What are your riprap baits and tactics?

[islandbass]

Hello everyone!!!

I need your input as to what tactics you like to employ while fishing rip rap.

My brother, who is an absolute newbie to bass fishing, will be taking dad to go fishing. He is so new that I don’t think he knows how to tie a Palomar knot yet! They will both be fishing with spinning gear.

Brother: 6’6” Medium Heavy Shimano Compre with a 2500 Shimano Symetre, 10# Sufix siege mono.
Dad: 7’ Medium Action Cherrywood rod with a 2500 Shimano Symetre, 8# Rapala Finesse mono.

They will be fishing somewhere along the shores of the Columbia River (and I am assuming the banks will be rip rap) and I believe their main quarry will be smallmouth.

I have given him the scoop on drop shotting. This technique has been nothing short of stellar for me. However, I would like to give both of them a few more options. The many posts and articles I have read regarding fishing riprap make me inclined to believe that the following baits that would be decent choices:

1) Tubes – I think t-rigged weedless, with little or no weight ought to be good.
Unfortunately, I have never used tubes with any focus or real attempt to learn to use and need help on fishing tactics. Hop it? Drag it? Hook set? What will that feel like?

2) Senkos – Both T-rigged and wacky I will recommend to them, but I’ve got to be honest to say that I hardly ever fish with Senkos in general. I’ve been meaning to get to try them, but gosh darnet, drop shotting has been so effective, I can’t seem to “get away” from it. Based on things I’ve read, I imagine the 3” senko is a solid choice.

3) Crankbaits – I got the tactics on this covered, but is it a good bait for rip rap or am I inviting them to snag city? I will be telling my brother to get a few in the Rapala DT series and a few countdown minnows. The strategy behind the latter is to enable them to fish deeper if necessary since countdowns sink at a rate of 1 ft/sec., it should provide them more flexibility.

4) Whatever else you would suggest.

As I mentioned, I have very little experience with Tubes and Senkos, but with all the posts about these baits, I believe these are also good bets and alternatives to drop shotting. I sure wish I could be there with them this weekend but I cannot join them.

Thanks for your input!!


-ib