02-22-2016, 03:50 PM
Still in southern NY just north of West Point. Retired now and have time on my hands to investigate lure options that get fish to strike. What I've found in the last ten years are what I consider lure basics for getting fish to strike, especially from information discovered fishing old and new waters.
1. presentation complements lure action and design
You can't have one without the other. Too fast or steady the retrieve and lure action is killed. Too slow and I can't get the most out of some lure designs. Lure action by design is key !!!!
2. Color is important though, usually within a small range of colors that are more than adequate for some lures types. One of the lure designs I pour will catch fish using only one color 100% of the time.
Color components can be significant in that the eyes of a fish can see an incredible amount of detail and IMO may make a difference especially for inactive fish just hanging out suspended (which is 99 % of the time IMO). For example a small bit of flash may be more effective in low light or stained water. At times bright florescent solid or translucent colors may annoy fish enough enough to strike. Small black flakes or glitter may help.
***The whole point of using lures IMO is to annoy fish into striking and not convince fish what a lure represents.***
3. Lure action is extremely important and I've found that finesse is the key for catching more fish in more water temperature ranges. Again, I was catching pan fish from shore after Xmas using the stubbie design fished as slow as when the water temp was over 60 degrees.
4. Live bait is nice, but not nearly as productive when covering large sections and water depths. I catch fish through the ice using one finesse design plastic lure and would never consider using live bait.
5. Line, lure and jig size as well as rod action are all interconnected and relate to presentation. A rod that is too stiff will not allow a good presentation using very light lures; too wimpy a rod will is not adequate for large deep diving lures.
6. Location, location, location
Indicates not only where fish are, but what to use and how to use it. It's nice when more than one pattern is happening on one outing, but many times only one pattern is found and the above factors are part of it.
Last year was extremely productive numbers and quality-wise. I prefer pan fish but will fish for bass and pike on the same day. Pan fish school more than bass and catching 30 or more in one location is a blast. Last year was also a year for personal record size crappie, sunfish and perch - again using one design and rotating through only a few colors.
Some may find many exceptions to the above, but trying out new ideas is the only way to disprove or modify them.
Outright slamming of them doesn't disprove them but only demonstrates a closed mine unable to adopt something that may change ones ideas about catching fish.
A few forums have too many bigots that get a bit too aggressive when refuting my ideas and moderators that seem to be asleep when things get out of hand. All I ask anyone is at least give something a try before rejecting something that may change the way one fish's. If something works consistently for someone, by all means keep doing it. But it's nice to open doors than can lead to other doors being opened for variety if nothing else.
WH2, I'd be happy to send some of my lures rigged for you to try. I've only sold to locals that have seen me catch fish after fish and saw their catch rates increase dramatically once they adopted some new basics.
Frank
[signature]
1. presentation complements lure action and design
You can't have one without the other. Too fast or steady the retrieve and lure action is killed. Too slow and I can't get the most out of some lure designs. Lure action by design is key !!!!
2. Color is important though, usually within a small range of colors that are more than adequate for some lures types. One of the lure designs I pour will catch fish using only one color 100% of the time.
Color components can be significant in that the eyes of a fish can see an incredible amount of detail and IMO may make a difference especially for inactive fish just hanging out suspended (which is 99 % of the time IMO). For example a small bit of flash may be more effective in low light or stained water. At times bright florescent solid or translucent colors may annoy fish enough enough to strike. Small black flakes or glitter may help.
***The whole point of using lures IMO is to annoy fish into striking and not convince fish what a lure represents.***
3. Lure action is extremely important and I've found that finesse is the key for catching more fish in more water temperature ranges. Again, I was catching pan fish from shore after Xmas using the stubbie design fished as slow as when the water temp was over 60 degrees.
4. Live bait is nice, but not nearly as productive when covering large sections and water depths. I catch fish through the ice using one finesse design plastic lure and would never consider using live bait.
5. Line, lure and jig size as well as rod action are all interconnected and relate to presentation. A rod that is too stiff will not allow a good presentation using very light lures; too wimpy a rod will is not adequate for large deep diving lures.
6. Location, location, location
Indicates not only where fish are, but what to use and how to use it. It's nice when more than one pattern is happening on one outing, but many times only one pattern is found and the above factors are part of it.
Last year was extremely productive numbers and quality-wise. I prefer pan fish but will fish for bass and pike on the same day. Pan fish school more than bass and catching 30 or more in one location is a blast. Last year was also a year for personal record size crappie, sunfish and perch - again using one design and rotating through only a few colors.
Some may find many exceptions to the above, but trying out new ideas is the only way to disprove or modify them.
Outright slamming of them doesn't disprove them but only demonstrates a closed mine unable to adopt something that may change ones ideas about catching fish.
A few forums have too many bigots that get a bit too aggressive when refuting my ideas and moderators that seem to be asleep when things get out of hand. All I ask anyone is at least give something a try before rejecting something that may change the way one fish's. If something works consistently for someone, by all means keep doing it. But it's nice to open doors than can lead to other doors being opened for variety if nothing else.
WH2, I'd be happy to send some of my lures rigged for you to try. I've only sold to locals that have seen me catch fish after fish and saw their catch rates increase dramatically once they adopted some new basics.
Frank
[signature]