How to choose what bait to throw?

[Caiden24]

I have been wondering for some time, but how do you choose what baits to throw? Besides like the obvious that you don’t want to throw big trebles hooks in grass and stuff like that. But like for example, there is hundreds of finesse baits for all sorts of different structure. Show how do you choose for example what finesse bait to throw in rocks or what bait in general to throw in rocks? sense there is a bunch of baits that work in rocks. Thanks!

[garroyo130]

the night before, whatever lure the fish is biting in my imagination before I go to bed is what gets tied on. From there its just trial and error. Then I'll find something that worked once and stick to it for the next 20 outings where I will get skunked on 18 of them. 

[scaleface]

I just choose one , sometimes there is no reason for it. I've been fishing rip rap a lot with neds   because I have a ziplock bag full of half Dingers , so I may as well use them up . Small tubes would work well too. You are on the right track in choosing baits. Think about what you are fishing and what lures will perform well there. There will always be several .

[Bazoo]

I'm interested in what others will chime in with. I generally start with a topwater, like a Spit'n Image or popper. Then its worms/lizards, spinnerbaits, crankbaits. If those aren't producing it's a free-for-all as to what I might try. I often intend to fish a specific lure to get better with it and stick with it no matter what.

[thediscochef]

Depends on the season and time of day. Generally 30 minutes on either side of sunrise are my best topwater times but there are few if any absolutes in bass fishing. I have favorite seasonal baits and those usually get thrown first 

[Catt]

It is common knowledge that there is a topwater bite early in shallow water. What is not common knowledge is there's an early morning bite in deep water.

 

I start with Texas Rigs & Jig-n-Craws 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

 

I pick baits based on seasons, the Bass movements, and the bait/size they are eating at that particular time.......add all three together and then select a bait.  

 

Secondly you must build a history in fishing in order to know what best to throw in the future.   Go fishing, throw the first thing that inspires confidence, after an hour of no action, put it away and grab the second thing that inspires confidence and so forth.  Keep doing this month after month, year after year.......time on water will teach you everything you need to know, and everything you can't learn on the internet.     

  

My last calender year primary baits......I'm a power fisherman from the South, that's important to realize when reading my bait picks.  

 

Jan: A-Rigs, Blade baits, Axe Blades, and Suspending Jerkbaits

 

Feb: Lipless Cranks, Blade Baits, Axe Blades, Chatterbait, A-Rigs

 

March-May: (Full blown Spawn) Pegged/T-Rigged Creature bait, Buzzbait, Whacky Rig senko, Chatterbait

 

June: (Post Spawn) Big Glides, T-rigged plastics, Buzzbait, Chatterbait

 

July-Aug:  Night fishing only due to climate........Free Rig or T-Rig hunks of plastics like mag lizards, mag straight tails, and mag curly tails.   Buzzbait, wakebait, popper, chatterbait, and colorado bladed spinnerbait all work for moving baits.   Cranks will work as well.    I throw a Free Rig/T Rig big contact bait the majority of the time. 

 

Sept-Nov:  Squarebills, Chatterbaits, aggressive Jerkbaits, Free Rig/T-Rig baits, Buzzbait.

 

Dec: Anything that moves seemingly, although I could only fish a suspending jerkbait this month and be fine.    The absolute best time to throw a Vision 110/Jr/+1/+2 type Jerkbait.     A-Rig season comes into full bloom as well.   December is the start of the best 3-4months of fishing in central Alabama (Pre Spawn).  

 

*********  I'll dedicate days or weeks to throwing a big swimbait now anytime of the year.    That's a whole different rabbit hole than traditional Bass fishing though.   

 

[Pat Brown]

I am an NC junk fisherman and I basically stick to the rule book for the most part and do okay.

