When To Say When?

[ChipD22]

I am currently bank fishing so I dont have a lot of mobility and have to fish the same spot for longer periods of time than I might normally if I was in a boat. So, i was wondering what the different opinions are about when you should try something different... It would be helpful if I could have some kind of "rule of thumb" to use such as 15 casts or something because if I am bringing the same lure along the same path at varying speeds and styles I would like to know that i have tried everything enough times to know the bait is wrong...

So, when do you say when?

[zach t]

Im more of a 2 casts kind of guy.

[SteveinVA]

I wont cast 25-35 times at the same area with one lure, I will fish for about 25-35 cast moving around before I will change out

[MJB_215]

I wont cast 25-35 times at the same area with one lure, I will fish for about 25-35 cast moving around before I will change out

Same

[Avalonjohn44]

I bank fish too. I will make about ten casts or more with the same lure to the same target. I will try multiple presentations with the same lure before moving to another lure (ex - If I try a Spinnerbait I will use it several different ways until I catch a fish or exhaust the possibilities of the lure. I'll try a slow retrieve, medium retrieve, twitchy, yo-yo, burning under the surface, etc before switching to a less flashy bait. There are certain targets/places that I know will hold bass, and I will wear that spot out with fifty casts and five different lures until I have caught one there. If nothing works, I will move on, but will be certain to try that spot again later.

It helps to carry multiple rods. I usually carry four or five, each rigged with what I think will work that day. This gives me a lot of flexibility with my method, but it's sometimes a PIA carrying all that gear around.

Sometimes I'm a little CDO (That's OCD in the proper alphabetical order )when I fish.

[J Francho]

Depends....

I caught three fish today on lunch break, two over 4 and one close to 6. Each took at least 20 casts, and two bait changes. The two smaller fish were males just starting nests, the larger a roaming female. Depending on what the fish are doing, you might need some sticktoitiveness to catch the bigger fish.

[Raul]

Here´s a rule of thumb for you ---> there are no "rules of thumb ", there are so many variables that come into play that you can´t just go around thinking that you must cast X times before changing the bait or changing the presentation, sometimes it´s 2-3 sometimes it´s 30 and sometimes it´s none ( you nail it the first time ).

On the other hand, how you know you really have the right bait/technique ? has that thought crossed your mind when you choose one over the other ? you may be wrong since you started.

[SteveinVA]

you know you are atleast on the right track if you are catching fish, right? I agree there is no set # of casts, but I am not gonna sit in one spot all day throwing the same thing because I dont know ?? I am gonna change out till I catch something

[Raul]

That´s the catch Steve, knowing to a particular degree of certainty your bait is where the fish are. There are a bunch of variables so you got to start with the certainty that at least one of the variables ( location ) is correct, your bait is where the fish are, but what if your bait is not where the fish are ? you can change everything all day long and there´s nobody there to see it.

Questions like this have no true answer if what many are after is like a list of instructions you can follow in order to catch fish.

[crankbait2009]

I am a shore fisherman as well and am limited to covering different areas except when i wade. but even when i wade or fish off the rocks i'll cast 15-20 times before i change out my lure.

[DJHolly22]

I will cast any where from 10 to 20 times depending on the area, then move around but if i end going over a spot again its not with the same lure

[WRB]

That´s the catch Steve, knowing to a particular degree of certainty your bait is where the fish are. There are a bunch of variables so you got to start with the certainty that at least one of the variables ( location ) is correct, your bait is where the fish are, but what if your bait is not where the fish are ? you can change everything all day long and there´s nobody there to see it.

Questions like this have no true answer if what many are after is like a list of instructions you can follow in order to catch fish.

+1, wrong lure in the right place at the right time may catch a bass, the right lure your odds are much better at catching several bass. Nothing can catch bass that are not located where you are fishing.

If you know bass are eating the lure you are using, then fish it all day and change locations and vary the retrieve, depth etc.

Tom

[ChipD22]

Thanks for the info, especially from the other bank fisherman, I should have prefaced my question by saying that I know there are bass in the area because I have caught them there in the past, it just gets frustrating when you go to the same spot and use the same type of lure and retrieve and get nothing for 15, 20, 30 casts...

thanks guys

[SteveinVA]

Well, place and lure are just a few variables. time of day, cloud cover, water temp, and many other variables are involved

[ChipD22]

also, to the guy with the multiple rods, is there a reason you dont just use a swivel with a lock and just tie lures with a leader to swivels so you can switch them out quickly? I am hoping I am not screwing myself by doing that because it screws up the presentation or something but I cant find any definitive answer on the difference in using that set up

[WRB]

Thanks for the info, especially from the other bank fisherman, I should have prefaced my question by saying that I know there are bass in the area because I have caught them there in the past, it just gets frustrating when you go to the same spot and use the same type of lure and retrieve and get nothing for 15, 20, 30 casts...

thanks guys

Fishing memories is a big mistake and every successful bass angler has learned that lession. If the bass are not biting, something has changed and you need to accept that fact.

