Effectiveness of baits from year to year

[JHoss]

I've had the same experience as y'all. Of my 4 biggest bass (ones that were PBs at the time), 3 came on chatterbaits, and one on a spinnerbait. I think that fish get used to those loud baits more quickly, but the reaction bite is most likely to trick a wise, old bass most of the time for most people. I put that caveat in there because we've seen guys consistently catch monsters on more subtle techniques especially with the advent of FFS. BUT, I still think that 90% of the bass fishing population isn't skilled enough with their electronics and subtle baits to do that consistently. For those people, a reaction bait is more likely to get lucky and trigger a strike. 

 

I know someone will point out that greats like Clunn and Brauer consistently caught big fish without advanced electronics and using more subtle baits, but to me that's the exception that proves the rule. If you aren't one of the best in the game, you probably aren't going to catch your biggest fish on a subtle bait. 

 

Or maybe I'm completely wrong on all of the above and its just the power-fishing bias coming out in me.