September 27, 2005 Which Bait to Throw and Why

[getthenet]

If bait fish are present, and very active, I will throw a crank bait that is close in color and size of the bait fish as close as I can cast to where they are.

[getthenet]

When fishing lillies inthe summer time I love to use a jig, I will use black a lot with a black chunk and drop it in and drag it slowly.

[Ouachita]

Cooler weather! While COLD water brings with it difficult challenges compared to warm water, largemouths will retain their feeding activity through December here. Soft plastics have been by far the better route in lure choice, while excess aquatic vegetation often makes anything with an exposed treble hook too much trouble to fish in water under 20 feet deep where most of that stuff grows. The drought and shorter days will send a lot of it packing, clearing up waters more suited for weedless lures. From now on into winter I'll have crankbait trays out and watching the sonar closer than usual. The vegetation has shaded itself out nearer bottom so a square-billed crankbait will pass through the stalks a lot easier. Crankbaits that run rear high and hook behind will be a good choice, those that have been good around woody cover, though bass haven't been frequenting submerged forests much where crappie take over. But now the bass are finishing their slow migration from the deep to the mid depths and pausing in those woody cover types, on their way to the creeks and eventually the coves. Fast moving baitfish imitators will once again take the lead between the stickups and back ends of coves. Why? Baitfish are coming in off the big lake too, anticipating the fall weather, having the same urge to find forage the bass are feeling.

Jim

[getthenet]

When using a jig at night using rattles will help to make noice that would help to get a strike.

[getthenet]

One of the first things I was taught was if you see lots of birds that is where the fish are. This has worked out for me many times.

[Ouachita]

When hydrilla first began to make a big footprint around the shoreline the word was to fish the outside edges. That worked pretty well for a few years until most anglers caught on to the opportunity and many motor props have scattered the stuff far beyond its normal habitat, pieces of it everywhere. Well, in early summer most any lure would work there even with all that boat traffic stirring it, but not now. Strands are breaking loose in volumes and even a carefully Texas rigged worm will collect enough stray vegetation to ruin a presentation. Plastic frogs are working well in that situation, floating high and hook in the air. Trick worms are great for that situation, if the hook eye is completely buried, the point buried, and there isn't anything ahead of it but line. That calls for weighted bass hooks. Once the days get short enough we'll see a big decline in aquatic vegetation and can return to weighted noses.

Jim

[getthenet]

When fishing at night and the moon is full cast into the moonlight reflection on the water it seems the big fish are there a  lot.

[Ouachita]

Birds diving onto the water rarely go after healthy swimming baitfish. They settle for the crippled fish, and they can find bushels of them following any one surface feeding frenzy. They tell me where stripers have hit and left, signalling the possibility of other bass species that don't mix it up with a marauding school of stripers. They follow the striper trail. Little or no waste in that. In wide open water that's a good time to tie on a spoon to get super long distance casts that won't get you close enough to spook the bass. With birds cleaning up the surface quickly the bass are left with crippled and dead baitfish already drifting several feet below, so the spoon's next attribute is to flutter down to the bass quickly. That isn't the time to use a topwater bait.

Jim

[getthenet]

Well everyone I'm sure I will find lots of good reading when this contest is over and you will teach me a few new things. I had some test done today and was put to sleep so I'm kind of still groggy. Test came back neg. again which was a good thing. Still more to come. I must say goodnight......Thank you all for making this the best sight going!!

[dimockcarp]

If its hot out and nothing bites what so ever I try something a bit unusual. About this time I am hungry and look about the boat for a snack. Im a sugar man so I reach for a tootsie roll, well I have found cats love sweets as much as me, and when its chocolate gets nice and soft and the cats love it and will draw them in for the bite. If all else fails a green apple soft chew works awesomely. Try this on a slow moving current when the heat is too much to bear. Desperate times mean desperate times mean desperate messures. Nice double digit carp can be caught this way as well. If bass fishing only I carry a spritz bottle full of vanilla along to entice a variety of fine fish.

