fast vs slow

[airborne_angler]

I havent been on the water in a  month and hopefully tomorrow Ill get to go. To get an idea of what the fish want whats a good suggestion. Should I throw fast movers first to see if they are in chasing mode or should I just stick with my ol reliable soft plastic t rig presentation. I mostly fish ONLY soft plastics  an sometimes get skunked. At times like those would a fast mover perhaps pay off?

[mudcatwilly]

Get the best of both worlds!  Throw a spinner with a worm trailer.  You get the fast fishing of a spinner with the worminess of a worm.  All kidding aside, I've heard that spinners, rattle traps, and C-rigged plastics are good search baits because you can fish from top to bottom and cover a lot of water.  I'm a little slower.  I like to search with a senko or curly tail type worm.  I'll usually T-rig it and start out with light weight.  If I know I've only got a couple of hours to fish and I don't know where they are or what they like, I go to the spinner with the curly tail worm trailer and I'll put some gel krill on it.  I figure if I at least get some scent into the water, a bass might stick its head out and at least look at my bait.

[Guest ouachitabassangler]

I use electronics to find bass territory, hopefully baitfish, maybe even a lucky fish arch. I want to eliminate the majority of the non-productive waters out there, my objective to catch bass, not just swim baits all day.  I find little pleasure fishing where no fish are swimming. Once I think there might be some eligible fish below I begin fancasting with a fast moving bait like a spinnerbait or lipless crankbait. If I get some attention on those I drop to a jig or worm, ending up with whatever happens to be the best fish catcher I think to try.

Jim

[roadwarrior]

Well, fast baits catch bass "sometimes", slow baits catch them all the time. Although my forte is soft plastics, I force myself to use a vaiety of lures just for fun. As a matter of fact, my favorite technique is working jerkbaits, but they are not my most productive lures.

I am NOT saying that fast baits are never the best choice, sometimes that is EXACTLY what bass are focused on. However, if you were fishing soft plastics at the time, you would probably pick up a few fish. It doesn't necessarily work the other way around.

[Marty]

Should I throw fast movers first to see if they are in chasing mode or should I just stick with my ol reliable soft plastic t rig presentation.

I would tend to start off with the fast movers. If you are fortunate enough to be on the water when they're active and chasing, then fast lures can potentially catch you a lot more fish.

Last week my partner and I caught 32 keepers on topwaters, probably more than 20 of them within an hour or so. No way we would have caught that number if we were slowly dragging soft plastics.

[playmaker47]

Throw a spinnerbait. You can fish it slow or you can fish it fast. Let the fish tell you which one they prefer.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I noticed you live in AZ so I would say its hot.  Fish slow.  

Still try the fast reaction strike lure you never know.  I wouldnt give it a long fishing time but its worth a while.

[YankeesWin]

;)Last week my partner and I caught 32 keepers on topwaters, probably more than 20 of them within an hour or so. No way we would have caught that number if we were slowly dragging soft plastics.

;)AMEN Marty, You need to do what the fish want. I usually start fast, and slow it down from there if I have to. With the warm (hot) water you may be dealing with there in AZ. It might benifit you to try the deep, slower thing.

How early are you planning to get out?? :-/

[airborne_angler]

Im hopin to be on the water by at least noon. Im dropping my kids off to visit with thier mom for her Birthday . She requested 10am and for me to pick em back up around 4 pm. I have about an hour drive each way to the lake so I figger Ill head home around when the sun sets behind the mountain. Ohh about 7pm. I dont have service on my cell out there so I cant get her phone calls and I dont keep a watch on me so time just slips away..Thatll be my excuse on why I wasnt back to pick my kids up sooner.