Multi-Rig Baits to Improve Efficiency

He didn’t invent the bait, but when Bassmaster Elite pro Hank Cherry first held the new Bass Mooch creation in late 2023, he immediately recognized a multifaceted play maker. So clear was the vision for the bait’s potential, he named it the Kud-B.

Don’t let the creative spelling fool you, Cherry’s thought process was spot-on. Comprising a ribbed body with a small head set off by a narrow collar and a flattened tapering tail, this 4-inch bait sports a minnow/shad kinda vibe with a lot of options.

“I named it that because of all the things it could be,” said the two-time Bassmaster Classic winner. “I looked at it, took it on the water, saw the applications and said: ‘This could be many things.’”

Cherry’s suspicions were correct, and he’s put this bait to work in Ned rig, shakey head, jighead minnow, and bladed jig/spinnerbait trailer rolls. He’s also used it on a downsized Texas rig for finicky bed fish and, as he explained, pinching off that collared head yields a killer dropshot bait. On a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jighead, the Kud-B’s ideal for chunking and winding amid schooling fish.

“With a nail weight in the collar and small straight shank hook, this bait is very effective for fish that are chasing tiny bait,” he said. “If you can get the bait into them, it’s a guaranteed catch.

“I haven’t had the chance to fish this bait up north yet, but I’m looking forward to using it for smallmouth in current. On a dropshot or a Ned rig, that bait’s tail is very flexible, so the current will make it look alive.”

The Upside of Minimizing

At this point in his career, he’s hardly struggling, but he’s a realist with a respectful regard for the challenges anglers face at the grassroots level.

“Obviously, with the (current) economy, not everyone has a lot of money to spend on baits,” he said. “Also, for bank fishermen, it’s a lot easier packing one bait in multiple colors. It’s peace of mind.”

Pragmatically, he points out the advantage of quickly switching from one rig to another without digging around for various soft plastics. Opportunities happen quickly on the water, so the less time spent looking, the more time you can keep a hook in the water.

Matching Your Style

While bait choices vary person to person, his strategy can benefit anyone. Start with an honest analysis of how you like to fish—a simple rundown of the tactics you commonly use throughout an average year—and then consider what soft plastic could play these roles.

He has no problem “working” a bait, but he openly admits his appreciation for a bait that emits fish-enticing motion in any application with simply the turn of a reel.

“In the Elite at Lake Murray (early May), I just threw that bait out, kept the rod high and reeled—it looked like a fleeing (blueback) herring,” he said. “I caught over half of my fish on it.”

Sure, you may need some “middle ground” nudging here and there, but when you weed out life’s bells and whistles and just focus on what you can’t live without, decisions crystalize.

Good example: Soft plastic stick worms like the classic Yamamoto Senko are renowned for their wacky and Neko rig uses, but devotees find these decidedly unassuming baits effective for flipping, punching, unweighted swimming, and Carolina rigging.

For Cherry’s fellow Elite, Mark Menendez, the Strike King Rage Craw fits several of his common presentations. From the basic Texas rig he’ll throw for bed fish and various cover flipping scenarios, to a football jig dragging presentation, to adding motion on the back of a swim jig, the Rage Craw fills many needs.

Tennessee pro Michael Neal designed the 3 1/2-inch Big Bite Baits Limit Maker primarily as a Ned rig bait, but quickly showed the fishing world the bait’s broader applicability. From dropshots, to jig trailers, to finesse Carolina rigs, he casts this modest form in multiple roles.

Discipline Delivers

Whatever bait you chose for a multi-tasking role, consider Cherry’s sage wisdom: “When you’re tying to learn something and you’re trying to fish with it, the best thing to do is just take that bait.”

Recalling his early years when learning to fish a jig was a high priority, he realized two things: First, this was one the most versatile and effective of his hard baits. Second, productivity required a lot more than simply hitting bottom.

“No matter if it’s a plastic worm, a jig, a topwater, whatever; you can't be worried to begin with about catching fish,” he said. “You have to learn the application of that bait. You have to learn the process.”

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