For The New Bass Fisherman, To Refresh The Older Bass Fisherman (Me)

[bigbill]

Wether your new or experienced this may help even I forget or draw a blank sometimes weTher it's brain fade or I need a snickers it happens to any of us.

 

Lure color vs presentation vs lure size,,,,light vs water conditions

 

1. CLEAR WATER CONDITIONS;

 

Smaller natural colored lures fished the fastest. Shad colors, craw colors etc.

 

2. SLIGHTLY STAINED TO NOT AS CLEAR WATER CONDITIONS;

 

A mix of natural colors and bright colored small lures fished fast or slow.   

 

3. STAINED WATER CONDITIONS;

 

Medium to large sized, brighter colored lures, fished slower.             

 

4. MUDDY WATER CONDITIONS;

 

Large to the largest size, the brightest colored lures fished the slowest.

 

5. LOW LIGHT, EVENING OR EARLY MORNING FISHING AT DUSK OR TWILIGHT.

 

These two different times of the low light I fish them backwards. In the evening as the sun goes down I'm throwing natural colored lures. As the light turns to dusk I switch to brighter colors like firetiger, white, bone etc. Something the bass can still see as the light disappears.

 

In the early morning from dark to twilight I'm throwing brighter colors like chartreuse. Firetiger, white, bone etc. Again a color they can see in the low light. As the low light becomes day I switch to natural colors.

UNLESS there are over hanging trees causing shaded darker spots. Again throw smaller brighter colors.

 

Now remember to make soft casts. Don't let your lure hit the water like a rock.

 

I fish from shore mainly. I don't let shore fishing bother me. Once you practice this you will learn we put limits on ourselves. Just stay motivated and focused. Get into your own zone think fish. Use and apply what you have learned here.

 

Presentations like lure speed can be very important. In clear water conditions you want the fish to get a quick glance of your lure not a complete picture of it.

 

In stained or muddy water you know he can just about see it but he knows the meal is there. Go slower to give him a better peek at it.

 

Having a rattle or using a scent is a plus.

 

This may seem like a big picture right now once we learn it, it's like a little kids puzzle this knowledge means more success will happen to us. It's increasing our skills.

 

I'm no pro I'm just an average Joe who loves bass fishing. I like to see everyone have success in fishing. I'm not competitive with anyone when I fish. I compete with myself to do better on every trip. I don't have the time to compete with other people. I'm in my own zone to fish that's it. Think fish, eat, sleep and dream fish.

[bigbill]

My point is I carried a tackle box with lures and didn't know how to use them for many decades. I fished for trout only. I got into bass fishing just before my son broke his leg doing motocross with his dirt bike. Before the cast was dry and boardum set in we took him fishing using a lounge chair. We all supported him and went fishing together. Before we knew it we were hooked on bass fishing. I was glued to the tv watching Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Jerry Mckinnis,  fisherman, dime store fishermen, Roland Martin etc.

Then we had the internet when the bass resource guide was just born. This sight was the icing on the cake to hone our bass fishing skills razor sharp.

 

Now I like to see everyone catch bass. It makes me happy, happy to see others catch fish.

[macmichael]

Thanks for the info.I'm sure it'll help a lot of fishers.

[Catt]

Problem #1: Bass aint gonna read it

[Raul]

Well, I don't want to sound like an arse but I don't agree with anything.

[roadwarrior]

Well, I don't want to sound like an arse but I don't agree with anything.

 

Well, I like a big splash to start with. Talk with the locals at the tackle shop. Sometimes

there are certain lures and colors that are hot. Otherwise, use your favorite color and

lures you have confidence in.

[Shane J]

I would disagree, too. I like darker when light starts to go down. Casts a more solid silhouette against the available light in the sky. Black Neon, Red Shad, Red Bug, Junebug. Even that, though, is mostly just a confidence thing. Most time, in low light, color hardly matters at all. 

[ww2farmer]

You have some things I agree with in there Bill.............like lure speed in clear water, but even that is not set in stone because........sometime the opposite is true. I have to say this ...man....................do you ever over think things. Bass fishing is not complicated.....we(fisherman) like to make it so for some reason. I don't know if it's because it strokes our ego's when we think we have it figured out...........but how much have we really acomplished outsmarting a fish with a pea brain? Go fishing, put lures/baits you have confidence in, in a place that bass live or feed, and if they are not there, look in another spot. No need to reinvent the wheel to catch one.

[Trek]

   One thing I've learned over years of tournament fishing is there's more then one lure that will catch a bass. After a while you get to know the guys and are able to talk to them after the tournaments. All the top guys in my area that I know are good at figuring out patterns or what the fish are doing. To many guys today are spot fisherman. Then someone is on their spot and they're done. My advice to a new fisherman is to worry more about what the fish are doing and feeding on and stick to the basic colors. The secret to catching fish is to fish where the fish are.

[ksboy]

   One thing I've learned over years of tournament fishing is there's more then one lure that will catch a bass. After a while you get to know the guys and are able to talk to them after the tournaments. All the top guys in my area that I know are good at figuring out patterns or what the fish are doing. To many guys today are spot fisherman. Then someone is on their spot and they're done. My advice to a new fisherman is to worry more about what the fish are doing and feeding on and stick to the basic colors. The secret to catching fish is to fish where the fish are.

THIS!!!!