 

Winter (pre-spawn/Nov-January): spinnerbait, Jig, straight tail worm, lipless, jerkbait, shaky head, drop shot, swim bait 

 

Spring (late pre spawn/spawn/early post spawn/February-May): swim jig, jerkbait, glide baits, swim bait, Texas rig lizard, shaky head, lipless, spinnerbait 

 

Summer (post spawn/second pre-spawn ?/June-August): big ribbon tail worms with 3/16-7/16 oz tungsten sinker, heavy jig with craw trailer and skirt and weed guard, Carolina rig, deep diving crankbait, spinnerbait, jerkbait, frog, buzzbait, popper, spook, shaky head, lipless

 

Fall (second spawn/shad gorge/September-November): Lighter jig with chunk trailer or craw with subtler action and weed guard, swim jig, lipless, flat side crankbait, jerkbait, buzzbait, spook, glide bait, spinnerbait, shaky head 

 

I try to add techniques every year and I have caught fish with other presentations, but I feel confident I can catch fish on my lakes with these baits during these seasons.  There will ALWAYS be a Jerkbait, a spinnerbait, a worm, a jig and a lipless crankbait on my deck during all seasons and all conditions.

[GRiver]

I usually like to start in the rivers with worms or hellgrammites. 
Clearwater….. green pumpkin or watermelon. I’ll switch around from there.

[MIbassyaker]

I try a bunch of stuff to see what gets bit, and that's the one I choose.

 

Not really. But sort of.

 

I show up with educated guesses about the mood and location of fish, based on time of year, time of day & light conditions, current and recent weather, and other environmental information (water temperature, clarity, cover types, weedgrowth, forage species, competitor species).

 

I use these guesses to select a handful of presentations to start with and rig up a few rods to switch between. I usually want at least one topwater, one mid-depth, and one bottom presentation, as well as some lures I can work horizontally some lures I can work vertically.  As long as I have those bases covered, I'm usually confident I can at least get a strike by something, and when I do, I make finer adjustments from there. If I go for awhile with nothing, then I try something new. 

 

But the point is, other than initial selection of a few things to try, I don't really "choose" until I get more information from the fish, which I use as feedback to tell me what I should be doing more of, and what I should be doing less of.

[NorcalBassin]

I/m a 50/50 guy. I'll rig up 10-12 rods with half being what I want to catch them on and the other half with what I'm most likely to catch them on. It's a great day when I catch them on the latter. 

[papajoe222]

I always have an idea of where the fish will be holding on whatever kind of cover I intend to target. With that in mind, I start out with a horizontal presentation if I can, that will work in that part of the water column. Weeds that don't grow to the surface, rip rap, felled trees, etc.  If I'm not getting bit, I change to a vertical presentation like a jig or a tube. I've been using a swim jig and a swimbait on a jig head to accomplish both types of presentations without changing rods.  If I get bit fishing vertically, I try to determine where, in relation to the bottom. I may go to something horizontal like a crank that will run at that depth.  I also do just the opposite at times, but switching from a horizontal presentation that is working to a vertical one that may also work, I've found, will almost always result in fewer fish.

[Captain Phil]

For me, it's all about water clarity.  Florida has every type of water conditions imaginable.  If the water is clear, my first choice is top water.  Alternatively, I will use natural looking baits, downsize my line and use finesse tactics.  If the water is turbid or murky, I use paddle tail worms, spinnerbaits, Rattle Traps and Crankbaits.  Flipping and pitching is my "fall Back" option when nothing else works or I'm hunting larger fish.  Secondly, I want to know what the bottom composition is.  I use a Carolina or Mojo Rig to seek out hard bottom, rocks and anything that may hold bass.  Ultimately, it's past experience and confidence that you will use to make your decisions.  The more you fish, the better your results.

[Junk Fisherman]

17 hours ago, Caiden24 said:

I have been wondering for some time, but how do you choose what baits to throw? Besides like the obvious that you don’t want to throw big trebles hooks in grass and stuff like that. But like for example, there is hundreds of finesse baits for all sorts of different structure. Show how do you choose for example what finesse bait to throw in rocks or what bait in general to throw in rocks? sense there is a bunch of baits that work in rocks. Thanks!

 

My first decision is where to fish which is based on the season, structure, cover, water clarity, and weather conditions.  After that it's a matter of what bait matches where I'm fishing the best.  In terms of which finesse bait to throw, there's a variety of baits that will work every single day and I rely on baits that I know are productive based on my history with the bait.  For example, I throw a Ned rig a lot and that is what I'll throw in rocky areas especially rip rap.  I'm gonna throw that before a T-rigged craw or a shakey head or some other soft plastic bait.  I remember being intimidated and overwhelmed as a young fishermen when I would walk into a large fishing shop since there were so many options.  It takes time and experience but you'll develop your confidence baits in due time.  Good luck.    

