SENKOSAM

Continuing that line of thought, Il bet you would do better than I using even a part of my collection, seeing as your greater experience would find better uses of lures I rarely use such as my many crankbaits. My forte is using jigs, soft plastics, topwater lures and jerkbaits - hard and soft. So even though I always carry a dozen crankbaits, I rarely use them. But as important is knowing a body of water like the back of your hand, which automatically limits what is truly needed to get the job done. And I guess the point of knowing what works and when to use it doesn't require taking 60lbs of tackle on one's boat as many of the pros have suggested when it comes to having the right color selection along just in case. (In my experience, a few will do.) The fishing writer I have most respect for, Rich Zaleski, pointed this out at a seminar he gave, showing us his small tackle box containing even fewer lures than I carry; and I know for a fact the man can catch decent fish most any time he puts his mind to it. He's pretty much disproved the idea that bass get tired of or oversensitzed to the same lures used year after year and therefore the need to constantly buy new stuff. Like some anglers, bass aren't sophisticated thinkers much less think. But again it's time to continue posting elsewhere because I wouldn't want to cause "trouble".

Guess you left out the other points in the reply. In other words, the thrill is where you find it. As for passion, there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about fishing and the feel of the sun on my skin or the total relaxation of cadence-working a structure that has high potential, only interrupted by the strike that signals a mystery of what is at the end of my line. Not much different for tourney anglers, I'd say. You may be confusing passion with obsession, which should never have a place in fishing if it causes stress, a sense of loss, disappointment or letdown. Just the idea of us being against the fish is the kind of juvenile sales pitch that's been used to get people to watch more or buy more that I've come to reject whole heartedly. Of course, I don't carry on like some of the good ol boy yahoos on ESPN, as the thrill I experience is more subdued, especially at my age where just knowing I did something right produces the same satisfied feeling as when I was a teen fishing from shore. Fish aren't there for the glory of man, but rather the object of our respect and admiration (though not exactly as demonstrated by Jimmie Houston kissing a bass, but along the same lines). RW, The only difference in the Rapalas and other classic lures I own are the prices that are 3x as much as I paid years ago. As long as I keep the hooks sharp, they still keep catching. New is rarely a substitute for the utility of good-but-used.

Good post Plumworm (and good response Sam). I noticed you didn't mention competition fishing and though I have nothing against it, at age 65 I like more leisurely fishing without the expense and pressure. I'm like you - a 1986 Ranger Bass boat with a good Merc 90hp motor;a jon boat and an aluminum V bottom for trolling motor-only and smaller lakes. (The 15' canoe is a pain!) I own probably more tackle than you but who's counting? I make most of my own soft plastic lures and prefer to catch fish on them (just in case they seem to have more magic than the store bought). I guess when you get to our age, the challenges and questions are somewhat different. It's not just about beating someone and winning something, but more about discovery, especially something new only we happened upon. (How About That!? Who would a thought...! Redefines being and feeling lucky!) Like you, we have good and bad days, catch decent fish or a limit or few decent bass. If bass fishing is slow, I hit panfish areas going after the largest of each species.( Did well this year!) If I get another 7 lb bass in my boat, so be, it but the thrill is gone and I like to fish for numbers regardless of size or species. (Of course the emphasis will always be catching bass in a good bass waters.) There will always be more to bass fishing for the majority of anglers than BASS tournaments and buying new & improved gear gurarenteed to get the big ones. Heck, some of my best fish of all species were caught on a closed face reel and light line and most on lures over a deacade old!

You know when fish are hyper active when you can catch pan fish on bass size lures. Crappie have been easy to find and catch up until a week ago. Now that the water temp is above 75, it's much more difficult.

I also use Lake Fork Frogs and they cast a mile. Of course, I not talking gale force winds - 10 -15mph tops.

I don't have a clue what changed and wouldn't have tried the pads, except, after seeing my partner catch two bass on a rocky flat that had no weeds, figured something had changed to support a top water bite. He started catching bass on a hollow bodied frog as soon as we entered the pad field and then I put on my own poured frog. (The one on the left.) Most times the strike was purely reflexive, few fish followed and struck or struck again after a blow up. One clue that something had changed was that crappie were schooled in open deeper water whereas they had been tight in the weeds the day before. In my mind, change for one species means change for other species and I start out with a clean slate of options. Take nothing for granted, as my partner proved.

