king fisher

Hard to argue with that kind of success over that many years. Most of my experience has been with other sport fish. Big bass don't have to feed every day, so It wouldn't surprise me, if they were more active on a specific moon phase. Where would you rate moon phase importance compared to water temperature, barometric pressure, rain, sun, wind, and water conditions? Just curious, what would you consider the perfect day at you favorite lake.

Thanks for the information. I have been told by numerous people over the years, that they were from the old mold. Always wondered if that was just a rumor. The Brads wiggler in Magnum size works as well as the old Mag Warts for king salmon, way more effective than the ones Rapala made. Will have to try them for bass sometime.

I agree. I do not believe Lunar cycles have much of an effect. Many saltwater anglers I know are crazy over moon phase. All of the local people I hire as deck hands do not like the full moon. Every time we have a bad day fishing any where near the full moon. They blame it on the moon. If it is a good day of fishing they never give the moon credit, unless it is a new moon. Theory . My theory is the fish have to eat every day, full moon or not. I couldn't believe all the fish in the whole ocean go hungry because of the moon phase. I started calling everyone one I knew every time a had a good day or a bad day of fishing. What I found was, every day some boats had great fishing and some had poor regardless of moon phase. A day I got skunked on a full moon, a friend went one hundred miles south and had the best day of fishing in his career. I'm sure the moon has some effect, but it is too complicated for me to make any kind of prediction. Not saying others don't have more knowledge on the effect of the moon than I do. Lakes are smaller, and maybe most of the fish in a lake go on and off a bite at the same time, and the moon has a big effect. I don't have the experience to say. I do believe it has little effect, but I could be wrong. I will keep changing colors both when fishing is slow and when it is fast in all moon phases. Love to experiment.

I do agree that it would be very difficult or impossible to preform a scientific experiment that would determine why a bass hit or not hit a cetain lure. There are way to many variables to prove beyond any doubt that color had any effect. As said before my experience with bass is limited, so I don't have any examples of color being the deciding factor when it come to bass. As far as other species of game fish, I have many examples where I have had the good fortune to be able to catch fish on almost every cast in clear water where I could watch their reactions to my lure for many days in a row. I tried my best to limit variables, to the point that I am satisfied with the conclusion that color was the biggest factor in catching that species of fish in that spot on that day. Size, retrieve, and lure action, within reason, didn't seem to make a difference. Why they liked that color, I could only guess. ( If anyone wants to here details on these fishing experiences, and why I came to these conclusions, send me a personal message. I'm not going to post any more on this topic because I'm sure many people are getting tired of my posts.) Most of the time matching the color of the prey was my theory, but obviously it could have been some other reason. As far as why the originator of this post caught fish in clear water on dark baits, I would guess it was because the bass were used to eating dark baits. I wouldn't say bait is dark in clear water, and not in dark water. I have no clue to why some bait is dark while others are light. I only would guess the bass in this lake at this time were eating dark prey, therefore liked dark lures. It could be the dark lures were more visible, I couldn't say. Because bass do have eyes that can see color, it would only make sense to me, that they use this ability to find prey, determine what they can or can't eat, and ovoid predators. Obviously they use all of their senses for the same reasons. It also makes sense to me, which factor is more important would change due to changes in water conditions, type of prey, past experience, age , size of fish, and thousands of other factors. Many very experience fisherman on this site have never observed a time when they think color mattered to the fish. They are lucky, they can save lots of money.

I haven't used bluegill for bait because where I bass fish it is illegal to user live fish. I have caught thousands of salt water fish with bait. I would hook the bait just in front of the dorsal fin with a circle hook. Not only will you hook more fish with a circle hook, but you will have a greater chance of a good release. If you want to slowly retrieve the bait nose hook it. If you want to get a vicious strike, try suspending the bait on the surface with a long pole, kite, or helium balloon. I have always wanted to try this technique with fresh water fish, but never had the chance. Many Tuna Rooster fish snapper, and snook that refuse to hit any bait fished under the surface can't resist smashing a struggling bait under a kite. One reason is a spooky fish can't see the hook or line, because both are out of the water. Good luck

I agree Depth speed and location are the big three factors. If you are not fishing where the fish are than you can't catch them. My point is color is a factor and can be the biggest factor not only for catching fish, but for a fish to refuse to bite. Catch fish every day on a bright silver lure, and eventually they wont want to hit a bright silver lure. Yes fish do eat pink worms that don't look like anything they would eat. they also hit buzzbaits, that don't look like anything they would eat regardless of color. Or lures that are a completely different size than the local prey. I'm sure more times than not color doesn't make a big difference. There are also many times I can catch fish on small and large baits, at many different speeds, and actions. Just makes sense to start with something remotely representing their primary forage, including color. As far as the different facets of color, or how a bass sees the color, or the science behind light waves in water I have no clue. I do know that if I'm catching fish on a chartreuse bait, and I switch to a blue one stop catching fish then return to a chartreuse one and start catching fish again, I'm going to like chartreuse that day.

