Overwhelmed with all the choices 2025
Alan Reed reply :
This is my first year where I am really trying to LMB fish. I have done a ton of researching over the winter on the techniques and lures. I had to restock my tackle box because it was stolen late last year so I have a pretty good selection. So my question is kind of two fold.
1. How do you decide which type of lure you are going to use? Say a spinner vs a Crank or a Carolina Rig? This is the part that has never been linked for me. Some people say they really like one versus the other for searching. So is it just a matter of preferance and which one you are most confident in? Or is there a specific reason to pick one over another?
2. It is also said to read what the fish want? I really need some help with this. With all the options available to anglers today that can quickly become an overwhelming task if you have accumulated a collection. So does one just go through the tackle box and fish everything that will be at the right depth, and color until one finds a presentation that causes reactions?
slonezp reply :
1. Conditions play a role in lure selection be it type of lure, color, size, etc
2. I believe a well placed bait trumps all.
Fish the Mitt reply :
That's a loaded question and I'll tell you right now, you'll get a thousand different answers. Are we all wrong? No. Everyone fishes their own way for the water they're used to. However, there are some things that are "proven" per-say - or an across the board understanding. Those can be picked up quite easily by a simple search here (link below) or Google search.
Another thing to consider; since you mentioned "reaction". Are you power fishing for reaction strikes or more interested in finesse style fishing? See, just one of many variables but again, starting with the 'across the board' understanding is probably a good start. From there, practice and learn.
DISCLAIMER: I skimmed through the article. But I believe it may be a good start.
http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/seasonal_lure_selection.html
Alan Reed reply :
Let let me use this as an exampl because I understand the general "categories" for the different types of year. I can't say I have a style yet. Let me pick an example from the article you linked.
"During pre-spawn the bass are staging in the eight- to fifteen-foot area waiting for the shallows to warm. Crankbaits, Texas rigs, jigs, and Carolina rigs work well at this depth."
So this is what I was trying to get at in my original post. Here are 4 "suggested" selections. So are those all equal but it is up to each individual to develop the technique and understanding that entices the fish with one of those selections? If that is the case, and say I want to develop to become a good at jigging, do I go out on the water with a few Jig of different sizes, colors, trailers etc. and say this is what I am going to practice until I develop "a package" that works?
Or is there another piece of the puzzle that says under a certain situation a jig would work better, under a different situation a crank bait would be better and so on.
I hope this makes sense. My question is really about that next level of selection when you move past the categories to the specific types.
papajoe222 reply :
I say: Keep it simple to start out. There are basically two types of baits. The first elicit a reaction bite or strike and the second a feeding response. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzzbaits are primarily reaction baits. Soft plastics and most finesse presentations fit into the latter group.
Slonezp is right on the money with his comment on a well placed bait. The most difficult part of this game is locating the fish. A search bait (reaction style), electronics and a good pair of polarized sun glasses will assist you in that quest. There are times when those three will be all you may need and other times when you'll have to painstakingly sift the water with a slower presentation to get bit. This is why many anglers will start out in a search mode and switch to a slower presentation when that doesn't work.
MIbassyaker reply :
The three biggest things that improved my bass fishing:
1. Learning about bass behavior (still learning, always learning!), forage, lifecycle, location, how they relate to structure and cover, seasonal patterns, daily activity patterns
2. Fishing a texas rig: Learn how to WATCH and FEEL -- detecting strikes, making effective hooksets, learning p-a-t-i-e-n-c-e, and practicing putting your knowledge of locations, cover, structure into practice. Jigs are good for this too (maybe preferable, depending on where you fish). If I had to recommend learning how to use one lure first, it would be a texas-rigged plastic worm. There are lots of lures to try, but this one seems to teach you things that also helps your effectiveness with the others, more than vice-versa.
3. Getting comfortable with variations in SPEED and DEPTH -- Diversify: try lures that cover different parts of the water column (top, middle, bottom); lures that trigger reaction strikes vs. feeding strikes; lures that make horizontal (swim it past) vs. vertical presentations (let it drop).
