Hey pro staffers,
If you had to choose one and only one type bait for bass fishing year round, "what would it be?"
My choice would be a deep diving crankbait, I feel under most situations I can locate and catch bass with these baits. What's in your tacklebox? Johnnie Crain, Iowa Pro Staff

Johnnie,
Most of the people on the staff probably already know we are good friends, fishing buddies, and seminar partners. So, this is being answered more for them than you.

You know what I use - some sort of tube. I cast, flip and pitch. Rig it with a lead head, or Texas rig it with an XGap or new Daiichi Bleeding Bait Gap hook. By the way, those new hooks are supposed to be available as of October, and the samples I got to use late this summer worked great.

Of course, your cranksbaits are always a great search lure.

For those of you who don't know, when doing seminars together I introduce Johnnie as "Crankin' Crain". That should tell you all how well he loves these lures, and for a very good reason - he is one of the best crankbait fisherman around.
Dan

Good question Crankin Crain.

Over the years the jig and pig has proven its fish catching capability in all seasons.
I think its safe to say that this bait has and will continue to catch fish in all seasons. Thus making it my choice for an all around yearly lure.
From pithing and flippin in the shallows to stroking a jig in 20 feet of water these crawdad imitations are a good bet when all else fails.

Again it all falls back to confidence, if you have confidence in the bait, then you better be throwing it.

But I sure would like to have just a few more choices.
Just in case!

I know that this is the standard answer most give but I have to say that the 6" worm would have to be my choice. You can rig it in lots of different ways and fish it in so many places that it is hard to beat. Colors if I had one color I guess it would have to be Blue Fleck power worm. Berkley has just got me hooked with that one.

Conley

Not on the pro staff, but I feel the need to respond.

The blue fleck power worm has put over $30K in tournament winnings in my pockets over the years. Canadian dollars, though. Probably about $279. at todays exchange rate. HA!

Like Conley said- it can be rigged many ways and fished in many different situations all season long.

Crankbaits just don't seem to cut it in our clear, heavily vegetated waters. The fish are either buried in the cover or right tight to the edges.

I knew when I posted this question I'd get some good answers. No doubt, the jig is a versatile bait as is the plastic worm, or for that matter any plastic bait. I'm a little surprized no one selected the spinnerbait, it's generally a great bait for all seasons. To my Canadian friend, I'll betcha I could catch some of those weed line huggin' bass on a crankbait, do it all the time in the Mississippi river, of course, the waters not clear.Thanks for posting, that's what's so great about Bassin' USA, anyone can get involved and we respect everyones opinion. Thanks guys, Johnnie Crain Iowa Pro Staff.

Johnnie,
How about giving us some of those Crankbait tips the you have. I for one would love to learn more about some of the crankbait secrets. I use them alot during tournaments but never seem to catch fish on them regularly. I always end up going to the worm or jig.

Thanks
Conley

some form of the jig or tube for me. I just can't imagine only using one bait because I do rely on a few others at different times of the year. If I had to pick one.....jig n pig only slightly over a tube jig.

Jig N Pig... That's would be the bait for me too. Damn, thing has put more money in my pocket then any other bait.

On a side note... I know that Johnnie has a written a booklet of tips which he intends to sell. I personally read it and would recommend it to anyone who is into fishing. He has some great theories, tips and tricks that I found both interesting and usefull.

Johnnie, I know we talked about getting the booklet for sale on the site, but for now, if someone wants to get a copy, how would go about it?

Brendan,
Thanks for the kind words about my little booklet. As you know it has been well received by everyone that has read it. The format is not strictly fishing tips and techniques, but includes stories from the past, humor, mistakes we've all made etc. It's a book even anglers seem to enjoy. Plus there are plenty of tricks and tips for avid anglers. Anyone interested send:$6.00 postage paid, to Johnnie Crain Outdoors, 1016 Lincoln Blvd., Muscatine, Iowa 52761. Great Christmas gift for anyone. Thanks again Brendan.

After viewing this thread in its entirety without a word from a Moderator has taught me a lesson.

