Bazoo

One of the details of this particular pond, is that I cannot walk around it. It's blocked on one end by a fence. I can walk up both sides. The lake I fish is similar, not that I can't walk around it, but it's a 5 mile round trip. So, I go up the bank and then back down.

Interesting replies, thanks all. I edited my post to add the catches on each of the lures I used. I somehow forgot to mention that. I got 9 on the fluke going up, and 3 on the roostertail coming back. Would guess that if I'd stuck with a fluke, I'd either catch nothing or very few on the return trip.

The other day I walked up the bank of a pond I frequent. Because I'm learning and gaining confidence with flukes, I fished junebug colored flukes the entire route going. I caught 9 with the fluke. When I got to where I stopped, I sat down to rest and tried a few other things. I don't recall what now. I decided to use a white roostertail for the return trip, covering the same shore that I'd previously covered with a fluke. I caught 3 using the roostertail. Now... I decided to use a roostertail for 2 reasons, 1) I'm not confident with it yet as I've not used one much at all, 2) I thought the color change, and action change would be different enough that I'd entice bites from those that had declined the fluke. So... is my judgement sound when choosing the second pass lure? Would it have been better to continue to use the same color fluke, perhaps with a different action? Or, should I use a fluke of a different color? This situation is almost always the norm for my fishing, moving up a shoreline, then covering the same shoreline on the return trip. How can I maximize the return trip?

My confidence in flukes is 100% now I think. I pretty much fish them everywhere and I have success everywhere, well, except Freeman lake with has all the pressure. But I did catch one on a fluke there last year. I'm thinking that this junebug colored fluke will work at Freeman. 1st, it'll imitate a bluegill, 2nd, this color isn't available in town. The other day I fished there a while with only a couple of lures in my pocket. Flukes, a crankbait, and a topwater. I didn't get anything, but I had confidence that the lack of bites was not from the flukes or my technique. I did have some bluegill nibbles. I appreciate everyones support and suggestions in learning flukes.

The other day I got this guy. Today Didn't catch anything on this crankbait, but threw it a few minutes. Different spot. Didn't weight him, but was a 2.5. This was the first cast when we came up to this spot. I used it as an opportunity to teach the boy about stealth. Warmouth was mighty hungry. So was this little guy.

I fish a city lake often, as it's convenient to me. The part I primarily fish is very heavily pressured. Most people you talk to do not catch anything, or very few and far between. The ones that do have success are those that use live minnows, and mostly it's crappie. I have seen bass swim 3' from the shore right in front of me while fishing, ignoring both me and the lures I was using. I also have noticed that if I start fishing with a crankbait, and get nothing, switching to a soft plastic with a more subtle presentation doesn't usually do any good. But starting with the soft plastic, often will produce a few. After 1-2 fish, then I rarely get another. The most I've caught in 1 day (a few hours) is 4, best I recall, which included 1 crappie that hit a grub. Lures that are different than what everyone else uses seem to work well. I have an old school Spit'n Image, which has worked for me several times, when others usually use poppers and ploppers. I've had success on crankbaits that are out of the norm, or out of the norm for my local, such as a shallow shad rap, shad rap, or squarebills with the hooks tied on to change the sound. Deadsticking a soft plastic has worked, as well as slowly working a split shot. Texas rigging a grub has worked. Oddly, I've seen several friends pull bass out of there using a ned rig. I don't understand this, because neds are popular and a lot of people fish them. But then again... crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms in a traditional rigging are what the majority of people use.

I pretty much keep them in the original packaging. Sometimes I'll use a ziplock bag if I need to condense the packaging.

Nothing technique specific here.

I fish a mix of stuff. I like pretty rods and reels, but I also use a Proficiency rod from Walmart that has its front half in orange/brown camo. It casts good though, and I can hit what I aim at. Looks is the last thing I consider, and not a deal breaker.

Interesting discussion. I use a 6' fiberglass Profishiency casting rod intended for a spincaster for my short work, and it does pretty good. Very accurate.

I've not tried rigging them upside down yet. I'll have to give that a try.

Found this video showing an interesting technique (at the end). Basically a straight reel, waking the fluke right at the surface.

Interesting discussion. I've not run braid very much at all on a baitcaster. I might have to give it another try. I do like the sensitivity of braid but everything else, I am happy with mono.

