How Do You Match The Hatch?

[Mattlures]

Frank, its not a sales pitch, its a mindset or a strategy. In Matt's perfect fishing world there is a big bass. She is sitting out there waiting. A fish(insert species) swims by that she has been eating latley and she eats it just like the other ones she has been eating. I set the hook and catch her. She never heard me, she didnt see the line or hooks or even saw my shadow. The food(the lure) she ate smelled and taisted right. It looked real it swam real. She had no clue or sense of danger. She blasted it.

This is what I strive for. Of course its impossible but the closer you get to it, the more succesful you are especialy with big bass. Small bass are stupid and you can make alot of mistakes. Big bass arent fooled nearly as aesy. I use fluoro, I use scent(I make my own)I beach my boat and throw from shore. I turn off my electronics.I try and hide my hooks.I try not to cast shadows. I am quiet. The more things I do right the better my odds are of catching a big bass. the more things I do wrong the more my odds go down. Using the most realistic bait and fishing it as stealthy as I can has worked for me. Matching the hatch(prey species) is a big part of this. I actualy belive that one of the reasons guys dont catch big bass is because they do too many things wrong . They put those big bass on alert. They may be fishing in the right place at the right time but becuas they did too many things wrong the big ones didnt bite. They caught the little ones instead. People just dont give big bass enough credit. Yes they still make mistakes but not nearly as often as the little ones.

Now on the flipside when I am using baits that I consider non realistic such as crankbaits, or jerk baits I want them to look generic. I dont want details or realistic finish. I want that Rapale foiled silver finish. When I throw jigs, I dont want eyes or detail. I want simple. Same with my soft plastics. This has worked much better for me. I want my realistic baits to be ultra realistic and my non realsitic baits to be simple. Wrap your head around that.

[Fat-G]

This is a great thread.

[Mattlures]

You're assuming alot!

1. Soft plastic frogs are usually generic in appearance and not species specific - no hatch there

2. Soft plastic frogs are usually one of two sizes - no match there

3. Hard plastic frogs, even with a photo finish, don't move like a frog -

no match there

4. Areas where frogs are hit usually are weed beds such as pads and pretty much one of 20 baits will get hit depending on time of day and weather -

no need to matc

I said in certain situations when bullrog tadpoles turn into frogs is when I have seen the bass feeding on them. At this time your standard hollow frog is the same size. Working it over a mat in a frog like action is matching the forrage they are feeding on. THE HATCH

Of the clubs you belong to, how many anglers follow your discipline of using scent on hard baits (haven't heard anyone doing that in ten years!),

always use f/c line, shut their sonars off, etc. and still whip your **** and catch lunkers to win the tournament. How is it that the top five anglers in clubs I've belonged to do none of the above and still kick **** with yearly totals of better than 60lbs?!! In NY no less!

I dont belong to any clubs and I dont fish freashwater tournaments. And I rarley put scent on hard baits and I fish sorft baits 90% of time. with the amount of days that I fish now being about 20-30 days freash water a year my success on big bas is very high. I use to fish 100+ days a year but havent done that in a couple years. So far this year I think I have been bass fishing about 8 times. I have 5 big bass this year, 3 of them over 10, and 1 just an ounce off and the other about a pound short.

Pretty good percentages on catching big bass, I would say. I dont fish for the small bass. If I did I could make all the mistakes and get away with it. Small fish are dumb and make many mistakes.

You believe that doing the above and using your special lures accounts for your success as well as matching brains with a fishthat most times strikes a lure just because..... Congratulations on your success and mine, both of us which catch limits and lunkers for different personal reasons and choices.

Your fish might bite lures just because but the fish I am hunting are the biggest oldes fish in the lakes. THEY DO NOT STRIKE JUST BEACAUSE. You take your approach and try it here in our super pressured, small, gin clear waters and you would not have the success your used to, let alone cathing something over 5lbs

The point about lure expense is economical - why spend 70-80 cents for a Senkos when YUM dingers work as well if not better at half the price or my own at 1/4 the price. People want to believe Senkos are far superior than knockoffs. Not!!!

