I hate a rattle trap. The only time I like them is the spring on a grass lake like Guntersville. I just despise them. I can't even spell A-rig. Don't own any. What do ya'll hate????

I'm not sure I've actually ever caught a fish on a rattle trap.

Anything with the word finesse in it. If I can't get them to bite with lures I like to use, I'll go find something else to do.

Pulling a big deep diving crankbait in the dog days of summer, hoping for five or six bites can be tough.

Hate list:


1. A-rig. I threw one a half dozen times once. ONCE.
2. Finesse worm on a spinning rod. If you see me fishing this, almost everything else didn't work.
3. Carolina rig. If you see me throwing this, EVERYTHING else didn't work. Everything.

I do hate a Carolina Rig., esp. with a Lizard.

And frogs,,,,,,,get hits, just can never hook up on one.

My least favorite things to do are throwing a Carolina rigged worm, a Carolina rigged lizard, and a Carolina rigged anything.

It works well, I know. I just don't enjoy it.

Dragging football jigs or grinding deep crankbaits in summer is challenging, for me more mentally than physically. I can crank and don't mind it. Just trying to grind out 5-6 bites over a day is really tough, especially when you get only 2-3 and miss one. Similar to committing to a swimbait, it can be feast or famine.

Really got on the white bass one year over at Wheeler. Caught about 50 in hour. One of the better times for me fishing ever. Key is timing, spot to fish, and conditions possibly. Same thing with spoon happened at Eufaula.
Tom Mann made a version called Fin Mann was good sometimes. Had a friend loved throwing that thing.

One of worse lures for me too outside those trips.

Punching. I know it works. I just don’t like it.
Swim jig/chatterbait. I hadn’t figured out the nuance. I thought it was fish likely areas. Chunk and wind. I’ve caught almost nothing on them. I’ve got one of each tied on. I hadn’t given up. And There’s punching stuff in my box.
But I don’t have much confidence in them. Yo-yo retrieve is your friend rather than straight chunk and wind.
I’ve caught fish on Rat-L-Trap but mainly in fall when they’re keying on Shad In backs of coves. I like the silver/blue back in Cotton Cordell brand and the Strike King in the Shad pattern that has a little yellow on side.
I’m not a fan of frogging either. Again, I don’t have the nuance down. They either short strike me or I don’t find them at all.

I don’t like deep diving crank baits. Slow boring fishing most the time. Favorite lure a live shad!! Easier to feed them than fool them! Lol

Top water floating hollow frog. I don’t think I have ever got a fish on one.

I dont bass fish anymore, but when I did my least favorites were a spinnerbait and a Carolina rig.

Come on now. Same with folks not liking traps. Caught 1,000's on them

Could throw a frog 9 months of the year. Love 'em.

I didn't fish one till last year on perches recommendation I've caught several on it never gave it a try before but they work

A rig

Anything on a spinning reel. That crap ain’t for me

ive never thrown a jerkbait much

Bass Jigs

DUDE....

Hate throwing and working a Spook but love the big fish it catches. Man it wears my wrist out but can't stop using it.

Anything that has to be finessed

i pretty much like them all with the exception of an alabama rig. ill throw whatever they want to eat

About as finesse as I want to get is throw a baby brush hog …

Lol

Same here. I despise spinning reels.

Ive caught fish on a jekbait but I usually feel like you might as well just be throwing a fluke.
I guess my least favorite would be a spinner bait. But Ill throw whatever it takes to catch fish.

Man y'all missing out! You know they work a whole lot better if ya don't hold em upside down 😁

Rattle trap

Spinner bait by far.

I'll chunk an arig or a trap or deep diving baits all day if I'm catching decent fish. My least favorite is whatever the fish don't want.

Jig. There, I said it.

I do like a swim jig, but I do not pitch/flip or otherwise fish with a "jig", nor would I use a football jig.

I would flip/pitch/punch with a pegged beaver bait, but not a jig. I would crawl a wobble head, but not a football jig.

Not a fan of crankbaits, especially DD. Next is a Carolina rig.

I always love to fish soft plastics, chatterbaits, frogs, rattle baits or any top waters.

Anything I need a spinning reel to throw.

This thread affirms what I've always said... 99.999% of fishermen are "simple power fishermen", I usually call it "stupid fishing". I don't mean any of that in an insulting way, I'm not saying you're stupid, I just always say, "any stupid person can tie on a squarebill and take off down the bank".

