Why did this work so well today?

[Prinler]

I went to the lake today. First time to this one. It has great fingers on it. very long and kinda deep. I was recently hooked up by a bass pro shop. Set up my worm and everything. My first 2 casts worked with a purple worm in a texas rig. two small bass. Never worked after that. after 2 coves later and 2 worms later... No hits.

So im sitting there checking out my tackle box. HMMMMM lets try this.. crank bait. nothing, spinner, crank bait, cast master WHAM, was catching pan fish, bass.... Panther martin, WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM every cast i caught somerthing. My day ended at 34 bass and about 10 pan fish. I was very happy. avarage size was about 1lb 8 inches long... not amazing but fun!

1. Why did this work so well and none of the other baits worked very well?

I notices i was only catching fish in weeds and in shallow water. No large bass, where are the large bass at? I tried casting my worm out into open water and i never got anything.

2. What am i doing wrong with the texas worm? the pro shop swares he only uses that same purple worm and he fishes in tournies..

[Bud]

 A.   You happen to hit on the right color and action.

 B.   The bass was not wanting a purple worn that day.   Tommorrow will be difference.  They might tear the worm up and not touch the  Panther martin.  That Bass fishing.

[Grey Wolf]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You hit on the correct pattern for the day, next time out it may be something else their hitting on.

[Prinler]

Good ideas, i just went to walmart. Dropped *gulp* $40 on just bait lol

chart worms, popr', popn image jr., jitterbug, 1/4 kastmaster, 3 rooster tails.... whoa $$$

Thanks everyone.

[Plastik]

Good ideas, i just went to walmart. Dropped *gulp* $40 on just bait lol

chart worms, popr', popn image jr., jitterbug, 1/4 kastmaster, 3 rooster tails.... whoa $$$

Thanks everyone.

40$??!?!??!11?!  

You got out of there cheap man!!

[bassclown]

$40 doesn't go too far with the things that i want.

[Prinler]

:'( cheep? Gulp     and i thought i was going over board. HAHA

I think im ummmm Adicted.

All i think about is fishing...

[Plastik]

If you think you are addicted, then it WILL get a lot more expensive.  Your going to go to Walmart to pick up some hangers because some guests arived, and walk out with 40$ in fishing stuff.  You decide to swing by Academy with a pal, oops, there goes another 70$.  I dont think I can even get out of a store that sells tackle unless I spend 30$.  Make one trip to BPS or Cabelas, and your done man.  The wife will start hollerin, and you have to buy her some MORE new shoes.

Plastik

[New 2 Bass]

...The wife will start hollerin, and you have to buy her some MORE new shoes.

Plastik

Oh, so very true!!!

Back to topic, I think you happened to nail the pattern of the day.  As is the case in bass fishing, this may/will not apply tomorrow.  At least it doesn't for me.  Today its orange/black, tommorrow its blue/green, go figure.

later

[jomatty]

even more than having the right pattern i think you were using a lure that will very often catch exactly what you caught, a number of small fish.  i usually dont use the in-line spinners for bass because of exactly that, but on a day when nothing else is working it sounds like fun.

casting into open water is usually not the best bet unless you have some reason to think that something is going on out there.  there is an awfully lot of open water and a bunch of it is not going to have structure that holds fish.  if you are going to try to fish out there get yourself a heavy jig or c-rig and drag it around and when you feel something different or get hung a little key on those spots.  blindly winging a worm into the middle of a lake is gonna have you mostly fishing dead water.

welcome to bass fishing and the forumn, both are a great way to spend your time.

matt

[Catt]

#1 Panther martin, in weeds and in shallow water, this is a pattern

#2 You were doing nothing wrong with the Texas Rig, it just happened not to be part of the pattern.

#3 Where were the big bass, don't we all want to know that one   :-/

[Prinler]

I dont remember where i read it but it said that i should keep life like baits and then oposite bais like chartruse and other unatural colors.

The bass pro shop says its a bunch of bologna. He says he fishes with purple worms morning noon and night. Always catches fish.

I think most of my problems is fishing from shore. There is next to no plants or cover.  As i said above the only action is the little fish in the shallows.

Shore fishing is for chumps

[jomatty]

there is no one color that is the "best color".  sure you can always catch a fish with a purple worm but anyone who said that was all you needed should not be trusted for advice.

that said, color selection does not need to be that complicated.  in low light, low visibility conditions go with dark colors.  the lighter it gets the lighter in color you can theoretically go.  in practice as long as you have some dark worms (like a black/blue or junebug) and some light colors (like some green pumpkin) you should be fine.

bank fishing is not for chumps but a boat is nice.  you have to be a little more selective from the bank and choose places that give you some areas that will hold fish.  small ponds and such are great for the bank fisherman.

matt

[Tom Bass]

Purple Worms... I heard that same guff when I was a kid in the '70's on Beaver Lake in Arkansas and I've been hearing it ever since. If purple worms worked so well there would be no other lures to choose from. I personally don't care for 'em.

Jomatty has the right idea.

Tom

[Daniel My Brother]

I love electric grape power worms, but I don't think worm colors are all that important. As far as finding the big bass...when you figure that one out, please let me know. Until then, enjoy the little ones.

[The_Natural]

It worked because of the mood the fish were in, your bait and it's color was what they wanted to eat at the time, and you presented your bait at the precise speed and technique.  That precise bite will probably never occur exactly as it did at that moment, but you can use that experience to help yourself in similar conditions in the future.