Bites To Catches - What Is Good Number? 2025
alexofoakton reply :
I was fishing on the Occoquan River yesterday and had about 6 good bites in 3 hours, but didn't catch anything. I felt like I should have caught something - the fish were there. What is a realistic good number for the ratio of bites to catches?
zip pow reply :
I only try for a dozen bites a day an I like to get them all to the boat but the thing is it don't always work I generally get two to one to the boat if your having a hard time getting hookups try a change in color or weight I had it happen to me this summer changed to a heavier hook and brought the next ten to the boat maybe this will help
Bluebasser86 reply :
I would want it to be at least 80% but some days the fish don't go by what I'd like them to.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
Well it might depend on the lure used. Like for me and a SPRO Frog I get only 20% hook-up I miss a lot. With SENKO bite I get almost all bites so 90% or so. With jigs I would say 50-60% of the bites.
SDoolittle reply :
On 11/10/2011 at 10:58 AM, zip pow said:I only try for a dozen bites a day
I don't know about everyone else, but I try for a bite on every cast. Unless you're only making 12 casts per day, you're setting your goals a little low.
00 mod reply :
I try and catch a fish on every cast and land every bite.....doesnt happen but I still try....80% is a good number....miss 2 out of 10 bites! 50-60% jig bite is LOW!! When you feel anything, reel down and swing for fences! Topwater, is their bite to miss....but 20% is also low! I dont fish senko's much so I would say 90% is good as I think 80% is good!
Jeff
gobig reply :
Really depends on what you are fishing bait wise and location. For instance I hardly ever loose a fish on a dropshot in open water, but throwing a frog or punching heavy mats there is a much better chance for heart break. Those are just a few examples.
zip pow reply :
On 11/10/2011 at 12:47 PM, Bird dog said:I don't know about everyone else, but I try for a bite on every cast. Unless you're only making 12 casts per day, you're setting your goals a little low.
I don't know how long you been fishing or maybe your an awesome fisherman but about 90% of fishing I e casting is eliminating water so to say you expect to get a bite on every cast must lead to some disappointment on the water. I dont know but Bassmaster Rick clunn said " I try for five bites a day an I want to put those in the livewell " So no my goals aren't low there a little more than twice Rick Clunn's
Grey Wolf reply :
On 11/10/2011 at 10:06 AM, alexofoakton said:I was fishing on the Occoquan River yesterday and had about 6 good bites in 3 hours, but didn't catch anything. I felt like I should have caught something - the fish were there. What is a realistic good number for the ratio of bites to catches?
How were you fishing , what rod/reel setups were you using ? 
alexofoakton reply :
I started with a jig dressed with a white fluke using a 7 ft pool and bait casting reel. Switched to a 6'6" pole with a spinning reel with a shaky head using a 5" senko worm rigged Texas style. Later, switched to a 7" white crazy worm. I stuck with these setups because I was getting some bites.
JigMe reply :
Wow. What lures were you using? I usually miss a ton with top water lures, and probably miss 2 or 3 out of every 10 bites on soft plastics. I am getting better at Jigs, because I used to lose 50%-60% of the bites. One thing I have learned is to have patience, don’t set the hook too quickly.
J Francho reply :
I've never kept track when I get five fish in the boat. From there, it's all relative to what kind day it is on the water. Tournaments are a good way to judge your day, even if you aren't in one. You can check on the web for results, or ask the guys at the weigh in. Just don't be that guy that spouts off at the weigh in, "I would taken your money had I been in this." No one likes that guy. 
Siebert Outdoors reply :
I dont miss too many fish but there are days that I do. To give it a percentage I'd say 90+. If your missing more then 10% of your bites something is wrong in the technique or setup.
grimlin reply :
I'm at 50% bite to catch. I usually blame bluegills,rock bass and smaller fish that can't exactly inhale the entire lure for many of those missed bites. The biggest mistake I see people doing is recasting and wasting time on the spot after a bite they never will catch.
J Francho reply :
QuoteThe biggest mistake I see people doing is recasting and wasting time on the spot after a bite they never will catch.
Really? It took me about 13 casts to a laydown to get this fish, and that was after two boats hit it:
I think you have to be absolutely sure of what that bite isn't before dismissing it.
JigMe reply :
On 11/11/2011 at 1:38 AM, grimlin said:I'm at 50% bite to catch. I usually blame bluegills,rock bass and smaller fish that can't exactly inhale the entire lure for many of those missed bites. The biggest mistake I see people doing is recasting and wasting time on the spot after a bite they never will catch.
I have caught fish from the same spot after a bad hookset with different types of plastics, maybe you should try that?
grimlin reply :
On 11/11/2011 at 1:46 AM, J Francho said:Really? It took me about 13 casts to a laydown to get this fish, and that was after two boats hit it:
I think you have to be absolutely sure of what that bite isn't before dismissing it.
