Establishing A “Rhythm” Pattern As Associated With A Lure’S Presentation

[Catt]

The subject came up while discussing lipless crank baits and in particularly using the kneel-n-reel technique verses the drop technique.

First let’s examine the shape of a Rat-L-Trap shaped lure, from the line tie to the nose it is a diving plane which causes the lure to dive a certain depth on retrieval. This depth can be change by rising or lower your rod tip, speed up or slowing down the retrieval but not much else will cause the lure to dive any deeper. Heavier traps of 1/2 – 1 ounce will still only dive so deep on slow retrieves where the rod tip is held close to the water’s surface.

During the pre-spawn bass will often stage at a certain depth, say 10-12’ over a creek channel and they will not come up to hit your lipless crank. So many anglers simple allow the trap to fall to the desired and start the retrieve but what happens is the trap will gradually start to climb. To offset this “climb” the angler must constantly allow the trap to fall to obtain the desired depth.

Anglers like me and others have adapted the kneel-n-reel technique, what this does is allow for a steady retrieve plus the additional depth of 2-4’ depending on how much rod we stick in the water.

What we have done is Established a “rhythm” pattern as associated with the Rat-L-Trap!

There is nothing wrong with the previous technique except the bass for whatever reason does want the lure retrieved in this manner. They want a faster steady retrieve which cannot be archived without kneel-n-reel.

Establishing a “rhythm” pattern is an extremely important part of using a particular lure

[matstone7]

Great tip & explained very well Catt!

[FD.]

What would happen to the action of a lipless crank if you added weight on the line, like a bullet weight? Will this adversely effect to action? Would it get the bait down to the desired depth?

[Catt]

Depth is only part of this “rhythm” pattern; the lure size and vibration are also key ingredients

Rat-L-Traps come in 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1, 1 ½, & 3 ½ ounces; each trap runs at a different depth; so one could easily move up in weight and gain more depth.

Many anglers do not even consider “rhythm” patterns or as top water anglers call it “cadence” but it can be the difference between only a couple bits and a dozen bits.

I pay special attention to “rhythm” patterns with each lure I throw

[Nitrofreak]

First let’s examine the shape of a Rat-L-Trap shaped lure, from the line tie to the nose it is a diving plane which causes the lure to dive a certain depth on retrieval.

Every day is a school day!!!

I always thought that plane was to control the swimming motion on a lipless and the weight of the lure was to help achieve the depth needed.

Thanx Catt, thats a great post!!!

[J Francho]

I know what your saying about each bait has a "running depth," but that is relative. For me to grasp the concept, I think of each bait has having a rate of fall. The retrieve you choose determines running depth. Faster = shallower, all things being equal, including line size and rod angle. So, to gain speed, but maintain depth, you must increase weight.

[Catt]

Nitrofreak, the diving plane (lip) on every crank bait controls both depth & swimming motion (wiggle)

J Francho,

Rate of fall has to do with a lure not being reeled forward, once the forward motion starts the “fall” stops.

“So, to gain speed, but maintain depth, you must increase weight”

You can go up to a 1 ½ oz trap but I’ll still get more depth and a more constant depth at the same speed with ½ oz trap and a kneel-n-reel technique. You can stop the trap and yes it will “fall” deeper but once you start the retrieval process again the trap will rise back upwards.

To continue on!

A “rhythm” pattern is the action of a lure imparted by the angler such as the speed at which you walk the dog with top water lures, the number of jerks and pauses with jerk baits. With bottom lures like Texas rigs, Jig-n-craws, or Carolina rigs the “rhythm” maybe dead sticking.

[Dwight Hottle]

Nitrofreak, the diving plane (lip) on every crank bait controls both depth & swimming motion (wiggle)

J Francho,

Rate of fall has to do with a lure not being reeled forward, once the forward motion starts the “fall” stops.

“So, to gain speed, but maintain depth, you must increase weight”

You can go up to a 1 ½ oz trap but I’ll still get more depth and a more constant depth at the same speed with ½ oz trap and a kneel-n-reel technique. You can stop the trap and yes it will “fall” deeper but once you start the retrieval process again the trap will rise back upwards.

To continue on!

A “rhythm” pattern is the action of a lure imparted by the angler such as the speed at which you walk the dog with top water lures, the number of jerks and pauses with jerk baits. With bottom lures like Texas rigs, Jig-n-craws, or Carolina rigs the “rhythm” maybe dead sticking.