Today the topwater bite was on!!! Cloudy sky after a morning rain with a 8-10mph breeze. Not only was it on in the pads, it was on over a rocky flat. The jig bite was on a rock point.

Fishing can be as simple or complex as you prefer and the question can't be answered completely because few techniques/presentations and lures are universal for all aspects of bass fishing. Orobass touched on what might produce depending on where you fish. Where meaning what body of water, which state (Fl, Tx, NY), river or lake and what climate, which season, what time of day? Where meaning where fish locate themselves in a particular body of water different times of year, depth and cover type which dictate lure types and presentation. Shoreline anglers that know nothing of the lake or river bottom they cast to are at a great disadvantage. So, owning a boat or other craft with sonar is number one before considering tackle choices. Learn thy water. The truism of only 10% of a body water holding active fish is as true today as it was 70 years ago. Active meaning fish that can be provoked into striking an artificial creature it doesn't have a clue of what it is or represents. Your lure is not used to convince a fish of anything but to provoke it into striking. Even less active fish via reflex strikes are prone to striking because the trespasser (your lure) just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time. Thinking of lures in this way doesn't clutter your choices with trying to guess what their eating and more about a specific selection of lure actions that simply provoke a fish into striking, As you've already seen, over a thousand lures are on the market but not all have properties for specific scenarios. Lure provoking properties I speak of involve fish senses of sight and sound. Hearing a lure is a small part of lure detection; feeling a lure is totally different and probably the most used physical sense a fish uses to detect a lure's location, speed, mass, motion and size (even in pitch black water at night). Vision adds to lure location perception and visual qualities such as color and flash, shape and minute motions. These qualities determine how irritable a fish is and prone to attacking by trying different lure types out. You put fish location together with the proper lure selection to catch fish and you will eventually master lures that can provoke the strike at different times of day. My suggestion would be to go light at first. Light lures and tackle force you to fish slower and shallower. Too many anglers don't know when to slow down or use lures that finesse a strike vs. provoking only a reflexive strike to cover more water faster. Sure, there will be some days when faster is useful, but there will be more days when slower produces the most strikes. By light I mean 8 lb test braid with an 8 lb test leader. Braid cast light lures easily and sets the hook more effectively than mono at a longer distance and fluorocarbon line has properties that excel when it comes to abrasion resistance and lure action. The simple jig-rigged grub can catch almost any predator species in any body of water. The jig can be swam, jigged off bottom, pitched to target areas and worked in and near cover as well as fan cast over large flats. Once you get the jig/ grub bite down, you may have another rod rigged with a heavier skirted jig with action trailer. Again, different jig presentations work and in different waters and locations. If possible fish with others. There is no better or faster way to be convinced of a lure's use and presentation than seeing it and knowing when and where it caught fish! There will always be a combination to unlock any day's mystery of where fish are located and how to catch them. Only those that diversify properly and effectively catch more fish consistently. Opinions vary (and there are always opinions on any fishing forum that try to refute other opinions), but experience is key and confirmation of what works, when and where. You will be surprised at the consistencies you can count on in future outings as well as surprises from doing things out of the box from the norm. We play by their rules and not the other way around.

Tried my best to get a frog bite going yesterday and only got a few blow ups and one 14" bass in the pads. The day seemed perfect: cloudy, calm to a slight breeze, 74 degree water with stain, post spawn and no recent fishing pressure from other anglers. Yet last week we clobbered them under partly sunny skies and wind speed of 8-12mph all day. Yesterday flipping and pitching were the best producing presentations for bass that were camped out near pad edges. Nothing on swimming lures such a swimbaits, spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Maybe sometimes calm water and overcast skies are too calm. Of course the grub bite was on near islands of pads but only for pan fish and a few pickerel.

