How Quick Are You To Change It Up?

[Brnnoser6983]

So with the opener just days around the corner, I am looking forward to hitting the water. And like a little kid in a toy store I'm ready to tear it up.

But how quickly do you change what your throwing? I know if the bite isn't hitting the spinner I might go to a crank, but when do you make that decision? And do you just change weight and colors, or go all out and go new technique?

[Bluebasser86]

Our lakes lack the cover, structure, and fish populations to be able to really stick to one pattern most of the time, so I end up junk fishing a majority of the time. I'll keep a bunch of rods out and sometimes will pick up a rod to make just one or two cast before I switch to something else. 

[Smokinal]

I'm usually all over the place to start until I see a pattern form. Then I narrow it down. If that bite stops, I'll switch things up after about 15 minutes. Every day is a puzzle.

[Sam]

I'm usually all over the place to start until I see a pattern form. Then I narrow it down. If that bite stops, I'll switch things up after about 15 minutes. Every day is a puzzle.

 

To take it one step further: every hour is a puzzle.

 

The fish will let you know what they want and at what depth so everytime you get a strike or catch one it is of the utmost importance to note all details, even the way you are facing in the boat or on the bank.

[MickD]

Agree with Sam and Smokinal.  When I go through my rods with different stuff on each one a second time I'll switch colors or sizes, etc.  Especially with spinnerbaits fish seem to tune in to little details, and get them wrong and you'll get nothing, or you'll get hits but no hookups.  I think when that happens it indicates they are slapping the lure with the head but not biting.  But it also indicates they are interested if you find the right details for them.  

[CRANKENSTIEN]

Appx 20 min then a pick up another rod with a different type bait unless I'm honing in on that bait.

[A-Jay]

I fish what has worked early season before in places that have produced in the past.

 

If the bass in your water responded to a bait last spring, they'll do it again this spring.

 

FIsh 2 or 3 baits that match the conditions & that you have confidence in.

 

Changing all over the place before I've developed a rhythm, screws me up.

 

You'll be good - believe it and then you'll see it.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[scaleface]

I change quickly but really cant answer an exact time limit because every outing is different. I change , baits , locations , depths , speed retrieves ...I figure , unless the fishing conditions are horrible and just a few fish or a single fish is expected , then there is no sense doing whats proven not to be  working .

[ABW]

As long as my patience allows... sometimes the entire day, sometimes 30 minutes

[RSM789]

I change pretty quickly, but it is often to & fro.  Based on the cover in front of me & the changing conditions, I may be switching every 2-3 casts.  Some cover can be picked apart with a single lure, other types (or conditions) need a few lures to dissect them.

 

That said, on this past Friday, I was "One Rod Todd" for nearly the last 5 hours or so.

[Fishes in trees]

On any given fishing situation, there are generally a few presentations that might work.   What works for me is to have several options available and then pick and choose.  I'm very likely to throw several different baits at a place that I think has fish on it.  I generally have 14 to 18 options readily available and another half dozen or so stashed on the rear deck of the boat.

[Senko lover]

If it's a lure I haven't caught a fish on, I fish it until I do or it's very, very, clear that the fish don't want it.

Those lures getting fewer and fewer now, I sorta fish my feelings. Some baits work really well on certain waters/under certain conditions and I play it by ear.

[Brnnoser6983]

I have some baits that I will throw and throw and say okay only 1 more throw, and still use it even though I am coming up empty handed. There are others that I might only throw 3, 4 times and I am done with it for the day/week.

[Weld's Largemouth]

There isn't only one lure that will be the only thing the fish want at a given time. The other day I hooked into a fish with a jig, so I figured that is what they wanted, within five minutes I had already switched to a lipless crankbait, and caught 5 bass within 30 minutes on it. A jig and a lipless crankbait are very diferent lures, so it goes to show that just because you catch a fish on a lure once does not mean it is the "magical" lure that all the bass will key in on that day. This is why I change my lure often. However, I stick to a lure when I consecutively catch a lot of fish on it.

[Bankbeater]

It depends on the bait, and what my gut tells me.  I will change crankbaits more often than I will change plastics.  I will change the trailer on a jig, but I usually keep the same jig tied on the entire day.

[Montanaro]

Not often. Time changing is time I'm not fishing. I usually have 4 rods at least with techniques that cover various scenarios. If one isn't working I pick up another rod. At worst I change colors.

[dam0007]

Every 40-50 casts unless I'm catching em