What Goes Into Consideration For Lure Choice?

[Brian6428]

Hey guys, I am relatively new to bass fishing and need some help with choosing lures. Not like at the store, but on the water. Right now for me it is a shot in the dark- I usually tie on whatever I think looks good that day. So what I want to know is when you guys get out on the water, what helps you choose which lure in your tackle box you throw? Like for example if it is cloudy or sunny, what does that tell you? Or murky or clear, etc etc. Thanks in advance!

[The Next KVD]

To me its like a calculation of many factors.  Everything in nature is put into that calculation/equation.  A fish is a predator that takes everything into consideration to optimize its ability to feed.   Its extremely hard to explain details on paper and once you go through alot of trial and error you will start to understand how a fish behaves under a set of conditions.

 

An example I can give:  Sunny+ cold water+ clear water+no wind = Negative fish = small strike zone, slow moving baits, small in size, natural colors, tight to cover

 

Another would be: Partly Sunny+Warm water+ clear water+wind= active fish= wide strike zone, faster moving baits, mid to large in size, natural colors,

 

There are exceptions for every set of conditions but even the pros will tell you for the most part they are guessing.  HOWEVER its an EDUCATED GUESS they learned through trial and error as well as seasonal patterns as to where the fish should be and how they should behave. 

 

WATCH alot of instructional videos on fishing such as The Bass Pros.  However, you can not beat on the water experience.

 

I know I'm really kinda butchering this and may not be saying it right but like I said its extremely hard to explain on paper.  You will learn it with experience and it becomes a part of your natural instinct.

[Brian6428]

Thanks, that makes sense!

[Felix77]

The Next KVD has some good points.  In addition to determining what mood the fish are in is determining where they are (depth) and bait color.

 

For depth I keep things simple (1-2-3)  Here's an example using soft plastics in about 10 feet of water.

1 - Top of the water column. - Zoom Fluke weightless or light swimbait hook.  Twitch it along for an hour to cover the top 5 feet of the water column.

2 - Middle of the water column - Zoom Swimming Super Fluke.  1/4oz round ball jighead or darter.  Cover the middle of the column.  Somewhere in between 5-7 feet deep.

3 - Bottom of the water column - Shakey Head and a Zoom Finesse Worm.  1/4oz.  Drag and hop it along the bottom.

 

 

As for color that's also subjective but I try and keep that simple too.

 

If I can see >2 feet = Green Pumpkinish type baits otherwise Junebug/Black

If it's sunny I may go a shade or 2 lighter.  If it's cloudy I go a shade or 2 darker.  

 

So for example:  I can see in >2 feet and it's sunny then I lean more towards the watermelons.  If it's cloudy I go towards the purples and black.

 

Hope I didn't confuse you too much.

[BassinB]

Here is what I take into account in the order of importance, keep in mind everything has an exception:

1) Time of Year: Pre-spawn, spawn, post spawn, summer, fall, winter

2) Water Temp: As a *general* rule cold=slower warm=faster

3) Weather Conditions: Many factors here

        A) Sun: If its high in the sky I usually look for cover or deeper water. If its late in the day or early in the morning the fish will not relate to cover as tightly.  In spring it will warm docks and rocks attracting fish.

        B ) Clouds: If there are a lot of them the fish will not hold as tight to cover

        C) Barometric pressure: *generally* a low pressure trend will increase feeding window times, high pressure trend will decrease feeding window times

        D) Wind: High wind will position the fish because it will force baitfish to follow their food source (zooplankton/phytoplankton).  Wind blow structure or cover will usually produce fish.  My general rule of thumb when fishing in wind with reaction type baits is: More wind=more thump or flash.  Gentle wind or no wind at all, I use more subtle actioned baits.

4) Water clarity: I go on a scale of 3 clarities. Muddy, stained, clear.  Muddy is <2 foot visibility due to particles in the water column.  Stained is <5 foot visibility due to water coloration and tanins in the water chemistry. Clear is greater than 5 foot visibility.

    A) Muddy: Very dark colored baits or very bright colored baits, contrast to the water color is key.  Loud rattles and high vibration is important here to attract strikes.

    B ) Stained: I like slightly more natural colored baits in this situation, usually with some highlights of chartreuse or orange.  I leave the vibration and flash decision up to other conditions.

    C) Clear: My favorite situation.  I throw natural colored baits and match the forage of the region here. I will use rattles and vibration only when dictated by other conditions.

5) Depth: Pretty self explanatory, use baits that are designed for the depth the fish are in.

6) Structure/cover: I use baits that are appropriate weight and action wise for the structure/cover I'm fishing.  Often times I throw a reaction bait until I can locate fish on a certain type of structure/cover, then I will slow down and thoroughly cover that spot.

 

I think that about covers the things I think about when choosing a lure.  In all cases, using a lure that in some way mimics a natural forage is obviously important so I didn't put that in there.  These are all generalizations too.  If I'm prefishing and somebody told me they are slaying them on a technique that doesn't fit the criteria, I'm not going to ignore them.

 

[J Francho]

Depth, cover, activity level. In that order. You have to get the bait to the fish, and once it's there, you have to get them to bite.

[roadwarrior]

#1 for me is "preferred forrage". My observation is that sometimes bass are focused

on baitfish (moving lures) and at other times they are more focused on bottom creatures. 

Both may work, but often ther is s distinct preference.

 

#2 is depth

 

#3 is cover vs structure

 

#4 is both profile & action

 

And although color is sometimes critical, I consider it to generally least  important.

Let me expain why: Next time there is a "What Color Is Best" thread running, you will

see nearly every color recommended. I think you start with your favorite!

 

 

[Marty]

Some good advice above. But remember, this is not a science, it's art to a large extent. There may be numerous choices for a given situation. For example, consider a situation where you're fishing the tops of weeds that come up to within 2 or 3 feet of the surface. You could use topwaters, shallow cranks, spinnerbaits, soft plastics and perhaps others.

 

We can't predict what will happen on any given day. You can start out using some of the guidelines given above, but if they don't work, then it becomes a matter of trial and error, and if it does, that doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.

[Brian6428]

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I will get out and try it as soon as i can.