The thread has nothing to with Senkos, again you are just trying to argue. At this point all you can do is claim, I am trying to sell expecive lures which is not the case. I am selling the thery of "match the hatch" and fish with as few mistakes as possible to catch the biggest oldest most experianced, weary bass in the lakes.

There are many good crankbaits half what yours cost that do the job just fine. I'd be interested in a poll of anglers that have compared your plugs to others such as Lucky Craft with similar body and bill designs (though with a different finish)and see how they match up over a few years.

HA HA HA.....HA oh man now thats funny. I dont make crank baits. I dont use crank baits. And as I stated in my last post that when I used to fish them I preffered Rapalas with the silver foiled finish. There is no crankbait like my lures that I use. WOW YOU MISSED WITH THIS STATEMENT ha ha ha.

Confidence will always be a factor regardless of equipment used and if I can spend half the cash on lures I quickly develop confidence in under certain conditions, I'll buy them and save some money for other tackle. I don't own expensive rods and reels, but do quite well in the waters I fish against those that have spent big bucks. Good line, good reflexes, sharp hooks and the right action rod and lure - simple as that!

And again your attempting to turn your argument into a spending money issue. It has almost mothing to do with it. You have missed the point agian. This is becomeing redundant. I feel as though I am aguing with a drunk person.

Confidence comes with success. Are you confident in your ability to catch a trophy bass relative to your area?? Probably not. Your confidence and success most likely comes from catching small to mid sized bass that are much easier to catch.

When I used the frog bait as an example, my point was to show that you dont always need an expencive bait to match the hatch. I will admit that many of the most realistic baits are not cheap, but when you are trying to catch the most weary bass, using an ultra realistic lure does make a differance. Why dont you ask any trophy bass hunter what they think of a Huddleston trout comparred to a Reaction strike bass harrasser. Acording to your argument they should work just as good as long as you have confidence. HA HA.

Confidence comes from success. The fewer mistakes you make in your presentation the more success you will have.

Oh and 1 more point. You brought up clubs and tournament fisherman. Ever notice how few big bass are caught durring tournaments? I beleive KVD's personal biggest bass is an 11lber. The best tournament fisherman in the world is reduced to average tournament guy when it comes to big bass. Ever notice how he struggles when the fish are eating swimbaits at one of his tournaments? The guys who win those tournaments realize its important to match what the bass normaly feed on. KVD chooses to not adjust and fish his regular techniques. In these specific instances, his competitors are out fishing him. Doesnt happen often but it does happen and there is a pattern.

I will say it for the 100dth time. Small bass are easier to catxh then big ones. You can keep telling yourself that they are all stupid and all you have to do is find the right location but millions of anglers know this is not true. Location is important as it gives you a chance but thats all it does. Making that trophy bass actualy bite is where all the other things become very important.

So in summery Senkosam's entire argument is.....Matching the hatch is overrated because cheap lure work just as good as expencive ones. OK Frank of course this is a completly different subject but your trying as hard as you can to make it the same. It s not working.

[Mattlures]

To add a little more. Matching the hatch is not always important. There are many times when small and mid sized fish are activly feeding. Matching the hatch may actuly catch you less fish then other techniques. Also other techniqes are good thats why they work. Thats why guys fish cranks and spinnerbaits etc. Because they do work and definatley have their place. I hope none of you think I am disputing this or knocking them. They have also caught many big bass.

My whole point was to say that 'Matching the Hatch" is usualy a very important factor when it comes to hunting the biggest bass. it is not overrated. Its not always neccasary but at times it can make a big differance.

[Mattlures]

I'll bet all of your disertation applies to Bill Dance private waters were anything goes when it comes to making a point or selling lures! Strange - he's said exactly the same things for years and pretty much no one listens to him anymore. Selling tackle will always be big business and buyer beware!

I don't take pleasure in disproving someone's theory, but do like the presentation of both sides for anglers to consider the merits of both. That's what's so great about this and a few other forums that don't overmoderate, allowing the few to have a bigger voice because of popularity and deleting opinions that may answer questions or at least leave them open to individual experiences.

