Technique Vs Bait

[masterbass]

I realize that they go hand in hand, but if you had to rank technique vs bait which is more important in your opinion.  I had one of those days when I threw everything but the kitchen sink and couldn't buy a bite.  After several hours I start to lose confidence and patience.  And then I question if it's just my technique. 

[roadwarrior]

First and foremost, location. Ya gots to find fish to catch 'em!

 

Next, moving baits or bottom baits? 

 

Next, exact depth. Two weeks ago it was +/- 19' ONLY on the Tennessee River.

 

Next, lure. For whatever reason, a thin 3" tube was the ticket.

 

Next, color.  Watermelon ruled and I tried EVERYTHING else!

[playmaker47]

I think technique is way more important. If the fish want a shaky head then the specific finesse worm on the jighead is less important than properly working the shaky head. You will still catch fish if the technique is right, the specific bait action and color only enhances the ability to catch fish.

Now if you look at it the other way around. You have the perfect soft bait and the perfect color, but are horrible at technique you just won't catch fish.

[Raul]

I realize that they go hand in hand, but if you had to rank technique vs bait which is more important in your opinion.  I had one of those days when I threw everything but the kitchen sink and couldn't buy a bite.  After several hours I start to lose confidence and patience.  And then I question if it's just my technique. 

 

 

 

To be or not to be that´s the question. In this case, are you 100% shure you are fishing where they are ?

[masterbass]

To be or not to be that´s the question. In this case, are you 100% shure you are fishing where they are ?

My buddy's fish finder is pretty old, but it was marking fish.  The river was pretty dirty from rains though.

[Raul]

My buddy's fish finder is pretty old, but it was marking fish.  The river was pretty dirty from rains though.

 

Well, my finder also marks fish, lots of them but ....  are they bass ? that is the next question.

[masterbass]

Well, my finder also marks fish, lots of them but ....  are they bass ? that is the next question.

True, could be carp.  We managed to catch 2 little smallies between us and I got a catfish on a spinnerbait.  We did cover some water so I thought we'd do better.  Figured they would be in pre-spawn mode.  Last spring and the year before we killed them in the same areas.  Going to give it a go this weekend and see if it gets better.

[jhoffman]

pre spawn in what location?

[Loop_Dad]

Luck!

[WRB]

Location, location, location, then bait (lure), then technique or presentation.

The right lure in the wrong place = no bass regardless how it's presented.

Tom

[Deleted account]

Finding fish is most of the equation, figuring out how to catch them is usually not that hard part, although you'd never know it by some things one reads. lures are tools, pick the right one once you get to the job site, sometimes its the mitre saw, sometimes its the screwdriver, sometimes its the hammer. 

[hatrix]

To me having the right technique is more important. Of course you have to also have a bait they are looking to bite that is just a given. Although I do believe you can catch fish on any lure it just might not be the best and you need to find ones that are wanting to bite. I can fish side by side with someone both using the same exact and catch more fish. It is just because I have spent more time on the water or am more familiar with using said lure. Also though I will say for sure my casting ability plays a factor. I am not the greatest but I get my lure where it needs to be pretty good.

[BrianinMD]

Location, location, location.

 

then technique

[Mr. BattleArmor]

As was said before, Location is the most important, then for me it is the Lure and color, and then the technique. 

 

As an example, I took my fiancé fishing for the first time yesterday, and I took her to a spot I know is good, with a bait that I know would catch fish for her at that spot. Well, on her first cast she brought in a 4 pounder. Needless to say, she obviously wasn't thinking about having the perfect technique, but the fish didn't notice that! Location + Lure, then focus on exact technique and presentation

[Catt]

Yes location is #1, we should all know that

Lure vs Technique?

On any given day more than one lure & more than one technique will be working.

[SirSnookalot]

The lure dictates the technique or does the technique dictate the lure?  Find the fish and the odds are dramatically increased, location is the most important.

[Paul Roberts]

First and foremost, location. Ya gots to find fish to catch 'em!

 

Next, moving baits or bottom baits? 

 

Next, exact depth. Two weeks ago it was +/- 19' ONLY on the Tennessee River.

 

Next, lure. For whatever reason, a thin 3" tube was the ticket.

 

Next, color.  Watermelon ruled and I tried EVERYTHING else!

