Using Artificial Bait

[Goosegas]

Hi All-

I need some help with certain lures that many people rave about, but I have had no success with.

I am sure it is mostly my poor presentation, or using these lures under the wrong conditions.

The easiest place to start is with the short list(what I have actually caught fish with) and then where I need the help.

I have caught many Largemouth Bass with plastic worms of all sizes and colors, so that is not an issue. I have seen my son catch bass with a lipless crank bait, but few and far between.

I have been fishing for bass here in Florida for the last eight years. I have not gone out all that often, but I didn't have a boat until last week.

In 8 years I have not caught a single fish with a spinner bait, a crank bait, a buzz bait, a topwater bait, a frog, etc.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, especially from people who have fished Florida lakes, as to what conditions were in place when they had any success with these lures. I think I subconsciously go straight for the plastic worms because of previous success and also because these other types of lures always seem to get hung up in the dense vegetation that Florida lakes all seem to have.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[brivabeach]

When I lived down there and fished the Lakes/Rivers/Ponds I tended to stick with the Texas Rigged or Floating Worm rigged plastics as they work better than most anything in that thick grass.  However, there are a couple of other presentations that I used occasionally that you might want to try.

First, was the rooster tail (inline spinner bait style).  No one throws a rooster tail because of the grass so I think that is why it works so well.  If you reel it in just fast enough to keep the spinner blade going it will hover just above the grass.  Takes a little to get a feel for when the blade is spinning and how slow you can go while keeping it going but well worth it.  When you get it in you need to remove any grass that it collects.  It can be a little annoying but will catch lots of fish.

Second, was a shallow (like a Mann's Baby 1 minus) running crank bait that would run just above the grass.  I would use this when I could tell they were chasing bait or for just a change of pace.  If you can see pockets in the grass definitely pull this into the pocket then pause.

Finally, was a spinner bait.  I would stick with just a white or chartreuse 3/8oz until you get used to them.  If you are in grass you will want to pull it through/over the grass and let it fall in every pocket you come to.  Watch the line as it flutters down, they will hit it as it falls.  If you can find wood, bounce it off the wood as much as possible.  They will hit it when it deflects.

One thing to keep in mind is once it gets hot and sunny they usually pull in under the grass.  If there are shady spots with an edge of grass close they will hang there for ambushing but usually are deep in the stuff.  So, keep that in mind and fish these other lures when there is overcast days or early and late in the day for better success.  I would still use mostly the weedless stuff but this gives you a couple different options to mix it up some.  I am sure others will come around with some great advice to add to what I gave you.

Good luck and tight lines,
Brian

[bigjim5589]

In 8 years I have not caught a single fish with a spinner bait, a crank bait, a buzz bait, a topwater bait, a frog, etc.

From what you've posted, IMO, your issues are all from not finding the fish, using the proper lure for the situation & as a result not being able to get the lure to the fish. Makes sense that you go back to using what has worked for you. We all do that.

Several years ago I was down in Orlando on vacation & got the opportunity to fish with a friend of mine who lives in FL. We fished the Rainbow River near Dunnellon. My friend is a transplant from NY & made a statement that there were many places that look like they would hold fish, but he had learned that this was not the case in Fl. In that river & on that particular day, we were skipping wacky rigged senko's under the over hanging tree limbs, the only way to catch any fish that day. Anyplace else & the bass simply were not there. That river is crystal clear & often the longer the cast, the better the results. We could often see bass down in the water, and I'm sure they could also see us. A lure tossed in front of them only resulted in them moving out of it's way as it drifted past.

Since you've said you just got a boat, then fishing from shore has likely limited your access to both fishing spots & fish. On another trip to Orlando, I fished at one of the lakes. I had planned on renting a boat, but as my luck would have it, a cold front had moved thru, and the winds were pretty bad, so the marina would not rent boats under those conditions. I talked to a guy who had been out on the lake & he told me he was only out there about an hour & turned around & came back due to the wind.
This left me with only being able to fish around the marina & the canal that lead out to the lake, and there was not a lot of shoreline that offered access. I was fishing with a fly rod, which really affected my chances, and the first day I fished there caught nothing. I did manage a few small bass, a Pickerel & several Bluegills on another day, but the wind had died down some. My main issue IMO was not so much the tackle I was using, as I've caught many bass on flies in various conditions, but the fact that I had very limited access to utilize what I had.

My point here is that you have to be prepared for the conditions, and use lures that fit the conditions. Thick matted grass is not the place you want to be casting some of the lures you listed. As brivabeach mentioned, spinnerbaits are good choices in FL, but not in thick matted vegetation. They're better around edges, downed wood, or other relatively open water. They are a good choice over submerged grass particularly where you may have several inches or more of water over the top, & around some other types of less dense vegetation, such as pads.

Crankbaits are primarily open water lures too, although some types, such as lipless cranks, can be used around some types of thin vegetation, but you have to know which to use & where. If you're fishing a canal where you can cast parallel to the shore line & retrieve close to the edge of shoreline weeds, a crankbait might be a good choice to try, particularly early or late in the day when there is not as much sunlight on the water.

Buzzbaits are an excellent lure choice for FL, but again, have to be used in the right situation & at the right time. They're not a good lure for thick mats, but are great over submerged grass & thru sparse grasses. In my example for crankbaits in a canal, a buzzbait might also be a good choice parallel to the shore.

