 bc around veg. I even threw the z man tube on a finesse C-rig with a MH spinning rod for the first time with success last summer. I learned the hard way what not to throw it on: a Kistler LMH power rod was just too soft for a good hook set, especially when stupid tubing. I like a heavier 3/8 or 1/2 ounce when in 10 FOW or more. The tube was responsible for a couple of W’s on Thursday nighters last year, so I am a tubing junkie. X zone, maxscent, SK, Impulse, Christopherson, etc not too picky. GP or Watermelon are usually what I throw, but I have many other colors too.
On that note. Ive been using howies tubes for smallies when they want a smaller profile. I use a 3.5″ coffee tube from Strike King when im using a bigger tube. The northland Impulse tubes were awesome but I dont think they make them any more. Ill flip a 4″ tube (similar to a craw tube but not) on a texas rig. Even largies ill snap a tube around. A stupid tube is a go to as well. I think Rich covered that one tho. I am working on building a custom rod from Thorne that has a little more backbone for tube fishing. 7’4″ MHish so I stop loosing fish on long casts. One thing I have done a lot is throw a glass rattle in there and that will help get more bites in certain situations.
BIG BITE ring tube. super soft. under used method-wacky rigged. shake it. great method on pressured docks.
Get bit bates makes solid 3.5 in bulk packs I use
I throw the XZone Tube Texas rigged around docks in the summer to give a different look than a jig. Gives that different fall and gets me some bites when a jig won’t.
Strike King, Chompers, Stupid
Flat Sided Cranks
It’s Tackle Talk Tuesday again! Today’s topic is Flat Sided Cranks! Let’s try to go in-depth on these bad boys!
How many people throw these cranks?
What are you favorite flat sided crank to throw?
Do you prefer a smaller profile crank or a large one?
When do you choose to throw flat sided over a regular crank?
What setup do you throw you these cranks on?
Is there a certain color you prefer over others?
Let’s get this conversation going!
Follow the link below to Omnia’s crankbait page. The Frittside cranks are on sale right now!
I just ordered a few the other day, I’m a flat sided novice – can’t wait to see the answers here !
Sam Rardin what brand and cranks did ya order?
Tony Lee rapala OG’s
Sam Rardin you need to grab a few of the Berkley Frittside 5s. Those things out fish my Og Slims by a long shot. That little bait is a gem and casts a mile
6th Sense Crush Flat 75x
I love power fishing and crank baits are my primary go to and I always have with me and tied on. I got into bass fishing later in my life and this was the first crankbait I purchased to use.
I don’t throw them often but I do have a few PH Customs Lil’ Thumper crankbaits that I throw in the fall at times.
Setup: Shimano Scorpion MGL HG on a 7’ MH Falcon Lowrider Cranking Stick spooled with 10# Sunline Sniper.
My favorite color so far is the Sumping Special. I don’t own many due to the price and short time of the year I throw them so I haven’t tried many colors out yet.
Last time I used flatsides they where Poe’s about 25 years ago. Have since sold all of them.
I don’t throw them a ton, only cold water really, but have success with the Megabass Sonicside. I prefer a silent bait, no rattles
Setup:
Rod-Megabass Levante Flat Side Special or Levante EMFT
Line: 10lb Seaguar Abrazx
I like the fritz side natural colors over a rocky bottom
I’m a fan of the Ark Elite Z series flat side crank and Yo-Zuri 3DR-X. I definitely don’t throw them much, but I like them in river systems or around structure during cold snaps (docks, wood, rock piles, etc.) I’m throwing them on 10lb fluoro, with a Powell 755CB and a slower 5:3:1 reel. Flat side cranks are a co anglers best friend!
OG 6 has been good to me
OG love the color choices
I’ve had some fun days chucking a Bagley Flat Balsa B2 I tell ya whut
Last year was the first year I really gave the flat side some time. Prior to last year I threw a few of the 6th Sense ones and the OG Slims and did ok but never saw much of a difference between those and a regular squarebill. Fast forward to this spring I was fishing a lake where I was getting a few fish here and there on a jerkbait but the bites were few and far between but I knew the fish were there. I decided to tie on a Frittside 5 (thanks Dan Spengler) and it was game on! I mean they absolutely wanted this thing. Tboning and swallowing on almost every fish. I tried a regular squarebill in the same area with no success. Picked the Frittside 5 back on it they started hitting it again. Even had a few fish came all the way up to the boat and swirl at it right as I was pulling it out of the water. It was an eye opener for me and continued to catch fish on the bait all spring. I did notice that the best bite I had on the bait was when the water temp was under 50 degrees though.
