Home
Posted By: leomort lures for the bank fisherman - 03/24/20
Hello everyone!

I am a bank fisherman, fishing rivers and lakes. Being a bank fisherman, I am somewhat constrained to my lure choices and wondering what other bank fisherman use as their lures of choice?

Since I tend to lose lures to snags fishing from shore, I don't like spending a lot of $$$ on expensive lures. As a consequence, I fish a lot with jigs often with plastics, etc. or jigs with spinner arms making it in essence a spinner bait. I will also use spoons due to cheaper cost over sinking lures.

For the lures I do use from shore are the floating rapala or diver/floaters like shad rap(deep diver, due to the large/squarish bill). I like the deep diving shad raps because I can bang into things, pause and let if float, thus often avoiding any snags---assuming it doesn't get smashed after banging into something and the pause. But I won't lie, I have lost my share of those shad raps. I know that losing lures are part of fishing, but it does get expensive to where I am consider whether to switch over to plastic craws and texas-rig them as a cheaper alternative? Thoughts on this?


Also what about using lipless crank baits from shore? The seem pretty versatile lures but not sure how snag resistant they are since they are mostly sinking lure.

Any other lures you guys used and can recommend trying?

Thank for any input and advice!
Less expensive lures:

Cotton Cordell "Spot", lipless crankbait that looks like a Rattle Trap but not as expensive. Works as well IMO.

Rebel Pop R, Very good surface plug that won't break the bank.

Heddon Baby Torpedo, Old surface plug, still works.

Rapala X-Rap, Not cheap but works, only dives about 4/6 feet.

Beetle Spin, Use lighter wts. keep it moving.

Senko or Senko type plastics, Senkos aren't cheap but they catch fish and often do well weightless. They get tore up if there's a good bite but you're not going to lose them on a slow day and if there's a good bite they're worth it.


Some say non name brand knock offs do as well as the more expensive originals.
Posted By: FC363 Re: lures for the bank fisherman - 03/24/20
Texas Rigged Worms/craws. Hollow-bodied frogs. Stay away from Rat-l-traps and anything with treble hooks. Sluggo's work great too.
Spinner baits
Roadrunners
worms and plastics that can be rigged with the hook point in the plastic.
top water plugs and buzz baits.
curly tail jigs under a slip bobber.
Posted By: MOGC Re: lures for the bank fisherman - 03/25/20
Senko fished weightless would be number one and then a close second would be Texas rigged plastics like craws, lizards and worms.
Cool guys! Thanks for the feedback!

Haven't thought about Rebel Pop-R or Rapala X-rap. Will have to look into those two.


Two mentions of senko will have me inquiring about that rig as well.

Thanks for the tips and idea!



PS. I was also thinking of some plastic craws texas-rigged as well! but glad to hear confirmation that I'm on right track
you can't beat live bait
Senko's
willow leaf spinner bait
buzz bait
rubber frog
Mister Twister
Heddon Torpedo/Tiny Torpedo
Rooster Tail
Panther Martin
Beetle spin
Trout Magnet

Depends on what you're fishing for

Posted By: ribka Re: lures for the bank fisherman - 03/27/20
Originally Posted by MOGC
Senko fished weightless would be number one and then a close second would be Texas rigged plastics like craws, lizards and worms.



yep,



And I think small spoons ( little Cleos, last masters, ) are under rated too. If you know how to fish them they can be very effective
ribka,

I agree with you on the spoons. I like kaster master spoons the best, followed by little Cleos.
Posted By: ribka Re: lures for the bank fisherman - 03/30/20
and blade baits. I took some last year to east cape Baja Mexico and surf fished with a 10 foot rod. They were by far the most effective bait other that live bait.

The seem to work sometimes when other baits don't.
Posted By: T_O_M Re: lures for the bank fisherman - 03/30/20
I'm a fly fisherman at heart but sometimes small spinners fit the job better, especially around brushy lakes, but also if I'm out exploring and just don't know what I'll run into. Give me a 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 foot UL rod, an open faced reel loaded with 4 lb maxima, and a bunch of black and gold panther martins, size 2 or even size 1, and if there are fish biting anything, I will catch them.

I have never had good luck with roostertails or any of the other semi popular spinners in that same size range.

For largemouth bass, I like 1.5 to 2.5 inch long hula poppers, black with red spots, a spinning rod with 8 pound, and about a 6-1/2 foot rod. I don't know that it is "best" but it's what I've had the most fun with.

Tom
If water depth is 5 feet or less, the lipless crank bait will foul the hooks but fish do go for them.

Zoom flukes are good as well as chatter baits and of course any kind of plastic worm. I get bored fishing a slow top water such as poppers, instead I'll use the Super Spook Jr., usually in bone.
ribka, never tried a blade bait, such as the blade runner type. The lipless crankbaits look like they'd have similar action, but like postoak mention, I'm think that hooks will probably get their hooks fouled. But I may try one or two just to experiment with. Think I'll try storm king's redeye shad lipless one.


TOM, not necessarily looking for the "best" just inquiring what work well for you as a bank fisherman. More of a way to make mental notes and see what others are using. For top waters, like the Rebel Pop-R in silver/black in the regular size. I prefer fishing rivers if I get the choice. Just better variety of fish to catch. If fishing mainly lakes, I found that I'm mainly catching pan fish/sunfish fishing from shore except in spring when I can occasionally catch a crappie or yellow perch. I agree with you, regarding an ultralight setup. I think they're fantastic for pan fishing but I bought an ugly stick elite in light action so I don't know if I went too heavy, time will tell.



postoak, I bought some zoom flukes to give a try this year. Regarding the lipless crankbaits, I too think the hooks would foul easily but supposedly you can rip them through the weed type stuff and trigger bite. I took the chance and bought two storm king redeye shad to experiment with this year.
© 24hourcampfire