[WRB]

Bill, thank you for sharing you experience. The old saying no good deed goes unpunished is applicable to bass fishing forums.

What makes bass fishing so much fun is the fish are willing to strike artificial lures of a wide variety of sizes and colors. Nearly every bass tournament proves that no one lure, color or presentation is dominate as anglers catch bass on a wide range of lures and locations.

Tom

PS, the secret is .......active feeding bass are catchable inactive bass are not.

[bigbill]

I just posted a starting point, it's a baseline. When we get into a rut it's good to review the basics to get back in the groove. Nothing is in cement or a given when fishing. We all are different fisherman. But shore fishing were stuck were we are and have to figure it out. We just can't move the boat.  We have to work it for what it is. Paying attention to the light and water conditions and using the right lure colors does matter.

 

There is a time between dusk and twilite just before dark sets in at night the brighter colored lures will catch you a few more fish. Before it shuts down.

 

Example, in the evening while is was still light before dusk I'm throwing a joesfly in blackgnat. Silver Colorado blade with black fly. As it got darker the bite shut down. I put on a joesfly in firetiger apache and caught a few more bass till it got dark. Never limit yourself on certain colors for different lighting conditions. I like to breakout and try different things just to see if I can land a few more fish when it slows up.

 

I notice a change in lighting conditions can shut the bass down. Getting back to Dr. Loren Hill the bass can't see certain colors all the time. I know the fish are there yet the bite stopped. I changed to a brighter color and caught bass again. Again an overcast light rainy warm day. I threw the same joesfly in firetiger apache and caught 19 bass while fan casting in one spot. Using a brighter color in a cloudy rainy overcast low light condition. It's just some food for thought.

 

Another thing I seen when the bite slows down on a clear day while catching smaller fish and it shuts down. I try two different things. First I try a brighter color in the same size lure. Next I throw a larger lure in the same color. The bigger fish come closer to see what the smaller fish are feeding on but they won't hit the same lure. As soon as I throw the larger lure its bigger fish on.

 

Don't forget I'm not using a fish finder. Im going by trial and error to pin point what's changing as the bite slows down. I am not tornie fishing so I'm not pressured to fish or gun and run. I can stay in one spot and research why it happens and what the cause is. I know the fish are still there.

 

I'm a firm believer in this color thing. Sometimes it matters, sometimes it doesn't. We need to figure it out and when to stay in the game when it changes.

 

Nothing I said is set in stone it's a starting point, just basics the game can change at anytime you guys know this.

[BuckMaxx]

I do not use lures with the big name fisherman on them. I think it intimidates the fish.

[WRB]

When any thread morphs into how bass see color you are standing on quicksand.

The references like Dr's Loren Hill and Keith Jones are good examples. Two experts in their field, Hill also being a touring pro at one time, having opposite conclusions, both agree bass can determine colors and it ends there.

The bottom line is we bass anglers don't have a clue and rely on our experiences to determine what works when and where. Today's hot new color is forgotten next year and the beat goes on.

Bill you don't tournament fish and that limits your exposure to other good bass anglers fishing the same water at the same time, which can impact your perspective. Like you I rarely tournament bass fish anymore, only a few charity events, however derbies are a good way to keep up on what is catching bass where you fish.

Catt is our resident night bass angling expert and he always says use the same lures at night that you use in the day. The fact he fishes with black-blue soft plastic during the day may be the reason. Catt is right with this statement, my tendency is to use dark colors like black, purple, blue and red combinations to add contrast, another of Catt's recommendations; use lures with contrast at night.

Where I fish the bass are mostly Florida strain largemouth bass, look like northern strain largemouth bass but don't behave the same. FLMB are more difficult to catch on artificial lures. We also have NLMB, spotted bass and smallmouth bass. Both spots and smallies are more aggressive bass than NLMB or FLMB preferring different lures and colors. We shouldn't lump all bass together when suggesting how to catch them.

Out west in gin clear water you don't fish lures fast very often, slow is often the best presentation. Natural prey colors that look like the prey, the same size as the prey with the same movements will catch more bass, day or night.

Tom

[bigbill]

Please I mean no flames here against anyone.

I posted my results in testing the Combo C LECTOR a few years back, maybe a decade. My results was on three days only one color caught fish when no other color worked. For those three days only one color worked for the time I was fishing. On another day all the colors worked. I was just getting into bass fishing and seen a bill dance tv show about Dr Loren hill' s combo c lector. I also read some of doctor hill' s test results online too. I'm very interested in changing light and water conditions plus the suns effects on the plant life and hues in the water. And how it affects the basses eyes and the baitfish eyes to change when the lighting conditions change. This affects the morning, the noon and evening feeding times. I know it's easier to just go fish. But I wanted a little more knowledge about the color and feeding times why it happens.

Again I don't mean to offend anyone.

When I took the job of twenty years with the engineering group I look at things from the end product user as well trying to understand the engineering that went into it. I look at things from both sides of the fence. But mainly want to know why things work the way they do. The root causes.

Why did I have success on one day and not the following day what's changed.

Sorry if I posted too much stuff.

I wanted to start fishing local tournaments in the early 90's but I had two knee operations that haulted those plans so I fished from shore harder.

I love bass fishing.

[bigbill]

I suggested to fish clear water with natural colored lures fished faster so the fish can't get a good look at it to see its not real. This has been said many times but I like to refresh as the season starts up