Fish the Mitt reply :
On 3/29/2016 at 11:34 AM, Alan Reed said:Let let me use this as an exampl because I understand the general "categories" for the different types of year. I can't say I have a style yetOr is there another piece of the puzzle that says under a certain situation a jig would work better, under a different situation a crank bait would be better and so on.
I hope this makes sense. My question is really about that next level of selection when you move past the categories to the specific types.
There's always another piece of the puzzle lol. Like @slonezpsaid, conditions.
Example: Fishing dirty/stained water
Its dirty. So its harder for you to see but also harder for the bass. You need a lure that has a profile that draws attention. A Crankbaits with a wider wobble to really move water, a spinner bait with large blades to really "thwop, thwop, thwop" in the water, or a jig with a rattle to draw attention. Worm/plastic not so much because they're not flashy, noisy, and don't move much water.
See, there's always something to consider. That's just one of many things to consider too.
Like @MIbassyaker said in his #1 point:
On 3/29/2016 at 12:11 PM, MIbassyaker said:The three biggest things that improved my bass fishing:
1. Learning about bass behavior (still learning, always learning!), forage, lifecycle, location, how they relate to structure and cover, seasonal patterns, daily activity patterns.
Crestliner2008 reply :
Welcome Aboard! First thing you should do is to pick yourself up a copy of the soft bound book entitled, "Spoonplugging" by Elwood "Buck" Perry. In that you will learn what structure really is, and how bass relate to it. Then you pick up a selection of lures to cover the water column, top to bottom.
1) Top water lures such as poppers and walking baits, maybe even a buzz bait.
2) Mid-depth lures such jerkbaits, squarebill cranks and deeper diving crankbaits.
3) Bottom fishing lures such as Senkos, worms and maybe a set-up for the drop shot.
When you have this ready to go, pick out a lake to target - one that DOES contain a decent, well managed population of bass. Contact your DNR for any maps available for this lake and then go fishing. Make notes on the map where you fish and keep a notebook of what you caught there, and what the conditions were.
At that point it's simple. Just go out and fish - and have fun! 
Alan Reed reply :
Thanks everyone for the input.
Nitrofreak reply :
I think the overwhelming part is the cost of what you actually end up finding un-useful, take your time and try not to get bug eyed over new fads and baits, keep it very simple in the beginning and build confidence in one bait at a time, plastics, in particular, soft plastics, they are inexpensive and the best way to build confidence early, read up on color choices for the clearity of water that you primarily fish and start there, you can be as adverse as you want and experiment so much with soft plastic baits, worms, creature baits, large and small.
I really like what Mlbassyaker had to say about learning bass behavior, life cycle and location, focus your attention here on these things first rather than the overwhelming choices of baits, the combination of both will keep your lines tight, keep it simple and don't forget to pack some patience in that tackle box when you go.
Heron reply :
Wait....are you fishing from a boat, or fishing from shore?
blckshirt98 reply :
I think the most important things are finding the bass and knowing behavior, "Think like the fish" so to speak, to put the odds in your favor. If you're in an area with no fish, you can throw everything under the sun and you won't catch anything. Dusk/dawn are probably the best times, and coves and points are probably the best locations, so start out by fishing at those times/locations. I think these factors are universal in any body of water in the world. Keep a notebook or spreadsheet and write a quick summary of where you fished, what you used, the conditions, and the results.
Also, nothing you read online can replace the knowledge you gain from actual time fishing your local lakes. Every cast you make will give you another piece of a lake's puzzle to help you the next cast. I'd start out with something that lets you have bottom contact (dropshot!) so you can get a feel for what the lake bottom is like - sandy, rocky, gravelly, muddy, etc. Keep fishing and pretty soon you'll know where the structure is like boulders/stumps/dropoffs/transitions/etc all of which fish favor. When you pull your line in and there's vegetation on your hook/lure, see what kind of vegetation it is (grass, milfoil, etc) and do some research on how to approach it. It's gonna take some legwork and you will run into a few skunk days as you find out which parts of the lake are productive and which are not, but soon you'll be able to pull up to lake and you'll have a nice visual in your head and a handful of spots that were productive for you, and which parts to avoid.