Good luck and good fishing. I'm headed out right now to do some panfishing with totally unrealistic hand poured/hand tied baits and a few crazy looking crankbaits. Last week I caught over 75 in four hours, plus some pre-spawn bass that were feeding on the panfish schools. I don't exclude lures that you suggest are a waste of time when fish are biting match-baits but do well regardless. Right place/ right time/ right fish.

Fishing can be as complex or simple as one makes it - I chose the latter - a bit of luck having a small part (or a big part if one is unskilled or nonversatile). KISS

Frank

Frank have you even read any of my posts in this thread?? you are sooo wrong and far out there and you are attempting to put words in my mouth to win your argument. What is wrong with you? Are you for real?

Fist the original post asked about matching the hatch. I gave my opinion about it. My theory about how in certain situations it can make a good day be a great day. I never said anything about other techniques. YOU DID!!!!

Then you came on attempting to twist it into selling something. I NEVER SAID NOT TO USE ANY OTHER TECHNIQUE.

Were do you come up with this stuff????

I gave my mindset of when and how I use match the hatch(you know the original topic)

All you keep trying to do is turn this thread into an attack on me and bash expencive lures.

I gave examples of inexpencive lures that match the hatch. I have said over and over that all the other techniques are great and I use them. I never said anything negative about any other technique or style of fishing.

Yet you keep trying to turn it into that. Why dont you reread everything and see.

You have added nothing productive to this thread. All you have done is to say you dont need expencive baits. THIS THREAD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EXPECIVE BAITS!!!!!!!!!!!! Its about matching the hatch.

You can match the hatch with a fly, with a frog, with a homemade lure. The idea it to match what the bass are feeding on in size shape action and color. If you do a good job of matching these then you can have a very good day. You have the potential to fool fish that you probably wouldnt normaly catch.

Small bass eat what ever they can fit in there mouths. As they get older and after they have been caught a few times, they sense danger. They make fewer mistakes.In order to consistantly catch these older bigger bass, we as anglers need to make fewer mistakes in our approach.

Ok come back with your dribble about bill dance, expencive lures,senkos,catching bluegill and any other subject wich has nothing to do with matching

the hatch. You have lost. All you can do is to try and continue to change the post into something you can argue about.

[Crestliner2008]

Frisky bunch of folks we've got here! What a wonderful site this is.

[Grey Wolf]

Where's Irene ????????????????

[Fat-G]

Mattlures with the TKO.

[JoePhish]

Obviously there are 2 schools of thought here.

So, maybe this question is for those who subscribe to the match the hatch theory.

I've read/seen/heard of matching the hatch for baitfish, insects, frogs, and lizards. However, do any of you match the hatch for birds?

Right now there are groups of ducklings popping up (and instantly dwindling) and soon there will be Moorhens and Coots as well. Do any of you know of any lost cost baits that imitate these hatchlings?

[Mattlures]

I would think you best bet might be to try and make one.

I did a search on Ebay for fake bird and you get 12 of these for $16.

That eneough to experiment and ruin a few before you figure out a good way to rig one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Artificial-Bird-Decorative-birds-Fake-Bird-New-12-pc-/350290080351?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item518eea725f

[BassThumb]

Very insightful thread!

[KenG85]

this is how I do it.

I made this one for the spring.

[Fat-G]

this is how I do it.

I made this one for the spring.

Great looking imitations!

[J Francho]

First off, emotions aside, there is some VERY good information in this thread. Change every instance of the word "hatch" to "forage" and I'm with Matt on this. Being a sometimes trout fisherman, I hate the phrase "match the hatch" being applied to bass fishing. Though, there are times when a single food source is so dominant, you might have to "fit in" to get bit. Match the forage sounds way cooler.

Anyway Matt, you think big bass are picky (I agree), you should see how selective big trout can be. I still don't know if it was the 20th bait, 20th drift, or the fish just got hungry sometimes, LOL.

This is a common theme for me, and a great fishing quote:

Confidence comes from success. The fewer mistakes you make in your presentation the more success you will have.

I gotta question, though....

