king fisher

In salt water it is common to use a rubber band to attach the weight on a drop shot rig. That way if the sinker snags in the rocks, you can break the rubber band loosing only the weight rather than expensive floro carbon leader, hook, bait, or soft plastic. I have never heard of anyone using one in fresh water.

spinner bait, black single Colorado can be fished top to bottom, any speed, clear, or muddy water. floating Rapala gold black back, can be twitched on top, or reeled under the surface. 5 inch Senko green pumkin any time, any depth. #3 Vibrax inline spinner. can be fished anywhere, for any species. My best lure for small streams can be fished effectively for any species, in riffles, tail outs, pools, eddies, and runs. Upstream, cross current, slack water, any angle or depth.

My therapist- girlfriend, tried to help me kick the lure buying habit. I fired them both. In the end, the person with the most lures wins.

I fished many waters, where a single hook was required by law. Some lures loose balance and simply can't work with a single hook. Others like wiggle warts work, but you have to remove the back hook and put a barrel or bead chain swivel on the front hook hanger. This lets the hook hang towards the back but doesn't effect the action. Many other crank baits simply wont run right with a single hook. Chances of loosing a fish once hooked on a single hook are far less then when hooked on a treble. That said you hook fewer fish with the single hook. Probably making it about even in the end. Bass release survival rate doesn't seem to suffer with treble hooks. Trout and Salmon do much better with a single hook.

Tie, Vibrax or Mepps, No 3. Unless it is one of those days, when the fish prefer a Panther Martin.

Floating Rapala gold black back Rapala Husky jerk silver Rapala shad rap perch Single Colorado blade spinner, bait black Tandem willow spinner, bait blue gill Rapala DT 10 red craw Hula popper , frog tiny torpedo any color #3 Blue fox vibrax 1/4 oz rattle trap

I have a bad addiction, buying vintage tackle lots on Ebay. I see one or two lures I want, and buy the whole lot. Never know what I might need. I have had dozens of boxes delivered to my mothers house in Eastern WA. I will only be there for three weeks in May. If I did nothing but tie on different lures the whole time I'm there, I doubt I would be able to fish them all. I'm sure before I leave I will make a Tackle Warehouse order to make sure I have all the latest and greatest. All I really will need, is some Vibrax no 3 spinners, a black single Colorado spinner bait, a few floating Rapalas, and some buck tail jigs. Every year I try about half of what I order, then catch all my fish on these few baits. My only excuse, is I haven't found a 12 step lure buying program in my area. Maybe the government should start requiring tackle manufactures to print pictures of tackle hoarders stashes on the package, just like the ones they put on cigarettes. Technically these baits have been opened by previous owners, just repacked to ship. Does that count? Maybe I don't have a problem at all.

I have not ready many color studies, and can only draw on experience with other sport fish. I do know that for rainbow trout on streams in Western Alaska, when Sockeye Salmon are spawning, color is the very important. An orange bead painted with pearl finger nail polish will catch rainbows every cast. When you look at an orange bead, and a fresh sockey egg in the air, they look identical. In the water the real egg gets a white look to the outside. Finger nail polish imitates this foggy look perfectly. Believe me a bunch of Alaska guides would not get caught borrowing their girl friends finger nail polish, if it didn't make a difference. I have watched clients catch fish every cast with these beads, while I experimented with other colored beads and yarn flies. Even going so far as to soak the other baits in salmon egg juice. The orange painted bead always out fishes the other offerings 100 to 1. Even when my clients mend incorrectly, making very bad drifts, they still catch fish, while I make perfect drag free drifts with other colors catching no fish. I understand that rainbow trout are not bass. I will point out that both are predatory fish, that can see color. It is easy to experiment with trout in Alaska, because I can eliminate most other variables, because the water is clear, I can see the fish, and catch them in large numbers, for many days in a row. I have also had similar experiences with artic grayling, King Salmon, Silver, Salmon and Yellow fin Tuna. I have fished and guided for many other species of fish, that I assume prefer different colors in different conditions, but I have never had the opportunity to eliminate enough variables to make a firm conclusion. On a side note. the same trout will hit a mouse pattern drifted over them all summer, until the salmon start laying eggs. Once the first eggs hit the water, you could drift a mouse within inches of their nose, and they wont even notice. I have tried many times. This is my best example of matching the hatch. Again I know the other species I mentioned are not bass. I am aware that bass might be completely different. I can only assume bass have some similarities to these other predator fish with color vision.

Would be interesting to know what colors the anglers tried. Maybe KVD tried, blue, pink, and yellow, and only got bit on black, but would have done well, on green pumpkin Red Shad, and June bug. Can't rule out color 100% just because more than one worked. Chartreuse might have drawn a complete blank for everyone. I would agree the color preference of the anglers was more important to the angler than the bass that day. Just wouldn't rule out color 100%

I would have tried a lipless crank, spennerbait,or chater bait to see if it was the square bill that was the difference, or the bass just wanted a more aggressive presentation. You might have found a lure that worked better that his. If these other baits drew blanks, and you still wanted to catch fish, switch to what your friend was using. I would probably have kept experimenting with other lures. Just my curious nature. When a friend is killing them on one thing, I love to see if I can find something different. At the very least I would use a different color of square bill. I get out fished often, but always mange to learn something from it.

