Confidence The #1 Bait

[Munkin]

There are a bajillion "what is your favorite/greatest/most bestus" posts on here but I really want to talk about what is important; confidence. It doesn't matter if I can catch fish on a pink buzzbait on every cast if there is not confidence in the bait I have already failed.  With all the posts asking about what to use if say use what works for you and concentrate on finding the fish and you will be a better angler. This seems to be a fundamental flaw with a lot o people so I figured i would mention it. I have been on this forum awhile now and generally do not reply to the "favorite" threads for this reason.

 

Allen

[maleko]

5" Senko in baby bass color. That my confidence ....

[Suspendingjerk]

Ya know. I've been fishing for almost 20 years. And I'm just now figuring this out. Haha. My whole life I've been so worried about what to throw. But this past year or so I've been trying a few new things. Things that my confidence grew on very quickly. And just the fact that they were new and out of my comfort zone has shown me how important confidence really is in fishing.

[Raul]

6 - 7 inch straight tail worm.

[Bank4Bass]

White/Chartrusse 1/2oz double willow spinnerbait never let's me down

[Raul]

White/Chartrusse 1/2oz double willow spinnerbait never let's me down

Excellent choice !

[hatrix]

A swimbait of some kind. There is so many different sizes and weights and ways to rig them its incredible. They will always catch fish if you figure out how they want it. They are the most versatile bait hands down. They can be fished in any kind of cover and depth of water at any speed.

[Mccallister25]

Black/blue jig with craw trailer

[Bluebasser86]

Whatever bait I'm using. If I lose confidence in a bait I won't be fishing it anymore. 

[Pz3]

I am with you on that one BBD. Sometimes certain baits just arent going to work out. No matter how confident one is.

This is what my opinion is. You should be confident with everything you have in your tackle box.

But more importantly. You should be dynamic enough to realize when a bait isnt working and change it. Either presentation/color/type.

Now finding the fish is a whole different topic.

[Catch and Grease]

Bruised banana zoom trick worm!

[Chris186]

I have never really fished too much with spinnerbaits, but for some reason this year im slamming them on spinnerbaits. I have to say Im gaining alot of confidence throwing a spinnerbait.

[einscodek]

You need confidence in order to be patient and work that lure the proper way

I see lots of people who dont have "confidence" in a bait and dont work it right or in the right place or at the right time.

Whats right?  What gives you the best probability.. nothings agiven but you want the best odds or better odds.

Confidence is based on judgement and not everyones judgement is that good.. thats the difference between good and ok and bad fishermen.

Some guys get confidence in a lure just cause they tossed it and it nails 5 fish in a row when that lure was picked by chance perhaps and there happened to be a school of fish there hittin that bait.

Well if the fisherman didnt understand what really is goin on, that confidence is false and next time in different conditions, his results wont be so good.. time to find another"confidence" lure..

KVD got confidence too.. except his confidence is based on his years of experience and understanding whats going on with the fish, locations, etc and seeing how that improves his odds.. the man oozes understanding about what to use how to work it and when.. hes got "confidence" lures for given situations.

[Chris186]

That's probably because you're using the spinner bait more than your other lures, no?

Actually no. I only throw it about 40% of the time on my trips. For example, I fished a tournament last weekend and started out throwing the spinnerbait. I caught 2 fish on it right away, then a few casts later i switched it up for almost the rest of the tournament. I picked it up every now and then, and near the end of the tournament caught 2 more fish on it when the other things I was throwing stopped working for me. I probably only used it maybe 3 hours of the tournament, the other 5 I threw other stuff.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I'd say a crankbait -- both lipped and lipless. I always feel confident throwing a crankbait, and I am 100% for the whole confidence thing.

[iceintheveins]

Clear water it's a senko. Dirty or stained it's a black blue jig with a rage chunk. I hate leaving out a spinnerbait or a jig period, because those are the two lures I would carry if I couldn't have anything else.

[WRB]

Confidence should be in your skills not a specific lures.

Tom

[slainempire]

knowledge and experience are the best "confidence."

[jtharris3]

1/4 or 3/8 oz. spinner bait in white, blue and chartreuse.

[Stingray23]

weightless Zoom super fluke

[BasshunterJGH]

My confidence bait is definitely a watermelon color tube like a gitzit 

[Choporoz]

Bassresource has actually done a lot to boost my confidence in parts of my tackle box.  Things such as detailed descriptions from RW, or Gene's videos....and a wide range of posts from others - mostly the specifics on presentations.    Since I've been here I've caught bass on lures that I'd long since buried in the bottom of the tackle bag.  I have to agree that, for me at least, confidence cannot be understated.  Without confidence (and/or some recent education), there is little chance that I'll present a bait well enough to catch anything.