Don't get to caught up in the different kinds of baits/colors. There's threads about favorite technique/lure/color and every person's post is different than the rest. Hungry bass are kind of dumb and will eat ANYTHING.
RichF reply :
You just have to put the time in on the water. Aside from casting mechanics, knot tying, etc, which I learned from my father as a youngster, I've learned techniques, seasonal patterns, and productive locations simply by practice and spending as much time on the water as possible. I've fished many of the same bodies of water for years and continue to figure out new ways to catch them all season long.
A really good way to GET overwhelmed is to listen to the pros. Remember, a lot of them are trying to sell you crap you don't need. You'll get bombarded with a million different colors of the same baits and even more variations of hues, scents, and shapes that are so subtle, the fish will never know the difference nor care. Pick a couple different baits for each part of the water column in two color variations (dark and light or natural and bright) and go fish. You'll eventually build up confidence in a few baits that will always be your "goto's." Then you can branch out and try different baits/techniques. It definitely takes a while to get dialed in but when it happens, it's one of the best feelings in the world. Be patient, you'll get there.
buzzed bait reply :
On 3/30/2016 at 1:26 AM, RichF said:A really good way to GET overwhelmed is to listen to the pros.
^^ absolutely no doubt about that.... they'll make your head spin sometimes.
Alan Reed reply :
Thanks again to everyone that has responded definitely some very good inputs.
I fish from the bank or from a kayak right now.
Definitly have to to learn the patience part. Just some times I question if I am being patient or doing something wrong.
This last weekend I got a depth finder my kayak which look forward to using.
Jaderose reply :
I know this will SEEM like a smart a*s answer but it isn't meant to be. What you are asking is....."Can you guys tell me all the knowledge you've picked up from years and years of experience so that I can be proficient immediately?" The answer is no. Nor do you really want someone to give you that knowledge...not to mention that it's basically impossible. In my opinion, it needs to be earned to truly enjoy what, for me, will be a lifelong hobby. The best thing you've done so far? Finding this website. Virtually every single question you may have at this point is answered somewhere on this website. Spend this year becoming good at 1 or two things. Get really good at Texas rigging plastics...both with a weight and weightless. Get really good at tying knots. Get a couple of spinner baits. Get a couple of topwater options (this is very fun!!) DON'T go out and spend $10k on every single crank and jerk and special technique item out there. Throw that enthusiasm into LEARNING and reading and watching and just fishing. I...and everyone else on here...promises you that things will click and, as someone mentioned above, when it does...it's the best thing in the whole world. Tight lines and good luck, Young Padawan!
blckshirt98 reply :
One thing I want to add is that try to get comfortable and confident with 1-2 finesse and 1-2 power techniques. If you try 12 different techniques for 20 minutes each over the course of a 4 hour fishing session it'll take forever to feel confident in a few techniques. For me it took many sessions of texas rig vs carolina rig vs wacky vs dropshot vs shaky head to get to the point where dropshot is my highest confidence finesse technique, followed by a shaky head. For reaction baits I have that confidence when throwing squarebills, followed by chatterbaits. I'll branch out and try different techniques to mix things up but those are the ones where I always feel like I can catch something in any body of water anywhere.
juicebass reply :
On 3/29/2016 at 11:34 AM, Alan Reed said:Let let me use this as an exampl because I understand the general "categories" for the different types of year. I can't say I have a style yet. Let me pick an example from the article you linked.
"During pre-spawn the bass are staging in the eight- to fifteen-foot area waiting for the shallows to warm. Crankbaits, Texas rigs, jigs, and Carolina rigs work well at this depth."