Pretty much. Just because the designer of a product had great success initially doesn't protect him from reality when he charges way over the cost of production. Ever hear of gouging? Reality dictates that those that can reproduce or modify a design at a far lower cost to the consumer, even though exposing themselves to a patent law suit if discovered, will create a demand. Consumers that buy bootleg copies at a cheaper price could care less who made it first, they want a product that lasts longer and that costs less. Lure making hobbyists are challenged by new designs and whether or not they sell a few, are impelled to see what all the excitement is about that makes the design unique. As in the example lures I mentioned earlier that are as good as the Rage Tail (which I bought and tried), I found no reason to reproduce them. My injection molds of the craw allow me to make a similar action bait at 1/10 the cost and that's good enough for me. But in Gary Y's case, there was more than just salt involved - his plastic formulation is unique and few have gotten it right. Larew's plastic is no way the same even with salt added and I believe GY was correct in fighting the lawsuit. Patent protection can only go so far to compensate those that have been wronged, but reality is a biactch when the consumer demands a cheaper product that performs. GY was right in not getting a patent for the Senko shape seeing as how many copies are out there. But he knew his plastic formulation would excel and though expensive per stick, still sells millions of lures annually. I leave moralizing to priests and politicians, neither of which are shining examples.

Copying lures is a fact of life for those who can. As long as the maker doesn't sell them (openly), I don't see a problem, especially when the unit price is ridiculous. Many look forward to when a drug becomes a generic product because of a high cost per dose, at times over 150% higher than what it cost to make. A drug for my wife cost $5000/ month/ three times a week until it went generic. It's a wonder GY didn't get a patent on the Senko, a far more productive bait than the Sweet Beaver, and that Andre did sue many of the small guys. Of course GY was sued for using salt in his plastics by Gene Larew: For personal use, a design will always be a target and more so when improved upon by modification. Look at swimbaits. Ever notice sb.'s club tail copy of the decades old Mr Twister Sassy Shad? Every swimbait that has been produced has the same back and forth roll of the S.S. and the shad had a patent going back to the 70's. Copying a part or the whole lure is no different IMO. The Ugly Otter is far more productive with it's similar body design than the Beaver and it costs less. Five different companies have modified the Beaver and the lures sell quite well. That's pretty much a law of economics - either prices come down as the competition increases (legal or not) or things happen. Don't think for one moment that the big boys don't copy knowing full well they won't get sued by those that can't afford a patent lawyer. As far as I'm concerned, the big companies are as as much in the wrong as the individual who copies for profit - the intermittent wiper patent law suit that took years to win is a prime example.

The flapper action of both baits does the same thing - adds action tails to a skirted jig. I've used three different brands- Zoom, Rage Tail and the one shown - and catch just as many bass on each design, the 702 lasting the longest. Fish don't IMO give a hoot about ridges and other details many anglers insist noticeably improve a bait's success. There are far more important factors beyond basic lure design.

http://www.cremelure.com/store/store_product_detail.cfm?Product_ID=171&Category_ID=16 Sold for $1.99 a pack. or you can buy the mold to produce the same exact lure with no legal restriction as I did:

After doing that, I enter the info in my log book of memories. The log is not so much a record to learn from, though at times it reminds me that some lures and presentations worked in the past, as much as it reminds me of how many times I was in the right place, at the right time and with the right lure, worked the right way. Reliving those logged moment remind me that of all the bad days of fishing, there were so many good days. There is no way I can not improve something or other regarding my equipment when I return from a day on the water. It could be boat or tackle related that needs to be included or improved for the next time. Yesterday I noted (in a notebook I always carry) that the bale needed to be taken apart, cleaned and oiled. I caught bass on a specific lure and need to add a few more to the box. The boat seat needed some screws tightened, etc. etc. No point is glorifying over my success - it's not like a just won a million dollar lotto. Just the feeling of and the reminder that I connected to fish on a day perfect for fishing, is enough, making me plan for the next outing and hope it will turn out as pleasant.

It kind of depends whether the water is a small home water or remote from where I live. I want my home waters to be protected from meat anglers and avoid fishing near them or relating any information that may help them catch bass. Panfish I could care less about protecting, especially white perch, and don't mind helping anyone catch them as long as the areas don't usually hold bass. I avoid fishing with someone who has a big mouth and will brag-gab my locations.

