When do you stick with what doesn't work?

[piranha]

Here are a few scenarios...if you are catching fish and then they stop, or if you are not catching fish using what you normally use to catch them in your usual spot, when do you switch to something else? 10 minutes...30 minutes...60 minutes?

Now, here is the tricky psuedo-philosophical question. If you don't catch them on that bait, or the next bait, when do you switch back for fear that you are missing fish because you are not using what you thought should be catching fish in the first place?

Essentially, I am figuring that there are times when fish just aren't interested in eating or attacking anything you throw at them. However, that time period will end eventually and if you aren't throwing what should be working, you may be missing fish.

How do you know when they aren't biting anything and when they aren't biting what you are throwing and that you just have to wait it out?

Or do you subscribe to a completely different theory about fish activity?

Thanks to all.

[BillyBob]

piranha,

If I had the spot on answer to that question in every case, I'd never have to work another day.

 But it sounds like you have confidence in only one particular bait. Patience, confidence, experience,and expertise, in several different baits and presentations will give you the answer your looking for. That's as profound as I get!

   :

[Nick B]

If you are catching fish and then they stop, the fish may haved deeper or to tighter to cover, etc

Youre question about switching lures, the problem may not be what you are using but how you are presenting it.

[Guest hydrillagorilla]

piranha- I think Billybob hit the nail on the head.  

I feel your pain.  

[Chris]

Some days they want something else and some days I don't think the bass know what they want. Some times they are scattered or schooled up in one spot that you have not found yet. Today I caught fish on spinnerbait, 3 different shallow crankbaits, 2 different medium running crankbaits, jighead worms, dropshot, popR, and 2 different jigs. I had no pattern all day I usually catch them on a jerkbait, tube and a kreature bait. The grass was higher and the water changed color from the rains last week and lures changed. They should have been schooling on the points, humps, islands, and on the flooded timber. By switching gears and baits it helps figure them out. I give each bait enough time to convince me they don't want it. I don't put it under a time frame because some baits work better in some situations than others. If the situation comes up where that bait will work better then I go back to it. To me its just a gut feeling. If I think its the right time to change then I do If I doubt that what I am doing will work then I change.

[bassdocktor]

If you keep switching baits you really can't wory about missing a bite. Otherwise if you worry too much and never switch you won't find out what's working.