Switch Baits or Change Area-how to determine which is the problem

[clemsondds]

So I’m watching a lot of these YouTube (Roland Martin, bassresource...) and a lot of times they mention that the bass just weren’t wanting that lure that day and something else worked much better. I understand when you are fishing deep and using your ff to locate fish and you know they are there, that if they aren’t biting to switch presentations. But if you are just hitting docks or riorap and just aren’t getting bit, how do you know whether the bass just aren’t in that location or it’s your choice of lures?   Do you use sidescan to look at the area before fishing it so you know there are bass there?  All of these guys talk about switching up your presentation if they don’t want that lure, but how do you know if they just aren’t in that location?  Thanks everyone for helping this beginner! 

[scaleface]

Its just a guess . With me I'll have several rods rigged with lures that will fish the cover or structure I'm facing effectively . So its easy to lay one down and pick up another . You mentioned rip rap . A lot of lures fish it effectively . Crankbaits , spinnerbaits ,buzzbaits are my favorites there. Texas rigs work too but they are constantly wedged , so they are my last resort . If I dont catch any with the selected lures  its time to do something else .Whether its wood , weeds , algae , rock , docks,  steep contours , flat contours there are  several  lures that excel there .   

[clemsondds]

Thanks. Yeh I guess when ppl talk about covering water fast during the spring power fishing...how do you know if there just aren’t fish there or you are using the wrong lure?  So if you are running and gumming with a spinnerbait, and you haven’t gotten a bite after 30 docks....was it the lure or no bass?  How do you decide what to do?  Trying to determine how to have confidence in your search bait. 

[scaleface]

27 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

Thanks. Yeh I guess when ppl talk about covering water fast during the spring power fishing...how do you know if there just aren’t fish there or you are using the wrong lure?  So if you are running and gumming with a spinnerbait, and you haven’t gotten a bite after 30 docks....was it the lure or no bass?  How do you decide what to do?  Trying to determine how to have confidence in your search bait. 

I dont know , I'm just guessing .    I have limited experience in dock fishing . But when I do go to a lake that has docks such ad LOZ or Table Rock I choose docks that are in shallow areas . Look at topo maps and find docks that are less than fifteen foot at front and shallower in the rear . Docks that are in deep water I pass on .I want to be able to fish all the way around them and hit bottom .  I wont stick with a spinnerbait for thirty docks unless   something is caught  ,choosing instead to mix it up . I really like jigs on docks and will stick with them   longer than other lures .  

[Dens228]

I switch lures before locations.  

I went on a boat with a buddy who fishes a certain lake and he swore that plastic worms were the way to go, every time he went and there was no need for anything else.  We're fishing the docks and not getting bit so I put on a Keitech paddletail on a weighted swimbait hook and started getting bit.  After awhile he reluctantly took me up on my offer and started using the same and started catching. 

 

It doesn't always work but it's quicker to change lures than move to a new spot. 

[jimmyjoe]

   I've seen days when the bass weren't hitting a certain type lure.

   I've seen days when the bass weren't hitting .... period.

  

   But I never saw days when the bass weren't there. Don't you worry; they're there.     jj

[clemsondds]

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

   I've seen days when the bass weren't hitting a certain type lure.

   I've seen days when the bass weren't hitting .... period.

  

   But I never saw days when the bass weren't there. Don't you worry; they're there.     jj

This is the kind of stuff that confuses me. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the comment. But I fish on a couple lakes (only ones close to me) that are notoriously bad for fishing. Lots of ppl I hear of or know, blank frequently. So it’s not easy for me to think that they are just “there’”.  If I knew for sure, then I would go thoroughly through them three or four times with various presentations (crank, jig, stick bait...). I just am thinking about in the past when I’ve been on my boat and have just finished going through a pocket/point and didn’t get a bite. I always think, should I just keep moving down the bank:docks covering water, or should I go back through and switch up the presentation and go with a different lure. I know every situation is different...I’m just looking to hear what you guys typically do.  Just trying to reduce doubt and develop a routine that creates confidence 

[lo-fi-hi-fi]

28 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

I fish on a couple lakes (only ones close to me) that are notoriously bad for fishing. Lots of ppl I hear of or know, blank frequently. So it’s not easy for me to think that they are just “there’”.  

?

[WRB]

The age old question when to hold them or when to fold them?? 

Trying force feed bass something they want or trying to trigger a strike when the bass are inactive has the same results.

Tom

[clemsondds]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

The age old question when to hold them or when to fold them?? 

