Some stupid questions

[thebus71h]

1. When do you normally throw a C-Rig? When is the right time, and what is the main advantage to throwing one of those rather than a T-rigged worm or creature bait?

2. Do you all fish jigs just like T-rigged worms? Basically hop it or drag it across the bottom?

3. I know it is a question that is asked many many times on this board, but what are your go to colors for crankbaits? I rarely ever fish them, but enjoy doing so, but yet, never really bought that many. In my box I only have 6 or 7, mostly with white bellies with white sides and green on top, or blue on top. I baiscally bought those cause I'm a moron, caught fish on one one day last year, and bought a few just like them. I know it's broad, but what are some of the "must have" colors for crankbaits?

[Rebbasser]

Not stupid questions at all. Ok, lets see.....

1. I throw a C-rig pretty much year round, but especially in the warmer months. I usually fish a C-rig deeper than a T-rig. As far as when to use one, think in terms of vertical vs. horizontal. A C-rig is a great search bait, covers a lot of water, and is a horizontal presentation. A T-rig, on the other hand, is more of a vertical presentation. Fishing a particular piece of cover is better suited for a T-rig.

2. Pretty much. Lately the jig fish I have caught have come dragging the jig rather than hopping it.

3. I use either a shad/bluegill pattern or a crawfish pattern. I've got boxes full of them, and they are all a shad, bluegill(firetiger) or crawfish pattern. Sounds like you have the shad patterns covered. I'd get a couple firetiger and crawfish pattern. Most of my crawfish patterns are deep runners, but I fish them shallow. The reason is throwing a deep runner shallow will cause it to dig into the bottom and kick up a mud trail like a real crawfish does. Shad patterns I like shallow runners. My go-to crankbaits are a Bandit 100 Series in a shad/black back or chartreuse/black back in shallow water and in timber and a Rapala DT10 in bluegill, fire craw, or hot mustard for deeper cranking.

[Marty]

I've used crankbaits extensively ever since I started and have never been able to observe differences in effectiveness based on color, so I can fish with confidence using most any color. If I'm not attracting strikes, I'll either move or fish a different bait, as opposed to just changing color.

Many "experts" have said that a few colors in crankbaits should serve all one's needs. The list usually reads something like chrome, shad, firetiger, crawfish and chartreuse.

I personally carry only two colors at any given time, usually a natural and a bright color, for example, shad and firetiger. But that's just me, others feel color is a lot more critical than I do.