I'm curious, I usually fish the evening because of work restrictions, from 6-9pm I will throw maybe 6 different baits in the water. I hit the water with 4 rods and will probably re-tie two of them. To be clear, I don't mean 6 different styles of baits I mean: green pumpkin jig, shad crankbait, perch crankbait, whopper plopper, and 2 different colored texas rigged worms.
So how many different lures are you throwing in a given period of time? Give the number of baits and approximate hours you fish. Curious to see who is throwing the kitchen sink out there and who is only throwing a small handful. I suspect I may be selling myself short.
From the bank, 1 rod; 1 reel; 1 bait most all days. Trips are usually 1-3 hours long.
From a boat, usually 3-5 rods and correspondingly 3-5 baits, usually for 3-5 hours ????
As many as it takes for me to find a pattern. I give a bait 10-15 casts. If nothing happens, I'll switch it out.
I will take 5-6 poles with me. One or two with top water a frog and WP or buzz bait. One with a jig and craw one Texas rig a wacky worm. And I always have a ned on the spinning rod. I throw them till I find what they like and that it mostly. but most ALWAYS use ever pole at some point.
It depends. Today I may be fishing shallow pads flats for 6 hours and throw nothing but a Rage Bug, Chatterbait and frog. Tomorrow I might be fishing a reservoir with ledges, laydowns, deep stuff, and shallow stuff and toss the kitchen sink. Most of my fishing is from a kayak and I take 6-7 rods most days and if I'm getting bit out the gate I may not use 5 of them.....some days I use 7, trying 15 different things with them.
Usually more than I intend, but on the other hand, more intentions than executions.
When I've been able to be on the same water consistently (Not once a week) and am fortunate enough to stay with the fish & or the bait as it moves, I may be using a two bait deal; sort of like a one two punch.
If not, and I'm in 'hunt' mode - baits & rig numbers start to climb . . . . .
A-Jay
I think @A-Jay said it well. On good days I use very few. On bad days I use a bunch. These numbers do not include different colors and sizes. I've thrown over 30 different baits in the last year. Over 90% of the bass I caught were on 6 baits. That tells me I might be better off with fewer baits in the boat but I'm not sure how to make that happen. I think we all spend too much time looking for the right bait when we should be looking for the right location.
On 7/3/2019 at 2:52 AM, Tennessee Boy said:I think @A-Jay said it well. On good days I use very few. On bad days I use a bunch. These numbers do not include different colors and sizes. I've thrown over 30 different baits in the last year. Over 90% of the bass I caught were on 6 baits. That tells me I might be better off with fewer baits in the boat but I'm not sure how to make that happen. I think we all spend too much time looking for the right bait when we should be looking for the right location.
X2.
And the right time.
A-Jay
On 7/3/2019 at 2:52 AM, Tennessee Boy said:I think we all spend too much time looking for the right bait when we should be looking for the right location.
Even once you've found the right location, you still have to find the right depth, which might require different bait.
I throw a lot of different baits when I start getting desperate, or just bored. I think you give your best presentations when you only throw one thing a lot, and really get 'in-tune' with the bait.
It varies a lot for me. Some days I only throw one thing, and that thing will be something I've recently had luck with. Other days I might throw 10 things, and that's usually just one rod, using speed clips where possible.
Every year I promise myself I will fish everything I own one time.
Thirty years later I am 95% behind.
I am still going to fish one of those lures...maybe.
The last few weeks I have used multiple styles of toads, a buzzbait, a Shower Blows topwater and a senko.
I'm all about the topwater bite but cant pass up flipping a bush or skipping a dock with a senko.
I usually use these 3 topwaters from about 58 degrees in spring to about 50 degrees in late fall (TN)
Some days I'll get 20+ fish in a 5-6 hour trip, other days it'll only be a couple but if they are topwater blowups I'm a happy guy.
I used to tourney fish all the time- most of my practice time was spent idling around marking areas and/or spots
Not so fun but work that has to be done to be competitive.
Now I spend my time fishing in a style that gives me the most enjoyment.
If I found the lure I throw two lures. The lure, and a secondary that's fished slower and/or in a different part of the water column or completely different presentation/action.
