When I go to Cabelas I have a really hard time not gravitating to my favorite lures, eventhough I know there are lots of other good lures. I think it’d be fun to find out what other people use, so that we can expand our horizons. Maybe I’ll start, but if I didn’t put a certain species of fish, feel free to add them. I think if we keep it to our top three lures +size/species will be adequate.
Trout:1. Size zero red and white mepps with a gold blade, 2. red and white daredevil, 3. gold w/ red dots spin a lure.
Catfish: 1. Worms, worms, and worms, on a big 4/0 hook!
Musky: 1. Medium sized Yellow w/ red diamonds daredevil.(since I’ve only caught one, I’ll put the lure I caught it on )
LMB: 1. Basic 3" tubejig where the jig head is slipped inside.
Panfish: 1. Worms on a small hook!
White bass: Size zero red and white mepps with a gold blade, 2. red and white daredevil, 3. worms.
As you can see there isn’t walleye, SMB, Lake trout, perch, and others. It’s because I’ve either not caught them, or if I did it was by accident. I hope this survey will help people be able to get into all of these different species! Please help!
slimers I use a worm and marshmellow ( vanilla flavored)
walleye I use a worm harness with a bottom bouncer
perch I use a worm harness looking for walleye and anything that glows with a mealworm under the ice.
catfish I use either a hot dog or shrimp
wipers I use a diamond dust rattletrap
burbots I use a 3" radical glow tube tipped with sucker meat.
kokanee I got no clue what worked for me last year never produced this year.
white bass I use a silver spinner to locate them and then I use a peice of white bass meat on a hook
Trout: Mepps Aglia Spinners, plain with gold or silver blade. We used to slay trout in PA on 1/32 oz rooster tails with black blade, body and skirt; we called it “black beauty.” Also the “Bouyant” series spoons (i forget manufacturer) have ALWAYS been a go-to for me. Salted minnows on minnow rig.
Smallmouth Bass: Rebel Crawdad Crank, Tube Jigs, Bucktail Jigs (1/4 oz and smaller usually white or chartreuse). Mepps Aglias as well.
Crappie: 1/16 oz bucktail jigs, sometimes just a jighead with minnow.
Walleye: Jighead with Minnow
Perch: Same as walleye.
Bluegill: Small Jigs
Catfish: CHICKEN LIVER!
If you guys remember the old infomercial that used to be on about the Banjo Minnow, I bought them and never had better luck with any lure for ANY fish species. They were incredible, almost unfair.
Trout: Having fished alot of rivers and lakes in Utah and idaho, I can honestly say that in my experience panther martins have FAR AND AWAY outfished any other spinner I’ve used. I would be dishonest if i didn’t mention the elk hair caddis were also a top notch way to catch trout
Panfish- ditto on worms, though micro jigs have always worked well for me
Bass- don’t have tons of experience here, but all the ones I caught have been on crankbait
Musky- also not much experience, but perch meat seems to work for me
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