So what was your most productive lure/presentation in 2013?

[Shady]

gulp.

[J.A. Veil]

I don't have a single favorite lure -- I use different preferred lures for different target species at different locations. Here are a few that were very productive for me.

1) 1/8-oz and 1/16-oz spinnerbaits. These accounted for more than 1000 perch last summer as well as some rockfish, bluefish, and other species. Woody's Tackle (formerly Maryland Tackle) makes an excellent product with feathers tied on. MKF member Bignose makes a similar sized spinnerbait but he uses articial hair instead of feathers. The Strike King MicroKing spinnerbait in 1/16-oz size also works wells and is inexpensive.

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2) Paddletails on jigheads. When I fished in Florida with kayak fishing guide Neil Taylor he turned me on to 12 Fathoms lures. He sent some home with me to try in our local waters. I had excellent success all summer and fall using their 3" Fat Sam mullet. It has great swimming motion, plus the plastic is more durable than some other brands. I had one Fat Sam that I used to catch an estimated 50 rockfish by casting and retrieving on structure. After the first 20 fish, the nose got torn. I bit off 1/2" and rethreaded it. After another 20 fish, I repeated the process. Finally after another 10, it was worn out. I also caught some fish with their Buzztail model. The first photo shows a full-size Fat Sam on the bottom and one that was shortened and rethreaded on the top.

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During late April, May, September, and October, I trolled slightly larger paddletails (4" to 5") along Severn shorelines and caught many rockfish, including limits on many trips.

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3) Gulp baits. I prefer those that have floppy tails and give good swimming motion (2" minnow grubs; 3" and 4" swimming mullets).

As a final thought, I think the best lure to use is the one in which you have most confidence.