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Todd Faircloth’s five favorite reaction baits

Faircloth relies on reaction baits year-round, from a skim of water down to 30-plus feet.

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<p> One of Todd Faircloth’s most memorable Classic finishes came at the 2012 Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake in Alabama. He was using a Sebile Flatt Shad, a lipless crankbait, as were most of the top finishers. He relies on reaction baits year-round, from a skim of water down to 30-plus feet. Here are his 5 favorites:</p>
One of Todd Faircloth’s most memorable Classic finishes came at the 2012 Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake in Alabama. He was using a Sebile Flatt Shad, a lipless crankbait, as were most of the top finishers. He relies on reaction baits year-round, from a skim of water down to 30-plus feet. Here are his 5 favorites:
<p> “Trying to create a reaction bite is different than getting a normal bite because you’re not trying to feed them anything, you’re shocking them into biting,” the Texas pro says. “Generally speaking, the faster you move the bait, the better. You don’t want them to get a good look at it.”</p>
“Trying to create a reaction bite is different than getting a normal bite because you’re not trying to feed them anything, you’re shocking them into biting,” the Texas pro says. “Generally speaking, the faster you move the bait, the better. You don’t want them to get a good look at it.”
<p> <strong>1. Sebile Flatt Shad</strong></p> <p> “This is one of the best lipless crankbaits there is, especially in the spring and in the prespawn time,” Faircloth says. “It really gets the sluggish fish fired up. Remember, you’re not trying to feed them, you pull it in front of them so they’ll hit it.” Holo greenie is his favorite color. Photo courtesy Tackle Warehouse, <a href=
1. Sebile Flatt Shad

“This is one of the best lipless crankbaits there is, especially in the spring and in the prespawn time,” Faircloth says. “It really gets the sluggish fish fired up. Remember, you’re not trying to feed them, you pull it in front of them so they’ll hit it.” Holo greenie is his favorite color. Photo courtesy Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com

<p> <strong>2. All Terrain Tackle Grass Jig</strong></p> <p> “This is more of a summertime deal when I’m punching and flipping thick grass,” he says. “The reaction strike you create with this is as it falls past them in a hurry.” Naturally, he likes Faircloth’s craw color best. Photo courtesy Tackle Warehouse,<a href=
2. All Terrain Tackle Grass Jig

“This is more of a summertime deal when I’m punching and flipping thick grass,” he says. “The reaction strike you create with this is as it falls past them in a hurry.” Naturally, he likes Faircloth’s craw color best. Photo courtesy Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com

<p> <strong>3. Sebile Koolie Minnow 90</strong></p> <p> “I like this up north, where there are grass flats and maybe some rockpiles,” he says. “This will get them to strike out of reflex rather than feeding.” Any shad pattern is ideal. Photo courtesy Tackle Warehouse, <a href=
3. Sebile Koolie Minnow 90

“I like this up north, where there are grass flats and maybe some rockpiles,” he says. “This will get them to strike out of reflex rather than feeding.” Any shad pattern is ideal. Photo courtesy Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com

<p> <strong>4. Yamamoto Swim Senko</strong></p> <p> “I use this one a lot in Florida, like on Okeechobee, Kissimmee and Toho, where there is lots of grass,” he says. “Rather than fish it slow like a lot of people do, I fish it fast and pause it around grass holes or pockets. I’ll also peg a 3/16- or 1/4-ounce weight to the front of it.” His favorite color is green pumpkin/watermelon laminate. Photo courtesy Tackle Warehouse, <a href=
4. Yamamoto Swim Senko

“I use this one a lot in Florida, like on Okeechobee, Kissimmee and Toho, where there is lots of grass,” he says. “Rather than fish it slow like a lot of people do, I fish it fast and pause it around grass holes or pockets. I’ll also peg a 3/16- or 1/4-ounce weight to the front of it.” His favorite color is green pumpkin/watermelon laminate. Photo courtesy Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com

<p> <strong>5. Sebile Fast Cast spoon</strong></p> <p> “This is versatile lure; you can cast it or jig it vertically. I like to jig it in the colder months when the fish are wadded up around shad,” he says. “I’ll get right over them then drop it down in their faces, oftentimes watching them on my sonar. Like other spoons, 90 percent of the time they hit it on the fall.” Photo courtesy Tackle Warehouse, <a href=
5. Sebile Fast Cast spoon

“This is versatile lure; you can cast it or jig it vertically. I like to jig it in the colder months when the fish are wadded up around shad,” he says. “I’ll get right over them then drop it down in their faces, oftentimes watching them on my sonar. Like other spoons, 90 percent of the time they hit it on the fall.” Photo courtesy Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com

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