Fishing from the bank limits your mobility to locate bait because you are on the bank. Be aware of what is going on around you; are fish eating birds nearby, splashes or swirls in the water, bait fish schools? Look for activity.

Be extremely aware of whatever strikes you get and what the lure was doing when the strike of bump occured. Sometimes it's a long pause because you stopped retrieving the lure for whatever reason or a faster retrieve to make another casts. These are the clues to let you know when to hold them or fold them . Change is the basic rule of bass fishing, when and how you do it is the difference between success and being skunked.

Tom

[SteveinVA]

also, to the guy with the multiple rods, is there a reason you dont just use a swivel with a lock and just tie lures with a leader to swivels so you can switch them out quickly? I am hoping I am not screwing myself by doing that because it screws up the presentation or something but I cant find any definitive answer on the difference in using that set up

I have caught fish using a swivel lock. But have noticed a difference when using jerbaits that it acts differently. especially suspending ones. A swivel is added weight to the line, some lures may not act as intended or how you want them to

[SirSnookalot]

The water, birds, weather tells me what I need to know, then I go with my gut feeling.

[Glenn]

The answer for me is quite simple. I switch to a different lure/location when I lose confidence in the lure/location.

For example, if you're confident there's a bass on that log, but I don't get bit on a spinnerbait after 5 casts, I'll switch to a worm. I'll make maybe 5-10 casts with a worm. Then perhaps try a buzzbait - one cast. And so on.

On the other hand, if I know the fish are aggressively taking spinnerbaits, but I make 3 casts to a spot with no bites, I'll move on, but continue to use the spinnerbait.

The iterations are infinite, but it's all based upon confidence.

[hatrix]

Lots of great replies in here. I guess I do about the same as most people. I do about 5 casts or so to a spot, unless it a spot I know is holding fish. If that the case I will probably do about 10-15 then move. If after I move a few times and nothing ill try changing lures.

[Fat Boy]

I can't vote, because it depends...

I have general rules, but break them all the time! To me, there is no set number of cast because it depends. Often, when starting out, I'll toss a few casts of several rigs until I get action, and then narrow down my direction based on feedback. Huh? Feedback from fish - let them tell me what to do next.

Here are some rules of my own that I like, but break and why I break them:

Don't leave fish to find fish: If you're catching good fish on what you're using, stick with that pattern. When you discover something good, stick to it. But, if you're catching dinks and have confidence in the spot, then change lures to figure out the big ones. Breaking this rule - if you think that they're all gonna be dinks, move. My ice fishing experience has proved that to me.

One fish doesn't make a pattern: Sometimes you get a good fish on something, or some structure or cover, and you think that's the ticket for the day. But, if you keep on working it and get nothing, then a change is necessary. The exact number of casts before deciding depends on your sense of what's going on around you. How I break this? When you're later into your day, and you've tried a lot of stuff, and that's the only good fish you've got...maybe that's all there is of a pattern? Some times you just have bad fishing days, but sometimes you wind up doing better than most. That's fishin'.

Big bait theory: I love this one, and it's a good starting point sometimes. Early I might be using that idea and if it works you could have that steller day. But, when conditions seem right for that approach you have two choices. 1) if you get a good fish, remember it and go to it later if you have to. Or, 2) if you haven't had a hit after a number of hits, or had a strike and missed, try downsizing (breaking the rule). You gotta put fish in the boat first, then work on improving. So, having the multiple rods/set ups comes in handy. Suppose you get a hit and miss on a buzzer, for example, and then following with something more subtle can catch that fish. Another option would be to improve on the big bait, like adding a trailer hook.

And, earlier, someone posted about confidence, gut feelings, etc. and that all comes into play. If you're fishing familiar waters and have been for years, and you log your fishing trips, you'll notice general seasonal patterns, and those are good starting points. Like, what time of year, weather conditions, water clarity, temperature, etc. figure out ahead of time how deep you think the fish would be, or where you'd expect them to be...up a creek, in a cove, off a point, deep in cover? It depends.

What to do? Develop a plan based on what you know, observe results and adapt as needed. Be aware of everything, and adapt based on what you've learned on the water and off the water. Study your quarry. If your fishing new water, find out from local fishing reports or people what they're getting fish on and use that as your starting point. Adapt as needed.

I don't know, but there are rules, and there are rules to be broken. No set number of casts for me, it all depends. Confidence is the big thing. Knowing the fish are there keeps confidence up.

Fishing from shore, well, you can use the same approaches. When I do this, I carry usually 2 rods and have a way to keep my hands free all the time, having a clip on my backpack or fishing vest helps me do this. Each rod is rigged with a different lure, usually one finesse and one search bait. I start with the search bait and then move to finess if need be. But, again, that rule can be broken, like, what if you're seeing fish cruising, or hitting the surface, or holding on shoreline cover? Often you can toss that plastic worm and those fish can crush it.

Well, that's my approach. I'm sure others have their own way. It works for me.