i mostly use berkley powerbaits,and other brand plastic artificials.sometimes i throw small crankbaits but its mostly plastics i use.i don't use live baits anymore.i catch stuff on artificials and i am happy with that.one time i out fished somebody using live bait.they were fishing live worms under a float,i was throwing a tiny lunker city fins shad on a hook with no weight.i was pulling crappie out left n right.the kid using the worms didn't get anything!he was throwing his float right next to where i was fishing.i rarely throw any kind of spinners,maybe i should try em sometime.