Specialization

[faztbullet]

I know that different lures work better in different conditions, but I was wondering, do you consider yourself specialized in one type of lure presentation? That is, do you use soft plastics, crankbaits, buzzbaits, etc. 90% of the time because you're more comfortable with it. Just curious I myself use soft plastics most of the time, especially tubes.

[macgyver]

Yes and no ;D I use soft plastics weightless more than anything else, but I change up more depending on the time of year, vs the comfortable feeling. I have made a huge effort the last couple of years to become more versatile with all the different baits. I'm by no means an expert with say cranks, but I'm confident enough in them to know when and where to use them, and I believe I'll catch fish. But if it's just a matter of which bait I have the highest confidence in then it would be PLASTICS, fished weightless. If you become to addicted to say a spinnerbait, then you'll have a lot more days of catching nothing. Specialization is ok to a point, but it does limit you on the different conditions. There are lots of folks who can catch fish on Senko's or knockoffs(except spinnerb8 of course ) but couldn't catch anything if they had too on a crankbait. Well when the senko bite isn't there, what do you do. Keep throwing a unproductive bait, or fish something that will catch fish that day? It's obvious that a well balanced knowledge of the different baits is your best solution IMO. Great question by the way 8)

Lizards

[singerloo]

Actually, I specialize in spinnerbaits the most, I catch fish in many various situations on this bait. If I dont catch any thing on it, I go to a topwater or a slower plastic bait.

Lizards, I've never had luck with weightless plastics, how do you succeed using them? Any tips?

thanx,


seaphantom

[bassfisher14]

I would say that I use buzzbaits the most when they can be used, but this past year I really opened myself up to many other type baits. Â*

I actually caught my first bass on a plastic this past spring and I was hooked from then on. Â*I use plastics as much as possible now, but still revert back to the buzzer when I can't seem to get any hits on the plastic. Â*

This year I plan on trying alot more. Â*My main objectives this year are to get some experience with the pig-n-jug combination. Â*I have yet to catch anything on a cankbait, but I plan on changing that this year.

[Rob Mak]

pig and jug?? dang that would be going large for a bass.

i normally will throw a spinner bait. but if i am on a crank bait bite or a c-rig bite. i don't keep throwing a spinner bait. as much as i loath a c-rig i have caught good bass with it . why? cause it was what was working at the moment. if it works use it.


zooker

[macgyver]

[quote author=seaphantom link=board=news;num=1105189958;start=0#2 date=01/08/05 at 09:33:42]
Lizards, I've never had luck with weightless plastics, how do you succeed using them? Any tips?

thanx,


seaphantom[/quote]

Lots of them, but the biggest is patience. It won't fall as fast, which is good sometimes IMO. I always use the same retrieve on all my weightless plastics, just different speeds. I use a twitch twitch pause, with the pause being anywhere from a second or 2 if the fish are active, to a minute to let it hit bottom and rest for a time. You can always catch fish with them even in the toughest conditions, just have to figure out what depth the fish are, and what speed they like. Just like your spinnerbait, it's all about getting the bait to the fish. The big difference is you won't catch much on deadsticking a spinnerbait, but will on a plastic. I always use scent, and if you want a slower/faster fall try using a bigger/smaller hook, it can make a big difference. Also use thin diameter fused line. It allows less water resistance, therefor giving a better appearance and action IMO. I use an awful lot of baits that give off vibration, or move water. IE Lizards, creature baits, zipper style worms, or paddle tail type worms, such as Powerbait worms.

Lizards

[Slayem9]

I found this last spring a couple of ways to throw soft plastics with and without weight, but the first way, I found out a few years ago. Bass Pro produced the Caterpillar lizard and it was very textured and sank slowly. I Texas rigged it, cast it on braid Â*(which also floats), over weed flats adjacent to rock walls. The water was only 3 1/2', but pre and post spawn bass would Â*travel a few feet to smash it on or near surface.

I've added an in-line spin rig to the hook since then and cast large lizards, 8" worms and creature baits in any emerging vegetation or on top of established weeds. Picks love the combo also.

Weighted baits are salt impregnated, which adds .2-.3 oz of weight. Add hook and cast a mile. Softener is added to maintain action, especially for jerksticks, and the horizontal drop works as well as the walk from side to side. No weight needed.

Casting a small Fin S Fin with no jighead, but nosed hooked, requires either spinning tackle and the line Lizards suggested, as well as a 1/8 oz split shot, up about 2'. You can work a super light lure this way, as slow or as fast as you want. It's one of my favorite ways to catch crappie on non-weighted soft plastics.

