Match the Hatch swimbait fishing

[airborne_angler]

The lake I normally fish doesnt have Crappie in it.I recently purchased a "LOT" of lures in it which includes a MATTLURES Crappie Swimbait.

Being thet there arent Crappie in the lake I fish,would this bait still be productive?

[Dorkus]

absolutely..  

the matts baits produce no matter what the condition.  Great bed bait and awesome slow rolled.  

[Dorkus]

Add on..

Think about how many lakes dont have trout but the big trout baits still get blasted.  If its a big, easy meal... the bass will eat it.  

[.dsaavedra.]

absolutely..

the matts baits produce no matter what the condition. Great bed bait and awesome slow rolled.

yup, thats about all there is to it

[HogHunter]

I agree, if it swims something will want it.  Sometimes I'm amazed at how unrealistic lures look, or how they inmate a bait which isn't present in that lake.  

[Mattlures]

You guys are too kind. My theory on matching the hatch with swimbaits is this. Always try and match the hatch as best as you can. If the bass are eating 10in trout, dont use a 5in trout colored bait. Get one as close to what they are eating. I always try and match the size and color to each lake I am going to. Now I have access to just about any size and shape and color and species of swimbait soo Of couse I choose the one that matches the best. However that would NEVER stop me from using a trout, crappie, shiner swimbait in lakes that dont have those forage fish. Think about it, what would happen if the hatchery truck dumper 1000 8in trout in your lake that has never had a trout in it. You think the bass would run and hide? Nope they would get fat. To sum it up, use what ever swimbait you have confidence in, but given the choice, match the hatch.

[Catt]

How many lizards in your lake? How many crawfish in your lake?

I doubt it very seriously the bass have an inventory of what forage is in the lake!  

[Raul]

You guys are too kind. My theory on matching the hatch with swimbaits is this. Always try and match the hatch as best as you can. If the bass are eating 10in trout, dont use a 5in trout colored bait. Get one as close to what they are eating. I always try and match the size and color to each lake I am going to. Now I have access to just about any size and shape and color and species of swimbait soo Of couse I choose the one that matches the best. However that would NEVER stop me from using a trout, crappie, shiner swimbait in lakes that dont have those forage fish. Think about it, what would happen if the hatchery truck dumper 1000 8in trout in your lake that has never had a trout in it. You think the bass would run and hide? Nope they would get fat. To sum it up, use what ever swimbait you have confidence in, but given the choice, match the hatch.

Matt, I do not belive in "match the hatch", I believe that as long as the bait works well, has a natural motion and gives away the good vibes ( like your baits   ), in other words, good quality baits, you will catch fish if you fish it properly. How many times my friend have I said: in most of the places I fish bass have never seen a trout and will never see one and still, trout patterned  and trout shaped baits catch fish.

[Mattlures]

Raul we are not that far of from each other. I agree that a strange color or the wrong species can and will get bit on lakes that dont have those types of forage. We definatley agree on that. However I have seen it with my own eyes where small subtle differencec have produced bites for me. I have had two identacle trout baits and hade 1 with allmost no spots and anothe that was loaded with spots and had the spotted one get bit when the other wouldnt because the stocked trout were very spotted. I feel (given the choice) you should always match what the bass are feeding on as close as you can. size species and color.  My opinion is sharred by many of the guys out here who catch big bass. we will just have to agree to disagree, kind of  

[BossierBassHunter]

Raul we are not that far of from each other. I agree that a strange color or the wrong species can and will get bit on lakes that dont have those types of forage. We definatley agree on that. However I have seen it with my own eyes where small subtle differencec have produced bites for me. I have had two identacle trout baits and hade 1 with allmost no spots and anothe that was loaded with spots and had the spotted one get bit when the other wouldnt because the stocked trout were very spotted. I feel (given the choice) you should always match what the bass are feeding on as close as you can. size species and color. My opinion is sharred by many of the guys out here who catch big bass. we will just have to agree to disagree, kind of

Yeah, you just say that so people have to buy like 6 of your baits.  You must be friends with the bait monkey, am I right? I'm kidding man. I used to to go crappie fishing with my grandpa and he would be using blue/white and catching like crazy when my red/char. wouldnt get a hit. That made me a believer in color choices fishing.

[Mattlures]

Nah you dont need to buy every color of every bait. I keep going back to"given a choice" Meaning while you are deciding which color to buy you should try and match the forage as best you can. If your bass are eating 4 in brown gobbies and your at the store looking at goby baits, you should buy one as close to a 4in brown goby as you can. However if all they have is a 3in black goby bait then try it.  I look for every edge I can while fishing for big bass. Since I make my own baits, I have the luxery of any size and color I want. If I was on a budget I would pick the color and type of baits based on generaly matching the forage of the lakes I fished most. I probably wouldnt buy 3 differnt trout baits with different amounts of spots. Or a 6in,8in,10,12in of each. I would look for 1 or 2 that would be more universal in size and color. But after I chose the brand of bait the first thing I would consider is where will I throw this bait the most and which size and color matches what they are eating the closest.

Again though just because the bait you have isnt a perfect match doesnt mean it wont get bit and possibly get bit well. I just like everthing as natural as I can get it

[Raul]

I used to to go crappie fishing with my grandpa and he would be using blue/white and catching like crazy when my red/char. wouldnt get a hit. That made me a believer in color choices fishing.

You put a lot of emphasis on color, it 's important ? yes ......at the very bottom of my list of things I choose when selecting a bait. You say you were fishing with your grandpaw and he was catching fish like crazy with X color, while you with Y color weren 't catching even a cold, but have you ever wondered what was your grandpaw doing while you weren 't ? you left out a very important parameter ---> presentation assuming that you were at the same location.