Fred Mertz

Crank baits-- If the fish hit the crank bait and you miss the fish or fish is hooked outside the mouth or back hook in front lip, change colors. The right color will make the fish "eat" the bait. Same for spinner baits with a trailer hook. Soft plastics, look for bite marks or small tears that indicate a tail pick up or is the fish just butting it. Same thing with every other type of lure you use. Color does make the difference. Time of year, wind, weather, water temp, amount of sun light types of available cover will govern where the bass are likely to be. Its a definite science, but also a learned process. Trial and error. Remember also, fish all over the US do exactly the same thing and are governed by exactly the same outside influences. That is how tour pros can go to Florida one week, and Maine the next and catch fish.