Selecting your approach

[crankitup]

How do you know wether to throw a crank bait, spinner bait, or start with the platic worms? It can be overwhelming when have all this water and dont know what to throw. I literally spent 3 hours just switching baits. Inevitably I only used cranks and spinners. I didnt even break out the worms because the wind was to heavy to get a good feel of my line.

[BigBassin144]

If the wind was as strong as you say, I would have started with spinnerbait. And what to start with all depends on weather, and water conditions.

BB

[crankitup]

In using the spinner bait would you let it sink to the bottom or would you keep it on top? Im so green at this.

[MississippiBoy]

Originally Posted by crankitup

In using the spinner bait would you let it sink to the bottom or would you keep it on top?

Yes, that's what I would do.

Seriously, try both and then some. The bass will tell you which they prefer. Burn it at the very top of the water column to make a wake, retreive it very slow so the blades are barely turning (known as slow rolling), pause and jerk every now and then...try 'em all...

[flfireman]

New water, I almost exclusively use a spinner bait at first. With a blade I can do the following: Cover lots of water quickly, search for structure, go deep, go shallow, vary retreival speed. Plus if you add the multiple techniques a spinner bait offers, then that opens up even more options.

[BigBassin144]

I forgot where, but I heard that most of your spinnerbait fish will hit when the spinnerbait is just out of your view.

BB

[MississippiBoy]

I've heard that, too, BB. Not sure the reason behind it, but I've heard that while wearing good polarized sunglasses, get the bait to where you can just see it, then slow down juuuuust a touch. That's supposed to be the sweet spot.
Thanks for the reminder, BB.

[3dkicker]

Crankit
When heading out keep a couple things in mind.
1) Fish will sometimes hit a horizontal presentation. Think of the horizontal in three zones: top, middle, or bottom. A spinnerbait can be fished in all three. A crankbait is normally designed for one of the three but some can be manipulated to cover more than one i.e. holding your rod up high with a 4-6' diving crank and keep it just under the surface. Topwater and jerkbaits usually cover the surface or top zone.
2) Vertical presentation is another way to catch bass. Vertical presentations are normally covered by baits like jigs, plastic worms, and jigging spoons. Fish normally hit these baits on the fall. Some baits like a jig or worm can be used to cover the bottom zone and swam across the bottom too (horizontal).
3) Be ready to try both. First fish all three zones horizontally. If this doesn't work then go to a vertical presentation. Or reverse it if you like. How do you tell which to start with first??? Experience on the water helps. I fished this weekend and caught my first on a crankbait, second on a senko, and then hit two big fish on a t-rigged craw. The horizontal presentations caught small fish but the vertical hit the better fish.

[zooker]

Originally Posted by MississippiBoy

I've heard that, too, BB. Not sure the reason behind it, but I've heard that while wearing good polarized sunglasses, get the bait to where you can just see it, then slow down juuuuust a touch. That's supposed to be the sweet spot.
Thanks for the reminder, BB.

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

I forgot where, but I heard that most of your spinnerbait fish will hit when the spinnerbait is just out of your view.

BB

well i said it for years but you all probly heard it from that vandam video.besides i only disagree with what he says on a few things..

zooker

[MississippiBoy]

No, I've never seen any vandam videos, zooker. Unless you're talking about Jean-Claude. I must've learned that tip from you, then. Thank you.

See, bama, I can learn some stuff...

[bamabassman]

well i'll beeeeeeeee. jethro, you are a student, huh? hahahahahaa.

[3dkicker]

I believe Jimmy H. said that long before KVD started fishing professionally or making videos.

[Rebbasser]

Originally Posted by crankitup

In using the spinner bait would you let it sink to the bottom or would you keep it on top? Im so green at this.

Fear not, amigo. We were all green at one time-even Zooker, although he was a real ugly shade of green .

To answer your question, like Mississippiboy I say yes. What I mean is, as he stated, try all different levels. Sometimes they want it burned on the surface, sometimes slow rolled-moving it just fast enough for the blades to turn-and sometimes they want it somewhere in between. Just experiment with different retrieves. The fish will tell you what they want.

[crankitup]

Got it. Today I was green... tomorrow a pro! See you on TV guy's!

[WTL]

I liked that KVD video. It got me out of a spinnerbait slump once.

[lowrider]

:watch out talking about kvd...thats buzzies hero

[crankitup]

What is KVD?

[Patrick Krueger, Jr.]

Kevin Vandam is KVD. He's a very successful professional on the B.A.S.S. tour. He contributes articles to Bassin' magazine, has segments on The Bass Pros t.v. show, and he does seminars at Bass Pro Shops every once in a while. If you get info from him listen close.

Jimmy Houston said to let it get just out of your sight on a show when I was a kid and I find it works well.

[crankitup]

Thanks for everything guys.