Thanks for the information. All makes sense to me. Hope you catch lots of big ones in the next 6 weeks. I might have drive up to Mazatlan next full moon and try to catch a big one. You reminded me by mentioning fishing with bait. Wouldn't that be the ultimate form of matching the hatch? Seems to work for the bait fishermen. Should work for lure fisherman too.

Hard to argue with that kind of success over that many years. Most of my experience has been with other sport fish. Big bass don't have to feed every day, so It wouldn't surprise me, if they were more active on a specific moon phase. Where would you rate moon phase importance compared to water temperature, barometric pressure, rain, sun, wind, and water conditions? Just curious, what would you consider the perfect day at you favorite lake.

Thanks for the information. I have been told by numerous people over the years, that they were from the old mold. Always wondered if that was just a rumor. The Brads wiggler in Magnum size works as well as the old Mag Warts for king salmon, way more effective than the ones Rapala made. Will have to try them for bass sometime.

I agree. I do not believe Lunar cycles have much of an effect. Many saltwater anglers I know are crazy over moon phase. All of the local people I hire as deck hands do not like the full moon. Every time we have a bad day fishing any where near the full moon. They blame it on the moon. If it is a good day of fishing they never give the moon credit, unless it is a new moon. Theory . My theory is the fish have to eat every day, full moon or not. I couldn't believe all the fish in the whole ocean go hungry because of the moon phase. I started calling everyone one I knew every time a had a good day or a bad day of fishing. What I found was, every day some boats had great fishing and some had poor regardless of moon phase. A day I got skunked on a full moon, a friend went one hundred miles south and had the best day of fishing in his career. I'm sure the moon has some effect, but it is too complicated for me to make any kind of prediction. Not saying others don't have more knowledge on the effect of the moon than I do. Lakes are smaller, and maybe most of the fish in a lake go on and off a bite at the same time, and the moon has a big effect. I don't have the experience to say. I do believe it has little effect, but I could be wrong. I will keep changing colors both when fishing is slow and when it is fast in all moon phases. Love to experiment.

I do agree that it would be very difficult or impossible to preform a scientific experiment that would determine why a bass hit or not hit a cetain lure. There are way to many variables to prove beyond any doubt that color had any effect. As said before my experience with bass is limited, so I don't have any examples of color being the deciding factor when it come to bass. As far as other species of game fish, I have many examples where I have had the good fortune to be able to catch fish on almost every cast in clear water where I could watch their reactions to my lure for many days in a row. I tried my best to limit variables, to the point that I am satisfied with the conclusion that color was the biggest factor in catching that species of fish in that spot on that day. Size, retrieve, and lure action, within reason, didn't seem to make a difference. Why they liked that color, I could only guess. ( If anyone wants to here details on these fishing experiences, and why I came to these conclusions, send me a personal message. I'm not going to post any more on this topic because I'm sure many people are getting tired of my posts.) Most of the time matching the color of the prey was my theory, but obviously it could have been some other reason. As far as why the originator of this post caught fish in clear water on dark baits, I would guess it was because the bass were used to eating dark baits. I wouldn't say bait is dark in clear water, and not in dark water. I have no clue to why some bait is dark while others are light. I only would guess the bass in this lake at this time were eating dark prey, therefore liked dark lures. It could be the dark lures were more visible, I couldn't say. Because bass do have eyes that can see color, it would only make sense to me, that they use this ability to find prey, determine what they can or can't eat, and ovoid predators. Obviously they use all of their senses for the same reasons. It also makes sense to me, which factor is more important would change due to changes in water conditions, type of prey, past experience, age , size of fish, and thousands of other factors. Many very experience fisherman on this site have never observed a time when they think color mattered to the fish. They are lucky, they can save lots of money.

I haven't used bluegill for bait because where I bass fish it is illegal to user live fish. I have caught thousands of salt water fish with bait. I would hook the bait just in front of the dorsal fin with a circle hook. Not only will you hook more fish with a circle hook, but you will have a greater chance of a good release. If you want to slowly retrieve the bait nose hook it. If you want to get a vicious strike, try suspending the bait on the surface with a long pole, kite, or helium balloon. I have always wanted to try this technique with fresh water fish, but never had the chance. Many Tuna Rooster fish snapper, and snook that refuse to hit any bait fished under the surface can't resist smashing a struggling bait under a kite. One reason is a spooky fish can't see the hook or line, because both are out of the water. Good luck

I agree Depth speed and location are the big three factors. If you are not fishing where the fish are than you can't catch them. My point is color is a factor and can be the biggest factor not only for catching fish, but for a fish to refuse to bite. Catch fish every day on a bright silver lure, and eventually they wont want to hit a bright silver lure. Yes fish do eat pink worms that don't look like anything they would eat. they also hit buzzbaits, that don't look like anything they would eat regardless of color. Or lures that are a completely different size than the local prey. I'm sure more times than not color doesn't make a big difference. There are also many times I can catch fish on small and large baits, at many different speeds, and actions. Just makes sense to start with something remotely representing their primary forage, including color. As far as the different facets of color, or how a bass sees the color, or the science behind light waves in water I have no clue. I do know that if I'm catching fish on a chartreuse bait, and I switch to a blue one stop catching fish then return to a chartreuse one and start catching fish again, I'm going to like chartreuse that day.