In the warmer months in FL, and some other places, the water temps get very warm. Bass can tolerate warm water, but even they have limits, so they seek out those places were they can be comfortable & still eat. They're not going to be inclined to want to move very far. Also warmer water will have less dissolved oxygen in it so they will want to be in cooler water if possible. Water up under matted grasses will be both cooler & have more O2, as the grasses will produce O2. But, the fish will be back well under the grass during the day to escape the water being warmed by the sun. So, topwater lures will be most useful when the waters have cooled some & in places that are more open. Very early, or late in the day is the better time to fish topwaters, or even at night. Bass will move out to the edges once the sun goes down. Dark, overcast or rainy days might also be a good time to find them out near the edges of those thick mats. Bass are not particularly fond of bright light either although they will tolerate it if necessary.

Frogs are a different animal than other types of topwaters. They are made for thick vegetation. But again, whether or not the bass will be inclined to exert the energy chasing them or not in places of lower O2 will depend on how bad they need to eat. When the conditions are favorable, fishing frogs over those thick mats can result in vicious strikes, but you'll need to have appropriate tackle for this type of fishing. Stiffer, med heavy to heavy rods & braid are what many use for frogs. Lighter tackle just won't have enough backbone to set the hook & drag a bass & all that vegetation to the boat. Again, the right time to use them will depend on the conditions, and frogs can be a good choice throughout the day when the conditions are right. However, even frogs have limitations. It's often difficult to get hook-ups on them, and if the mats are extremely thick, may be impossible for the bass to even get to them.

Last thing. Any of these lures also are not miracles. They'll only work if you put the time in using them & understanding the what & when & how of using them. Tying on any lure & casting a few times without success will not cause you to catch fish on them. Those who do use them successfully put in the time & stick with them. That's the only way to learn to be proficient with any type of lure.

Hope this helps some. 

[Goosegas]

Thanks to Brivabeach and Bigjim for not only the in depth suggestions, but also the time spent in explaining all these scenarios.

You guys are terrific!

Thanks,

Rick

[copnjax]

Rick,

I sent you a private message....

[brivabeach]

I have to apologize, on my post I meant a 1/4 oz spinner bait not a 3/8 oz.  1/4 oz is the "standard" size and you work up or down depending on your preference and the conditions.  I believe this is twice I said 3/8 oz meaning 1/4 oz.  Sorry if I confused you any.  3/8 oz is another popular size as well though.

[hooks4bass]

I seem to be your direct counterpart, I have never been successful with worms...plastic or live. I would like to pass on a few things that were told to me when I started fishing with artificial baits. Attitude is a MUST, a good attitude will even let an unproductive day feel relaxing at least. Keep an open mind, and listen to others that have success with those baits and mimic their ways. Above all else, HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF, I think you can do it. FYI before I put that info to work, I was so close to giving up on fishing, now, I'm so glad I didn't.

[bigjim5589]

Attitude is a MUST, a good attitude will even let an unproductive day feel relaxing at least. Keep an open mind, and listen to others that have success with those baits and mimic their ways. Above all else, HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF, I think you can do it. FYI before I put that info to work, I was so close to giving up on fishing, now, I'm so glad I didn't.

Excellent post and advise! Glad you didn't give up! 

I've said this too! When I first started fishing with a fly rod, I went thru periods of frustration while trying to learn how to use that type tackle and I had difficulty catching fish as a result of my lack of skills. However, one day I just decided I was going to first concentrate on learning the casting, then worry about catching fish. I was attempting to learn without the advantage of instruction, other than what I had read, and this was long before the internet existed. But, once I learned how to cast & control the line, I started catching some fish. I didn't however catch many larger fish until I decided I could & was smarter than the fish. It took me awhile, but as I gained needed skills with the tackle & some knowledge from getting out there & fishing, I realized I could do anything I wanted to. That was about 45 years ago!

I strongly feel that my experience with learning to use a fly rod, has helped me immensely with learning other forms of tackle & techniques. What you have said about keeping an open mind fits with this perfectly. I learned that there are generalizations about fishing, but nothing is a hard and fast rule, so an open mind, and allowing for other possibilities will often make you a better angler & as a result catch more & bigger fish. If you think you can't, or think something won't work, then you're defeated before you start. And, if you think the fish are smarter than you are, then they will be! 

Confidence in ones self is IMO the most important part of successful fishing. 

[bamafan1550]

If you can ever get on the fish and start catching them on a crank bait or spinner bait you will not leave home without one tied on. I to am a go to plastics guy. But one day I learned someting about my lack of knowledge and my electronics. What I'm about to tell you you may already know and I'm sure most people already know. This was a blue bird sky day with no wind or current. I was fishing some 10'-14' deep humps in a 20' deep saddle. Behind me was a 6' deep bar with submerged grass on it. on the other side of the humps was the river channel about 40' deep. Anyway I was Texas rigging with and big worm and not even getting nibbles. I started noticing that I was seeing large vertical lines on my depth finder. Bait fish was all around these lines. at the bottoms of these lines were the upside down V that everyknows as a fish. The bait fish started popping the water. I just happened to have a spinner and crank tied on. I picked up the spinner and started YoYoing it in the saddle and caught my first fish of the day. Threw back out and caught my second. this continued for about 20 cast and 20 fish until I broke off. I then picked up my crank and same thing. I ended up catching 48 3-5 lb bass in just a little over an hour. My point is watch your electronics. If you now what your looking at then the fish will tell you what to do. FYI the large solid vertical lines were active fish changing depth directly under my sonar. They were busting the shad schools. At least that's what Ive been told. Plus try new things. YoYo a spinner in 40' of water. Throw a ARig with 5 dinger worms. BE OPEN MINDED. I'm not saying it will catch fish but you never know until you try.