This form of logic is ridiculous. It would be like saying size of the lure is only I quote an obvious metric for distinction. As long as you have the correct size of lure it wouldn't matter if it was a crankbait, buzbait, spinner, bait, or soft plastic, fished slow or fast, therefore size must not be a factor? Obviously this is ridiculous, often times bass will only hit a certain size lure usually but not always the approximate size of the prey they are feeding on. Size, speed, action, color and many other characteristics are all important. There are times when one is what the bass are using to key in on your lure over others. Many times color is not high on the list. There are times, when it is the most important factor. As far as the original question of why bass would hit dark lures in clear water, I would have to guess it is because the natural prey in that water are dark colored.

I'm sure the fish don't see or care what color of shirt someone is wearing. I do know they have the ability to see color, and will use that ability to help them survive and grow. Blind fish can survive and grow old by using other senses. Same can be said about blind people, both people and bass that can see, will use their sight to full advantage. Animals that don't have the ability to see color do very well, but animals that can see color will certainly use that sense to full advantage. They don't just use color to find prey they want, but will also use it to not hit a certain prey or lure. I have many times been catching bass on a certain lure and color, then after catching many fish the bite stops. First thing I will do is switch colors. The fish start biting again. When switching colors doesn't work, I will switch retrieve, then lure and finally find a new place to fish. Like I said before. If color didn't matter, bass wouldn't be able to see color.

Does anyone know how deep old metal lipped plugs like Hellbender, bomber, mudbug, water dog dive?

The Brads baits came out a couple of years after Rapala took over Storm. They came out with an exact copy of Storms Hot N tot, and Wiggle Warts. I don't know if it is true, but at the time I was told by lots of people that Brads had bought the old molds from Storm. I bought some and they worked as well as my old Storm Warts for King Salmon in Alaska. Does anyone here use them for bass? Do they work as well as the old lures? Other than the line tie, they sure look the same.

I can't think of a time that I could say with 100% certainty that color was the main factor in catching or not catching bass. I can say that with at least 10 other sport fish species, both fresh and salt water I have had numerous times, when it was by far the biggest factor, and some situations, where it was the only significant factor. I think any predator on land or water that can see color will use that color vision to their advantage. If a person were to spend a day shooting orange clay pigeons, that were extremely fast and hard to hit but was told, do not shoot any tennis balls launched out of the say thrower. After and hour of shooting orange clays they throw out an orange tennis ball the same size and at the same speed. I would bet that 9 out of ten people will shoot the tennis ball. If the ball had been yellow, I would bet that 9 out of 10 would not shoot. If the clays were all different colors, I'm sure that the shooter would try and key in on the shape and flight characteristics, and color would not matter at all. I'm also certain, that it would be more difficult to spot the shape difference, making the person delay his shot, causing the hit percentage to go down. Translated to the fish, he fails to catch his prey more often. If the tennis balls were twice the size and bounced on the ground rather than thrown in the air, than of course color would not matter at all. ( Crayfish on the bottom as apposed to bait fish near the surface). My point being, it is hard for a bass to catch his food. He will use any of many methods to identify and catch his prey. Sometimes it will be action, the next time it will be size, and yes there will be times it will be color. If you think color doesn't matter, it's not that it doesn't matter, you just haven't come across the situation where it does yet.

Bass have eyes that can see color for a reason. I would assume that reason would be to help the fish find, identify, and catch it's prey. Also color might help a bass avoid a predator. If they don't use their color vision, why are they able to see color? It only makes sense to me, that if the fish can see color, I should try to find out what color they prefer on a given water and day.

As far as the original question, why bass would like dark lures in clear water I have no idea. I am certain there are times when color will be the difference from getting bit and going home skunked. Any one who hasn't experienced this needs to fish more. I do agree most of the time retrieve, size and action can be more important, but color does matter.

I have never caught bass fast enough to run any experiment that was very scientific. I have tested color on silver salmon in Alaska many times where I'm sure color was the only factor that made a difference in the fishing. Silver salmon will come into rivers and stage in pools by the thousands. There are many times, when they will only hit a pink lure. At first I would catch them on anything pink. After catching a few dozen the bite would slow down on certain lures, and retrieve styles, eventually I would find the one that worked best. Taking the same best lure, and changing to another color the bite would stop. Going back to pink I could catch them every cast again. I have done this over and over again for 20 years. I don't know why they like pink but they do. I have had the same experience fly fishing for trout during a hatch on a river. Most of the time size and drift are the most important factor in matching flies, but I have seen color be more important, than anything else. Like I said I never have bass fishing so good that I can experiment this way, but I would assume there are times, when color is the biggest factor for bass. I guess it never hurts to try a different color.

I saw a video of two guys chumming the water with three very large bags of bright red, orange crayfish. Thousands of these bright colored crayfish were dumped in a matter of seconds. They then took red rattle traps and caught bass on every cast. The only similarity the rattletrap had to the crayfish was color. I would bet almost any bright orange lure would have worked during the height of the feeding frenzy. I would assume once the frenzy stopped and the crayfish were hiding on the bottom, a jig or other lure that imitated the same shape and movement of the crayfish would work better than a lure that had the wrong action but was the right color. Of course it wouldn't hurt to have some orange craws on the jig. I always try to match size, action, and color of the forage the bass on feeding on. If that doesn't work I will change to a lure with a different size and action first, then different colors until the fish tell me what they like.