My setup for this bait was a 7-2 Medium Poison Adrena with a Curado DC and 12lbs fluoro. If you see the frittside 5 for the first time you almost think the thing should be thrown on a spinning rod. It is small crank but that bait can be bombed! I never did try the bigger frittside baits but might add a few to my arsenal this winter. I also have quite a few of the Bagley Flat sided cranks that I am going to chuck this spring as well.
Tony Lee what colors do you like to throw?
Aaron Heisel the different orange colors were really good to me this spring
I like the Whitty, Fritz side and Spro
I think I have a couple boxes of Poes also
I have had great luck with various sizes of flat sided crank baits. I find that on some lakes vs other lakes they fish seem to prefer this wabble pattern. I usually am rigged up with various crankbaits each time out on the water that present a different vibration in the water. Once I find the vibration that does the best that day on that lake I work on colors. Having a brother that paints me customized crankbaits I don’t have any name brand ones to mention.
I feel like flatsided cranks are kind of a forgotten cold water staple. They should have a tighter, “faster” vibration signature and less roll.. in a similar vein to some other cold water staples like blades, lipless cranks and bladed jigs. I don’t know why that sort of vibration triggers a response from cold water, more sluggish fish but there is definitely a connection. I’d really like to understand the science..
Lipless Cranks
Here we are again! It’s Tackle Talk Tuesday. Last week we talked about Flat sided cranks. This week we are jumping into lipless cranks! This is absolutely one of my favorite ways to cover water in the spring and the fall and man oh man can you get your rod ripped out of your hands when a Lipless crank bite is on!!!. So let’s dive deep into Lipless Cranks! And yes I put that beat up lipless into the picture on purpose. Anyone else catch the crap out of baits that have the paint knocked off of it?!
Don’t forget to check out the lipless crank section of Omnia! They have some good ones in there and I just happened to notice that they have Strike King Red Eye Shads on sale!!! Go check them out.
Do you prefer a smaller profile or a large one?
When do you choose to tthrow a lipless crank over other cranks that can cover the same water column and structure?
What setup do you throw you these cranks on?
What type of structure and areas do you like to throw lipless cranks around?
Is there a certain color you prefer over others?
Let’s get this conversation going!
Yo-ziri makes an awesome lipless. Throwing it on a toxic 7’4 medium, Daiwa Tatula sv 7:3, 12-15# fluoro. Come with awesome stock hooks as well
I’ve always been a old school bill Lewis guy…. But the strike king redeye and the Rapala one knock have a place I feel also. Don’t throw lipless too much tho unless I’m multi species fishing….maybe I’m missing the boat. They catch a lot of walleye for me.
Chad Keller I catch a ton of eyeballs on a rippin rap. Early season on pool 2 of the mississippi I will go out and do very well rippin the rippin rap off the bottom for walleyes. This works very well on mille lacs as well.
Smallies too! I caught the biggest Muskie of my life doing that on Mille lacs too.
Ive been a fan of lipless cranks as long as I can remember. I originally started throwing lipless cranks for smallies on the Missouri River in SD. We had soooo many 50-100 fish days throwing a chrome blue bill lewis rattletrap. When I moved to MN I felt right at home with a lipless in my hand. I always have a lipless in my hands in the spring and the fall in MN. With the lakes having so many weed in MN, it’s a perfect place to throw lipless cranks around. I’ve had so many good days burning a lipless over weed flats and ripping them through the weeds. It’s such a fun bite. One of the other techniques I’ve had great success on is a yoyo, ripping type retrieve. I’ve had some really great days ripping a Rippin Rap off the bottom on Mille Lacs for big smallies.
My favorite lipless crank is a Spro Aruku Shad 75 in the perch color. This bait has been amazing for me. I do feel like the Strike King Red Eyed Shad does rip through weeds just a little bit better so if I am in area with heavy vegetation, I will have a Red Eyed Shad on.
I throw my lipless cranks on an IMX Pro 906 cranking rod with 16lbs fluoro. The heavier fluoro has less stretch and helps rip through weeds a lot better. I use a 7 or 8 ratio Shimano Curado DC for launching the bait.
I tend to throw this bait over other cranks when I know the fish need a more reaction/aggressive bait to get bit. Ive had several days where I will throw a squarebill in an area and get a few bites and then throw a lipless and it’s game on. I tend to have both on at the same time and let the fish tell me what they want.