I don't understand people's dislike for spinning equipment?? If I've caught 50 fish over 5 pounds in the last 5 years, I would bet my boat 75% of them were caught on a spinning rod, and WOULD NOT have been caught at all otherwise. I've caught 3 fish over 8 pounds the past 3 years, two of which came on spinning equipment, and one of them was a 6' ML and a 1/16oz head. I won a tournemtn with 22# last year on Guntersville with spinning equip, and I 100% could not get those fish to bite the same lure with a baitcaster (something changed about the action or speed of the presentation). Granted, I was using a 7-1 MH, 2500 Shimano Ultegra, and 30# braid, that's a pretty stout spinning setup. But I would cast across there and make the same presentation with a baitcaster, NOTHING....pick that spinning rod up and literally on the first cast, whack!! And that was in the grass on Guntersville.

I reckon it's just personal preference without good explanation (pretty much like my dislike for jigs)

Rattle Traps..............never been able to catch fish with one. I did, manage to get one dug into the top of my scalp when I was 10ish, thanks to my dad. Had to have it cut out at the ER.

Dude, last year we were in Homosassa, FL flats fishing with "Mirrodines" (looks very much like a rattle trap) and one of the guys in the boat rared back to cast and it hit me in back of the head. I had a hat on, but the hook still got me. Luckily it actually ripped the skin, thus we were able to pretty easily remove the hook by hand.

That's so foreign to me.

My least fav to fish is a Carolina Rig.

As to those that despise spinning rigs, I don't hate them but I don't fish them near as well & near as accurate as a baitcaster. I've no doubt were I to reach for a spinning rig more often, the accuracy would come in time

i usually have atleast 3 spinning rods laying on the deck. certain lakes i could just about not take a baitcaster

That's me too. I have 9 or 10 baitcasters, and 3 spinning. Now I guess I'd say I use baitcast stuff more overall, but it'd be close when you account for every different technique I use over the course of a year. I know a lot of people call spinning stuff "finesse" (all the jokes about fairy wands), but that's just not true. There are just TONS of techniques you can't do with baitcast stuff, or at least not effectively, but you can do almost everything with spinning. And this kinda brings me back to what I say about "stupid fishing"....if all you're gonna do is take off down the bank and cast to visible cover, then naw you probably don't need a spinning combo. But I've fished long enough to know most of y'all can't skip docks with a baitcaster either, THERE'S where you ought to have a spinning rod. Also, if you're throwing Senkos, trick worms, or wacky-rigs on a baitcaster, you're doing it wrong!!!

You're funny. There are way more things you can't fish on spinning tackle. The reels just don't have the power of a baitcaster. I can use both and do only use one for finesse lures. If what you say is true, why aren't the Pros all always using spinning tackle instead od baitcasting? They do it for a living, so I'm sure they are more competent than most with both. I'm comfortable with both and spinning tackle handles light line better for me. I caught my biggest bass on a spinning rig. When I was young i thought the same things you seem to be saying, but one trip with a guy that was an expert with a baitcaster changed that forever. He was placing a sally in small holes and placing in the water almost silently. The thought of fishing deep divers, a frog or other power lures on spinning tackle is funny to me.

Horse hockey. I can zing a trick worm way out yonder with a baitcaster.

Folks still fish wacky-rigs??

Oh naw, I'm not arguing for spinning stuff over baitcast stuff (I said I still use baitcast stuff more often), there's just this widespread sentiment out there that it's not macho to use spinning gear. "If I can't catch em with my 7'-11" HXF and 80# braid, then I'm not interested in catching it" (that's how it comes across). You ALWAYS hear it, everybody says it, heck look how many people just on this thread said it (and it wasn't even asking about rods and reels, but people thought it'd tough-guy I reckon to clown on spinning equipment). It's way more complex than just casting reasons or "power", in fact I see the pros use spinning stuff A LOT!!! Frankly I love that most local yocals won't use spinning stuff, I hope they never learn any better! The only thing I love more than winning a tournament with spots, is doing it with spinning stuff