[Ouachita]

My baby grand daughter has come to visit, and well, of course my daughter, and wife has asked 3 times for me to quit this, so I guess that's it for tonight. Had fun at it. Maybe someone that hasn't won anything will get a better chance tonight.  

My thanks to Mike for your contribution. I certainly appreciate our sponsors and all those making this work so well. Lip, I know you've been busy notifying folks. Good teamwork!

Jim

[Kal-Kevin]

if I'm out fishing and the wind dies out and the water has little or no ripple on it I will cast out a Zara Spook and work it slowly across the surface.

[dimockcarp]

Night time fishing requires a carolina rig and a soft black plastic night crawler, on a walleye setup with a spinner, preferably a black spinner. This setup works well on a moon lit night anytime. Keep the bait from hitting bottom for to long of a time.

[dimockcarp]

When all the lures in the box seam to fail in the tackle box in deeper water. Try enticing them with a tiger colored spoon like you would drop shotting, or any spoon for the matter. If not a bass and you know there baitfish under the boat, hold a moment and you might catch a nice northern. I have caught crappies on a red and white spoon in 1/8 oz.

[Lipripper]

Thanks Mike me will have to check it out when me get's time after all this Pm'ing 

When I'm out fishing and I see all the bait fish scampering across the water like a bat out of heck I know the game fish are right in there wuith them or not to far away to have scared them like that. So I make sure to throw a shad rap or a rattle trap close to the comotion.

[Scottie]

One of the favorite foods for bass are crawfish, so earlier in the year I throw alot of crawfish colored baits....especially the #46 natural crawfish colored Rattletrap in 1/4oz....

Crawfish are very plentiful at this time with a new "hatch", etc.

Later in the year I fish the same bait in chrome/blueback as the bass are more after the big schools of shad....

It has been my experience that this is especially true for Caddo Lake.

Scottie

[Lipripper]

In the sprin or fall when we ar ejigging for Crappies we look fo rthe tell..tell signs of air bubbles  arounf the stumps an ddrop a Bass assisen right down in the middle of them 

[bobsfishing2]

  Well if it's river I look for downed trees,rocks,holes and use a weedles jigs and cast them about 6"-1' away from the spot with either a normal retreive or a stop and go retreive.

[bobsfishing2]

  If I'm on a pond or a lake I try to look for the same but I also look for the folige.If it's thick then I use a weedles frog,weedles jigs,plastic worms,salamanders,basically anythig weedles.

[bobsfishing2]

  If the vegitation is thick then I try to use something shinnier or bright color.Around dusk I'll then change to something less shiny.

[Lipripper]

In the start of winter just as the ice is starting to form and your in the boat I will throw a light 1/32 oz jig with a Bass assisan on top of the Ice and then pull it over the edge an dlet it flutter down around the primary points and drop offs.

[Scottie]

When fishing for schooling bass also fish a weighter worm or deeper running bait....the larger fish seem to be under the smaller ones chassing the shad and are perhaps waiting for the injured bait to settle to the bottom....

....or maby they are just lazy...ha

Scottie

[LoonyToon]

  When the fronts move in either cold/hot the approach is the same. I go to my Gambler Ugly Otter in Black/Blue flek and kill the brush piles, tree tops, weed lines, and lilly's.....this bait has a kicking action second to none, but since I just received mt Bass Stalker Jig Heads-the voices are saying "forget to post--go try"----no post, try me, try me, TRY ME". I'm afraid I must at this time give in to the voices and go------------see ya later....................

[Hawgwild]

Opps...wasn't logged in so repost of my topic..

When fishing for schooling bass also fish a weighter worm or deeper running bait....the larger fish seem to be under the smaller ones chassing the shad and are perhaps waiting for the injured bait to settle to the bottom....

....or maby they are just lazy...ha

Scottie

[LoonyToon]

  I just love it when the dew is on the ground, means downward pressure and the Bassies are laying shallow trying to warm up..Just got to find the right cover, and the right 4-5 lb Big Mouth is on the hook................