I know I'm old and set in my ways.
For bass and walleyes, there is absolutely nothing better than a full night crawler on a 2/0 long-shank or circle hook, or larger. It can be a hook behind some split shot. It can be part of a spinner. Just drag it very slowly a few inches at a time.
With that said, a live water bait -- shiner, madtom, sucker, crappie, crawdad -- whatever -- either floated with a hook under a small bobber, or cast and slowly pulled in, it is just as deadly as the crawler.
In my opinion, the fish will learn and tire of most artificial baits, but they never seem to give up on live bait.
A hula popper, rubber floating frog, some rattle bait, or a noisy spinner bait is still a lot of fun.
Aw heck. Bass are suicidal. It all depends on their mood.
Ken
