When to give up and try something new??

[knife68]

      If you were fishing a lure or using a new technique that wasn't producing how long would you fish it before you switched to something else.Now I am not talking about any specific lure,so say you get out on the water and it looks good for a crank bait,or a spinner,or jig, whatever you decide to start throwing that particular day and you fish for a while using different retrieves and fish different water scenarios weeds,cover,points,rocks,deep,shallow any way you can think of using it and you are just not getting anywhere.Especially if you are fishing water you haven't fished before and you are trying to find that pattern or are working a new lure or technique you haven't used before.I know a lot of you guys have different rods for different set ups and can have several baits tied on at once so switching up is quick and easy.I only have a couple rods and sometimes switching baits a few times in a row can get annoying.I want to try and use some new techniques and try some new baits out this year,so I am basically trying to figure out ways to maximize my time on the water and spend more time fishing than switching up baits.

[Camden]

If trying out a new Technique then my rule of thumb is try not to take out any other setups than that one for 5 trips at least 2 hours each time. you can change colors and styles if ya want but to learn a tech you need to spend time with it. not just catching with it but different types of retrieves best ways to cast them. how to work them around different types of cover or structure.
i know it sounds like alot but you will gain confidence in that tech and that means alot when the bite gets tough.

[bigjim5589]

I feel it takes time to learn anything new and that may mean it could take an entire season. No one masters anything new in just a few hours, at least no one I've ever known. I at least try to spend several hours each trip using whatever it is I'm attempting to learn.

First you have to be sure you're fishing water that holds some fish, especially if you're fishing water you're unfamiliar with. It won't matter what it is you're using, if there's no fish.  I don't think there's a time period for trying something new, but you certainly could approach it that way. You might work a section of water for a couple of hours with a particular technique, and if you're having no success, then perhaps change, but go back over the same water, using something you have had success with. This way, you'll at least have some idea about whether or not there were fish to be caught in the first place.

I fish in tidal rivers most of the time, and because of the tides, the fish move, so they can be in one spot when the tide is higher, but not there as it gets lower. So one day I can find fish in that spot, but perhaps not the next day depending on just where the water level may be. This could be true any place, you hear of such things all the time, because of changes in weather & or draw downs in lakes, or whatever other changes may be occurring.

I have spent days on some rivers I've never fished, or had not fished in a long time, where I may only cover a short section of water, but I would go back over it a few times with different types of lures, to make sure there are fish there, and this helps me to learn the water better.

Unfortunately, when you go through this type of process, you'll often not catch many fish, so you cannot always be sure the problem is simply the technique being used, because you may have been fishing more in water that just did not hold many or any fish at all.

Preferably, you might want to try a new technique on water your familiar with, in places you have caught fish before, especially recently because conditions do change, if the technique can be used in those places. Obviously, you're not going to learn much if your trying to throw a deep crankbait, and the water you fish regularly is only 6 ft deep. I try not to attempt using a new technique, unless I'm somewhere I've fished before & know I can find some fish.

You could also do as Camden has said, or you could just stick with the new technique all day & cover as much water as possible. This way you force yourself to learn the technique, but again, there's no guarantee either way you'll catch anything, especially on new water.

As far as lures, I try to have a few completely different things rigged, so if I'm trying a new lure, I'll stick with it for awhile, but I still go back over the same water with something different to see if I'm missing fish.

Anything you attempt that is new, you should try to learn something about it, even if you do not have success with it. Many times, our failures will teach us more than our successes. 

[Camden]

great post Jim

[California Kid]

If you're limited on your rods then use a clip to connect to any bait that would require a split ring to tie to. I learned this technique in Bassmaster probably 9 years ago and I've been using it since. If you have a rod that you dedicate to cranks, traps, jerkbaits then this will work perfectly for you. I've never had a clip open on me, never had a fish pull one open. I've caught bass up to 7.4lbs using it and managed to snag a 14lb carp one year so I have complete confidence in my connection. The clip allows me to quickly change colors or baits size and type. If I'm working an area of a specific depth I'll put a few baits on the deck that are for the depth range, water color, and forage available. I don't use clips on topwaters, spinnerbaits or anything else, just baits that have a split ring, which I remove so the clip goes on the eye.

This should help you eliminate some of the time use would normally use retying baits so you have more fishing time.

[TheLastRodBender]

Gotta agree with Jim here.... When i am trying a new technique i overwhelm myself with it.  This year I am working on jig fishing.. EVERY TRIP i go on, whether it be a small local lake, or a big trip with a buddy on his bass boat, i'm ALWAYS tossing a jig, along with another rod or two with my more confident baits, as well as practicing my pitching and flipping, getting accustomed to what the bottom feels like, and each type of structure, and determining the difference between the bottom and a bite.

[ShakyHead77]

usually takes me about 10-12 casts then I go back to something I have more confidence in...im ashamed 

[Mike Cork]

When I hit the water I have 8 to 9 rods ready to go and will normally use each in the first hour unless I have caught a couple good fish back to back. Then I might get stuck on something. The problem is, say you are working a spinner bait against stumps and the bite is good enough you can call where the bass are sitting but on a particular stump no bite? Pitch a jig at it and bam fish on.

Being limited is tough. Best advise is research and try to find a depth and cover they are holding at. Say less than 5 ft on grass. Spinnerbaits will let you cover lots of water so will top water if the water is warm enough. Always have a follow up bait for when you miss on or see that spot you thought you should have got a bite. In your research you can have an idea of what will work, IE in this scenario you don't need to have a deep diving crank on.

I can't offer a lot of advice here other than I change frequently and will throw 4 different baits at a single stump before I pass on it. Save them pennies for more equipment. I know that's not what your looking for!!!!

[-Shawn-]

Cork is right on the money on this!! 

Just because you hit a Ridge of stumps with a spinnerbait and catch 5 fish in 25  yds  doesn't mean that there just as many fish there that won't bite a spinnerbait and want a Jig or a square billed crank.   

As a matter of fact if you have been fishing for quite a while and then get a bite, you want to stop and fish that stretch good.  There are likely more fish in that area.   

THE SINGLE BEST THING ANYONE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THERE CATCHES IS GET OFF THE BANK.

[knife68]

   Thanks for all the advice gonna have to be a little more patient I think.Hopefully more gear is in my future right now though money is tight and so is my time on the water.Trying to get out this week for a few hours maybe in the morning or Wednesday for sure rain or shine, from shore I think I am going to hit a few ponds that I know I will catch fish in and try a few things and see how it goes..

[bassindude]

The Duo-Loc snaps will help you a bunch, and also give your crank baits more action.  There is a big difference between changing lures and changing techniques.  Ill change lures very often, searching different areas of the water column, and trying different colors.  But changing techniques is something that involves a different thought process.  If you're throwing at visual cover, and are not getting bit, the change could be to throw a wider search bait like a lipless, or a C-rig, and go faster.  Or you could slow way down and throw finess worms to those same pieces of cover you started with.  There can be a lot of trial and error, and there arent many shortcuts to gain experience.  Just a lot of time on the water, and ask a million questions.  Dont be afraid to assk more specific things.  A lot of the folks on UB can help steer you in the right direction.  Jim