How do Swim baits work?

[loudcherokee]

I've been wondering what is it about swim baits that make a bass key into that bait? It seems some manufacturers go to great lengths to make these baits look as realistic as possible, swim just like a real baitfish, etc without any "attracting" features most other lures have like rattles, wide wobble, dying fish features, etc.

Basically, why would a bass choose to eat the swim bait over an actual fish? I started thinking about this after seeing a particular bluegill swim bait on youtube, and lately I've been observing LMB and bluegill that appear to be living in perfect harmony together. The bass aren't attacking those bluegill so why would they attack a lifelike bluegill swimbait?

LC

[A-Jay]

Why does a bass or any fish for that matter "attack" a lure ?  There's a ton of conjecture and most every fisherman has his or her own idea as to why we are able to catch fish on artificial offerings.  However in my somewhat limited mind, there's really only two things to remember about the whole deal.   One, I'll never know exactly why and two, I don't care to because it doesn't matter.  The fact that they do and I know that that do is what I bank on.

As for living in perfect harmony, I'll offer you this example.  I've often walked right up to & even petted cows in the field.  They were quite content to accept my attention and seem completely oblivious to the fact that as a meat eating human, I am perfectly ready, willing and able to slaughter them in any manner possible in order to satisfy my craving for Ribeye.  No to mention, turning them into a few ball gloves and a very functional & stylish pair of work boots.

A-Jay

[Raul]

2 hours ago, loudcherokee said:

The bass aren't attacking those bluegill so why would they attack a lifelike bluegill swimbait?

Because the swimbait doesn't BEHAVE LIKE A HEALTHY bluegill.

Bass are predators, they evolved to be able to detect healthy/strong animals from the unhealthy/weak and they feed on the unhealthy/weak before attempting to feed on the healthy/strong.

[WRB]

What makes you think bass don't eat perfectly healthy normal acting prey? Bass eat when they choose to and rest in between feeding cycles. The prey sense when they aren't in harms way and panic when they are being hunted. If a normal swimming life like swimbait comes into the area a bass is hunting or feeding the swimbait is a easy meal.

Tom

 

[Raul]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

What makes you think bass don't eat perfectly healthy normal acting prey? Bass eat when they choose to and rest in between feeding cycles. The prey sense when they aren't in harms way and panic when they are being hunted. If a normal swimming life like swimbait comes into the area a bass is hunting or feeding the swimbait is a easy meal.

Tom

 

Where I said they didn´t ?

[WRB]

1 hour ago, Raul said:

Where I said they didn´t ?

Reply is to the OP's question.

Tom

[MassYak85]

I think the bluegill inside the stomach's of some of the bass I catch would respectfully disagree that they are living in perfect harmony with the bass. 

[IndianaFinesse]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Reply is to the OP's question.

Tom

 

8 hours ago, Raul said:

Where I said they didn´t ?

10 hours ago, Raul said:

Because the swimbait doesn't BEHAVE LIKE A HEALTHY bluegill.

Bass are predators, they evolved to be able to detect healthy/strong animals from the unhealthy/weak and they feed on the unhealthy/weak before attempting to feed on the healthy/strong.

21 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

I think the bluegill inside the stomach's of some of the bass I catch would respectfully disagree that they are living in perfect harmony with the bass. 

Or maybe not so respectfully disagree if they could talk.