How To Effectively Fish An Area?

[happy yaking]

When fishing, do you fish the area with one bait and keep moving with the same bait if it's not working, then come back with another? Or stay in that spot and keep switching baits out before moving on?

[Choporoz]

Maybe indirectly, but a lot of posts here will talk to your question...

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/154047-how-long-do-you-fish-a-spot-before-moving/

[Ozark_Basser]

I generally don't spend a ton of time in one spot unless I know for certain there are fish there. I'd rather cover water making as accurate of casts as possible letting the fish tell me where they are, then work the area slowly if I think I'm on a lot of fish. I'm of the opinion that it's not so much about the bait a lot of times but the presentation.

Truthfully, this is a question with far too many variables. You just have to learn for yourself. Everyone will have differing opinions on this subject.

[senile1]

If you are just asking how long to stay with one bait before moving, or how many baits to use before moving, that has been covered in a number of threads.  However, if you are really keeping the question broad as it is in the title to the thread, then I like the question.  It's a good one and could spark much discussion. 

 

There are many aspects to covering an area.  The first item on the agenda is finding an area worthy to be covered.  Finding structure that is used by bass for movement is covered in a lot of threads too.  Once that is accomplished, how does one fish that structure to find where the fish are located on it?  Is that what you are asking?

[F14A-B]

From top to bottom! Since I know my waters very well.. I can park on the structure/cover & fish.. Now I may run from spot to spot ( structure/cover)

But I don't see fishing the bank line as being very useful, not that I have not done this. I still may, depending.. A new lake may be different, but not really. With mapping and visable structure or cover, you still format a game-plan and execute it.

I do the same thing bank fishing, because I know my water, I know where I'm going and how to fish it. Learn your water...

[Mr Q]

When fishing, do you fish the area with one bait and keep moving with the same bait if it's not working, then come back with another? Or stay in that spot and keep switching baits out before moving on?

 

   The reference to structure reading the parts of the water you are fishing is an important part of your answer. If you are not familiar with structure reading a water, I would try using a surface,then shallow, then deep, and finally a bottom lure. If that area does contain bass, you will find out where. If no strikes are had, then move on and repeat the procedure untill some bass are located.

 

[happy yaking]

You fish a spot and not getting any bites either because it's not what they want or there not there. Do you move along with the same bait to another spot or change baits and keep fishing same spot? I fish in a kayak in smaller lakes for the most part. Just curious how you determine to change your spot or the bait.

[CDMeyer]

This is kind of a trail and error thing.  But for me it all depends, somtimes I want to cover as much water as possiable just trying to get a bite.  Other times I know there are fish there so I just keep grinding away to fiqure out what they want.  Many times this will lead to a pattern

[happy yaking]

Thanks for the reference links. It pretty much answers my question.

[WRB]

Knowing when to hold em or fold em is a big part of bass fishing....

Doing the same thing over again hoping for success is the defination of insanity.

The answer lies somewhere inbetween.

Being a boat angler I use my electronics to determine if bass are in the area most of the time I am fishing, if they are and they do not respond to lures they should, I leave after trying and return about 1 hour later and give those bass another try. Active bass bite inactive bass don't, learn that lesion!

Tom

[Robert Riley]

When fishing open water, I usually cast from 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock and repeat about 3-4 times before I move on.

If it;s cover, I do 2-3 times and make at least 3 different presentations (like different angles or physical approaches), 

 

As far as how many lures, I fish from the shore, so I only have 2 rods at a time. These are usually a reaction bait and a finesse bait. Start with the reaction first.

 

That's my method to the madness! 

[hatrix]

I will look for fish that want to eat if nothing is going after a run through of what should work. Just like WRB said active vs inactive. You can wait them out if that's what your into but I am not looking for just any fish I want active fish.

[RoLo]

Tough question, because one size does not fit all.

 

For proven sites, I'll kill the gas motor, let the boat glide quietly to the waypoint, then skewer the coordinates

with the 12-ft Talon anchor. I'll normally begin by fancasting the upper water layer which is most time-effective.

Just a few casts will quickly skim-off any aggressive or overzealous fish (before they have an attitude change).

I'll then fancast the mid-depth zone (which hinges on water clarity) and finally ply the bottom, the most time-consuming.

 

If feeding strikes aren't forthcoming, I may or may not decide to generate impulse strikes (depends on current situation).

Depending on the results, there will likely be lure changes, depth changes, retrieve changes or even

a whole new approach plan.  In other words, I never put a time limit on finding patterns (give it the time that it takes).

 

Roger