When And What

[blackmax135]

Folks out there in fishing land.  Ive been bass fishing for a little while and im getting the hang of it and figureing out how to work all the diffrent lures.  But what stumps me is what to use and when to use it.  Sometimes i can go out and have a pretty good day and limit out easy and then later not catch one and fish in every area known to man.  I'm having complications figureing this out.    I go out there with whatever i think this fish will bight not having the knowledge on what works best at certain times and what works best in certain conditions.  I know it takes time to find fish and i see them on the depth finder and i know how they look on there cause ive caught them using it before.  I just don't have the knowledge i guess to put together the pieces in the way an experienced fisherman would do.  Everything i know has pretty much been guess work on my own and what ive learned on here.  What do yo guys do to figure out what you are gonna use and when to use it.

[jdw174]

I have a very simple approach.  I start fishing when it's just light enough to see using a topwater.  As the day gets brighter, I switch to a shallow-running crank.  Later on, I may switch to a jig or worm/craw.  I remain in shaded areas as long as possible.  If there's a slight chop on the water I may use a spinnerbait or a double-propped surface lure.  When the sun hits the area I'm fishing and gets hot enough to strip your hide, I go home.  Do I catch a lot of fish?.....sometimes I do.  Do I get skunked?.....EVERYBODY does at one time or another.  Do I get big fish?.....well, every blind hog finds an acorn occaisionally.  I just like being out there trying.

[blackmax135]

I have a very simple approach.  I start fishing when it's just light enough to see using a topwater.  As the day gets brighter, I switch to a shallow-running crank.  Later on, I may switch to a jig or worm/craw.  I remain in shaded areas as long as possible.  If there's a slight chop on the water I may use a spinnerbait or a double-propped surface lure.  When the sun hits the area I'm fishing and gets hot enough to strip your hide, I go home.  Do I catch a lot of fish?.....sometimes I do.  Do I get skunked?.....EVERYBODY does at one time or another.  Do I get big fish?.....well, every blind hog finds an acorn occaisionally.  I just like being out there trying.

I like that quote havent heard that one in a long time.  Will ill have to try that out the more things i get a chance to try the better thanks

[geo g]

Lots of good info in those post. I like to fish the whole water column until I find the right depth for fish willing to play. I the Everglades and canal of south Florida we have an unlimited network of canals that cut through the entire region. These canals are mostly 6 to 30 feet deep. Working the entire water column means presenting a bait that slowly falls through that column from top to bottom. Sometimes fish will be right under the vegetation canopy, sometimes suspended, and sometimes near the bottom. A weightless fluke or Senko will slowly float through that column until you find the right depth. It has worked for me for years. Once you find the right depth you can change your speed to target those fish. I have fished with guys that will work themselves to death to catch one or two fish sticking with a top water pattern or throwing a heavy jig for one or two fish. That's not for me. Find where their positioning themselves and catch a bunch. Pulling in numbers is they way to go. The fish will tell you where they are and how the want it.

[WRB]

The first thing you need to recognize is there isn't a magic bullet or panacea to knowing when and what to use to catch bass.

We can break things down by bass seasonal preferences depending on lake classification and bass types to some degree to understand basic bass behavior, PM me your email address and I can send you that information for deep structured lakes. To catch bass consistently a basic knowledge of where the bass should be located is start. What the bass are eating where and when you fish determines what lures you want to select and most import is at what depth to fish at.

Using top water lures early or during low light periods only works if bass are targeting critters on or near the surface during those periods. The bass could be eating crawdads at that time in 15' of water and not give the surface lures a glance. There could be shad hiding in the shallow brush where your top water lure can't go and those bass may not chase down your lure....too many variables to have set fishing patterns and hope they work.

Tom

[kfelton0002]

I have a very simple approach.  I start fishing when it's just light enough to see using a topwater.  As the day gets brighter, I switch to a shallow-running crank.  Later on, I may switch to a jig or worm/craw.  I remain in shaded areas as long as possible.  If there's a slight chop on the water I may use a spinnerbait or a double-propped surface lure.  When the sun hits the area I'm fishing and gets hot enough to strip your hide, I go home.  Do I catch a lot of fish?.....sometimes I do.  Do I get skunked?.....EVERYBODY does at one time or another.  Do I get big fish?.....well, every blind hog finds an acorn occaisionally.  I just like being out there trying.

What an awesome response.. made me laugh.  lol  The blind hog finding an acorn occasionally nearly done me in!  lol. 

 

I too have been having the same trouble you're having being new to artifical lures and all, but with trial and error I guess we'll figure it out eventually.  Not every person is going to have the same results using the same lure at a certain time.  Bass change with the weather and water temps and it's so dang frustrating sometimes.  I wish I had a bass fishing guru to turn to but instead I will turn to you guys and learn what I can from you.  Loving this site so far!

[zwhiten12]

I have a very simple approach.  I start fishing when it's just light enough to see using a topwater.  As the day gets brighter, I switch to a shallow-running crank.  Later on, I may switch to a jig or worm/craw.  I remain in shaded areas as long as possible.  If there's a slight chop on the water I may use a spinnerbait or a double-propped surface lure.  When the sun hits the area I'm fishing and gets hot enough to strip your hide, I go home.  Do I catch a lot of fish?.....sometimes I do.  Do I get skunked?.....EVERYBODY does at one time or another.  Do I get big fish?.....well, every blind hog finds an acorn occaisionally.  I just like being out there trying.

 

Nicely put.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Location, depth, presentation, action, color is the way I prioritize the search for fish. Structure, cover, weather (past and current), water clarity and anticipated mood of the fish all factor into what baits to choose. If you can supply some scenarios you've run across it would be easier to suggest ways to approach it.

[blackmax135]

85 degree water, windy, stained water, clear skys.