I live in western PA, every1 that I know from here all use shinners and minnows for bass.  I would like to start using spinner baits and lures. How do I pick out what color or size. Do u base the color of the lure of the color of the water? I normally just used the shinners or worms. I used lures before but I never caught anything. If any tips would help, I would love to get more fish and bigger ones and plus this means I wont't have to put my pole down to bait my girlfroends pole!!!

Oh lord! Welcome to a new addiction. Lures for bass, colors, size, type & what not are some of the most written about topics in all fishing. Since It's winter, I'll send you a couple of old Articles on catching winter bass if you pm your email. These articles actually increased my winter catch from nearly nonexistent to a very respectable day. Remember, some lures do a better job catching fishermen than actual fish, and some great lures can sit in you tackle box for decades. Before you actually use them at the right time and finally load the boat.

I live in southeastern Ohio, so I'm pretty close to you. Minnows and shiners are very popular here too...and for good reason...that's the bass's natural forage here. If you've never fished lures, the spinnerbait is an excellent first choice. If you hadn't already mentioned it, that's what I would have suggested. Its an easy bait to fish, just cast it and reel in, no need for fancy techniques to start out. Color and size? Well...remember those shiners...that's a good place to start with color selection. And yes, water color does effect lure color. The best way to find the hot color is good ol' experimentation. My hot tip for spinnerbaits...try black. It seems to work in just about every situation, clear water, stained water, sunny day, cloudy day, black breaks all the rules. And if black ain't cuttin' it...go to the complete opposite side of the color bar...white. White does a good job of replicating those minnows and shiners. Catch some bass on spinnerbaits and build your confidence, then try some more complicated lures to fish, like jigs and soft plastics.
                                                                                                                                              

Thanks for all the info. Dont get me wrong i love live bait but i want more of a challenge so i will take these tips ands go from there.. I have lures but never really used em before.

Everyone has differing views here. I prefer to stick to natural colors that resemble bass' natural food. Shad and bluegill colors in jerk baits and crank baits. White/chartreuse color spinnerbaits and buzz baits, or solid white. Crayfish colors in jigs. For night time fishing I like to fish surface lures in black.

Posted By cvarano1 on 14 Jan 2012 08:52 AM
Thanks for all the info. Dont get me wrong i love live bait but i want more of a challenge so i will take these tips ands go from there.. I have lures but never really used em before.

If someone was just starting to bass fish with lures...Like b or b suggested...black surface lures are a must. He and I are both HUGE fans of Arbogast Jitterbugs and Hula Poppers. You can get 'em anywhere too.(BPS, Cabela's, Walmart, K-mart) Give 'em a try!

Im up in NW Ohio and ive been catching em on a few things.  Earlier in the season they were hitting spinner baits HARD.  I use BooYah spinners in their FireFly and FireBug.  I have used the red one but I do NOT  recommend it.  I always lose the skirts within 2 casts.  Brand new lures and they fall off.  Hadnt had any problems with the others.  I havent had much luck on them lately tho which surprises me.  Ive also been using 5" yamamoto senkos in grn pumpkin and thats worked pretty well.  For the spinners I will vary my retrieves.  I will do quick retrieves and if they arent biting I will bottom bounce a spinner.  Crazy?  Kinda but its produced some pigs.  Once it hits the water you reel it a few times.  Let it hit bottom.  Wait a few seconds and just repeat.  I also do that with the senkos but I will let it sit longer.  Usually 7-10 seconds.  Lately with the warming water ive been catching them on a scum frog.  Ive got moss and algae mats so I toss it up on those and skitter him across.  Let it hit open water and skip him on there too.  Most bass ive caught are in the cattails or in deeper water.  I hope this helps where you are.  Like ive said...the spinners im averaging around 2 pound bass but the senko im more around 3.  I caught a 3 5+ pounders on the spinner and 7 5+ pounders on the senkos.  Some people think...ohh youre not catching big fish but around here...everyone of my friends and family know that im the one to beat when we go fishing.  Goodluck with the fishing

just remember when using spinner baits the bigger the blades the higher the lift. this means it is higher in the water column. Spinnerbaits are fun to use. If u want some advice from the pros look at spinerbait videos by kevin van dam .. he's know for spinnerbaits God Bless

I like to throw 5in senkos. i'm also a big fan of throwing a buzzbait at night. I also throw bluefox spinners 1/8 oz. also small crank baits like 1/8oz that dive 1-3ft work well.