FS Digest

by deneuied18

FS Digest

Top left 2 and the yellow one, and the rainbow one with the same shape but smaller are all jerk baits. The middle look like lipless crankbaits, possibly rattle traps. The big yellow one on the bottom left is a deep diving crankbaits from the looks of it. Depth should be on the bill of the cranks. It's impossible to tell you depths. But shallow divers typically go anywhere from 2to 6ft and deep divers dive well um deeper. Jerkbaits are typically fished with a twitching motion along with a retrieve. Your clipless crankbaits are fished with a slow to moderate retrieve, possibly with pauses and twitches but it is all situational, and personal style. Your crankbaits with lips are cast and retrieve as well. Can be used to fish for most predatory fish, although bass and smallmouth are the most common targets.

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by MisterFrecks

FS Digest

The ones without the plastic lips, are those the best ones for bass?

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by deneuied18

FS Digest

They can all be used for bass. Its situational really, as to what the fish will bite on any given day/body of water

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by MisterFrecks

FS Digest

I’m sorry I’m very new to bass fishing, where I fish mostly is a marina where the water depth is at most 6 feet, would the lipless ones be the best in that situation?

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by deneuied18

FS Digest

Lipless ones sink. Lipped ones float then dive when you reel in. Neither is better, they are just different

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by Green_trout

FS Digest

If you are looking at the tackle box from the front... the top right 2 with the bills that make a L are rapala shallow runners. Terrific shallow crank baits. Only go down a few feet and rarely get hung on rocks or things on the bottom due to their design.

Usually when you see a huge bill on it the lure will be a deeper diving crank.

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by legolas192

FS Digest

So would those be used for bass or walleye would you say?

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by deneuied18

FS Digest

Sure, pretty much any predatory fish. What you would catch with them depends on you location, body of water, time of year, so on.

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by legolas192

FS Digest

Looks like about 80% rapala brand lures. They usually say what type they are on the belly or plastic lip.

Rapala has a preatty good website where you can look them up and see pictures to compare them to the one you have. They also tell the depths, its pretty handy

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by bradbow

FS Digest

None of them say what type they are on the belly or plastic lip

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by deneuied18

FS Digest

All of these are designed to imitate baitfish, either alive and well or injured. Predator fish (bass, walleye, pike, crappie, muskie, etc...) are attracted to smaller fish. Sometimes they prefer non-injured fish, especially when the day is right and they want to chase something with some vigor. Sometimes, they are lazy and don't want to try so hard, so they'll go for something if they think it's injured. All are designed to catch a predator fish's attention and get what's called a "reaction-strike". The flat, curved plastic piece on the front of the "plug" (what these baits are commonly called as a catch-all phrase) is called a "lip" and is designed to displace water in a certain direction. The longer the lip, the deeper the plug will dive when you crank it. Plugs with lips will usually float if you don't move them, but some will suspend (neither float, nor sink). The faster you crank, the deeper the plug goes. For instance, that plug in the lower, right corner, second to the end, would probably dive to around 7-8 feet, while the one on the top right would only dive to about 1-3 feet. The ones without a bill are called "lipless crankbaits". These generally sink if you don't move them. They are best worked with a jigging (up and down movement of the rod tip) motion during the retrieve. These are especially effective in warmer months when there is a lot of underwater grassy vegetation. You let it drop to the tops of the grass and then jig it up, ripping it through the grass. This usually causes a reaction strike if fish are nearby and curious. The long, slender-bodied plugs there are called "jerk-baits". These may float, sink, or remain neutral when not moved. It depends, and without a package, can only be determined by trying it out. These CAN be just steadily cranked back to the boat or shore after a cast, and you CAN catch fish that way, but where they shine is when they are "jerked" as the name implies. You cast it, let it sit for a few seconds, then sharply twitch your rod tip to the side or down (if standing on an elevated position). The jerking motion imitates a dying baitfish and you have an increased chance at getting a reaction strike.

You can fish all of these anywhere, but remember, most predator fish are ambush predators. They prefer to operate from a position of concealment, so working them near points of cover, near drop-offs in bottom contour, and in weedy areas are the best policy. Another tactic is to use the floating jerkbaits as a top-water lure. Cast it, let it sit for a few seconds, then twitch is so that it dips below the water, then let it come to the surface. Let it sit for a second or so, then do it again, until you've retrieved it completely.

You've got a wide array of colors there, too. Fish rely on sight, smell, and vibration to hunt. The bright and flashy colors are more for murky or muddy water if you're fishing for largemouth bass. Smallmouth, pike, walleye, and muskie like flashy, no matter the water condition. The general rule, though, is that the more a plug resembles a REAL fish in it's coloration, the more effective it is in clear water. Very bright and very dark colors are best when the underwater visibility is very limited. Natural colors and whites are best when the water is clear and the sun is bright. Golds are best when it's cloudy and the water is clear.

It also looks like your lures are new for the most part. Just remember that lures are expensive and many lures are designed to catch fishermen, not fish. Not all colors are useful in a body of water. You can do just fine sticking to a selection in white, black, green pumpkin or watermelon, silver, firetiger (like those green/yellow/black/orange striped lures on the right), and chartreuse (bright yellow), and crawfish. Don't be afraid to talk to folks in your local tackle store to find out what lures and colors are most effective in your preferred fishing hole.

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by SaltyAgua

FS Digest

Thank you! This really helped me! I’ve been bass fishing for about a month now and only using senkos. I wanted to broaden my horizon on what I could use.

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by deneuied18

BILLBYRD1 Loc: Prattville Al

U tube has great videos on what the baits are, how to use them and what depths.

Linwood

Good answers and some good baits in that box as well. No. 5 Rapala Shad Rap will catch em anywhere in the world.