Trying force feed bass something they want or trying to trigger a strike when the bass are inactive has the same results.

Tom

Not real sure what your point is. Are you trying to say that switching baits/presentations has no effect? Can you help by sharing what you do in this situation?

[Catt]

I fish a lot of deep water structure & the majority of the fish I catch I don't see on my electronics.

 

Now I'm talking structure that I know hold fish, so I don't run over them with my boat. I know they will be somewhere on the structure, maybe on the top or down one side.

 

My "fish finder" tied to the end of my rod!

[roadwarrior]

My brother has a system I am working with: 20 casts while moving down the bank. No bites, new lure.

 

[jimmyjoe]

  

    There's a small lake I fish that has good bass. During the heat of summer, I like to get there about dawn, and then leave when it gets real hot.

    One morning a few years ago, I was catching nothing. Zero. Zip.

    About 9:30, here come the DNR truck with their boat. Now I know these guys. They're good guys. I got a thermos of coffee, and I walk on over to yak a bit.

   I told them the fishing was lousy, and they needed to do something. Just kidding them. To my great surprise, they said, "Yeah. We know. We're gonna shock a few places this morning to see what the population is like, because it looks like there's a population of shad that's way too high."

   Oh. Okay. I didn't know that. Could I watch? I mean, years ago I saw people phoning up fish, but heck .... this was gonna be LEGAL!

   You guessed it; they shocked up bass right where I had been fishing. Bass, and shad. Lots of shad.

   That lake has been scheduled for partial drain-down and selective kill-off.  I think they might have done it this last year.

 

   There's always a reason. You may not always know what it is, but there's always a reason.        jj

  

   

[WRB]

What is the most important factors I need to know when trying to catch bass?

1. Location

2. Depth 

3. Activity level

Notice lures aren't in the top 3 yet!

I select lures depending on where the bass are located, what depth they are at and how active I believe they may be.

If the bass are located under mats in shallow water targeting surface lures it doesn't help to keep changing crankbaits, jigs or worms.

If the bass are located on deep structure breaks it doesn't do any good to keep using surface or fish shallow water.

If the bass are inactive and I know they there I move to another location trying to locate more active feeders knowing the inactive bass will change to active few hours.

I select lures I have confidence using and know the bass will strike the if they are active.

It's easier and more effective to use about 3 lure types like jigs, worms and deep diving crank baits if the are located on structure at a depth thr lure gets into the strike zone.

How deep is that? my sonar shows me usually during my Marina surveys nd knowing what seasonal period the bass are in.

You a thousand different cast with different lures and catch nothing if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Tom

 

[jimmyjoe]

7 minutes ago, WRB said:

If the bass are inactive and I know they there I move to another location trying to locate more active feeders knowing the inactive bass will change to active few hours.

   Chisel that in stone and plate it in gold. Shout it from the highest mountaintop.  It's that true.   jj

[Shimano_1]

Just a confidence thing. If you're looking for someone to give you a definitive answer you're not going to. Things change from lake to lake, day to day, hour to hour. Spend enough time on a lake to learn that lake and you'll start being able to determine the answer to your own questions.  All you're gonna get on here is probably enough information to just confuse you even more. Can I determine if there are fish on riprap at your lake? Absolutely no way to do so. Use seasonal patterns and such to make the best educated guesses and remember nothing beats time on the water.  If I'm on a new lake and feel like they should be on shallow timber, I'll likely try a few different approaches before moving spots. Edwin Evers always saying the wrong bait in the right place will get bit...the right bait in the wrong place will not

[Bird]

When I tie on one of my confidence baits....it stays on all day. Lol

 

I pre-tie everything the night before depending on body of water , usually take 5 sticks.

 

BUT I will change retrieve and drop rate in search of fish.

 

A prime example would be a Jerkbait , I've had to turn a twitch into an absolute aggressive boat rock'n jerk and bass started slamming it......power fishing at it's finest. Lol

 

So, what I tie on the night before is staying on, I'm stubborn. 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Age old question,  and a good one at that. Because no matter what stage your at in your bass fishing career, it's a question that you continue to ask yourself.  

 

Best answer, keep it simple. We tend to overthink things!!

 

Check out this interview @Glenn did with the Pros!

 

 

 

[Catt]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

If the bass are inactive and I know they there I move to another location trying to locate more active feeders knowing the inactive bass will change to active few hours

 

6 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Chisel that in stone and plate it in gold. Shout it from the highest mountaintop.  It's that true.   jj

 

So how does one determine if a bass is active or inactive?

