From the Mississippi River to the Le Homme Dieu chain of lakes I have caught bass and pike doing these three presentations.
Swimming a Jig
A 1/4 oz. swim jig in either a shad imitating color or a natural bluegill color will attract both species of fish and is very easy and effective to fish. You can throw this lure in any kind of cover and the chance of it getting hung up is low, but the chance of getting a bite is high. I prefer an RC Tackle jig in splatterback shad or bluegill. The color of the jig and the grub will depend on the water clarity you are fishing.
Flipping a Tube
Rigging a 4 inch tube on a Texas-rig is a great way to slow down and fish for the less active fish. I like to use a 1/4 oz. weight and a 4/0 Eagle Claw HP Tube Hook. This hook is very effective, because it keeps your tube snug and reduces the amount of time fixing your bait. Again colors will depend on the water clarity, but green pumpkin, black and blue and junebug are among my favorites
Swimbaits
Using soft plastic swimbaits in the Midwest is on the rise and for good reason, pike and bass LOVE them!! There are many brands out there that have some very natural looking colors. Using a sharp hook, with a wire keeper on it keeps the bait running true, much like this Eagle Claw Hook.
Whether you are looking for an action packed afternoon of catching fish or are looking to get a friend, family member or even better a young angler into a mess of fish, I suggest grabbing some of these lures and heading out to your favorite body of water to give them a try!