For colors I prefer the natural colors of gills and perch. But I will throw a Chrome Blue color every once in awhile.
Tony Lee +1 Learned how to use them over the hydrilla on Lake Fork back in the early 90s.
Tony Lee that was also my go-to when I was at school in Vermillion.
My favorite lipless is the old school One Knocker from Xcalibur in Rayburn Red! Still have a few but only bust them out for special situations.
I know they “rebooted” them under the Booyah brand but they just don’t seem to be quite the same, still very good though.
I throw mine on the same rod/s I use for Chatterbaits and squarebills.
If anyone has any of the Xcaliber One Knockers for sale, I’m ready to buy them off your hands
Chris Klinkhammer I think a lot of people miss that bait!!!
Red Eye shads and the Excalibur ones. Don’t forget at times to let it hit bottom and jerk it up on a cast or two.
Arguably, if not THE best, one of the best fish-catching machines ever invented in fishing history, bar none.
Chris Luedtke and I’m baffled about how many people don’t throw it!
Tony Lee perplexing indeed and they be missing out bigly. Millions of $$ won on a “trap” just on Rayburn alone…
I used to throw the Rattlin Rapala, caught a ton of pike on it (and my first small musky). I think I stopped throwing it because it kept coming back with grass on it. Maybe I’ll pick it up again this year
I started throwing lipless more a few years ago and love the 6th Sense quake. Throw them on a 7’2 med heavy mod fast 6th sense MFer rod with a 7:1 tatula sv on 12# flouro. Great for covering water early in the season and getting reaction bites.
I generally fish them in the spring around grass so I really like the Damiki lipless. Seems to have a slightly slower fall.
Chase Hull you liar! You are a jig pig! Do you even own a crank bait?
One of the number one baits I have tied on if temps are sub 50-55*. Which means they mostly only see action in WI in the spring
I kinda toy with the lipless cranks. I was using the red eye Shad’s but they have issues. Went and bought a few warpigs and absolutely love them.
It used to be such a confidence bait of mine for Green ones but now I tend to throw the Lipless more for Brown ones or multi-species. Can’t go wrong with the Red Eye Shad, had some good days with the Aruku and the Booyah One Knocker.
Lv500
Im a big lipless fan. My top 3 are : Strike King Red Eye Shad for an all around bait, Lucky Craft LV500 for deeper than 10’ and bottom bouncing, and the cheapo Cordell Super Spot for burning down the bank.
I throw them on a Falcon 7’ MH mod/fast paired with a Shimano Scorpion MGL spooled with anywhere from 10# Sniper to 50# PowerPro braid depending on what I’m doing and the amount of cover I’m around.
My favorite cover is grass but have done well around riprap banks and deep rock cover as well.
Color wise I like gold, chrome, and various craw colors throughout the year.
Jackhammer
I was being a lil snarky with my answer but honestly almost every situation I used to throw a lipless in I feel like the Jackhammer is better. Most importantly I feel like I get more big bites on it than on a lipless
Andy Nitchals I think this is a reason I set mine down and don’t throw it anymore. plus, the jackhammer is more weedless
I 100% pick up my chatterbait before I do lipless but man sometimes they just want a lipless.
Away from Minnesota…Xcalibur XR50. Minnesota depends on retrieve required. Azuma are great yo yo baits. Red Eyes when pumping. Straight/normal retrieve take your pick.
Nedrig
TACKLE TALK TUESDAY is here again! Today we are going to discuss a bait that I think can hold the phrase “game changer”. Let’s talk about the nedrig! I know some OG’s claim this has been around for 30 years and they use to use a mushroom head with a cut off worm. Some could say that is a nedrig for sure but when I think of nedrig I instantly think of the small zman TRD that came out that stands up in the water. This bait just flat out catches fish.
How many people have a nedrig tied on at all times?
What setup do you tend to throw your ned rigs on?
What are you favorite brands of ned worms?
Do you tend to throw the lightest head possible when throwing these?
What structure and areas do you throw this bait around?
What makes you pick up a nedrig over another bait in a certain area?
Lets get this discussion going. I know there are some nedhead fanatic’s in this group.
I need to fish these more, a lot of the lakes I fish are so weedy that I get frustrated always getting caught in all the weeds.
Greg Erickson might want to try a lighter head so it doen’t pull into the weeds as much, or switch to a jig worm and embrace the weeds
I always have a nedrig tied on but I feel like I probably don’t throw the bait enough. I tend to want to pick up a jig more than I do a nedrig. If that bite is really tough I’ll pick up the ned.