 

Because it bite your lure or because it didn't.

 

I would be willing to bet the vast majority of bass caught were not actively feeding.

 

Most bass bite out of reflex not hunger.

[slater]

Their job is to make videos, doesnt matter if it really works in the real world of our high pressured lakes....

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Gee, fishing high pressures lakes in multiple locations on a certain day regardless of weather conditions or seasons, all with their careers at stake, with thousands of fans watching. 

 

Yeah I wouldn't take their advice either, good call ??

[The Bassman]

Maybe this is making excuses but the way I see it the bad days make the good ones sweeter. A little Yin, a little Yang. Doesn't address the question but (at least for me) there are days I just don't catch them, and I fish small waters. That said, a lot of it has to do with my attitude, not the fish's. If I resign myself to striking out I generally do.

[papajoe222]

Tom made a very good point and the one thing you need to determine after their location is depth. Activity level is often ignored, but has a major role in your choice of lures. In your case, you’ve already determined the location (docks), depth (shallow), and activity level (inactive,or possibly neutral).  Your decision becomes; move and try another spot where you don’t know any of those factors, stay and change your presentation, or stick around an hope the fish become active.  You are not fishing a tournament and unless you have a ‘milk run’ of a number of spots, stick around.  Guys that only fish live bait suspended under a bobber have been doing just that, with good success, for a long time. 

[Bass Ninja]

15 hours ago, WRB said:

What is the most important factors I need to know when trying to catch bass?

1. Location

2. Depth 

3. Activity level

Notice lures aren't in the top 3 yet!

I select lures depending on where the bass are located, what depth they are at and how active I believe they may be.

If the bass are located under mats in shallow water targeting surface lures it doesn't help to keep changing crankbaits, jigs or worms.

If the bass are located on deep structure breaks it doesn't do any good to keep using surface or fish shallow water.

If the bass are inactive and I know they there I move to another location trying to locate more active feeders knowing the inactive bass will change to active few hours.

I select lures I have confidence using and know the bass will strike the if they are active.

It's easier and more effective to use about 3 lure types like jigs, worms and deep diving crank baits if the are located on structure at a depth thr lure gets into the strike zone.

How deep is that? my sonar shows me usually during my Marina surveys nd knowing what seasonal period the bass are in.

You a thousand different cast with different lures and catch nothing if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Tom

 

@WRB This is gold. Thanks for sharing! I was told the same thing in so many words a few years ago and it really bumped up my numbers. An older gentleman in a fishing club taught me to focus more on finding the fish. Once I find them, if they're willing to eat, they'll eat a lot of what I throw at them. This older gentleman consistently wins tournaments or finishes in the top 3, and he only throws like 8 lures. I've since learned that I can go out with my confidence lures (Jackhammer chatterbait, hollow-bodied frog, spinner bait, and a punch rig), leaving everything else at home, and as long as I find the fish, I'll have a good day with a good chance at winning. So for me, I change location frequently to find active fish, and I'll only change lures if a new lure would be more effective at picking apart what is in front of me. I absolutely love what Tom said...You can cast a thousand different cast with different lures and catch nothing if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time. That was the big game changer for me. 

[clemsondds]

2 hours ago, Bass Ninja said:

@WRB This is gold. Thanks for sharing! I was told the same thing in so many words a few years ago and it really bumped up my numbers. An older gentleman in a fishing club taught me to focus more on finding the fish. Once I find them, if they're willing to eat, they'll eat a lot of what I throw at them. This older gentleman consistently wins tournaments or finishes in the top 3, and he only throws like 8 lures. I've since learned that I can go out with my confidence lures (Jackhammer chatterbait, hollow-bodied frog, spinner bait, and a punch rig), leaving everything else at home, and as long as I find the fish, I'll have a good day with a good chance at winning. So for me, I change location frequently to find active fish, and I'll only change lures if a new lure would be more effective at picking apart what is in front of me. I absolutely love what Tom said...You can cast a thousand different cast with different lures and catch nothing if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time. That was the big game changer for me. 

So how do you know the fish are there?  Fishfinder, history, birds in area...

I understand going over them in deeper water and seeing them in your graph, but when you are fishing shallows...how are you confident in determining inactive fish vs no fish? One outcome you have to change locations but the other, you could change locations or change bait.
and thanks nitty for posting that video of the pros discussing this...nice to know others have the same question and I’m not crazy ha. Thanks