If I'm still looking for the right lures, I generally throw appropriate lures for the area in the major types - top, middle, deep, some fast moving, some slow. Unless I'm dead certain fish are there, at this point, if no fish, I figure I'm in the wrong *locations*, and change those up. If still no fish, only then do I start trying random crazy colors and oddball lures. And I usually do that just to fish them some I assume at this point I just don't know where the fish are.
Happened to me yesterday at a lake I have had this happen on before. I should have moved sooner rather than later, but I just knew they were up in the great bank cover, shady with trees and structure...I KNEW it! So I was trying lure after lure. They weren't there. I jigged the bladed jig deeper at a brush pile and a 6# hit it like a freight train. Ooops, time to go, I burned all my fishing time beating the banks.
I'm having fun with 1/4 oz bladed jigs with a subtle trailer lately. I can fish them fast, or slow mid water, or I can stop and jig them. Really let's me quickly find fish rather than having to change up lures/reels. Lately I fish topwater + bladed jig, and I both swim and "jig" the jig, which gives me all three columns in 2 rods. But I still bring 5-6 so if I wanted a soft plastic or frog or crankbait, I can.
So, typically 2-6 range.
I throw less now, than I ever have. Usually not more than 3. Topwater early, and spinnerbait or worm throughout much of the day.
Three to five different baits, most days. Most of my outings are 3-4 hours. I generally bring 4 rods, and don't change baits often while out. If I do, it's usually to refine color, not to use a completely different style.
I usually go out with these:
Jig and craw
Swimjig
Weightless Worm or Texas Rig with pegged weight depending on lake
Frog (or some kind topwater depending on the lakes cover)
I usually try all at some point depending on the part of the lake I'm in.
Wild card:
Ned Rig
Shakey Head
No set number, sometimes its one, sometimes its too many.
Just one about 90+ percent of the time. A plastic worm
As few as I can . I hardly ever throw just one in an 8 hour outing , I guess five is about avg .
If you can't get bit on a senko there are no fish to be caught
On 7/3/2019 at 2:21 AM, Shockwave said:As many as it takes for me to find a pattern. I give a bait 10-15 casts. If nothing happens, I'll switch it out.
Pretty much the same...
(Love your avatar!!)
Mike
On 7/3/2019 at 2:16 AM, Team9nine said:From the bank, 1 rod; 1 reel; 1 bait most all days. Trips are usually 1-3 hours long.
From a boat, usually 3-5 rods and correspondingly 3-5 baits, usually for 3-5 hours ????
That’s exactly what I do, except I carry 3-5 baits on the bank too. Usually all some kind of soft plastic.
It depends on where I am fishing and how long I think I will fish. I usually have 4 baitcasters and 2 spinning rods with me. If I can get a good bite going I may only use 2 or 3 baits. If I am struggling to catch fish I may use 10 or more baits. I really like the days I don't have to use every setup I have with me.
In the summer I primarily throw 4 baits for an entire day. Frog, punch rig, 1/2 oz chatterbait with razor shad trailer, and a 6 to 7" senko. The frog is always black, and everything else is always green pumpkin.
Fishing with four rods, I’m going to say about 10 baits if I can put a pattern together. If I can’t pick up a pattern and the bites are hit or miss then I may keep changing all day.
I will always have two topwater baits tied on that will inevitably get wet plus 2-4 other that will make it in the lineup during the summer. If I find myself lost with regards to what the fish want after that, the number can get into double digits if you count different colors of the same bait.
From perhaps different perspective ~
Rarely does the amount or number of tools used equate to a job well done.
Some jobs require more, some less.
Often that can be dictated by the shear complexity of the task at hand.
I'd be very happy completing every job with a crescent wrench and a roll of duct tape.
But some days are just whole snap-on tool box kind-a-days.
And when they are, I'm happy to have them & maybe more importantly, that I know how to use them effectively.
A-Jay
If things go right I usually end up using the same 2-3 rods and same 3-5 baits . If things don't I usually have a nice pile of 20ish lures/hooks/plastics that I have to shamefully put away at the end of a skunk trip lol.