It is "More words from the Pro Staff and the Board Members and less words from the Moderator"

With my alloted words Johnnie, save me a copy. I'm writing down the address. I'll send a money order.

Lastly, this is a great thread. Now, keep posting and I'll watch. JoeMo

Guys,

If I had only one bait I could take with me on a fishing trip although it would be a tough decision I think it would be a 3/8 oz. Black and Blue Lunker Lure Rattle Back Jig with a Blue Zoom Chunk. I have caught an abundance of fish on this lure. Running a close second was the CB-200 crankbait from Lucky Craft in chartreuse and blue. This also is a top producing bait for me in a variety of conditions.

Jeremiah T. Bagwell

mofish, Conley, you asked for some tips on fishing crankbaits, since this is not an article yet, I will give short tips that I use. Thanks for asking.
I always use a crankbait designed to swim at least two feet deeper than the bottom depth. If the water is ten feet deep I'll use a twelve to fifteen foot diver. I want to crash the crankbait into the bottom and stir up siltation, turn over rocks and gravel and pretty much just wreck the bottom contour. This really excites bass. I also love to fish standing timber with crankbaits and crash themj into trees. No matter what the lake make-up, I want my cranks to being crashing into something, when the bark starts flying off the standing timber, bass will rise from great depths to take the bait. My favorite situation is a chunk rock bank with about ten to fifteen feet of water. Conley, I don't tell everyone this, but I always fish crankbaits parallel to the shoreline. This keeps my bait in the predetermined depth range where fish are showing on my electronics. I use deep diving, big lip crankbaits for two purposes, one they dive deep, two, they are really quite snagproof. The diving bill deflects the bait away from cover. Some experts say to quit crankin' when the bait strikes an object. Not me! I keep right on crankin', when baits are stopped when striking cover, the hooks that have been raised against the baits belly section and straightened out behind the bait by the water flow will fall and snag when stopped. The only time to stop a crankbait is when you are fishing very cold water, then use a controlled stop and go technique.
For shallow divers, four feet or less I use 14# test line, anything deeper, I use 12# line. Never larger, never smaller.
My color selections are a little different some guys choices, I decide which color bait by where the fish are located. Again, I'm casting parallel. If the bass are more apt to see the baits stomach, I use a bait which has the predominant color on the belly (ie) chartreuse. If the fish are looking at the fishes back or side, again I use that to determine bait colors. I'm way over simplifying this, for space sake. In cleaner water I use wooden baits that don't rattle, Poe's 300-400 series. For dingier water I use Wiggle Warts that do rattle. Conley, when an angler is very good with a crankbait, you can tell exactly when a fish is ready to strike. When the bass moves within range, flairs its gills and the suction begins, the crankbait will stop wobbling briefly, get ready to strike. I'll write more later. Hope this is of value. Any questions, you know hwere I live! Bassin' USA. Johnnie Crain, Iowa Pro Staff.

Excellent, Post Johnnie

Thanks a many times over. I will be sending you some E-mails on this some more I'm sure. I have a Winter Tournament Trail starting in two weeks and I been looking for some deep water tactics besides the Pig and Jig. Since there are not alot of tournaments held here in the winter I am looking forward to it to see how it goes.

If there is anyone else here in Texas that is looking for a tournament to carry them through the winter months it is the WalMart
Granbury Tournament Trail. All the Tournaments are on Lake Granbury and so is the Championship to be held in April. Check out www.fishingworld.com for details. If anyone is intrest let me know and I'll post some here. I also hope to give reports on this Tournament and how I do.

Thanks Johnnie
Conley

Johnnie- Conley's right; that is one excellent post.

It is difficult to find guys who will deliver the level of detail that you Pro Staff guys seem to include in all your posts. Much obliged.

Conley, please do post results on those Granbury Lake tournaments. While your Winter tournaments won't be quite the frozen contests that some of us have up north, we can all relate to what you fish and catch with and learn something at the same time.
Thanks again.