So this is what I was trying to get at in my original post. Here are 4 "suggested" selections. So are those all equal but it is up to each individual to develop the technique and understanding that entices the fish with one of those selections? If that is the case, and say I want to develop to become a good at jigging, do I go out on the water with a few Jig of different sizes, colors, trailers etc. and say this is what I am going to practice until I develop "a package" that works?
Or is there another piece of the puzzle that says under a certain situation a jig would work better, under a different situation a crank bait would be better and so on.
I hope this makes sense. My question is really about that next level of selection when you move past the categories to the specific types.
Haha, I feel the same way man, reading tons of information over the long winter clouds the brain with too much information.
Most anglers who are serious have a collection of multiple rods and can try a bunch of different techniques within seconds on every other cast without wasting time re-tying different lures. (Which I'm assuming you might only have one or two rods will make this difficult)
So most guys will have a crankbait tied up, a Carolina tied up, and so on, on multiple rods. So if something isn't working they can try the other rod quickly they get bit..
My suggestion is to. Go to a prime fishing spot and try something out for 20 or so minutes, and if it doesn't work, move on to something else.
Also Don't get too caught up in colour and the " perfect jig for that moment" the standard black and blue, or green pumpkin can cover it! As for trailers, just switch them up once in a while if it's not working.. But from what I've noticed. Most trailers work the Same! All the different information is because pros have to push their sponsors and sell baits, so they wanna make u feel like u need to buy every single type.
Amature anglers will tell u exactly what to buy and it will all be different cuz every angler has a personal favourite because they've done well on it numerous times..
I try different techniques after I get bored of always fishing the same baits, and from what I've noticed. I always end up finding the new "This is the perfect one bait"!!
And now I have so many that are "my favorites"
but hoenslty, go out and if u don't get bite switch it up to anything different every 20-30 minutes
good luck this season bud!
juicebass reply :
On 3/29/2016 at 11:34 AM, Alan Reed said:Let let me use this as an exampl because I understand the general "categories" for the different types of year. I can't say I have a style yet. Let me pick an example from the article you linked.
"During pre-spawn the bass are staging in the eight- to fifteen-foot area waiting for the shallows to warm. Crankbaits, Texas rigs, jigs, and Carolina rigs work well at this depth."
So this is what I was trying to get at in my original post. Here are 4 "suggested" selections. So are those all equal but it is up to each individual to develop the technique and understanding that entices the fish with one of those selections? If that is the case, and say I want to develop to become a good at jigging, do I go out on the water with a few Jig of different sizes, colors, trailers etc. and say this is what I am going to practice until I develop "a package" that works?
Or is there another piece of the puzzle that says under a certain situation a jig would work better, under a different situation a crank bait would be better and so on.
I hope this makes sense. My question is really about that next level of selection when you move past the categories to the specific types.
On 3/30/2016 at 7:23 AM, juicebass said:
For example, I went to a new lake at a friends cottage, and I started off throwing a crankbait, which Is one of my favourite lures to throw.. And I got nothing. I didn't even know if there were bass in this lake.
I had bought my first pack of Senkos and figured what the heck lemme try this silly things.. I went on to catch 10 bass that day on the senko. And it immediately became a favorite and I throw it all the time now.. Before that I would always stick with a crankbait way too long and assume there were no bass or they didn't wanna eat.
just goes to show switching things up can show u what works where and what doesn't in other situations
Alan Reed reply :
On 3/30/2016 at 5:20 AM, Jaderose said:I know this will SEEM like a smart a*s answer but it isn't meant to be. What you are asking is....."Can you guys tell me all the knowledge you've picked up from years and years of experience so that I can be proficient immediately?" The answer is no. Nor do you really want someone to give you that knowledge...not to mention that it's basically impossible. In my opinion, it needs to be earned to truly enjoy what, for me, will be a lifelong hobby. The best thing you've done so far? Finding this website. Virtually every single question you may have at this point is answered somewhere on this website. Spend this year becoming good at 1 or two things. Get really good at Texas rigging plastics...both with a weight and weightless. Get really good at tying knots. Get a couple of spinner baits. Get a couple of topwater options (this is very fun!!) DON'T go out and spend $10k on every single crank and jerk and special technique item out there. Throw that enthusiasm into LEARNING and reading and watching and just fishing. I...and everyone else on here...promises you that things will click and, as someone mentioned above, when it does...it's the best thing in the whole world. Tight lines and good luck, Young Padawan!