So much of bait design is problem solving - a Texas rig in weeds, a drop shot in deep water, football jig in the rocks. At what point does problem solving intersect with realism? I mean, where do you draw the line on compromise when realism is concerned?

[Mattlures]

As a bait maker, I strive to make the most realistic bait possible. The problem is The more realistic it looks, the leass realistic it acts. The more realistic it swims the less realistic it looks. Its a compromise. In order for a bait to swim it needs something to make it swim. Those things are what makes it look Unnatural like joints, bills, swimming tails, etc so I try to invision how I want to use a specific bait and then I do what I can to mask those unnatural looking parts of the baits. The aplication of the bait dictates how much compromise.

I also agree with the changing the word hatch to forrage or prey and I assumed everybody knows the when talking about bass fishing instead of trout, That hatch does mean forrage.

[J Francho]

Thanks Matt. Doesn't sound easy, coming up with something new. I wish I had more talent in that department - you baitmakers always impress me with how and why of your baits.

[tyrius.]

I wish senkosam's replies were still there. Looks like I missed out on his side of the argument.

In "normal" bass fishing (just out fishing for fun) then I wouldn't be too concerned with "matching the hatch". You can catch bass on pretty much anything. They aren't too bright. Trophy hunting, however, is a completely different story. These are the fish geniuses. They have survived by being picky and being able to resist fishermen's lures. To catch these beasts consistently (you can always luck into one here and there) you have to be as perfect as possible and that includes using baits that provide little to no negative cues and presenting those baits properly in locations where the big girls live.

In summary, the everyday fisherman shouldn't worry too much about it. The trophy hunter though should.

[Grey Wolf]

I wish senkosam's replies were still there. Looks like I missed out on his side of the argument.

In "normal" bass fishing (just out fishing for fun) then I wouldn't be too concerned with "matching the hatch". You can catch bass on pretty much anything. They aren't too bright. Trophy hunting, however, is a completely different story. These are the fish geniuses. They have survived by being picky and being able to resist fishermen's lures. To catch these beasts consistently (you can always luck into one here and there) you have to be as perfect as possible and that includes using baits that provide little to no negative cues and presenting those baits properly in locations where the big girls live.

In summary, the everyday fisherman shouldn't worry too much about it. The trophy hunter though should.

Did senkosam delete his own posts ?

[tyrius.]

Did senkosam delete his own posts ?

Probably. Some of mattlure's posts have senkosam's posts quoted, so it looks like he deleted them.

[BassThumb]

I wish senkosam's replies were still there. Looks like I missed out on his side of the argument.

It's a shame he deleted his own posts. It was a very interesting, thought provoking debate. Now it just looks like Mattlures is ranting to himself with 6 consecutive posts on page 2. Mattlures put some thought into this thread, and he deserves credit for it.

[Bassbutt]

This discussion reminds me of a friend who some years ago used Buck Perry's Spoonplugs.....No consideration for matching the hatch, but, only for depth control and speed trolling around structure .He started at about 10 feet and progressively went deeper by changing lures related to the depth......He regularly caught many large bass 5 lbs and bigger with this method.....To me, a distasteful way to fish,but, effective.

[SENKOSAM]

It's a shame he deleted his own posts. It was a very interesting, thought provoking debate. Now it just looks like Mattlures is ranting to himself with 6 consecutive posts on page 2. Mattlures put some thought into this thread, and he deserves credit for it.

I was warned about my replies to Matt's that a mod felt were inappropriate. Not sure which, but I deleted all just in case.

Good discussion none-the-less and I always enjoy brainstorming with all of you!

Frank

[J Francho]

Thanks for coming back and posting here, Frank.

We may not always agree, but we're all here to learn to catch

[Mattlures]

I have had no contact with the mods on that post at all so I dont wany anybody to think I was whining or crying to them.

It does look funny now without Frank's posts. Like I am arguing with myself, ha ha. Its all good. I hope somebody got some usefull info from the post.

[J Francho]

Matt, I hear you. This thread's a little butchered, but has so much good stuff in it. I don't think you came of whiny at all. Sometimes it takes some debate to get some truthiness out in the open, if catch my drift.