WOW! Now that's a surprise.I usually carry a UL with me as well,if I miss a bite I can almost always catch it with the UL combo with a smaller bait.90% of them come back as rock bass or bluegills.
J Francho reply :
I've made finishing up others' misses with big catches one of my hallmarks. For years, I fished behind people, and caught. That fish up there isn't just one time thing. Now, if you are fishing a community hole, or just along a shoreline, then sure, maybe those are marginal fish. But if you are on prime cover and structure - the best the lake offers - then to assume that you are only panfishing is a mistake. This is why guys will say finesse baits or rigs are dink magnets. Stop fishing for dinks, I say!
K_Mac reply :
I think it not only depends on the bait being used, but the season and mood of the fish. There are times when the fish are really aggressive that hook up rates with a wide selection of lures is very high. At other times my percentage will go down a bit. One of the things that I have found over the years is when the bite is slow I have to force myself to stay focused. Only getting a few bites, and then missing them because I wasn't paying close attention has happened more often than I want to admit.
I do agree with J Franco that persistence with a finesse rig can catch big fish. I have been known to take hours to fish a section of water that others blew through in a few minutes. That's not for everyone, but it works for me.
FWIW I am one of those guys who expects to catch fish on every cast. It is that expectation that makes fishing fun for me. I understand that more often than not I won't get bit, and even when I do I may not land it, but I fish water that holds fish with baits I know work. Why wouldn't I be confident?
J Francho reply :
Quotedo agree with J Franco that persistence with a finesse rig can catch big fish.
That was no finesse bite, it was a 1 oz. jig w/ a super chunk trailer. I think it bit because it was annoyed at that black and blue blob banging into the branches for five minutes, LOL.
NBR reply :
In my opinion the biggest mistake is not going back with more casts or different baits. When I think it's a dink or pan fish I might move on but not always. I can recall a few places where I have caught several fish from the same rock pile that is maybe only 50 feet os so long. I think I screw up the most by moving on too quickly.
K_Mac reply :
John I think after the first couple of pitches/flips it becomes a finesse technique even if it is a jig and craw that weighs an ounce and a half. For me finesse is more about presentation than size. Just my opinion.
J Francho reply :
If you only saw it, me standing on a bright yellow kayak, totally inside a huge lay down, repeatedly pitching to a spot on the spot in that tree. My buddy Paul just sat there doing a face palm. He'd been working that tree from a distance with a spinnerbait, until I hot holed him, LOL. It gets a little competitive when kayak fishing in close quarters. I wish I had video of it. Totally NOT finesse. My take is that I actually drew that fish into cover with all the commotion.
alexofoakton reply :
Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I may be too quick when fishing soft plastics. Some of my bites may have been crappie.
SDoolittle reply :
On 11/10/2011 at 7:07 PM, zip pow said:I don't know how long you been fishing or maybe your an awesome fisherman but about 90% of fishing I e casting is eliminating water so to say you expect to get a bite on every cast must lead to some disappointment on the water. I dont know but Bassmaster Rick clunn said " I try for five bites a day an I want to put those in the livewell " So no my goals aren't low there a little more than twice Rick Clunn's
I understand the idea behind eliminating water, but much of that can be done without ever wetting a line. I would not waste my time casting to an area if I didn't feel like there was a reasonable chance of getting bit.
Do you have a source for that Rick Clunn quote?
zip pow reply :
On 11/11/2011 at 7:29 AM, Bird dog said:I understand the idea behind eliminating water, but much of that can be done without ever wetting a line. I would not waste my time casting to an area if I didn't feel like there was a reasonable chance of getting bit.
Do you have a source for that Rick Clunn quote?
Yes I do 2007 basspro rick clunns art of angling I'll find which episode its in and try to post the video if there's any way to.
SDoolittle reply :
On 11/11/2011 at 8:03 AM, zip pow said:Yes I do 2007 basspro rick clunns art of angling I'll find which episode its in and try to post the video if there's any way to.
The reason I ask is because on page 14 of the October 2011 B.A.S.S. Times, he tells a different story.
zip pow reply :
On 11/11/2011 at 9:02 AM, Bird dog said:The reason I ask is because on page 14 of the October 2011 B.A.S.S. Times, he tells a different story.
It may have been just s tv statement but I took it to heart i'll get read this article an see how he's a revised his opinion .thanks for article info. By the way i'm a bird hunter to I hunt brittany's bout time to let them run
slonezp reply :
On 11/11/2011 at 1:46 AM, J Francho said:Really? It took me about 13 casts to a laydown to get this fish, and that was after two boats hit it:
I think you have to be absolutely sure of what that bite isn't before dismissing it.
Which is the same reason KVD did so well at the classic last year. Repeated casts to the same stumps.
Me, I don't have that much patience, but when I fish with my son, we will always folow up casting each others spot and it often pays off.
As far as a bite to land ratio. If it's not 90% I'm doing something seriously wrong.
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