I mostly stick with two brands of ned worms and thats the Zman and the Roboworm. I love that the zman floats and lasts a long time. And roboworm, I love the colors and the design of that worm.
I throw my neds on a 7ft Medium Shimano Zodias with a shimano stradic. I have 10lbs powerpro braid to a 8lbs fluoro leader.
For the heads, I’ve been really liking the outkast nedheads the past couple years. Stout hook and seem to be pretty durable. I think I tend to use heavier heads then I should at times. I never seem to throw the really light heads and in certain situations, I probably am missing out.
I throw neds pretty much around all structure. Skip under docks, throw on weedlines, drag through the rocks. It’s an all around great bait for different structure.
I’m definitely no expert on this bait but I always have one tied on.
I exclusively never fish a ned rig
I only throw them for smallies. I hate fishing for largies with em cuz its so freaking weedy in all the lakes i fish.
90% fish a ned rig. It’s just one of those lures that catches fish year round and doesn’t matter where you fish, it excel in deep and shallow water.
Combo I use is Nrx SYR pair on 1000 vanford. 10lb braid to a 10lb fluro, sometime even 12lb.
For tackle, gotta have that swagger tungsten head and zman trd. Wind determines the size head I use not depth!!
Johnny Champion is there a reason you go with the 1000 size over the larger?
Tony Lee I feel like for the type of fishing(finess) it’s used for, you don’t really have to have an overkill drag that you would need on let’s say your 2000-2500 series. For line capacity I’m able to fit about 80-90 yards of 10lb braid which is plenty for me as the only time I’m cutting off braid from my spool is when I tie a new leader. As for casting distance I’m doing a precise 20-30 yard cast 99% of the time. Rarely do I ever bomb it out there blindly and try to achieve max distance. Over all the weight difference on the 1000 series vs 2500 series just balance your rod way better. Like I always tell my buddies, don’t ruin the purpose of a light rod with a heavy reel.
Johnny Champion Excellent point on weight determined by wind and not depth
Johnny Champion I also agree with the wind being the biggest factor, I try and fish the lightest head possible being I believe a slower fall rate triggers more bites. If it’s deeper water and too windy to fish the lighter head then I switch tactics, I don’t seem to get as many bites with just switching to a heavier Ned head
Zman just rewrote the history. I know you want to talk about technique, but before Z man rebranded the “Ned” rig even Ned Kehde used and recommended the Gopher tackle mushroom head. The term mushroom head is a licensed trademark by Gopher Bass. Here is an article that Ned Kehde was still recommending Gopher Tackle and if ya dig deeper, videos talking about the owner of Gopher Tackle introducing and teaching Ned Kehde the technique. Don’t let the MN history be lost. lol
Here is Ned Kehde still recommending the original mushroom head going back to only 2017, not exactly “old timer” stuff. https://www.cjonline.com/…/ned-kehde…/16544370007/
Better example of “Ned” and his history with Gopher Tackle, if you are Ned fanatic and from MN, it is an interesting read with recorded history of his catches https://www.wired2fish.com/…/ned-kehde-shares-detailed…
Always have one on. I throw it in anything except thick thick cover 
Ned is always on my deck, paired with a nrx+ 902 and you got yourself a slingshot of a rod. 
Malachai Her I’ve been tempted to grab one of these rods for the ned.
I threw it on the 872 last year but too beefy of a rod. Great larger ned or jig worm rod but not for the smaller Ned’s.
Tony Lee i’ve got the 872 as well, more better for jig wormin’. The 902 is limber enough but not too flimsy like the 901. Definitely one if my favorite models in the lineup. Tried the 821 but felt it was just too short.
Malachai Her I love the 902 as well when throwing in lighter cover. The 872 is my go to when throwing the turd around grass.
I usually have 3 tied on at all times lol
Charlie Wright that’s like me and jigs
I usually have a Ned rig tied on and on the deck all year but mostly in the spring and fall.
Tend to throw my Ned rigs on a 6”10 or 6”8 ML spinning setup.
Z-Man makes the best Ned rigs out there I’ve personally found.
Tend to throw the lighter Ned rigs as the bait falls better and I tend to detect the bite better.
Tend to throw a Ned rig around docks, beds, and flats.