I'm a firm believer in match the hatch. If the bass are eating dark craw dads with bright orange claws, any lure I fish will have some bright orange on it. Fish are no different than people. If someone wants you to count the number of small brown birds in brown bushes, you will not use color as a key in finding the birds. You will be looking for movement and shape. If you art told to count the number of birds with a yellow head in the same bushes, you will key in on the color yellow more than movement or shape. Figure out what they are eating and try to match color of the prey. If they are eating a variety of prey then a more visible color, with lots of action may help.

In a river that size at that water level, I would cover every inch of it with a number 3 Mepps, or Vibrax. You would be able to put an inline in every riffle pocket, edie, run, pool, and tail out from top to bottom quickly. It all looks very fishy. Some of slower water looks perfect for a floating Rapala. Twitch it on the surface in the pockets next to shore than steady retrieve through the middle. With these two lures, you should be able to catch any species of sport fish in that water. Also perfect water level for a fly rod, with wooly buggers, and string leaches.

Wouldn't even think of fishing for Salmon or steelhead, without wearing rubber gloves, and using scent. Never tried it with bass don't know why. Would hate to become as fanatical about scent for bass, as I am for salmon. I like being able to handle the lures with bare hands, and not worry about having the wrong scent on. More I think of it, the more I'm sure I don't want to take even one step down that road.

You can buy willow blades made for salmon and steelhead that are called magnum willow blades, that have a large cup to them, making it possible to spin at very slow speeds. They come in an endless number of sizes and colors. A place in Alaska called Spinner Dave's, and one in Oregon called Fisherman's Shack are two of many you can order online from, that carry these blades.

Looks like a Canadian plug called Lyman. Similar to a J Plug, but made of wood, and has a solid line tie and hook hanger. Made in many different colors and sizes. Very popular for Lake trout in Canada, and the North West.

I'm not sure, someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think they still make the Mudbug, and Lazy Ike. Great lures, but I always preferred the original Bomber, over the Mudbug, flat fish over Lazy Ike. Probably a northwest thing. I always thought of the Lazy Ike as a Midwest lure. Heddon Sonic was the first lure I used specifically for bass. Still out fishes other lipless crank baits I have at times. Another lure I wish I could still buy is a Scorpion spinner bait. I think they were made by a company called Bass Buster, again correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not sure on the brand It was a short arm single Colorado spinner bait, that I went swimming to save more than once when I was a kid. Only owned one and it is long gone.

What is everyone's favorite lure that is no longer in production, or is still made but changed and not as good as the original? In other words, what lure would you like to see made in its original form again? Mine is the Rebel Deep Wee R, and original bomber in black and orange.

Sounds like a perfect way to get a drag free drift while fishing for small mouth in small rivers. Just like using a strike indicator while fishing nymphs with a fly rod. I know the perfect spot to try this technique on my favorite small mouth stream. Will give it a try as soon as possible. I have had luck in the past drifting a senko without a float, but had trouble getting the drift right due to not being able to mend the line correctly with a spinning rod. I'm sure using a float will give me a more natural drift. For those who say they don't think using a bobber is sporting, I will say the same thing I say to fly fishermen that refuse to use a strike indicator. More fish for me.

In my opinion for the size of river you are fishing, an inline spinner fished with a light to medium action spinning rod, and four to six pound test line would be the ideal combo to start with. Inline spinners will catch any species of fish, in small riffles, runs, and pools. Can be cast upstream and retrieved straight down, or swung across the current. Even retrieved straight upstream paused and dropped back into likely spots can be an effective way to fish them. I prefer Vibrax or Mepps in size 3 most of the time but other brands, in smaller and larger sizes work great too. There are times when a Panther Martin will significantly out fish any other blade. I will go against most of the advice here and recommend a size appropriate swivel for the inline spinners. Any one that tells you an inline wont twist your line has never fished all day with a spinning rod tied to an inline spinner in fast moving water. You can use a barrel swivel and a leader if you are worried about a snap swivel keeping the blade from spinning at slow speeds. I have fished inline spinners in rivers for everything, from blue gill to king salmon and have never had trouble with the action while using a quality snap swivel of appropriate size for the lure, line combination. ( the swivel in your picture is way to big and will have a dramatic effect on the way it spins.) With the exception of spoons, I wouldn't use a swivel with any other lures. Tubes and jigs, would be better for deeper holes with little to no current. Floating Rapalas, small crank baits, swim baits, and many soft plastics may be better lures to use once you find the depth and current the fish are holding in. Many times I have found fish in small streams covering water quickly with an inline spinner, then tied on every lure in my box trying to find a more effective offering, Switched back to the spinner finding it was the best producer.

Forgot to mention the lake. I will be fishing El Salto without a guide. Will spend most of the time fishing for numbers, but would like to try targeting larger fish for a couple of days. Will not mind fishing hard for one or two bites, if I have a better chance at a trophy. I will have both medium and heavy gear to fish any size or type of bait.