First of all, bass fishing isn't rocket science. Just take into account depth and lure capabilities such as action (finesse to extreme), depth a lure can be fished effectively and it's speed range. Always know where you are using sonar to account for bottom and weed changes. Take notes for each water you discover things. Each water is different and the bottoms are different. Some lures are multi-specie lures and find out which are. Cast, cast, cast. It's the only way to discover (a key word) and add to one's experience which is accumulative. Understand seasonal differences in bass locations so that finding active fish becomes a bit easier as the years go by. Fishing with others speeds the process by noting what and how they caught fish, no matter how inexperienced you both are. Discovery is the essence of fishing - not winning tournaments or expecting all outings to be successful. This site has an overwhelming amount of good information, especially in it's archives and is the best in my opinion as a true encyclopedia of every facet of fishing you could ever know in a lifetime. But focusing on one general category at a time and not cramming everything into future outings, allows you to understand the value of each article and put it to use until you discover its usefulness, whether it be the use of jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits or structural / cover difference. Finding and fishing fish magnets are key! Learn a few waters very well and expand to others. Tournament fishing with others more experienced in certain techniques and lure use allowed me to realize their potential in different situations, but again, there will never be a substitution for replicating what you've seen or done. You can't rush success, so understand the tool of presentation speed, because without it, no lure in the world will work if you ignore that simple element of the retrieve. No point in wishing you luck because luck is when and where you find it and depending on blind luck, less and less. SS

Now that I'm retired, I must decide where to fish I haven't fished in a long time. It's tough seeing as the price of gas is $3.70/gal. and I hate going to a more distant water and having to figure it out all over again. But it's spring in NY, prespawn, and the opportunities for some easy shallow water catches makes it worth it. Other than that, I must consider going through my mega inventory of old (but little used new) lures I haven't used in many years and forcing myself to use them based on my many experiences.

Once I got past set up cost, pouring my own is way cheaper than buying. Rage Tails - 70 cents each; my poured craw - less than a dime each if the plastic is fresh and not a remelt. I have molds for 30 soft plastic designs in different sizes. No reason to ever use Senkos again since I own a bunch of Yum sticks in a few favorite colors, but again, can pour my own with a buoyancy and softness of choice. Tubes I buy by the 50 pack on-line from someone I hooked up with on Ebay. 20 cents each for a 3.5" tube in a thicker diameter. That's where I've bought and replace most of my weighted hooks.

For me, I sometimes wonder if there is any disadvantage using a wide gap on a thinner diameter worm. I've used up to an 8/0 swimbait hook on the 11.5" worms or large swimbaits I pour, but wonder if a smaller hook, say 5/0, would work as well. It has been said that bass take the whole lure into its mouth and as long as the worm doesn't ball up, a proper hook gap will usually allow a good hook set. I've been using Lazar Tokar type hooks (nose coil screw-in) with mixed results rather than offset hooks on smaller plastics. The gap is good, the worm stays on longer not coming into contact with the bullet weight and has proven itself as a good punch rig when using large soft plastics. Lure diameter will always matter to me more than bait length. Straight shank hooks may have their uses but wide gap and offset hooks are 99% of what I use. Too bad, since I own hundreds of Tru Turn hooks.

A personal yearly tradition keeps me coming back to the water to cast and retrieve over and over in the search for any species fish that will bite & fight. Until I see what is on my hook, the mystery is kind of exciting not knowing what or how big. (One time I had on what I thought was a panfish turned out to be a five pound bass!) The excitement and anticipation of casting to specific areas hoping active fish are there and the feeling of being the lucky one when I do. The reward of catching fish on lures I make or on presentations or lures tried for the first time. Being alone with my thoughts - at least until a fish strikes. Trying to discover patterns is a challenge; finding them is a welcome relief! Experiencing that which I would have thought impossible (catching a tiny bass on a large grub or a white perch on a 3.5" bass tube) and shaking my head still in disbelief.

Rather than call it a hobby, I would rather think of fishing as pursuit - pursuit of more than just fish, as most everyone has stated.

