GKramer

It's been years since I read where someone had put a chart together referencing water clarity and lure color. However, the late Dr. Loren Hill compiled a chart of his study of bass color vision, where three water clarities were combined with five light conditions, and bass, which had been trained to strike a certain color to earn a food reward, were then tested (I believe 100 times each) to see how often they could correctly hit the test color. Although I once had those charts, I can't find them today. But you would know the result by the product, the Color-C-Lector. As we all know, the problem was how it was originally marketed. The device was said to mark the colors fish "liked" or wanted, instead of those they could see best, under particular light and water clarity conditions. The other problem, at least for the scientific community, Dr. Hill did the tests at his home lab, not at the University of Oklahoma where he was a department head. Still, the results, while if they don't totally confirm color vision, they sure indicate to me that bass can recognize a whole bunch of different shades of gray. Now, does it matter? Depends. Lots of California bass guys buy hand-pour worms one at a time by holding them to the light, counting metalflake and assessing bloodline density. And they enjoy whipping vacationers from Kansas. So back to your question: that chart was at least six pages long as I recall. If I find it, I'll post it.

Bass fishing is part 'angling' and part psychological warefare--on yourself. Why did you stop using the worm? Were you catching enough without it? Bass are not river brown trout or mountain goldens: in other words, they're not all that smart. BPS would go of business if bass only hit one thing! I bet it's way more about WHERE you are putting your worm than any retrieve or rig you are using. But of course, if you have weeds or grass, you need something that keeps your bait clean. Start with something 4 inches long, clear pink, smoke or watermelon and fish it CLOSE to something. (Point, rockpile, post, stump, cut, steep portion, deep weed edge.) You'll get 'em.

It's become a more elevated debate in recent years, but for those looking for ammunition for their side of the argument, Brent Ehrler, FLW Tour points leader, was interviewed this week and said the thing his career is missing is a trip to the Classic. That's saying something.

Not the first name I would have pulled out of a hat--Eagle Claw. It's true. ;)Who says "money can't buy you love?"

There is, of course. But it will take some care on your part in handling the fish. Standard operating procedure is the count the scales along the lateral line, close behind the gill to the fork in the tail. Florida bass have smaller scales, so the normal count is 69 to 73. The northern should work out to 59 to 67 with its larger scales. The degree of hybridization (I am told) would take more than scale numbers, but over 67 or 68 suggests a mix. I think both California and Florida fisheries people would back me up on this.

The bass fishing community does well when it meets here on Bassresource.com. I've been at the bass thing 40 plus years in California. Spent a lot of time involved with the pros from the West as well as the trends with mini baits (but not mini burgers). Did write the bit on the homepage, and hope Glenn May will have it etched on my tombstone as well. Thanks to him and to bass guys everywhere. You're waaaaay more interesting regular people.

Sort of like prescribing medicine on the web, I don't know if this will actually fit your symptoms. But your compatriot Gary Klein has always preached to go to the very ends and work back. His take, you never want to get beat by someone who went right around the corner. From what you're saying, I think his advice means, despite the dramatic changes in level and clarity, the fish aren't going leave on vacation to Lake Tahoe. They'll shrug off the new conditions and as soon as they get comfortable with what's there (as Gary says, "conditioned by their environment") they'll deal with the new realities. That the fish don't respond as well as you want is not your fault, but you're probably stuck--unless you can find, as has been suggested--some fish doing other things where the conditions suit your fishing style better.

Bass fishing is sometimes a lot less scientific than we want to make it. The advice here has been great, but this bait type has had this reputation since they were first introduced in the late 1960's early 1970's. It's no help to you right now, I understand, but come back after you hook the next 100 bass and see how many you've lost. We'll have a better idea if it's equipment, technique, or the way the fish are taking the bait. "Daybreaks, canebrakes, heartbreaks..."