On average I carry 3 rods, occasionally 4; each tied on with a technique specific bait, crank bait, top water, and some type of soft plastic (worm/creature) the 4th is usually a jig although I'm not a huge fan of them.
My average day is 6-8 hours, fishing from a kayak. Generally I don't do a lot of bait changes, with maybe the exception of color.
Like many of you I'm sure, I have been keeping a journal/log book for many, many years. Fishing the same waters year after year, combined with the notes from the log book sort of gives you an overall recipe for what might work on a given day under similar conditions. So, after doing my "homework" and before I head out I tie on the baits of the day. Still carry a full compliment of baits in the yak, just in case the educated choices don't produce, but mostly it's 3-4 baits all day.
How Many Baits do You Throw in a Day?
As many as the bass want ????
As many as it takes to find the right pattern. I fished a tournament last weekend where they were blowing up everywhere around me, but wanted nothing to do with the 3 topwaters I had tied on. So I threw a weightless Senko, and started catching dink’s. Switched it up to a weighted wacky rig, and started to get a few bigger bites and caught my limit. Finally I figured out what they were relating to, and started chucking a jig, and the culling began.
Tldr; it’s a process. Some days you just know what to throw, and some days you have to figure it out. And some days you can have 40 baits tied on 40 rods and you still won’t get bit.
Usually 2-3 rods for 3 different baits.
My best days are when I have just one rod out and in hand. I tournament fish, not super competitive stuff, just local opens and club level stuff. When I practice I bring a ton of stuff, usually my normal array of tackle up by me, and spare stuff in the back in case I want to try something. Im less tempted to just tie it on, but it’s in the boat if I feel the need. Come tournament day I narrow everything way down, 6 rods in the boat tops, with my 3600 size tackle bag. It’s not a whole lot different if I’m in someone else’s boat, or just fun fishing. For me, less is more. One thing is for sure, I will always have some form of a jig on, usually a flipping jig as it’s pretty versatile and I can fish it different ways. I will also always have a Texas rig tied on. It’s so versatile for me, especially with an 1/8th oz bullet weight. I can go from a creature, to a worm, to a swim bait in no time. Other baits could include spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, frogs, cranks, jerks, swim jigs. It really could be a lot in one day, but if I have any clue what’s going on I try to keep it around 5-6...but preferably 1.
So I am a bank and Kayak angler. When I'm on my Kayak I bring 2 rods/reels one heavy with baitcaster for anything big and one medium with spinning reel for light lures finesse baits. I bring my favorite lures and extra line ect. I might throw 20+ lures on my kayak to see what they want until I dial it in normally a search bait to find where they are then throwing every thing I got. On the bank I carry a 25 lb backpack including water and food and yes it gets a little heavy but I look at it like a workout so its great. I have had some amazing days from the bank I recommend to bring as much as you feel comfortable carrying and you will never wish you had brought something
When I’m on my kayak I bring 3 rods and 5 when on a boat.
Like others, I throw as many as needed to catch fish.
One at a time.......one at a time
If I get on an off-shore crankbait bite i might use a half dozen different diving baits . Then throw in a texas rig and lip-less bait . Might decide to try a fast sinking spinnerbait or a jigging spoon or Little George. I have had 70 to 100 fish days like that . Then other day's I might , for example , fish a spinnerbait all day and barely use anything else . I will always try a Texas rig , even if its just for a few cast .
I guess I’m an oddball. I’ll go fishing with a bait that I have the most confidence in and one that I’m learning how to use. I’ll save the confidence bait till all else fails.
I fish a 40 acre lake from a kayak. Heavily pressured. Learned how to fish worms last summer. Then I started trying everything. Only things that have worked are senko type worms and flukes. So now 2 rods. 1 with a ned rig with spinner in the tail. If the wind isn’t a factor weightless senko or fluke. Windy Texas rig with a bullet weight. If I don’t get a bite on a weightless watermelon/red flake Yamamoto senko then I’m not going to catch. Pretty only catch in 4 ft or less. I carry about 30 different color and size worms. Simple?????????♂️
On 7/3/2019 at 3:57 PM, Catt said:How Many Baits do You Throw in a Day?
As many as the bass want ????
^^^^^ This..????