So, I've Bought All These Baits....

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

I read the magazines, watch the tv shows, read the forums, listen to my friends and I go out and buy all these baits, lures, even rods and reels for them but at the end of the day I'm catching all my fish, decent fish mind you, all on the same setup I ever do. That's my Texas rigged flipping and pitching soft plastics.

I have all this "stuff" but in reality when I'm honest with myself I can say that I really only need two bait casting set ups and that's it.

See, I fish in upstate NY and everywhere I go the vegetation and situations are similar enough that I can catch fish by pitching soft plastics.

Throwing crankbaits in the summer is pointless cause you're just gonna snag weeds everywhere.

Tossing around a Carolina rig isn't much help cause there really is no rocky bottoms.

Spinnerbaits work but mostly in the spring when it's not even bass season yet.

Top water is fun but most people aren't winning tournaments on top water here.

These lakes and bays are primarily dominated by senkos, jigs, and flipping style baits. Nothing wrong with that of course but I guess I just wanted to point out that as I was learning to fish I got caught up with a lot of ideas that just aren't that productive, and I spent a lot of money to find that out.

I've got no real point other than that. I'm just making an observation.

Oh we'll. I guess I'll keep those baits in case I ever move.

[mod479]

 You won't flip and pitch your way to victory on every body of water in NY. Fellow Upstate NYer....I can tell you throwing cranks in the summer is not pointless. Topwater could be a primary pattern on any given day, and I've had days like that, how can you discount it? Spinnerbaits definitely work from spring to fall when conditions are right, and a carolina rig is one of the most productive techniques for finding fish on unfamiliar waters..............in upstate NY.

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

I'm not saying every body of water, just the ones I fish which are mainly Sodus bay, fair haven, and smaller ponds strung about.

I know fishing keuka and Oneida are completely different animals, but I don't fish them.

I guess what I'm saying is if someone only fished the same waters all the time, stick with what works and save your money.

[Marty]

I don't agree with all your statements. Such as:

 

Throwing crankbaits in the summer is pointless cause you're just gonna snag weeds everywhere.

 

 

I fish Sodus and Port Bay 4-5 times each per year and crankbaiting can be done without snagging weeds, especially in Sodus where I've done more crankbaiting. Other times my friend and I have done very well on both bays on topwater.

 

Expand your horizons, you might be pleasantly surprised.

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

I just know ill catch fatties with the soft plastics every time. I've caught them on cranks just nothing great.

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

Sorry if this thread is rattling anyone. I'm just bored as heck here at work.

[rippin-lips]

Ripping cranks through weeds is a good technique. I think you need to expand a bit.

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

We get a lot of milfoil up here. It doesn't really rip through. It just gets all bundled up on the lure.

[SirSnookalot]

When I'm fishing my goal is either to catch fish or have fun, it's nice if I can accomplish both.  I have my few baits that will usually produce, but there times I forego them in lieu of putting a little variety into my life.  

[Hogsticker]

Here is another observation. I've never caught a fish on the lures/baits that just sit in my tackle box and don't get used with some regularity. Imagine that!!

[wnybassman]

Seeing we fish many of the same waters, I'll continue letting you believe what you believe.       

[CPBassFishing]

Here is another observation. I've never caught a fish on the lures/baits that just sit in my tackle box and don't get used with some regularity. Imagine that!!

hit the nail on the head

[chromedog]

I know what he is saying to a degree.  Upstate NY is a different beast.  But many lures and techniques do work.  It is just that you have to start understanding where and in what situations to use them.  I can tell you right now, middle of summer I can go up to lake of the isle and crank small squarebills all day and have a blast.  See they are only running 2-4 feet and just ticking the top of the weeds we get around here.  I can go to Skaneateles and throw swimbaits or drop a c-rig down and do work.  It is just learning the areas, bottoms, etc.. then take into account the wind and what you can successfully work CORRECTLY and then lastly, practice!

 

Everything has a time and a place.  Just have to figure out the ins and outs of where you are and what the fish are doing.  Then figure out the best way to present something to them.  NO one lure works everywhere, all the time.

 

The only thing I really don't throw myself are big, hard bodied swimbaits.  Just a little overkill, for me anyways. 

 

Just keep at it.

