Time Spent Fishing

[CentFLFisher]

When I go out on the lake I analyze all the conditions and then pick a lure and technique I think will work best. Most of the time the lure I choose doesn't get instant success like i'd like it to. When you are in the same situation, where you think your bait is a good choice and has potential but you dont have any fish in the boat, how long do you spend fishing that lure before you change to something else?Thanks

[Brian_Reeves]

This is going to be a really non-specific answer, but I fish a lure until one of the following things happen:

1) I lose confidence in the lure because of weather or water conditions or because the presentation just doesn't feel right.

2) If it starts becomming limited due to water structure (getting hung up, diving too deep, penetrating too far into grass, casting awkwardly etc)

3) I spot a certain type of forage in the area that my bait does not imitate.

4) If it just doesn't seem like it's going to catch fish.

5) If I get impatient.

Most of the time I switch between my 5 rods and each are set up with completely different lures for different presentations, so that keeps me occupied and lets me tinker around with different presentations and lures in the areas that I fish.  That pays off bigtime.  Multiple rods are a must on larger lakes.  On ponds, they are a hassle.

[CentFLFisher]

Thanks for the reply  

[Needemp]

It's like ain't texan said, you really don't want a lure that you have doubts about. Whats been happening to me is that I also have 5 rods set up, and I will use them all till I catch a fish. Once I catch a fish on something, I now have confidence and will use that lure till the fish tell me not to.

[jasone]

I drew up a chart of the possible water and weather conditions and linked the conditions to the best possible lures.  Therefore, I have extreme confidence in the lure I chose.  I realize that this is quite a bit of wishful thinking but if I know it works at least half of the time, that's not bad odds.  

The chart is also a living document.  As I figure things out, I add to it.

But impatience plays a big role in how long I stick with a lure.

J

[senile1]

I usually have 5 rods setup with specific lures as mentioned by others in this thread.  I've read "A Day on The Lake" in each issue of Bassmaster magazine, and it seems that this is what the pros in this series are doing as well.  Sometimes they will switch lures in less than 10 minutes if the times posted in the article are accurate.  Of course, each setup is one that should work for the time of year, weather conditions, etc. but with variations to account for the varying behavior of bass under those conditions.

[langs15]

I have two rods, one baitcaster and one spinning.....use the heavier ones on the baitcaster...

And I keep using the lure until I catch a fish on it, then I get my confidence up on it so I keep using it. Except for my terimator...only caught two fish on in a LONG time...one was a big one (5.5) and the other was a dink.

[nboucher]

Part of the answer I think depends on your experience. I've heard pros say that one of the mistakes beginners make is to give up too early on a lure. As  a relative newbie myself, I think part of the fishing experience is just getting familiar with various lures and baits and working out their best presentation. I know that often if I'm not catching fish, the problem is not the lure but the way I'm working it. So I tend to analyze the conditions and time of day, pick something and really work it for a while. I also limit the number of alternatives I take with me both to keep things simple and to resist the temptation to just jump from lure to lure. I think having a bunch of rigged rods on board makes sense for really experienced fishermen and pros, because they have extensive experience with all of them and know why they're switching. But to catch fish steadily on the long run, sometimes you have to be a little less impatient on the short run and work on skills like presentation. At least that's what I seem to be doing . . .  (Or maybe I'm just rationalizing days when I'm not catching much.  )

[senile1]

I agree with you, nboucher.  Even those who have fished awhile still have lures and techniques with which they will need to practice.  To become proficient with something requires time, and trial and error while experimenting.