Weight size

[Catt]

Weight size is determined by Rate Of Fall not by any other factor!

A 1/8 oz weight may triggering strikes but the additional speed of a 1/4 oz weight may trigger twice an many strikes.

Even when Flippin/Pitchin/Punching, a 3/4 oz. weight may only penetrate surface vegetation with help of the angler by shaking his rod tip. A 1.5 oz. weight would easily penetrate surface vegetation but the slower fall of the 3/4 oz. weight may trigger more strikes.

This applies to Wacky Rigs, Texas Rigs & Jigs-N-Craws

[Shad_Master]

Weight size is determined by Rate Of Fall not by any other factor!

Not sure I completely agree with you there Catt.  At least one other "factor" can be wind.  Some times you need a heavier weight in order to get your lure in front of the fish.  But there are other times when less weight equals more fish.  I think it is really just trial and error.

[Catt]

When dealing with wind one can either adjust weight or compensate for the wind with their cast, same holds true when dealing with current.

[Shad_Master]

How do you "compensate for the wind with their cast" in 15 to 20 mph winds without adjusting weight?

[brushhoggin]

Are we talking strictly about strikes occurring on the fall?  When punching, i always wondered what bass under this matted hyacinth think when they see my critter craw come flying past their face at 80 mph because of a 1.5 oz bullet weight. But it's the only size that'll get through that stuff and i can't get bit. Only had luck a couple times, and that was cause the bass were on the bottom of these caverns that the weeds are forming. I've never gotten a hit on the initial fall fishing this way. Now when fishing plastics not punching, i always get bit crawling along the bottom, very rarely do i get bit on the fall and i fish with mainly 1/8-1/4 oz weights. does it matter what weight i'm using when i'm just barely crawling along the bottom with baby hops?

[Catt]

How do you "compensate for the wind with their cast" in 15 to 20 mph winds without adjusting weight?

I regularly fish 15-20 mph winds with a 1/4 oz weight by simply casting up wind and allowing the lure to drift down & across at the same time.

Same a with current, cast up stream!

[Catt]

Are we talking strictly about strikes occurring on the fall? When punching, i always wondered what bass under this matted hyacinth think when they see my critter craw come flying past their face at 80 mph because of a 1.5 oz bullet weight. But it's the only size that'll get through that stuff and i can't get bit. Only had luck a couple times, and that was cause the bass were on the bottom of these caverns that the weeds are forming. I've never gotten a hit on the initial fall fishing this way. Now when fishing plastics not punching, i always get bit crawling along the bottom, very rarely do i get bit on the fall and i fish with mainly 1/8-1/4 oz weights. does it matter what weight i'm using when i'm just barely crawling along the bottom with baby hops?

When punching regardless of weight we allow the lure to settle on the bottom, shake in place, reel up & repeat.

[Catt]

Most angles either go to light (weightless) or to heavy while never bothering to experiment with the in between. You will be surprised how big a difference 1/16 or 1/8 oz up or down can make on number of bites.

[WRB]

Good thread Catt. Lots of factors to consider with rate of fall, the weight is #1.

I do a lot of fishing in deep structured lakes and it's amazing how many strikes go undetected by novice jig and T-rigged soft plastic anglers . If your jig or worm doesn't hit the bottom when it should; "set the hook".

The difference between a 3/16 oz and 1/4 oz is 25% and it makes a big difference at times.

WRB

[Shad_Master]

Okay, I guess I'm confuse by what you are trying to say.  You started out by saying that "rate of fall" was the only factor affecting the weight being used.  Now, it seem like you are saying you have to adjust the weight depending on the conditions.  I agree with that.

However, in my case, I seldom use more than a 1/4 oz bullet weight.  If I have to go heaveir, I usuall opt for a jig.  A heavy bullet weight may help me get through the grass, but it will distort the action of the worm, craw, etc. -- Just MHO.

[boneil]

The rate of fall is also affected by pegging the weight or not.  If you do not peg the weight  the lure will lag behind.

[Catt]

The speed at which your lure falls through the water column is what attracts the bass first, then I would say size, shape, & color next.

With actively feeding bass you will fool some of them with a rate of fall that is not dead on. But with non-active bass, the ones I face on a daily bases the proper rate of fall can often make the difference between skunked and catching.

We must use common sense through out this process of determining what the bass want to eat but we must try to match the proper rate of fall as close as possible.

Adjustments can be made by the angler to match the proper rate of fall in numerious ways. I've found for instance that I can keep the size, shape, & color of a lure "type" while changing the rate of fall. A Senko, TikiStick, and the *** are all very similar in size, shape, & color but have distinctly different rates of fall. GYCB baits generally have a faster rate of fall as does Gene Larew, it has to do with how they are manufactured.

Many lure were designed with heavy weights required with Flippin/Pitchin/Punching in mind, enter Rage Tail. I find the Smokin' Rooster, Space Monkey, and Lobster offer plenty of action even with a 1.5 oz weight.

[Big Bait Fishing]

as far as weights for punching , i try to use just enough weight to get through to the bottom , if the rig drops too fast i will upsize the bait . i hate to have a small bait with a big weight anyhow , seems like a lot of strikes i miss are because of the bass mouthing the weight and not getting the hook . i like bigger plastics for punching so i can use a bigger hook as to not have the problem i just mentioned . good post catt