I typically pick up the Ned rig if it’s calmer out and I can detect then bite. Overall a very versatile bait
I always have one tied on. I like the 10thoz ned lockz head from z man the most. I never really have problems with the hooks like I hear a lot of people talk about. I’ll bump it up to a quarter sometimes to trigger bites on the fall using live sonar and pinpoint casting at fish. Z Man TRD worm Green pumpkin goby or the deal on a regular or chartreuse head and hang on. I try to get myself to slow down and work this bait very slowly or even dead stick the bait. Confidence bait on a tough bite for me. I have been fishing it on a St Croix Victory 6’10” ML XF with a Shimano Ultegra 10lb high vis green suffix 832 with an 8lb floro leader Sunline FC Sniper.
I’ve never used a ned rig. I have imitated it with a northland stand up jig with a crawfish plastic.
Started throwing a Big Trd with 1/6 Zman head about 5yrs.. The big hook one. I use BC gear for these. 7-1 M.
I throw it around rocks/Hard bottom and out from weeds. I don’t pop it off weeds that much. If I do that, then I use a traditional jig worm setup with a ribbon tail.
I always have one tied on. It’s for sure a confidence bait that I can throw when it’s tough and it can change the day around. I never use the heads with weed guards. Almost always use the TRD in New Money color. Sparse weeds, skip under docks, rocks, you name it, I’ll throw it. I tend to throw heavier heads than most and sometimes work it pretty quick but will dead stick it when need be.
I’ve got a Ned Rig tied on 80% of the time; more like 95% if I’m up north.
I have two (2) brands I use most often. Missile Baits and Z-Man. The Z-Man Hula Stickz used to be my “go to” but that has changed immensely after playing around with the Missile Baits Ned Bomb. The Ned Bomb is now my confidence bait for this application. I use the Swagger Tungsten Vader Series heads 100% of the time
I throw my Ned Rigs on a Megabass Destroyer P5 Baby Plugging paired with a Shimano Twin Power 2500 almost exclusively. That rod is so sick for Ned Rigs 
As far as where I fish it; everywhere possible. But I’d say the vast majority is on sand/rock humps for smallies and weed lines for largies.
I always have a Ned rig tied on!
I have two setups: 7’ 6” ML XF custom built St.Croix SClll with a Shimano Stradic. 10# braid to 7# sniper leader. Then I fell in love throwing a Ned on my BFS rod: 7’ Light Dobyns Sierra 701 paired with a Shimano Curado BFS spooled with 4# Sniper.
I try to fish as light as a head the conditions allow but will definitely throw heavier in deep water and oddly enough sometimes in the shallow water when they want a fast fall.
Weedlines and rock
I pickup the Ned when they are not biting the dropshot
One of the original concepts that has been lost with this technique is….. one of the ideas behind it is to be able to fish the exposed hook in weeds. A “mushroom head” angler would have 2 or 3 different weight mushroom heads ties on. The idea was bait was light enough to be able to lay on top of the weeds and finesse the bait into weed pockets and lofty enough to work back on top of weeds and finesse into next pocket. Many times, the bass would eat the bait while dead sticking on top of the weeds or the fall into the pocket. This is basically how I learned how to bass fish, until I learned how to Texas rig. I was lucky and it was explained to me by some very good anglers in about 1985. This part of “Ned” rig fishing has been lost by many.
By tweeking colors and shape if Ned it might be the best bait out there. I use only Mustad heads they dont chip and have slightly heavier hook to horse giants. Nothing heavier than 1/8 oz. Z-Man TRD and Berkley “the general”. Plus my secret bait is all you need!!
I would consider my application of this tactic more on the jig worm side I like a 3.5 to 4 inch bait. Coincidentally I caught the largest Bass of the year for the GreenHorn series on this exact bait.
– I have a primary and secondary Ned Rig ready to go at all times.
– My Setup is a Med-Light spinning Rod, St. Croix with a Abu Revo, 6.2:1 STX 30 size reel, 15# powerpro superslick hi-Vis backer with 8# red label sunline as the leader. Secondary setup is same line, less expensive rod and reel, lol
– I use the Zman TRD – hot snakes (on a plane, lol) and green pumpkin/orange
– Yes, lightest head possible because I love to throw it in calmer water and those TRDs are pretty dense.
– Weedlines most with hot snakes and rocks with the green pumpkin/orange … if I miss a dock fish on a wacky I’ll follow-up with the ned sometimes and pick it up
– I pick up the ned rig because it just catches fish and is a super finessey bait. With that med-light rod I can feel everything at the bottom and when those lazy fish pick it up I can feel ’em, or see that hi-viz movin.
Never tried it, always have Texas rig out
I wanna try ned on bfs this yea