This form of logic is ridiculous. It would be like saying size of the lure is only I quote an obvious metric for distinction. As long as you have the correct size of lure it wouldn't matter if it was a crankbait, buzbait, spinner, bait, or soft plastic, fished slow or fast, therefore size must not be a factor? Obviously this is ridiculous, often times bass will only hit a certain size lure usually but not always the approximate size of the prey they are feeding on. Size, speed, action, color and many other characteristics are all important. There are times when one is what the bass are using to key in on your lure over others. Many times color is not high on the list. There are times, when it is the most important factor. As far as the original question of why bass would hit dark lures in clear water, I would have to guess it is because the natural prey in that water are dark colored.

I'm sure the fish don't see or care what color of shirt someone is wearing. I do know they have the ability to see color, and will use that ability to help them survive and grow. Blind fish can survive and grow old by using other senses. Same can be said about blind people, both people and bass that can see, will use their sight to full advantage. Animals that don't have the ability to see color do very well, but animals that can see color will certainly use that sense to full advantage. They don't just use color to find prey they want, but will also use it to not hit a certain prey or lure. I have many times been catching bass on a certain lure and color, then after catching many fish the bite stops. First thing I will do is switch colors. The fish start biting again. When switching colors doesn't work, I will switch retrieve, then lure and finally find a new place to fish. Like I said before. If color didn't matter, bass wouldn't be able to see color.

Does anyone know how deep old metal lipped plugs like Hellbender, bomber, mudbug, water dog dive?

The Brads baits came out a couple of years after Rapala took over Storm. They came out with an exact copy of Storms Hot N tot, and Wiggle Warts. I don't know if it is true, but at the time I was told by lots of people that Brads had bought the old molds from Storm. I bought some and they worked as well as my old Storm Warts for King Salmon in Alaska. Does anyone here use them for bass? Do they work as well as the old lures? Other than the line tie, they sure look the same.

I can't think of a time that I could say with 100% certainty that color was the main factor in catching or not catching bass. I can say that with at least 10 other sport fish species, both fresh and salt water I have had numerous times, when it was by far the biggest factor, and some situations, where it was the only significant factor. I think any predator on land or water that can see color will use that color vision to their advantage. If a person were to spend a day shooting orange clay pigeons, that were extremely fast and hard to hit but was told, do not shoot any tennis balls launched out of the say thrower. After and hour of shooting orange clays they throw out an orange tennis ball the same size and at the same speed. I would bet that 9 out of ten people will shoot the tennis ball. If the ball had been yellow, I would bet that 9 out of 10 would not shoot. If the clays were all different colors, I'm sure that the shooter would try and key in on the shape and flight characteristics, and color would not matter at all. I'm also certain, that it would be more difficult to spot the shape difference, making the person delay his shot, causing the hit percentage to go down. Translated to the fish, he fails to catch his prey more often. If the tennis balls were twice the size and bounced on the ground rather than thrown in the air, than of course color would not matter at all. ( Crayfish on the bottom as apposed to bait fish near the surface). My point being, it is hard for a bass to catch his food. He will use any of many methods to identify and catch his prey. Sometimes it will be action, the next time it will be size, and yes there will be times it will be color. If you think color doesn't matter, it's not that it doesn't matter, you just haven't come across the situation where it does yet.

Bass have eyes that can see color for a reason. I would assume that reason would be to help the fish find, identify, and catch it's prey. Also color might help a bass avoid a predator. If they don't use their color vision, why are they able to see color? It only makes sense to me, that if the fish can see color, I should try to find out what color they prefer on a given water and day.

As far as the original question, why bass would like dark lures in clear water I have no idea. I am certain there are times when color will be the difference from getting bit and going home skunked. Any one who hasn't experienced this needs to fish more. I do agree most of the time retrieve, size and action can be more important, but color does matter.

I have never caught bass fast enough to run any experiment that was very scientific. I have tested color on silver salmon in Alaska many times where I'm sure color was the only factor that made a difference in the fishing. Silver salmon will come into rivers and stage in pools by the thousands. There are many times, when they will only hit a pink lure. At first I would catch them on anything pink. After catching a few dozen the bite would slow down on certain lures, and retrieve styles, eventually I would find the one that worked best. Taking the same best lure, and changing to another color the bite would stop. Going back to pink I could catch them every cast again. I have done this over and over again for 20 years. I don't know why they like pink but they do. I have had the same experience fly fishing for trout during a hatch on a river. Most of the time size and drift are the most important factor in matching flies, but I have seen color be more important, than anything else. Like I said I never have bass fishing so good that I can experiment this way, but I would assume there are times, when color is the biggest factor for bass. I guess it never hurts to try a different color.