[smalljaw67]

I'm going to help you out here, I'm a PA resident and when I was just getting into bass fishing 30 years ago I read the magazines and watched everything on T.V. and I thought I was doing something wrong or the tactics just didn't apply to the fish in my waters. Well the truth is you really have to adapt techniques to where you use them as the forage base is different. Milfoil to me means lipless crankbaits, also going away from the bank until you get to the weed edge, that edge is a great place for a medium diving crank and a square bill can be killer when fished over top of a weed bed just as a hollow body swimbait fished over weeds. You have confidence in fishing soft plastics and that is good but expanding your bait choices could make the difference between a good day and a great day, especially if you fish tournaments at all. The only thing you lack is confidence, and a good day on cranks or swimbaits or jigs will change your mind but you have to be willing to use them enough to get bit and that is the hard part.

[gobig]

My ideas of where and when I could throw different baits has changed dramatically since I first started bass fishing. You would be amazed at what you can throw in around heavy weeds.

[Scorcher214]

I know how ya feel. I look at my box of jigs and think "WHEN AM I EVER GOING TO USE THESE?" Of the maybe 30 jigs I have, I've probably caught 15 bass MAYBE on jigs in my entire life.

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

Well I guess I'll have to try out some of these techniques more since a lot of you guys seems to find their time and place.

I don't know, when my buddy who fishes club tournaments up here competes, he always fishes a jig and other soft plastics and he always places high. He's been angler of the year a few times too.

I'm not saying the other techniques don't work but I think some are stronger than others.

[Scorcher214]

If you want to venture out with something that's pretty simple, go to spinnerbaits. Always got one tied on when I go out. They are simple, effective and semi-weedless. 3/8oz, white/chartreuse, double silver willowleaf. 

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

Oh don't get me wrong, I crush em on spinnerbaits in the spring. It's actually one of my favorite ways to fish. I just don't use them as much throughout the summer.

Out of all the baits I mentioned, the only one that I don't ever really mess around with is the Carolina rig.

Everything else I catch fish with but what I'm saying is I could leave all that stuff home and slay'em with jigs and soft plastics.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Cranks in vegetation can be awesome. I live upstate to and fish cranks alot. I find the little spots where theres some.kind of break up or i just fish right thru...i started.throwing the cheap.walmart cranks until i found a way not.to get snaged now ill throw my best stuff.in there. Sorry for the periods my phone sucks!

[Grizzn N Bassin]

And cant go wrong with spinners. Dont.rule anything out.

[Arv]

I think its good to have your fall back confidence baits. When all else fails I either throw a senko or a drop shot. I know I'll catch fish on those. With that said, I never liked lipless crankbaits until just recently. I never understood how so many people claimed they were such a clutch lure, until I realized I never really tried fishing them on a consistent basis. They are now quickly becoming one of my conficence baits as well, even more so than a spinnerbait. I'm often guilty of trying something one time, not catching anything on it and giving it up for something I like. I think being persisent and having some patience and learning a new technique is crucial to becoming a more complete fisher. It may make the difference between a good day on the water and getting skunked.

[coldsud]

I was reading something a few days ago about how fishing with what works for you is usually what you fish with. By that I mean you just have been so successful with a few tactics and tackle that you usually fish most of the time with it. If you get the same amount of time on a different tackle you probably will be more productive with it. Just a thought. For me personally I can win all day with soft plastics, creature bait type stuff, and weedless jigs with a trailer all day. That's what I mainly fish with so i'm getting pretty good with it. 

[Sodus Bay Scooter]

I think its good to have your fall back confidence baits. When all else fails I either throw a senko or a drop shot. I know I'll catch fish on those. With that said, I never liked lipless crankbaits until just recently. I never understood how so many people claimed they were such a clutch lure, until I realized I never really tried fishing them on a consistent basis. They are now quickly becoming one of my conficence baits as well, even more so than a spinnerbait. I'm often guilty of trying something one time, not catching anything on it and giving it up for something I like. I think being persisent and having some patience and learning a new technique is crucial to becoming a more complete fisher. It may make the difference between a good day on the water and getting skunked.

That's a good point. I know I never give the "other" baits as much attention. I'll have to try'em out some more.

[ColdSVT]

I lile throwing deep cranks near thick weeds in northern PA and UPSTATE NY

now if I could just make the muskies leave them alone id be happy.

learn new tricks OP learn to adapt and you will do more catchin instead a haulin water