Again, it's just preference... I'm (more often than not) a small-profile lure guy, that's one of the reasons I don't like jigs. I fished a trail last year where I was paired with a guy I didn't know (he was my non-boater). Fit the stereotype perfectly First day we fished together (it was February at Wedowee, clear deep rocky lake) we start off along a bank and I'm throwing a fairly lightweight spinning combo and a #6 Shad Rap. He's throwing a $400 St Croix pool-cue with a freakin' black-blue jig the size of my hat!!!! His words, "Since you're more 'finessin' em', I'll throw this and go for the big bite." (I just rolled my eyes, clearly he's more macho than I am) After back-to-back HOGS choked that Shad Rap (and he made remarks about how he couldn't believe I got those fish in), and I reckon I had caught 7 or 8 fish total, he hadn't had a single bite, I saw him tie on a "KVD 2.5" (I don't even own one of those) and proceeded to still get his butt whooped the rest of the day. And I'll be dang, still wanted to run that cake eater about how "Yeah but if I get the 'right bite' on that jig...." That's what I mean. What the heck was "finessin' em" about that?????? What was his point? I had a near 6-pounder and a 4-1/2 pounder back to back, almost 17 lbs total. Many times I've frog fished Guntersville with gorilla-gear and not had that much weight. Again, I don't see what everybody's deal is about spinning equipment. I would NOT have caught those fish without it....it's freakin' hard to throw a Shad Rap (esp a #6) with baitcast stuff, especially to get any distance out of it in the breeze, and the drag on a spinning reel is smooth enough to not let those big fish pull off on a Shad Rap. It's WAAAYY more complex than just "casting".

First, there is no #6 Shadrap. #7 then #5. I throw a 5 on a Shimano baitcaster, and have caught many over 5lbs on one that way. Like I said, I'm comfortable with both and each has it's place. It's not a macho thing with me. While I may joke about them being fairy wands. Rods and reels are merely tools of the trade. Knowing when and how to use each is the key to success. In the 80's Guido Hibdon was in a tournament on Rayburn. He was fishing a gitzit in buck brush for big bedding bass. Of course, he was using spinning tackle and light line. He failed to win due to his inability to horse those big sows from the brush, While he may not have been able to get bit on heavier tackle, which is worse? Getting bit and broke off or never getting bit? Either way failure is failure. The key is knowing when and how to use the appropriate method.

His point was he couldn't believe you weren't a real man since you had "that" rod, line and bait. Despite getting his ass whipped all day by you he would rather go down with the ship than admit he was wrong or pick up a spinning rod.

That's being a dumbass. It's not being stubborn, or having confidence waitin' on his "big bite." It's merely being an egotistical dumbass.

I know plenty of guys who have fished tournaments who said they'd rather zero than "have to use that fairy stick." REALLY? You paid money to get into the tournament but would rather go home with an ass-kicking than to learn how to use another tool and improve your abilities and results? That's stupid.

I would have probably tried a jig too. I don't like throwing the same lure as the guy I'm with. My choice of jig would have been towards finesse too. 1/4 oz green pumpkin with a green pumpkin chigger craw, on about 12 lb test. If that failed I'd have picked up my spinning rod with a shakey head and 4" green pumpkin senko with a chart tail.
If that failed, I'd start cranking a small handmade square bill in a foil pattern. One of these would have had to catch some fish for me. I don't like getting stroked by my boat mate for the day!!!

if youre fishing it real shallow then you can get by but ill catch them on a senko or trick worm in 30-50 foot of water when they are suspended at 15-20 foot. you wont do that with a baitcaster

Jerkbait
Swim jig

Braided line was a game changer for spinning reels. Pretty sure there is #4 - #9 shad raps but I could be wrong

Jig's. And I have caught more fish on a spinning set up that baitcasters.

sissy!!!!

Hey Beadles I help but tell the truth. Lol

ZKD, I stand corrected. There now is a 4 & 6 shadrap. I've never seen either in over 40 yrs of buying bass lures. Now they run from 4-9. I do own every other size than those two, but most of my catching has been done on a #5 and a #7.

Oh yeah, there's a 4-5-6-7-8-9. 99% of places only stock the 5 or 7, but the 6 is the "perfect" Shad Rap. Upsize the front hook one size too (you'll get a slower float, almost suspend in coooold water). #6 in Demon is a bad mofo!

I just prefer throwing it on spinning stuff. I feel like I've got more control of it, I'm not over-working it, I get more distance on each cast with no difficulty, and again I believe the drag and lighter rod action on the spinning combo is just more conducive to landing the fish. I'm not saying it's a substantial, game changing difference, but it's enough that I'm not chancing it.