I didn't take it in a bad way at all. A little stronger than my question was intended to come across, but I get your point.
Alan Reed reply :
I really appreciate everyone's input.
Sounds like I will be spending time working some soft plastics around structures. This is the first time I have ever purchased any of those (which I have) and it will certaining be a learning experience.
Let's hope I get some bites. I can be patient but I would really like some feedback I am doing something right.
Heron reply :
1. Everything in the tackle store, catches fish.
2. Learn how to tie a Polomar knot
3. Learn how the conditions of the day affect fish behavior
4. Get a white/gold willow, tandem spinnerbait.
5. Get a pack of 4" senkos and some 1/0 EWG hooks.
6. Use those until you catch fish.
Jaderose reply :
On 3/30/2016 at 7:38 AM, Alan Reed said:I didn't take it in a bad way at all. A little stronger than my question was intended to come across, but I get your point.
I know you didn't mean it that way, I was just making a point. I was where you are now about 10 years ago. This is a terrific hobby and once you get "hooked" (HA!) it 's hard to be patient. I did a LOT of the things I cautioned you not to do. A lot of us do. and I didn't know about this place until just a couple of years ago. Finding this website and soaking it all on has boosted me a LOT further along than I was. The only way this sport can be learned (in my opinion) is to listen to obviously knowledgeable people and then adapt what they tell you to YOUR situation. But first you need the basics. Knots, Texas rigging, etc. It's not a race.....hopefully you and I both will enjoy this hobby for a very long time!!
On 3/30/2016 at 7:52 AM, Alan Reed said:
Sounds like I will be spending time working some soft plastics around structures. This is the first time I have ever purchased any of those (which I have) and it will certaining be a learning experience.
Let's hope I get some bites. I can be patient but I would really like some feedback I am doing something right.
There ya go!! When you do it right, they'll let you know!!
Alan Reed reply :
Took all the advice and went tonight and caught a couple good ones. Picture is of the first one.
Used a Texas Rigged 7 inch curly tail in Motor oil
Fish the Mitt reply :
On 3/31/2016 at 8:29 AM, Alan Reed said:Took all the advice and went tonight and caught a couple good ones. Picture is of the first one.
Used a Texas Rigged 7 inch curly tail in Motor oil
Congrats!! But where's the pics?!
Alan Reed reply :
Sorry about that. Not sure why it is sideways
blckshirt98 reply :
Awesome, nice job getting a couple on your first trip out!
Nitrofreak reply :
See, it's fun ain't it !!!
Congrats, really nice job !!!
Alan Reed reply :
On 4/1/2016 at 6:18 AM, Nitrofreak said:See, it's fun ain't it !!!
Congrats, really nice job !!!
It sure was. The first one was a fighter. Jumping out of the water trying to through the bait. Had a really good hook set on both of them but need to work on the timing because took me more than one try for both of them. But when I got them set there wasn't anyway they were getting off.
MIbassyaker reply :
Well, there you go. Right on.
Nitrofreak reply :
On 4/1/2016 at 7:36 AM, Alan Reed said:It sure was. The first one was a fighter. Jumping out of the water trying to through the bait. Had a really good hook set on both of them but need to work on the timing because took me more than one try for both of them. But when I got them set there wasn't anyway they were getting off.
Who's to say those were the same ones that bit the first time 
Don't forget to make mental and physical notes of the total area and conditions !!!
Jaderose reply :
Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! 
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