Lure selection based on conditions

[ppdbass311]

I've read many conflicting articles about various water conditions and how the fish react based on them. Lure selection has been a big problem mainly because I switch far too often so I would like some suggestions on how the weather and type of cover/structure dictate what type of lure I should be throwing.

Barometric pressure and how the bass respond to warm/cold fronts.

Water temp. When do bass suspend, shallow, deep. Here in Indiana the temps have been around mid 50's to low 60's and upper 30's low 40's at night. I would guess the water temp to be low 60's.

I have a very good understanding of cover and structure and colors based on water clarity but choosing the right lure has become my downfall. I almost always have to resort to an in-line spinner or road runner to land a few fish. Thanks for the help.

[Guest avid]

Your trying to crowd to much technical information into what is basically a fun activitiy.  Put on some lures that you have fun fishing and keep fishing them.  If they don't work put on a senko and pitch it to any fishy looking cover.  You will get bit.

[ppdbass311]

Never said I don't have fun fishing but when was the last time you got skunked for the whole year? I don't think asking about weather conditions affecting bass to be "too technical" especially with some of the questions that are asked around here. I refuse to believe that fishing is all luck, luck would involve the size of the fish. Look at profession bass tours, there are people who almost consistently finish near the top, they could just be the luckiest people on earth but I don't buy that. I don't want to go out and land a bass every cast but 1 fish a season is wearing a little thin. I've accepted the fact that I AM doing something wrong and would just like some help in pinpointing where my problem is and how to correct it.

[Chris]

*High water bass move shallow

*Low water bass move deep

*Sunny skies bass move into cover

*Cloudy skies bass roam or move to the outside of cover

*No wind bass hang in cover and time to slow down and flip or worm fish

*windy days time to move moving baits

*low light or cloudy days topwater works

~know the limitations of your baits this will tell you what lure will work where.

~weedless lures work well in places other lures may get hung up.

~limited vis bass feed my hearing so lures with vibration work better

~clear water fish can see your bait the best and bass feed mainly by sight so shapes and natural baits work better

This will get you started

[ppdbass311]

*High water bass move shallow

*Low water bass move deep

*Sunny skies bass move into cover

*Cloudy skies bass roam or move to the outside of cover

*No wind bass hang in cover and time to slow down and flip or worm fish

*windy days time to move moving baits

*low light or cloudy days topwater works

~know the limitations of your baits this will tell you what lure will work where.

~weedless lures work well in places other lures may get hung up.

~limited vis bass feed my hearing so lures with vibration work better

~clear water fish can see your bait the best and bass feed mainly by sight so shapes and natural baits work better

This will get you started

During my fishing trip today the conditions were cloudy with quite a bit of wind. Based on what you posted I should have been throwing a buzzbait around cover, the pond I happened to be at had a lot of dying out weed beds. Am I correct or would the water have been too cold for a fast moving buzzbait.

[Marty]

I almost always have to resort to an in-line spinner or road runner to land a few fish. Thanks for the help.

but 1 fish a season is wearing a little thin

These statements seem to be at odds. You say that you need to fish an inline spinner to land a few, yet you imply that you're just catching one fish a season.

Are you fishing from shore or a boat? Dying weeds in cold water may not be the best bet for a fast-moving buzzbait. Are you in northern or southern Indiana? What sort of waters are you fishing? What are you doing as the season progresses from spring to fall?

I suspect there's something going on that you haven't mentioned. Regardless of how much luck and skill enter into the equation, just putting in one's time at decent fisheries should land you more fish than you're getting, and on a greater variety of lures.

I don't want to go out and land a bass every cast

I do.  ;D

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Personally I wouldn't throw the buzzbait with that much wind, I would use a spinnerbait.

As for those dying weeds, avoid them while they are dying.  They give off co2 while dying which is a big turn-off for bass.

hang tough, keep asking, we'll get you a bass in the boat one way or another.

[ppdbass311]

Marty: Should have specified, I usually catch a panfish or maybe a white/hybrid when I tie on an in-line, not usually a largemouth or smallie.   I fish from shore in central and southern Indiana but have been looking for a boat.  My late spring to fall fishing has mainly consisted of throwing a spinnerbait/buzzbait, flukes and cranks. All natural shad/baitfish colors since most of the lakes here are gin clear.

LBH: Thanks for the tip on the dying weed beds, should have been obvious but wasn't at the time and looked like it would hold smaller baitfish.

Appreciate the tips everyone. Fishing from shore is difficult just seeing so many nice spots just out of reach but I'm trying to make do with what I've got for the time being.

[Marty]

Appreciate the tips everyone. Fishing from shore is difficult just seeing so many nice spots just out of reach but I'm trying to make do with what I've got for the time being.

I fish a huge amount from shore and can understand your frustrations. But you just have to forget about those out-of-reach spots, lest they distract you from the job at hand, which is to try and catch fish from areas available to you.

You're using good lures from spring to fall and ought to be catching some bass. You might add some plastic worms that you can crawl along the bottom.

However, are you sure these waters have a decent bass population? If you're fishing, say, buzzbaits in good water during warmer water periods and low light conditions, you ought to be catching some bass if they're present. I still think there's some problem which goes beyond lure selection.

If you want to PM me, I may be able to put you in touch with a very good fisherman from your area of the state, although he probably doesn't know your specific waters.

[Guest River_stumps]

Write the tid bits down that Chris gave you..Try different applications as you are looking for a bite..Try to let you bait hit the water with little or no splash at all. Bass are verry spooky... If you are fishing from a boat and are well equiped with tackle..Try to keep at least (4) baits tied on. Top water- Shallow crank- Spinner-and Plastic... And if you are bank fishing, just be patient and keep tying on a different bait when you think you have spent enough on one without a bite....And sometimes, the bite is just not there regardless of what you throw...And I might add that some of the Pros do go all day with out a bite.. So just be patient, and I will come.  

[ppdbass311]

Went to the same pond today and once again, no fish.

Conditions: Very windy, sunny with a few clouds. Temp around 70, not sure on water temp.

Equipment: 6'6" MH BPS Bionic Blade, Shimano Sahara 2500 with 8# Sufix Siege

Lures: 1/4 oz Terminator Super Stainless Blue Shad Spinnerbait, T-Rigged Watermelon Seed Zoom U-Tail

Worked timber and some rocky shorelines on the deeper side of the lake. I was casting with the wind most of the day (should I have cast into the wind?) Used a variety of retrieves with the spinnerbait and tried to make contact with as much cover as possible. Only brought those lures so I would thoroughly work them and focus how I work the bait instead of switching too much. Any suggestions  would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[roadwarrior]

What avid said.

Fish nothing but a Senko and Fat Ika for a couple of trips. If you don't catch a few bass, find some different water. This isn't a very creative answer, but these two lures catch bass. As Chris alluded to, different conditions may call for different lures and presentations, but before you get to that, just try these two baits and catch some fish.