Catt, so what your saying is that you got rhythm.

[Catt]

Dwight @ my age nah

[J Francho]

Catt, so what your saying is that you got rhythm.

RIMSHOT!

I got rhythm.

[Nitrofreak]

Dwight @ my age nah

Oh stop being so modest!!! LOL.

[Nitrofreak]

While we are on a rhythm post I have a question.

If you are getting bite's on a rhythm but they are slow, do you stay with that rhythm or would you change it up?

[J Francho]

It would depend on the type of day. Some days the bite is just slow. I might move to a feel bite, if I was getting slow bites in the same place.

[Nitrofreak]

It would depend on the type of day. Some days the bite is just slow. I might move to a feel bite, if I was getting slow bites in the same place.

Gottcha!!

I was bouncing a lipless on a rock pile near an old creek bed in 18' and just changed my rhythm a very small amount and lost the bite completely even after going back to it had no effect.

Thanx J. I guess it just happens from time to time but that was the second time I had that happen.

[Catt]

I would change location

Ok let’s farther examine this pattern by looking at the whole picture.

Seasonal pattern: pre-spawn

Structural pattern: creek channel

Water depth pattern: bass suspended @ 10-12’ over deeper water

Lure pattern: ½ oz Rat-L-Trap

Rhythm pattern: held @ the same speed & constant depth throughout the retrieve

There is more to establishing a pattern than just seasonal patterns or I caught em off grass.

[tmier]

So did I miss the actual retrieve? Is it a slow steady on a c@asting reel/burning on cranking reel?

[WRB]

Speed or pace the lure is being retreived, size of the lure, wiggle fast or wobble slow, silent, BB rattles, thumper rattle, depth, color all factor into what makes a bass strike a lure.

A blade bait like a Sonar or Silver Buddy is heavy for it's size and can run a little deeper than Trap of the same size, they all tend to lift due line to drag. Smaller diameter line; 10 lb instead of 15 lb or FC verses mono can get you a little more depth. Paul Elias is known for his reeling and neeling to get crank baits to run the depth and speed he likes. Calling all this rythym works for me.

Good thread.

Tom

[Catt]

Nitrofreak, if I’m getting bites with a specific “rhythm” pattern, cadence or whatever y’all want to call it but the bite is slow I don’t change lures or “rhythm” but I’ll change location instead.

The structural pattern (location) of the equation is creel channels; I may move farther into creek channel cove or back out to the mouth.

Apparently after 331 views but only 4-5 serious replies not many of y’all pay that close attention to what’s going on under the surface.

tmier, medium to slow speed

[J Francho]

Rate of fall has to do with a lure not being reeled forward, once the forward motion starts the “fall” stops.

It doesn't stop falling the moment you start reeling. There is a happy medium where it merely suspwends as it's retrieved. There is also something I call "skidding" where you don't reel fast enough to keep it off the bottom, and it skids intop the structure. Often with regular lipped diving cranks you get bit inthe transitions from diving to max depth. Using a modified yo-yo retrieve, you can replicate that arching dive severl times in a single cast. In other words, it isn't knowing that it falls, but knowing how it falls that gets you bit.

[Catt]

Alright J we’re talk 2 separate subjects here

You’re basically slow rolling a technique that requires barely turning the reel & a modified yo-yo retrieve. Whereas I can maintain a constant medium to slow speed while maintaining a constant depth.

Both are examples of “rhythm” patterns, cadence or whatever y’all want to call

[J Francho]

Sort of, I guess. Rhythm and cadence are two different things, though like in music, are intertwined. Cadence is tempo or speed. Rhythm is more than that. It's the combination of the wiggle and throb from the lure, the shaking of the rod tip, the turning of the reel, and you sensing all this as one thing. Interrupt that, and you either have a bite, or have come in contact with some cover. Either way, you should react.

When I get a chance, I have more comments about lipped divers...trying to get out the door, and do a little fishing.

[Catt]

Kick some bass J

[WRB]

Rhythm can apply to pace of a lure or the pace of life in general. We don't all march to the same drummer, the same applies to aminals like bass living under water. When everything is in tune or in sync there is a harmony, when someting is out of sync it stands out.

Imagine your lure as something out of sync, it stands out from everything. We are trying to get bass to strike it, why should they? Does the lure represent something they want to eat and looks like an easy target because of it eractic behavior or color?

Bass that are active may react very differently than bass that are inactive; active bass react and inactive may not, it's all part of the daily rhythm.

Tom