Back to the original question, versatility is fun, especially when one bite ends and another begins. I would get bored if all I had confidence in was say topwater or jigs, even if I was in a school and getting bit on every cast.
The reason I bring so much crap and six rods on board, is to try one of the six rigs ready to go when the fishing really turns on and when the fishing turns off.

Bait types are our tools - the more tools you know how to use, the more potential areas you can effectively fish.
Even speed is a tool and a big part of technique or presentation. Some lures run faster than others due to size or action, so knowing the pluses and negatives of the lures in one's box, pays off with less wasted casts and time.

Sam

[jeffman]

PHANTOM,

Along with LIZARDS twitch, twitch retrieve, also try swimming the bait very slowly after it has reached the desired depth, Also allow the bait to fall to the bottom and slowly crawl it across the bottom, across fallen logs and lay-down timber. Sometimes the bottom crawling technique works better with a 1/8 oz pegged bullet sinker.

JackL

[bassfisher14]

[quote author=zooker link=board=news;num=1105189958;start=0#4 date=01/08/05 at 12:30:38]pig and jug?? dang that would be going large for a bass. [/quote]


You know what I mean. I was in a hurry when I was typing it. ;D

[jeffman]

ZOOKER,

PIG & JUG sounds like catfishin to me, Bank Bait & Crown Royal !!!

JackL

[Rich]

I wouldn't call myself specialized-I have confidence in a number of of baits, but I throw a Tiki Stick quite a bit so I guess you could say that would be my "specialty", but one of my goals this year is to throw that less and crankbaits more.

[mike0062466]

I use a variety of baits, but soft plastics and topwaters much of the time based on the weed cover that I'm fishing such a high percentage of the time.

On the other hand, when I'm in a situation conducive to crankbaits, I have full confidence in them.

[singerloo]

[quote author=lizardsrule link=board=news;num=1105189958;start=0#5 date=01/08/05 at 12:34:02]

Lots of them, but the biggest is patience. It won't fall as fast, which is good sometimes IMO. I always use the same retrieve on all my weightless plastics, just different speeds. I use a twitch twitch pause, with the pause being anywhere from a second or 2 if the fish are active, to a minute to let it hit bottom and rest for a time. You can always catch fish with them even in the toughest conditions, just have to figure out what depth the fish are, and what speed they like. Just like your spinnerbait, it's all about getting the bait to the fish. The big difference is you won't catch much on deadsticking a spinnerbait, but will on a plastic. I always use scent, and if you want a slower/faster fall try using a bigger/smaller hook, it can make a big difference. Also use thin diameter fused line. It allows less water resistance, therefor giving a better appearance and action IMO. I use an awful lot of baits that give off vibration, or move water. IE Lizards, creature baits, zipper style worms, or paddle tail type worms, such as Powerbait worms.

Lizards
[/quote]

Thanks, that helped.


seaphantom

[nicholastown]

No angler catches a boat load of fish everytime they go out. This is because we are in competition with something that has a mind of its own, and knows its environment better than we will ever know it. No matter how much technology slithers its way into the sport of fishing, we will never know as much about a bass' environment as a bass. Now, being efficient with one type of lure is good, being great with one type of lure is even better, but being great with a lot of different lures is the best. Like every angler out there I would love to catch bass on just one bait. I would love to catch fish every day on a buzzbait. It takes little skill to use, they hit it hard, and you get to see the strike, but odds are, most times of the year, there are better baits than a buzzbait. I love a spinnerbait, and this is really my primary lure, but I understand that sometimes, I can catch more and better fish on another lure. The angler that throws his favorite bait over and over again for one or two bites is not determined, he is an idiot. Try different lures in different situations, become familiar with different types of lures and how they work. It takes one lure to catch fish some of the time, but a lot of different lures, and techniques to catch fish all of the time. Good fishing.

[BaSsFiShEr20]

While I will not call myself a specialist, I will say my true strength is Crankbaits. I will use them the most in any season.

I will also pick up anything i think will get the job done, so i am versatile.But cranks are my first choice.I love them so much in fact that i have devoted the last 20 years to studying the masters, David Fritts, Paul Elias, Rick Clunn, and to Developing my own style and techniques to this lure. But no, I am not a crankbait specialist.

Charles

[IL.bassin36]

While I don't have Bassboss's experience, I tend to throw a crankbait (lipped or lipless) A LOT! Spinnerbait is my 2nd choice. I've been making myself use more plastics lately though, this year I plan to get more confidence in c-rigs and jigs. I think specialization is a good thing, but you can't let yourself get so one-dimentional that its hurts your abilities.