"Match the hatch" vs "Show them something new"

[central_fl_fishin]

I would like to hear others opinions on when to "Match the hatch" and when "Show them something new" is working good.  I have always tried to use tackle that best imitates the bait in the area I am fishing.  Now I wonder if I branch out?

[mrbassky]

I think match the hatch is not as important in bass fishing. It helps but its really more of a color selection thing. Show them something new is more about new presentations like using a swim jig. You can match the hatch and show them something new by using new baits.

[Jake.]

The only time I "match the hatch" is when trout fishing. I don't think it's important for bass.

[Ellesar]

My experience has been that you really only need to worry about matching the hatch when in very clear water with little or no wind. In those cases bass can see the bait more clearly so your bait needs to resemble the real thing more closely. This doesn't apply to reaction strikes however. In stained or muddy water, or with wind, I think differences in the bait aren't as noticeable.

[roadwarrior]

Generally, "match the hatch" is applicable to trout, not bass.

However, the Cali boys can make a strong argument that big

trout swimbaits fit this theory. On the otherhand, Randal does

well on the same or similar lures in Georgia lakes that have

never produced a single trout!

Maybe some presentations of various worms act something

like baitfish, but I would argue that for the most part, they

don't represent anything "natural".

So, my observation is that bass will strike: (1) just about

anything that looks edible; (2) something that catches their

attention (reaction); or (3) invades their territory. But...

sometimes "match the hatch" works, too!

8-)

[J Francho]

I've never liked the "match the hatch" analogy for bass.  Put an edible looking item in the right place at the right time fits my philosophy much better.  

That said, understanding the primary forage, and any other forage in any given lake is so important, and can influence my bait selection.

[Raul]

Match the hatch....... never pay attention to it  

Show them something new .....  kinda like whut ?  :-?

Spinnerbaits catch fish for me, worms also, cranks ? yup, those too catch fish, jigs ? them ketch fish too.

[Bantam1]

I do the "match the bottom color" instead of match the hatch with jigs in clear water. Dark bottom on the lake = dark jig and vice versa.

Swimbait color does not really seem to make much difference at times. If it has a white belly and a green back, more than likely it will get bit anywhere    Then again it makes all the difference in the world on some lakes.

They're bass and there is no rhyme or reason to why they eat or attack certain lures. When is the last time you saw a pink baitfish or a transparent trout? Those colors seem to get bit...

[wisturkeyhunter]

I think it depends if you are trying to catch numbers of fish with the occasional big one matching the hatch isn't to important. If you are trying to catch the oldest biggest fish in the water swimbaits that look  like the food can help alot.

Theres more to matching the hatch then color too. If bass are eating bluegills and you throw a spinnerbait or crankbait with a bluegill pattern your not  matching the hatch to well because they don't act like real fish in the water. I wish I had the patience to throw swimbaits all the time because I know I'd catch higher quality of fish even here in wisconsin.

[J Francho]

If bass are eating bluegills and you throw a spinnerbait or crankbait with a bluegill pattern your not  matching the hatch to well because they don't act like real fish in the water.

This is the piece that most miss when they apply the fly anglers' philosophy to bass angling.  If you really take note of a good fly angler, its not JUST about tying on the right Mayfly pattern, but also about the "perfect presentation."  Sound familiar?

[zaraspook_dylan2]

Generally, "match the hatch" is applicable to trout, not bass.

However, the Cali boys can make a strong argument that big

trout swimbaits fit this theory. On the otherhand, Randal does

well on the same or similar lures in Georgia lakes that have

never produced a single trout!

Maybe some presentations of various worms act something

like baitfish, but I would argue that for the most part, they

don't represent anything "natural".

So, my observation is that bass will strike: (1) just about

anything that looks edible; (2) something that catches their

attention (reaction); or (3) invades their territory. But...

sometimes "match the hatch"

8-)

I have to agree with you, when do you ever see a worm act like the presentation we generally give with them? But then again, when you fish a drop shot in thick cover you can keep the worm in one spot jigging it up and down, which to me, resembles a worm

[Catt]

The problem I have with matching the hatch is the word hatch because it means insect larva or some type of small fish that just hatched from its egg which would indicate its size as being less than 1/8 of an inch. Now on the other hand if you were trying to match the existing prey available at size of each of its growth cycles then you may have something.

[basspimple]

the only time i would think "matching the hatch" is during fall, when there a lot of shad that have spawned earlier in the year and are everywhere in the shallows. the only reason i would think that would come into play is because the water is at its clearest that tie of the year. other that, show somthin new!

[fourbizz]

If I know what the fish I am looking for are eating, i mimick it as closely as possible.

Most importantly its size, placement in the water column, and then color in that order.

[Catt]

If I know what the fish I am looking for are eating, i mimick it as closely as possible.

Most importantly its size, placement in the water column, and then color in that order.

Exactly what prey species are those 14+ worms mimicking?  :-/

[SPEEDBEAD.]

If I know what the fish I am looking for are eating, i mimick it as closely as possible.

Most importantly its size, placement in the water column, and then color in that order.

Exactly what prey species are those 14+ worms mimicking? :-/

Doug Hannon's Snake Lure.  

Everyone knows that    

[fourbizz]

Nothing. That time of year, in the 2 places I fish those baits, there havent been trout for months, and shad are not a consideration. I think this time of year they are taking whatever they can get.  I fish those big worms because 1: It is dark outside 2: Both lakes have terrible visibility 3: It is slow moving along the bottom 4: They are cheap enough that I can afford to fish them as slowly and deliberately through the rocks and wood as I want without snagging an expensive swimbait.

[Hammer 4]

Being in so cali, and with our lakes to heavily pressured, I always try to toss something different, which is no easy task..

[Oscar O.]

Even when matching the hatch with schooling baitfish, you want your lure to be the one that gets picked out by the bass. It is usually a benefit to have your bait be a little different, either from the forage, or what everyone else is throwing.

[South FLA]

Why choose? Do both!  I always tend to throw something a bit different than my fishing partner until we dial them in.  If you see them busting on baitfish, try to mimic it closely, but if it isn't clear, than we experiment.