Search Baits

The use of search baits can really help in finding a definite pattern. There are many good baits you may use to search out hungry bass, here are a few you may want to try.

One of my favorite search baits is a lipless crankbait. This bait really covers alot of water an sends out a tremendous amount of vibration and flash that will attract fish from long distances. The object here is to try and get bass to strike out of reaction. This can also give you and idea of where groups of fish are holding. My favorite lipless crankbait choices are a Strike King Diamond Shad, Lucky Craft LVR and the original Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap. Stock your box with these three baits and you will be covered for fishing lipless rattle baits.

Spinnerbaits are also a great choice when tying on a search bait. A spinnerbait can reach areas and depths that the lipless crankbait cannot. My personal favorite spinnerbait is made by Terminator. I love the titanium frame and the true swimming action you get from each of their products. I like the 1/4 oz. size spinnerbaits the best for covering water quickly and searching out the best and most productive areas. Try using a spinnerbait on windy days where the water is alittle choppy. This is where it will really produce.

Crankbaits can also be a very good choice for searching out bass and also great for locating underwater structure. I use them very often to get a good idea of what is under the surface so I can better understand the bottom contour. Some good choices here are the Yo- Zuri Hardcore Shad, Bomber Model A and Bandit series. Many strikes will occur when fishing these baits around cover when the bait deflects from the structure. Hold on to your rod because these strikes can be ferocious.

I saved my personal favorite for last. When searching out bass hotspots here in Florida I love to use a topwater frog. I feel that the quality of fish I find with the frog are often times better than average and will really give me an edge on other stringers of fish being caught. I like the Gitem’ Toad and the Sizmic Toad for searching out big bass. If the fish miss the frog of fail to get hooked I will immediately throw a weightless Gitem’ K.O. in the area and more often than not hook up with that same fish. That’s why I love the frog as a search bait. It really gets the fish in a feeding mood.

Give these search bait tactics a try next time you are on the water and maybe you will come up with your own methods and strategies for using them!

Keywords: search baits | Bomber Model A