Joe

Mofish,
Sorry guys, I don't want to ride this horse to death, but I forgot to tell you that I always use a number 2 or 3 Arkie snap on my crankbaits, I never tie directly to a split ring, there is a point where the split ring begins and ends that WILL cut your knot. Also, the snap gives the bait so much more freedom of mobility. Use a snap, your brand of choice. I like the silver or black color, really no preference.
Conley, if you are marking fish in fifteen feet of water that are suspended, try finding cover with that same depth or close and fish a deep diver through that cover, fish suspend at certain depths for a reason, but will strike if found in cover at that same depth. Also Conley, don't be afraid to try the new shallow divers in very shallow water, I highly recommend the DC Series from Yakima, the Timber Tiger, nothing works better in shallow cover. Good luck on the circuit, wish I were there! Johnnie. :rolleyes:

Johnny,

That is a good point about the split rings. What I do is change all of my split rings on my crank baits. I switch them to the Rick Clunn Signature Series Performance split rings. They are oblong and prevent you from tying your knot on the split. The line will not slide on the split ring to the point where the ring begins and ends either. High quality baits like the ones made by Lucky Craft already come with performance split rings.

I know changing all the split rings on your crankbaits is a huge task but that is exactly what I do. I changed so many one night that it gave me a blood blister under my thumb nail.

Just thought I would share that will you guys.

Jeremiah T. Bagwell

Jeremiah T. Bagwell,
Please send me your e-mail address so we can correspond. Good post on the split rings, I'm sure anything recommended by Rick Clunn has to be a winner. He now lives in my original home town of Ava, Mo. Get in touch, Johnnie Crain Iowa Pro Staff.

Johnnie,

I sent you my email address. I used the link on this board. (In case you were curious how I knew where to send it lol)

Thanks

Jeremiah T. Bagwell

Johnnie,
I would have to pick a jig or tube as the bait that has a twelve month guarantee. These baits have produced time and time again and there is no arguing there effectiveness. The jig has won major tournaments from January to December, and the jig is also a bait you catch big fish with. The jig has everything you need in all seasons.

Jeff, you are right about the jig and pig being an all seasons bait. I used them a lot this summer when the water temperture was at 90 in the river. Most feel the jig and pig are best in colder water, but I've found they catch fish all year too. I do an awful lot of swimming the baits, as I would a spinnerbait or crankbait. Seems to work great. Thanks for the reply. Johnnie.

Johnnie,

At the BFL Regional Championships at Kentucky Lake about a month ago Swimming a jig was the only way I caught fish on the last day. I pretty much started cranking it as soon as it hit the water and the bass would just hammer it.

Jeremiah T. Bagwell

Jeremiah,
I have even used a jig and pig as a surface bait, especially in ponds that have lots of vegetation. I do most likely what you did in the tournament, I use a 1/4 ounce black jig tipped with a no.1 Uncle Josh Blue/black frog and swim it across the surface, it makes a nice wake and is noiseless, I think the bass like that. I've even used jig and pig combos to fish matted slop, where the bait doesn't even penetrate the vegetation, I don't much like fishing that way, miss a lot of strikes, just like everyone else. Tooooo nerve racking. Thanks for the reply. Johnnie

FYI
This question was posed a couple of years ago to the top 25 money winners on the B.A.S.S. tour. The answer was a big surprise to all, the #1 bait ot chose was the Texas Rigged Worm. The #1 color of chose was also a suprise plain Black. Since Bass Master Magazine has keep record of 10 lbs plus bass caught by it's readers, the #1 big bass bait is the Texas Rigged Worm. Just a little some to think about!

catt951,
Make no mistake, a black worm is a killer bait. With all the innovations in artificial baits that have evolved over the last decade, it's hard to believe that the ole' worm still turns. I would say I use worms less than any other bait (probably why I've never made the classic?), I much prefer to move fast and often. No less, I agree a plastic worm would be a great survival lure is stranded on an island. Thanks for the reply and thanks to all who have replied, it's been a great learning post for all of us I think. Johnnie Crain Iowa Pro Staff. Keep in touch Catt.