[PaulVE64]

This guy fishes for Susky smallies out of a kayak 

Hope it helps, I find his tutorials interesting.

[LrgmouthShad]

19 hours ago, Catt said:

It is common knowledge that there is a topwater bite early in shallow water. What is not common knowledge is there's an early morning bite in deep water.

 

I start with Texas Rigs & Jig-n-Craws 

If I was smarter I woulda stuck with the Start Early Start Deep Start with Something on the Bottom mentality this season. I do think it is a waste though to wake up super early for this bite, but not stay for the 10-2 midday window. Gotta stay out there for that. 

[Catt]

11 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Gotta stay out there for that.

 

I start deep & stay deep ?

[LrgmouthShad]

1 minute ago, Catt said:

 

I start deep & stay deep ?

Nah I’m calling bull on that. If the fish have been moving shallow or you haven’t been having luck deep, you’re gonna follow em. Now, if you said you never throw at the bank, I’d believe that, maybe. But never shallow? Nah, no way

[WRB]

I have a few lures that work for me year around and always have those rigged and ready to use.

Knowing what is actually working at the time you go bass fishing takes some home work.

The most important factors are seasonal period the bass are in. The. 1 that stands out is obviously the spawn cycle, but knowing the difference in prey the bass are seeking during all seasonal periods helps tremendously in lure selection.

For me knowing what depth the majority of the bass population is active in focuses lure choices, size and colors.

You can simply tie on whatever is your favorite lure and go fishing blind and with luck catch a few bass.

If you want to put the odds in your favor do your homework.

My favorites are jigs, worms year around.

Tom

[Catt]

Just now, LrgmouthShad said:

Now, if you said you never throw at the bank, I’d believe that, maybe.

 

Ok! I should clarify, deep water fishing down here means I'm offshore. Unless it's pre-spawn I'm seldom within casting distance of a bank. This time of year I can be found a mile+ offshore. I do fish "shallow" but it's out here.

[Pat Brown]

I like to practice my casting near the bank and I like to practice my hook sets offshore ????

[Susky River Rat]

If it ain’t a Ned rig it ain’t worth throwing……. Kidding. I do like to make bottom contact and smallies in the river seem into it. Summer tim and ultra shallow I throw top water,spinners,cranks. Fall into winter jerks Ned’s tubs and drop shot sometimes. 

[Bankbeater]

I look at the weather to see what the conditions will be like during the hours I'll be fishing.  I'll look at my logs to give me an idea of how I caught them on the last trip.  Then when I get out to the lake I usually wing it.

[txchaser]

Bunch of good advice in this thread. I don't know far more than I do know, but here's some more:

 

1) if you have electronics you can figure out the active life zone, where most of the fish and bait is and start there. It's not 100% but it's a great clue on how deep to start. Then figure out where that depth intersects with structure and or cover. 

 

2) the bass forecast app takes some of the guesswork out of season, weather patterns, etc. Like everything in fishing it's not perfect, but starting with three locations and five baits is really helpful. At this point I mostly look to see what I may have forgotten. Some presentations just aren't on my priority list. 

 

3) In terms of which baits, it's moving fast or slow, on the top, middle or bottom. It's big or small. It has a bunch of action or it doesn't. Somewhere in that matrix is the answer. 

 

4) what are they eating? Offshore fish probably aren't eating gills. Fish on rocks? Something looking like a craw isn't a bad place to start. 

 

5) sometimes the lake will give you clues, like seeing craw claws of a certain size and color, or birds on baitfish. sometimes the fish will give you clues like not being hooked deep in the mouth - if they are slashing at it it's not quite right. 

 

6) water clarity and light will make a difference, usually a big loud thing in super clear water with bright light isn't going to be the deal, at least for largemouth

 

 

Or you could throw something really high confidence that's a very likely fish catcher like a ned, senko, 3.8" keitech on an owner flashy swimmer, or a texas rig with a finesse worm, and once you know where they are you can try a bunch of stuff. 

 

[PaulVE64]

I'm on my home waters at the river. I know the structures on the river, and honestly they're smallies so they're curious & aggressive, they'll bite it.

Its detecting that bite that is the difference.