Years ago in Texas, I caught lots of bass during the winter on a deep diving Bagleys Honey-B. I'd love to have had a Shadrap that small then. I threw those lures on a spinning reel. I was always fishing rocky areas with no chance of fish diving into brush. I have both sizes on the way now from Tackle Warehouse. I bet the #4 will kill crappie too.
I fished with a lot of guys that couldn't cast a spinning reel, they'd release wrong and the lure would go straight up.
As I've said, each is a tool. To be an efficient fisherman you need to know how and when to use both.

I got a wild hair and ordered a #9 "Super" Shad Rap back a few months ago. Basic impression.... "meh". It's just too big. I'm sure if I stuck with it, one would eventually eat it, but that sucker's really big. Our club gets a "VIP discount" direct from Rapala, so I didn't pay much for it, but it was a waste of my money.

Larry, Larry, Larry. Tom Mann could fish any way possible and he didn't
own a baitcaster. Never saw him use one. Never saw one in the boat.

sometimes i throw the original scum frog on a spinning rod with braid

shhhh don't tell nobody

I'm just a tackle junky anyway.... I'm not the guy who spends big dollars on super high end rods and reels, but I like getting new stuff, mostly in the $100-$200 range. In recent times, I would highly, highly, highly recommend the following reels:
Baitcaster: Daiwa Tatula SV TW (I'm in love with this fool reel) They are $199 retail, but look on eBay and you can get them for $150-$160 ish.
Spinning: Shimano Nasci. I bought a 2500 two or three years ago when they released, it's incredible...no way that's a $100 reel. I bought a 3000 last year for slightly more beefy presentations, and I use this one for speckled trout too.

Rods:
Baitcaster: Dobyns Fury series. I've recently bought a 703C and now a 734C. Again, no way that's a $120 rod.....I can't tell any difference between them and the Champion series.
Spinning: When I bought that 3000 Nasci reel I also ordered a rod to pair it with, got one of the new split-grip Curado rods from Shimano. Ho. Lee. Cow. Freakin sweet, and you can jack em with it!! (I was given a VIP card from Shimano and got that reel and rod for 55% off)

ive got a fury 733c its there senko fluke etc rod and it feels awesome. ita a good rod for the money

If I'm bored enough to go fishing, I dont want anything that requires 2 hands. One hand is for holding my beer, the other is for my telescopic pole

Tom Mann? Thats all you got Goober? Out of a thousand Pros, you come up with one. That was when Pro fishing was starting. I think John Powell only used spinning tackle too. Each to his own, but nobody uses spinning tackle primarily these days.

🙄

Larry, do you let the uniformed yups tell you how
to fish?
Dance used a medium size Daiwa spinning to crank big,
uh, Power?, lures.
Why not try a Lazy Ike or River Runt, and use
an Alcedo, Airex, or Horricks and Ibbotson reel?
Things change. Most of it is because some doodah
told folks, to do it.
Can't wait to get you in the boat and I'll whip that azz
with some vintage tackle.

Crankbaits. My hatred for them has lessoned over the past few years since I actually started throwing them, but it’s still my least favorite thing to throw.

My dads go to is a shaky head on light line with a spinning reel. And he will flat wear you out with it.

Anytime I’m fishing I have at least 2 baitcasters and 2 spinning reels on the deck. From now through October I’ll have a fluke and lucky craft jerk bait tied on. I’ve loaded the boat with both. Caught several 16”+ fish on smith Tuesday on the jerk bait. Had 2 get off tha5 were 5+.

Josh, when you rig a fluke does it need a small weight? I’m learning smith lake how do you fish it there? I put in at smith lake park or the dam. Any suggestions ? Tks

Nope. Never fished one with a weight. I’ve literally been fishing a fluke since the late 90s. You have to rig it weed less and dead straight. Rod tip down and use a jerk, jerk, jerk and 1-3 second pause. Time of pause depends on water temp. I’ve got a certain rhythm I use and a wrist motion where my rod hand does most of the work. It’s really hard to explain and I’ll outfish most people head to head fishing a fluke. Not trying to brag at all but it’s all in the presentation and most folks can’t keep a steady retrieve.

I also do much better in 5-30’ of water. And you have to have the willpower to pause the bait when one rolls on it then set the hook. Otherwise you will miss a vast majority.

Am I the only one reading this who thinks how many fish you catch on one of the lures others mentioned as hating? I mean, I said "jigs", but I'm sure more fishermen than not catch a ton of fish on jigs. Several folks said "spinnerbaits" or "Alabama rigs" or "hollow frogs", and I catch a BAZILLION fish on all of those. I suspect the truth is fish will bite whatever you throw as long you have confidence in it yourself.

Tks Josh