Lake fishing...

Question
Jack, if you had a choice of three lures for crappie and bass fishing, what would you bring to give yourself the best shot at catching one?
Thanks,
Brian


Answer
Brian; This is a very easy question and a very difficult question.  As far as the crappie go it is very easy.  If live bait is allowed I would take a bucket of minnows about 1 1/2 inches long in ice water. Second I would want some very small feather jigs of various colors but if only one color is allowed I choose chartreuse.  My third choice would be a very small beetle spin or some other very small spinner.  Again if limited in color It would depend somewhat on the water color, water depth and amount of sunlight.  In a clear lake on a sunny day I would want something as near the color of the minnows of the area.  If is a dull day or water is stained I think chartreuse is my choice.

Now comes the hard part.  You really have me at a disadvantage because I know nothing of the lake you are fishing or at what latitude.  I have fished for bass from the Canadian border to Lake Ocochobee in south Florida.  There are a few lures that work well in virtually all areas but always some work better in one place than in another.  What I am going to do is to recommend some that I have found that work pretty well in most areas.
One I would not be without anywhere is a topwater lure of some kind.  If I have to choose one specific one it would be the Jitterbug in several sizes.  Down here in Georgia I use the magnum Jitterbug which used to be called the Muskie Jitterbug because it is so big.  I have caught lots of bass on it here on the Georgia-Florida line.  Another topwater that I like is no longer made but I found a couple on e-bay at a reasonable price. Some were selling for ridiculous amounts. This lure is called Dalton Special.
It is somewhat flat on the bottom and tapers to a round end.  The tapered end has a propeller type spinner in front of the hook.  Some have two some have three hooks. The line tie is at the top of the head which tapers back making the lure chug when given a quick jerk.  I have caught many fish on this lure from north to south.  Other topwater lures work well too such as the Chug bug, devil's horse, and many others.  I spend a lot of time fishing some sort of topwater.

My second choice would be a spinnerbait.  There are hundreds of different styles, colors, combinations of blades etc.  I find it extremely difficult to pick one and say this one will catch more fish than an other one. I have about 30 different styles and colors.  They all catch fish.  I like to use them to fish over submerged grass or around brushpiles or tree stumps I have caught some very nice fish on these lures.

My third choice would be really hard.  I would like to have some sort of plastic worms, lizards etc but I also would not like to be without a crankbait.  I guess I could give up my spinnerbait for a crankbait and then have some plastic worms etc.
Man, I am really having a difficult time with this one.  I have hundreds of lures with me in my boat when I go bass fishing and you limit me to three.  

I guess If I could only have three lures by name they would be The Magnum Jitterbug total black.
A 9-10 inch june bug worm.
A chrome blue or black back lipless Rattletrap.

Of course If you asked 1000 fishermen this question you would probably not find two who would agree with me.

Of course I started out years ago with only one lure.  It was an original South Bend Bass-0-Reno.  If I still had it it would probably bring enough to buy a whole bunch of new modern lures.  I do not know what happened to that first one but I do have one that is over 100 years old and it is not for sale and I do not use it anymore.

Well I have been going on and on about lots of things trying to make up my mind if I want to go back and change anything.  Darn, I hate not having a spinnerbait but I really feel I need a worm and crankbait.  Maybe I should go for the Dalton Special  rather than the Jitterbug.  Man you  really gave me a hard question.  And I don't feel really good about my answer to you.  I know you wanted some definite answers like I gave you for crappie but a bass is a totally different animal.  I hope, but am not sure that this has been of some use to you.  Usually when I answer a question I feel that I have answered it and have presented some useful information.  I hope this has been of some help.  

If I can be of further help or confusion to you in the future please feel free to ask further questions.

I am

Jack L. Gaither (JackfromSeminole)