10-27-2016, 06:54 PM
This question assumes that fish of a certain species will only bite lures in a certain size range. For me, that's been disproved having fished different waters that held different species in different sizes. I discovered the following:
1. fish will strike lures at times almost as big as they are
I've caught perch and sunfish on the strangest lures and lure sizes that I thought only larger fish of a larger species would attack. Who ever caught a perch on a skirted bass jig with trailer?! I have!
For certain lakes, larger lures of one kind may work for different species. I fish two different lakes - one that is over fished but that has mostly smaller pan fish; the other not fished much and has very large pan fish. Large pan fish have no problem striking large soft plastic lures rigged on heavier jig heads. For example, if I know I can catch 9" bluegills, I'll use 1/8oz jigs with 2 3/4" lures; on the other water where the gills average 6", I stay with 1/16 oz jigs and lures 2.5" or smaller.
If by chance larger fish are found in the over fished lake, they will bite larger lures, but even smaller pan fish will strike larger lures.
2. some fish species are naturally aggressive when it comes to hitting larger lures
Bass I've caught on lures 1/4-1/2 their length. It's not necessarily the size of the fish's mouth that determines what size lure a fish will attack. Smallmouth and largemouth have no problem striking lures of the same size and type. For crappie, perch and sunfish, the same holds true though crappie mouths are larger.
Lure shapes of a certain size - length and diameter - may only catch fish if within a certain size range. For example, I hand pour a soft plastic, minnow-shaped grub and have found that a maximum length of 2 3/4" the maximum length for that lure design, with 1" being the smallest for less active fish (under the ice).
3. fish in my experience strike lures more often that are retrieved slower, especially smaller lures
Large fish do strike small lures, but larger fish species (northern pike, bass, walleye), at times seem to be provoked better using larger lures which require a slower retrieve speed. For those species, a large surface lure or jerkbait will get clobbered; bass will go after spinnerbaits with large willow leaf blades. Both baits stay in the strike zone longer.
My rule of thumb is going as slow as possible whenever I fish, though larger species are at times provoked by faster moving, larger lures that would be ignored by smaller fish. At times I'll flip a heavy jig with large trailer into thick weed pockets, which has proven to be one of the best lure & presentation for bass in heavy cover.
A moderately fast-moving spinnerbait with willow leaf blades has proven better at times than using a spinnerbait with a large Colorado blade that must be retrieved slower to prevent it rolling over. In both cases, larger blades produce more flash and greater skirt flutter regardless of speed.
4. for all fish species, I tend to stick with lures that have some subtle action
Watch a skirted bass jig and trailer on bottom. With slight lure movements, the skirt flutters and flairs slightly; when swimming the jig (rather than jigging it on bottom), the skirt and trailer flutter almost rhythmically. Using a trailer with no tail action probably won't entice a fish to strike, but all trailer designs are chosen to produce a subtle, finesse action when retrieved at any speed. Fish do notice!
All five grub designs I use for most fish species have a subtle action when retrieved at the slowest speed, not only holding a fish's attention longer, but provoking strikes from fish that simply run out of patience from staring at the lure. This sequence is no different than slowly dragging a toy mouse attached to a string near a cat. Soon enough the cat pounces unable to help itself. Does a cat know the toy is not food? Does the fish know the lure is not food? In either case not important, so long as the desired result is achieved.
Here are two grubs that produce subtle actions that drive fish of different species to strike. The top lure produces two subtle actions: a tail flutter and a total body wobble on a slow retrieve. The thin tail of the grub beneath it, flutters even when fished under a float. Either lure is capable of catching seven fish species.
![[Image: caught%20majority%20of%20fish%20stillwel...6480nz.jpg]](http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j36/senkosam/Fishing/Lures%20that%20worked%20-at%20least%20one%20day/caught%20majority%20of%20fish%20stillwell%207%2027%2016_zpsia6480nz.jpg)
I've caught 7 lb channel catfish as well as 4" sunfish on those baits, which goes to show you that some baits are multi-species and can catch fish in different sizes.
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1. fish will strike lures at times almost as big as they are
I've caught perch and sunfish on the strangest lures and lure sizes that I thought only larger fish of a larger species would attack. Who ever caught a perch on a skirted bass jig with trailer?! I have!
For certain lakes, larger lures of one kind may work for different species. I fish two different lakes - one that is over fished but that has mostly smaller pan fish; the other not fished much and has very large pan fish. Large pan fish have no problem striking large soft plastic lures rigged on heavier jig heads. For example, if I know I can catch 9" bluegills, I'll use 1/8oz jigs with 2 3/4" lures; on the other water where the gills average 6", I stay with 1/16 oz jigs and lures 2.5" or smaller.
If by chance larger fish are found in the over fished lake, they will bite larger lures, but even smaller pan fish will strike larger lures.
2. some fish species are naturally aggressive when it comes to hitting larger lures
Bass I've caught on lures 1/4-1/2 their length. It's not necessarily the size of the fish's mouth that determines what size lure a fish will attack. Smallmouth and largemouth have no problem striking lures of the same size and type. For crappie, perch and sunfish, the same holds true though crappie mouths are larger.
Lure shapes of a certain size - length and diameter - may only catch fish if within a certain size range. For example, I hand pour a soft plastic, minnow-shaped grub and have found that a maximum length of 2 3/4" the maximum length for that lure design, with 1" being the smallest for less active fish (under the ice).
3. fish in my experience strike lures more often that are retrieved slower, especially smaller lures
Large fish do strike small lures, but larger fish species (northern pike, bass, walleye), at times seem to be provoked better using larger lures which require a slower retrieve speed. For those species, a large surface lure or jerkbait will get clobbered; bass will go after spinnerbaits with large willow leaf blades. Both baits stay in the strike zone longer.
My rule of thumb is going as slow as possible whenever I fish, though larger species are at times provoked by faster moving, larger lures that would be ignored by smaller fish. At times I'll flip a heavy jig with large trailer into thick weed pockets, which has proven to be one of the best lure & presentation for bass in heavy cover.
A moderately fast-moving spinnerbait with willow leaf blades has proven better at times than using a spinnerbait with a large Colorado blade that must be retrieved slower to prevent it rolling over. In both cases, larger blades produce more flash and greater skirt flutter regardless of speed.
4. for all fish species, I tend to stick with lures that have some subtle action
Watch a skirted bass jig and trailer on bottom. With slight lure movements, the skirt flutters and flairs slightly; when swimming the jig (rather than jigging it on bottom), the skirt and trailer flutter almost rhythmically. Using a trailer with no tail action probably won't entice a fish to strike, but all trailer designs are chosen to produce a subtle, finesse action when retrieved at any speed. Fish do notice!
All five grub designs I use for most fish species have a subtle action when retrieved at the slowest speed, not only holding a fish's attention longer, but provoking strikes from fish that simply run out of patience from staring at the lure. This sequence is no different than slowly dragging a toy mouse attached to a string near a cat. Soon enough the cat pounces unable to help itself. Does a cat know the toy is not food? Does the fish know the lure is not food? In either case not important, so long as the desired result is achieved.
Here are two grubs that produce subtle actions that drive fish of different species to strike. The top lure produces two subtle actions: a tail flutter and a total body wobble on a slow retrieve. The thin tail of the grub beneath it, flutters even when fished under a float. Either lure is capable of catching seven fish species.
I've caught 7 lb channel catfish as well as 4" sunfish on those baits, which goes to show you that some baits are multi-species and can catch fish in different sizes.
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