What Did You Use (Hardbait) to Catch Your PB?

[MK49]

For me, it was the good old Rapala floater F11 that caught a 12 pounder in 1991. Around 2010, I hooked a bass that looked like over 12lbs, but lost it. That was also a jerkbait, OSP Rudra 130. The rest of the bass over 10lbs were all caught with topwater baits. So, to me, the big bass lures are jerkbaits and topwater (walkers and poppers).

Crankbaits come next, but I haven't caught anything over 10lbs with them. I'm trying to get ideas of hardbaits that catch big fish (yeah, I haven't broke my PB for over 30 years, it's about time. )

[hoohoorjoo]

Its not my PB overall, but I guess this is the biggest bass I've caught on a hardbait (also on a #11F silver/black back). She was 9 lbs 12 oz. I caught her this past April.

[MK49]

Its not my PB overall, but I guess this is the biggest bass I've caught on a hardbait (also on a #11F silver/black back). She was 9 lbs 12 oz. I caught her this past April.

That's really cool. Mine was a silver with the black back, too. It's also cool that you caught it recently, not like me over 30 years ago.

Also, it's good to know that F11 still catches good fish, because I haven't used it, since the late 90s, just because it doesn't cast well with baitcasting reels. I'll have to try it again with my BFS.

There's something about the F11. It caught over 4 or 5,000 bass in 4 or 5 years. I probably used it about t90% of the time. The best day was about 155 bass a day. My life was really simple back then. I just needed to throw the F11, and jerk it all day. It also worked as a topwater bait. I gave it a little twitch or two and pause. I caught a 9 pounder that way, and the F11 was just sitting on the surface. Man, it brought back my memory of good old days. I really need to start using it again. It's really one of the best lures for me, even though I haven't used it for about 25yrs.

[Johnny A]

1. Largest that got to the boat was about over 10 on a Lucky Craft SKT crank

2. Largest that got over the gunnel was on an O.S.P DoLive Stick, 8 lb 8 oz

3. Largest on a hard bait was an O.S.P Blitz DR that went 8 lbs

[godshippy]

Lucky Craft Gunfish 115 in Chart Shad. This bait has slayed on the CA delta for me on largemouth and striped bass--I never leave home without it!

[MK49]

Lucky Craft Gunfish 115 in Chart Shad. This bait has slayed on the CA delta for me on largemouth and striped bass--I never leave home without it!

Gunfish is also my favorite. I've been using them, since they came out. I don't even know how long. Like you, I always bring 115 and 95.

[slipperybob]

Super Shad Rap.

[goldrod]

Evoke zero 120

[dragon1]

Bill Lewis Ratl-Trap in 3/4 oz all chartreuse with black back and blue eyes caught my PB ~ 10lb 2oz during the end of the spawn in 1995 in Stockton California Oak Grove Park ponds.

F-11 Rapala has been great for me as well...I had my favorite OG made in Finland shiner colored one eaten by a big gar June 2021 here on the Stones River. I still fish the OG F-13 Silver/black back floating Rapalas, but they don't produce as well as the F-11.

All my other bass that were 7-8 lbs were on spinnerbaits or lipless, with a few mentions in the 6 range on jigs and cranks.

And all from shore essentially.

[bronzefly]

11lb 8 oz. Falcon Lake 2013 - Lucky Craft RC 3.5 Blue Bream. The year before, February of 2012, I caught 5 over 10# on the same day, 53# best 5. The first one was on the same bait, the next 4 were on a Lucky Craft RC 3.5 DD in Blue Bream. I remember it like it was yesterday

[Johnny A]

11lb 8 oz. Falcon Lake 2013 - Lucky Craft RC 3.5 Blue Bream. The year before, February of 2012, I caught 5 over 10# on the same day, 53# best 5. The first one was on the same bait, the next 4 were on a Lucky Craft RC 3.5 DD in Blue Bream. I remember it like it was yesterday

Aren't the pix of that outing around the TT attic?

[dragon1]

11lb 8 oz. Falcon Lake 2013 - Lucky Craft RC 3.5 Blue Bream. The year before, February of 2012, I caught 5 over 10# on the same day, 53# best 5. The first one was on the same bait, the next 4 were on a Lucky Craft RC 3.5 DD in Blue Bream. I remember it like it was yesterday

Aren't the pix of that outing around the TT attic?

http://www.tackletour.net/viewtopic.php ... r+stallion

[Johnny A]

11lb 8 oz. Falcon Lake 2013 - Lucky Craft RC 3.5 Blue Bream. The year before, February of 2012, I caught 5 over 10# on the same day, 53# best 5. The first one was on the same bait, the next 4 were on a Lucky Craft RC 3.5 DD in Blue Bream. I remember it like it was yesterday

Aren't the pix of that outing around the TT attic?

http://www.tackletour.net/viewtopic.php ... r+stallion

I thought so! Memories ...

[Smalleyez]

The summer I graduated from high school, 1977, I took a 22.5” largemouth in our west-central Wisconsin small town lake on a jointed Rebel.

[dhottle]

The same bait caught both my recent PB's. Strike King red eye shad 3/4 oz lipless. Bottom one went 10-2 & the top one went 11-8.