Good basic breakdown by RW:

Location, strike zone, technique, bait, fine tune.

[missouribigbass]

I think technique is way more important. If the fish want a shaky head then the specific finesse worm on the jighead is less important than properly working the shaky head. You will still catch fish if the technique is right, the specific bait action and color only enhances the ability to catch fish.

Now if you look at it the other way around. You have the perfect soft bait and the perfect color, but are horrible at technique you just won't catch fish.

I agree with all of that.

[WRB]

I agree with all of that.

The reality is you could backlash that cast with shaky head and worm in the right location, be picking out the backlash and have a bass eat the worm. Was it technique, presentation or the right location....location! Caught lots of bass making bad cast where I didn't intend the lure to go and several picking out backlashes, simply by being in the right place at the right time.

You can have perfect technique and catch nothing if the bass are not there to react to your lure or technique.

Rarely doesn't a technique out fish a lure the bass are responding to.

Tom

[SirSnookalot]

The reality is you could backlash that cast with shaky head and worm in the right location, be picking out the backlash and have a bass eat the worm. Was it technique, presentation or the right location....location! Caught lots of bass making bad cast where I didn't intend the lure to go and several picking out backlashes, simply by being in the right place at the right time.

You can have perfect technique and catch nothing if the bass are not there to react to your lure or technique.

Rarely doesn't a technique out fish a lure the bass are responding to.

Tom

I agree 100%, I've caught fish while a top water lure was rippling in the water as I was untangling a wind knot, more than once.

If location is the paramount ingredient for success, which seems to be the consensus opinion, why do some professionals consistently do better than others?  I do believe they all know how to find fish and have their own techniques perfected, if not they wouldn't be pros.

[Paul Roberts]

One can be in a great location and catch nothing, or catch a few, or catch a lot. The rest of the equation matters too.

[K_Mac]

If location is the paramount ingredient for success, which seems to be the consensus opinion, why do some professionals consistently do better than others?  I do believe they all know how to find fish and have their own techniques perfected, if not they wouldn't be pros.

 

I agree SirSnook.

 

We can all agree that location is priority 1. With that as a given, then what is the answer to the OP's question? I believe technique trumps bait in almost all cases. Yes, there will be times when just getting something in the right spot will work, and other times when bait size or color is critical. Give me the right technique every time though, and I'll take my chances with the baits I have in my bag, even if they are not the "right" ones.

[Deleted account]

..If location is the paramount ingredient for success, which seems to be the consensus opinion, why do some professionals consistently do better than others?  I do believe they all know how to find fish and have their own techniques perfected, if not they wouldn't be pros.

 

Some folks are just better at competing, it has nothing to do with fishing. Coaches and sport psychologists have known this for a long time, and there is a lot of cutting edge research being done by the neuro folks. We see it all the time, someone who is clearly talented, but can't get over the hump, and others who are maybe not the best, but find a way to win, of course every so often, we get "that" guy (or gal)  that is a superior at both, and we just awe, the sport is really irrelevant.

[missouribigbass]

The reality is you could backlash that cast with shaky head and worm in the right location, be picking out the backlash and have a bass eat the worm. Was it technique, presentation or the right location....location! Caught lots of bass making bad cast where I didn't intend the lure to go and several picking out backlashes, simply by being in the right place at the right time.

You can have perfect technique and catch nothing if the bass are not there to react to your lure or technique.

Rarely doesn't a technique out fish a lure the bass are responding to.

Tom

The question was technique vs bait. I didnt see anything about location. That's a given. You don't have to be a fisherman to know you can't catch what isn't there.

[Fish Murderer 71]

I dont think of it as Technique "vs" lure, its a combination of all three....  Location, tech, and lure.  Heres the example ...  Thursday nights we have a night tournament, I was fishing a dam going from S to N throwing a fluke, my partner was throwing a topwater, another boat was coming in off a big point to the dam from the N to S.  he was thorwing DD and his partner was throwing a lipless, we all ended meeting at a place that produces decent sized fish.  They threw theirs several time with no return and left, we continued through where they had just fished, and I pulled out a nice three # bass on a fluke.  4 different lures in the same spot within a mater of minutes...  What was it that made my lure more appealing than the other three???  The world may never know!!!