Thread: Which one?

I think that could violate that billionaire's intent. ;-)

I’d probably have one of my squirrel tail hand ties built short on a 1/32 or less jighead with a #8 sickle hook. I’d have a beetle spin frame in my shirt pocket too.

offers you a million dollars if you catch a bluegill on the first cast. Which lures are your top five finalists that you consider and which one do you attach for that first cast?

Note: unpainted ball head jigs 1/24 or lighter + plastics can catch anything with gills.
Note: 2" or smaller soft plastics guarantee numbers and fish from 3" to lunker
Note: color selection based on a whim
Note: thin diameter line a MUST!
Note: a slow twitch & pause retrieve a MUST!

Assumption: fish are in the spot for the first cast

I have too many favorite soft plastics to count, but after closing my eyes and doing eeny, meeny, miny, moe, these are the five - any of which could catch fish on the first cast:

1. gold pearl laminated Crappie Magnet


2. 2" curl tail grub body with tail cut off. (I recently noticed that they are being sold that way online)


2. spike/ thin stinger tail grub such a Slabinator and Bass Assassin grubs


3. thin flat-tail grub in white pearl, perch pattern (lt.) or clear plastic (rt.) that I pour


4. Paddle tail such as the Runcl (lt.) or a Sassy Shad with trimmed belly (rt.)
.

5. Can't think of any others at the moment.
All I know is that after posting those fish photos I can't wait for spring to come !!!!

Berkley Gulp 1" minnow in smelt color on 1/64 oz jig.

Don't underestimate those 1" minnows, they'll catch some nice fish

https://youtu.be/tj6Irq7p5_o?si=p94HmBR0Io4Uobts

For me it would be a 1 Berkley power nymph with a 1/64 jig head. Second choice would be Trout Magnet in the Bison color. My final choice would be a black Southern Pro Bream bug.

Not until I attempted to answer did I realize how little info the question provided about the body of water. Is it muddy or clear? Is it weedy or clean? Is there brush / structure or not? Known for large bluegill or small overpopulated? So... Not knowing all that stuff, my answer changed. I prioritized something that might get a little longer cast with and that might create a little more flash or attraction. I should probably disclose that I mainly fish ponds up to about 20 acres and haven't fished lakes much.

5. Panfish magnet in bison color with supplied jig.
4. Small, plain white curl tail jig on 1/ 16 ounce jig.
3. Smallest beetle spin with black and yellow grub body.
2. Charley bee with black / chartreuse body.
1. 1/16 ounce black road runner jig with pink Berkeley power nymph.

All that said, I've had really good luck with a lot of others and I have a nagging suspicion that most lures will work fine most of the time when presented the right way in the right location.