"Matching the Hatch" ???

[Bass_Akwards]

I've read/heard great bass fishermen/women say/write "Matching the Hatch IS important.  

Sounds simple right?  The thing is, I've also heard other great bass fishermen/women say "Matching the Hatch" is absolutely NOT important.  

Who's right and why?

T

[Grey Wolf]

It's part of the equasion but not an absolute.

[Tokyo Tony]

IMO, it's important sometimes, not so important other times.

For example, I've never seen something that's clown color, or a pink baitfish (one of my favorite smallie colors), but those are often great colors.  I think it's more important to find something that is appealing to bass, as opposed to something that looks just like their usual fare.  For example, Senkos.  Have you ever seen anything that has that falling action?  If so, post a video  

I think that's one of the appealing characteristics of bass, that they're usually not as finicky as trout, to name a species.  I know sometimes trout won't rise on any type of fly that looks different from the current hatch.  Although that's cool in a way, it also sucks for those not well-versed in hatches and fly-tying (i.e. me).

[GobbleDog]

"great bass fisherwomen"  oxymoron  

Seriously though, it's a catchy saying and it seems logical.  There probably is something to it, but I've never changed baits because of it.  Besides, what hatch looks like green-pumpkin red flake?  None that I know, but that doesn't stop bass from hitting my Trick Worm.

Generally speaking I think most bass fisherman believe bait color isn't nearly as important as  presentation, technique, location, etc.  Yet ironically, those same fisherman (including me) lose confidence without their favorite colors.

[Popeye]

I'd say it's of more importance to fly fishermen. IMO:o)

[Joel W]

I tend to use the theory that I want my lures and plastics to stand out just a little from the hatch, so that the Bass can key in on them.  Making your lure look and act like a wounded or dieing fish is what's really important. Bass have a real hard time passing up a easy meal.

[Raul]

Bass are caught on a regular basis with things that barely or have absolutely no resemblance to anything a fish can see or eat. Spinnerbaits ( o yeh the flash of the blade resemble the shiny scales of minners  : .......... what u smokin ?   :-?, cuz whatever it is I want some    ) & in-line spinners n 'such are a good example.

Making the lure look "alive" and pretend it 's an easy meal is what is important, doesn 't necessarily has to mimic a fish.

[Grey Wolf]

I'd say it's of more importance to fly fishermen. IMO:o)

I agree with you on that statement 100%.

[JCrzy4Bass]

I don't really pay attention to this unless the water I'm fishing is pretty clear and I can absolutely tell what the bait fish look like.  In some lakes, rivers keep in mind that the coloring on certain baitfish can be very different as well as the size of the baitfish.  If I "see" them in the water I will try and match to the best of my ability.  But honestly the best way to do this is with swim baits.  Just ask them cali guys   who KILL EM' with those over there.

So if you can, give it a try, but like raul said if you put the correct action on your lure you should be able to catch fish regardless.  It definately has more to do with presentation.  Good point Raul.

[Bass_Akwards]

I guess I should have asked "When is matching the hatch a good idea," and "when does it NOT matter."

Seems to me after reading some of what you wrote, as well as looking at some of what KVD and Mike Ike have said, that matching the hatch is much more important when you're fishing clear water, or when the fish are feeding on a very specific bait, such as dragon flys, which was a popular dinner or lunch for the bass in Jersey where Icconelli learned to fish.

Do the guys on this board who throw a lot of jigs care about matching the crawfish hatch in the lakes/ponds they fish or does it once again depend on water clarity, if at all?

T

[Catt]

If one were to match the hatch one would only use lures 1-1 ½ in length  

[Raul]

I guess I should have asked "When is matching the hatch a good idea," and "when does it NOT matter."

Seems to me after reading some of what you wrote, as well as looking at some of what KVD and Mike Ike have said, that matching the hatch is much more important when you're fishing clear water, or when the fish are feeding on a very specific bait, such as dragon flys, which was a popular dinner or lunch for the bass in Jersey where Icconelli learned to fish.

Do the guys on this board who throw a lot of jigs care about matching the crawfish hatch in the lakes/ponds they fish or does it once again depend on water clarity, if at all?

T

It has never mattered, I don 't try to match anything I want to make it stand out from the what you are trying to match, in a school of hundreds of minnows which every one of them are of the same size which you think it 's going to stand out first, a crank the same size of fish in the school or a bigger one with different action ?  it 's a combination of size, action and if you want to throw it in, color or finish.

2/3 rds of the lakes I fish are gin clear, fish are shy, spooky and really hard to catch, add to it that the fishing pressure they get is inmense being so close to the city, they get fished all year round, fish have seen every lure you can imagine, if I followed the "match the hatch" school of thought then I would come empty handed every time I fish them and that is rarely the case.

[Guest muddy]

Hey Raul Good point about standing out. Last year in May back to back tips, on consecutive first 70 degeree days, full moon and water temps 58 degrees. There were a lot of bass heading to or on bed, many very agressive. There were lots of visible minnows swimming around and not many bass chasing. We put on 7 inch Watermelon ripple tail worms with a piece of spilt shot beofre the worm, man we were pulling them in both trips, Nothing mammouth sized but it seemed to do the trick

[fishizzle]

There are all kinds of theorys on whether to match or not.

Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  The bass can't read books, like black and blue is springtime color (wrong).

Some theorys sat to match your lure to the color of the bottom because prey are camoflaged to match their surroundings.  The bass locate some lures by vibration not color or shape.

Have you ever heard a rattletrap underwater.  the sound travels 100' or more.  Its downright annoying.

So I say mimic forage but not necessarily color or shape.

Sometimes you want to mimic dead shad or fleeing noises.

[RoLo]

If one were to match the hatch one would only use lures 1-1 ½ in length

And even at that you're a month late

The best thing to match is the pattern that caught the last two bass

Roger

[Raul]

The best thing to match is the pattern that caught the last two bass

Roger

X2

[.dsaavedra.]

confidence.

if you are more pleased with the color and you are confident in it then you will fish it better and catch more fish.

i personally am a BIG match the hatcher. i just feel weird throwing something that is firetiger colored , however i would throw a shad colored crank like my life depends on it .