I used to think the motivation to buy more tackle was for the reason you mentioned, but anymore, going back, I think there were other factors: 1. after reading about the success of lure x,w or z, I wanted to try it and see if I could catch fish on it and do so consistently. 2. winters are long in the northeast and boredom seemed to be alleviated with the arrival of Bass Pro and Cabelas catalogs just after New Years. It became a habit to order stuff that looked good, interesting and potentially something I daydreamed I would catch fish on just after ice out. Imagination helped break up the long cold winters by way of warm weather dreaming. 3. I couldn't pass up clearance sales and bins. Sales mail order catalogs included, I have a Dick's and Gander Mountain fifteen minutes away and every spring, sales flyers showing fishing related gear with some great prices, would cause me to jump in the car and search the clearance bins and buy what was on sale whether I needed it or not. At the least, a few hundred was guaranteed to be spent for momentary imaginings with more trips to follow. Again, mostly to alleviate the boredom of not being able to fish plus - 4. Work stress would push me into buying more stuff to alleviate the discomfort of work and winter combined. No idea why. I do none of the above anymore, having far more patience in retirement, but mostly other diversions to focus on during winter until I can hook up the boat trailer, launch and fish. Now it's only a matter of seeing if what I own actually works and not replacing anything that breaks off catching a fish, fully realizing there will always be more ways and lure designs that work that I most likely already own!

I've come up with a synopsis of thoughts many of you posted, many that apply to me. contest just between you and the fish being in the outdoors enjoying nature and for peace and quiet I like trying to fool a live creature with an artificial (challenge) opportunity to spend time with my teenage son.; opportunity to teach my kids (family activity) quiet, having fun with friends (social) anticipation when you pick up a rod and make that first cast. ; the heart beats a little faster as you feel the pull on your line. (expectancy can be so much fun!) Escape from daily life is probably number one on my list ; great stress relief random reward patterns are addictive; You just have to have more.(gambler tendency many have) It's cost me me a lot of time and money in pursuit of it. (time and money well spent) always trying to figure out how to catch more ; a giant game of strategy so it is very intellectually stimulating (mentally stimulating) I go to fish, I don´t go to catch. I measure my success by how much fun I had and not by how many I caught. the experience not the statistics, grabbed a hold of me as a young boy and just never let go. Through all of life's trials and tribulations, smiles and tears, cross roads & hurdles, it's fishing that has always been there. (one of life's anchors) Only thing that still brings me back to that very special innocent and carefree feeling of being a boy; (simple enjoyment). Challenge ; trying to understand how this little green fish "thinks"... and my goal is that each day I come closer to understanding him. (problem solving that never ends and is rewarding in itself) amazing thing to do (the pursuit of being pleasantly surprised) The mystery of not knowing ; when a fish strikes, the rush of , what do I do now and what's that fish going to do now - simultaneously! Concentrating on catching fish is an escape = I fish because I'm in the moment research and experimenting (knowing and the pursuit of it) For myself, I no longer think like a fish because just having a thought is an attribute of higher life forms. (No clearly thinking fish would ever think of eating a chartreuse plastic worm! ; ) ) So the mystery began years ago - what are the many ways to provoke a fish to strike in order to continue to get the thrill of having been totally right about something (for a change) LOL?!! This also includes catching fish in the right area (such as a spot occupied by that big girl minding her own business!); using the right lure and presentation (one of many that might not have worked). No one can argue with success! The feelings of satisfaction and thankfulness when it all comes together. Some force or being let it happen, no questions asked or payment expected, plus our ability to appreciate the simple things is a blessing many will never know.

No explanations necessary. Everyone's different and each has the same or unique reasons the hobby/sport means a lot. I'm sure many of my reasons are different than yours and maybe a few which are the same. In any case why not share a few? ....or not. I'm going to read all of the great replies again before I share mine with my fellow anglers on BR. We should never, ever lose sight of the importance angling is in our lives, regardless. Thanks everyone - keep em com'n !

Many individuals can not appreciate the reasons to fish and much has to do with temperament. If all one fished for was for material benefit or fame, than he or she are in for a rude awakening. Many anglers I know fished for that reason and stopped completely after a dozen years of not be able to improve above a certain level and seeing that as the reason to abandon the sport. Funny though, they were excellent bass anglers but let ego get in the way. After I caught my first smallmouth bass on a yellow Mr. Twister grub in a local shallow river, I was hooked. But why? And why hasn't the hobby gotten old after a few years? You first.