Have you ever considered that the ineffectiveness of hyperrealism in baits is due to bass’ inability to see beyond a certain level of detail?

[OmegaDPW]

1 hour ago, bowhunter63 said:

What about the bubble gum color floating worm. I don’t know what they think it is but I catch em on it 

 

 I don't know a thing about underwater worms, but I oversee a wastewater treatment plant as part of my job. We pump our retention pond into spray fields and have to manually swap each field. When doing that, the valves are always under water and you'd be surprised at the color of the worms that live in that. I've seen pink similar to the bubblegum color, almost clear and a light orange so far. Maybe some underwater worms are pretty close to bubblegum color? 

[T-Billy]

8 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

I think bass are hyper aware of their environment

Absolutely, more aware than most of us give them credit for. I have a buddy that slays big brown bass on rockpiles, with a ned, at night, all summer long. These fish are in 20' -30' of water, where the thermocline sets up in the 12' - 15' range. They have no problem finding that quiet little bait down there in the blackness.

[padlin]

I pull pinkish worms when I clean the fountain out back. I had no idea they could live totally submerged, but they do.

[Mbirdsley]

8 hours ago, bowhunter63 said:

What about the bubble gum color floating worm. I don’t know what they think it is but I catch em on it 

in the water though especially dirty water pink worms look similar to the color of a real worm floating through the water.  the same with the color pumpkin. 

 

i have killed it in the past with gulp crawlers and zoom swamp crawlers in pumpkin color.  pink is a close enough color also also work. i’ve used both in clear and muddy water. 

[Woody B]

On 2/25/2024 at 5:56 AM, Pat Brown said:

I completely agree that your goal is to hide your bait and sneak it past big bass back to the bank

 

 

In some situations I don't think that approach is wrong.  I always struggled to catch fish (not just Bass) in water clear enough for me to see them.  When I got live sonar I started to struggle to catch the Bass I could see live on sonar.  Same as in clear water I'd try to pause my lure right in front of them like I was saying "here fishy fishy".   These Bass would usually either ignore, or run away from my lure.   I've had more luck, when watching the Bass, and lure live to try to help the lure "get away" from the Bass.   Pause a lipless, they just look at it.  Rip it away from them and they attack more times than not.   

[RRocket]

I think in clear water the details of some baits could offer an advantage.

 

I fished the Fish Arrow Flash J last week and it's probably one of the best looking minnow lures I've used. The perch and crappie wouldn't leave it alone. Water was ultra clear, so I think added details, whether flash or other realistic bits certainly won't hurt.

 

But I think in all but the clearest of waters they may be of limited use.

 

YMMV.

[king fisher]

Even live bait, which obviously is as real looking as can be, will not get hit if it doesn't have the right action.  Throw a half dead live bait, or one that the hook impedes the swimming motion, and a bass wont even take a look.

[Ohioguy25]

15 hours ago, king fisher said:

Even live bait, which obviously is as real looking as can be, will not get hit if it doesn't have the right action.  Throw a half dead live bait, or one that the hook impedes the swimming motion, and a bass wont even take a look.

Great point, they’re dumb but they still have hardwired instincts that are millions of years old that their survival depends on.

[fishhugger]

i think the only guys here who actually have a better idea of what the fish like are the boat and sonar dudes.  by that i mean - the really really fancy sonar.

i have neither... so my only tools are my wits  

[Crow Horse]

My sense of it is that there are many triggers that initiate a strike. A "matching the hatch" presentation vs. an unrealistic presentation appeal to different "mental states" of a predator. A common trait of predators is to prey upon the weak, injured or ill. Realistic lures might appeal to bass if, say small perch are on the menu at that time. A realistic small perch lure will behave slightly different than the surrounding real baitfish to trigger an opportunistic feeding response. Along the same vein,  an unrealistic lure will stand out and garner attention and an opportunistic or an aggressive response could be triggered. This is a gross oversimplification and environmental conditions play a significant role.

 

My other "theory" for this that on some primal level, bass gain some pleasure by screwing with our heads. They are especially effective at doing this.

 

I believe my second "theory" holds closer to true than my first one.......

[T-Billy]

3 hours ago, Crow Horse said:

My other "theory" for this that on some primal level, bass gain some pleasure by screwing with our heads. They are especially effective at doing this.

 

Bass are mere neophytes at the psychological games compared to muskie. Whew!!!... Them's some big words for an un-edgimicated Hilljack like me to pull out of his hat. My brain needs rest after that. 🤣