A great lure all most all times of the year(off the deep side of weedbeds, straight out from points, etc...) is a dark colored lead-headed jig with a pork frog attached to that........ The jig should have a skirt on it....... Its especially productive in early spring and fall...... I like to cast it towards shore and hop it out to a drop off and let it flutter over a drop off........ Deep diving crankbaits are also good......... Just let it hit bottom and let it lay with a little jig once and a while. Use either a dark pork frog or a green one........ If you're careful with that pork frog you'll get a few - many fishing trips with it, depending on how careful you are....... they are really strong..... You have to finesse it off the hook though..........

Hey trout, try using Strike king bleeding tubes in dark melon perch or green pumpkin, both have red tails, both kill trophy smallies.

what about minnows?Largemouth love'em.Live baits the way to go.

If you can use live bait use it
Crawfish minnows or frog rigged with a jig or texas
If you can get live bait or can use it try curly tail grub on a jig or swimbait

a YUM wooly hogtail or wooly hogcraw with a 1/16 ounce jighead. kill on upper illinois river in ok.