I didn't know Creme made such a large selection of lures. We found some Creme stick worms in Walmart the other day and picked them up to try. They feel very good, soft, not too tough. And we've caught a couple bass on them so far. Made in the USA. I picked up a pack of their fluke style baits tonight while at Walmart, but I haven't taken them out of the package or used them yet. These small packs of worms only cost $1.28 at our local Walmart. But that turns out to be a pretty good cost savings, if the lures both work and have a decent life. Upon looking at their website it seems they make a good variety of things, not just the old pre-rigged worms that I associate with the brand. They have flukes, finesse worms, lizards, even a 16" worm that might do for a snake lure. They don't have a huge variety of colors like Zoom does, is the only downfall I see. Does anyone here prefer Creme soft plastics?

I have gained so much confidence with the fluke fishing I've done in the pond I go to, that I've started fishing them everywhere else. Today I set out with my pole, and only a couple of lures, but fished the fluke the whole time. One thing I'm not sure about is color. I've had some pretty good success on gold color called Houdini, junebug, and whitish/blueish, and baby bass. I guess my question is, if a fluke isn't working, is it going to make any difference if I change color, or should I change techniques with the fluke or lures altogether?

It actually never occurred to me to fish the dam during winter. It's an earthen dam, and it has a flat area at is base so it's easily fished. There isn't a whole lot of people that fish it any time of the year actually because it's probably 1/4 mile walk from the closest parking lot to the beginning of the dam.

Yes, but I haven't. It's a bit longer walk than I normally want to make. It's riprap, and I'm not sure how to fish riprap. I'll have to look up how to best fish it.

I appreciate the replies and ideas. I've seen my buddy catch a few in winter using a Rapala Husky Jerk in glass minnow color. He and I fish differently though, and I've not used a jerkbait much. The lake in question is 130 acres, so it's not huge and it has 2 divided, but attached, ponds of about 1.5 acres each. I mostly fish the ponds, these are each attached to the main lake via a channel. Here is a map picture of it where you can see the ponds at the top. The connecting area is only about 20' for each. The whole western edge of the lake is accessible via parking areas, and has a lot of the brush removed (not all of it), and is pretty shallow. The whole eastern side is not accessible except for a walking trail. I've not fished most of that, though I have fished some spots. Those holding ponds see a huge amount of pressure during the summer months due to convenience. I fish it because of the challenge. I usually get skunked 2 out of 3 times when fishing there as a result. But I've met people that say they have never caught a fish there, or that they've never seen anyone catch a fish. Another piece of information that might be of help, is that in winter, I stop by this place for an hour normally. So I fish an hour before wussing out due to the cold or rain. I know that if I spent 4 hours, I'd have a lot better chance of catching something.

Didn't catch anything at the river, but had a good time with the boy.

My understranding is that there are some fish that stay shallow year round.

I have permission to fish a private pond just 1/4 mile from the church I attend - my life is all about the Lord's work...

I fish a city lake a lot, and for the last 2 winters I got skunked from about mid november until febuary. The bite is hard there, but still, in wintertime there is a lot less pressure. I fish from the bank. I mostly have tried soft plastics during winter, texas rigs, just like in summer. As well as an occasional jerkbait or crankbait. I don't think I've caught a fish at all either winter. Then, one day I'll be fishing, and bam, I start getting bit and then it's normal again. So what lures should I be considering for this coming winter? I want to become proficient with them now, which is why I am asking now.

Congratulations. I have had luck using squarebills using a jerkbait type retrieve. I don't actually stop them, I reel the whole time, but I pull the lure with my rod, then reel up the slack. This gives me a start and stop, but the stop is never stopped, just much slower. If you're having fun with squarebills, simply add another type of crankbait to it to change things up. I like the Bomber Fat Free Fingerling for a slightly deeper diving crankbait. They are cheap and work, but they also are a old school and sort of overlooked. Honestly, I like H20X squarebills. Both the regular size and the 1/4oz mini size. That mini size is the stuff sometimes. I've found color makes a lot of difference sometimes. One way you can change a crankbait is to remove the metal split rings and replace them with a soft split ring from tied braided fishing line.

Very interesting discussion, thank you all for sharing. I tried some various retrieves today at my church side fishing hole. I tried a straight retrieve with very minor start/stops and got bit. I tried underwater walk the dog type action and got bit. I tried topwater walk the dog type action and got bit. I lost a couple, but most of the bass were small today, so understandable. My hookup ratio is very good, I will venture 90%+. I normally use Ozark Trails 3/0 Round bend offset worm hooks. I originally bought a pack of them for my boy to use because he loses a lot of lures. Well one day I ran out of the Gamakatsu hooks I had and tried them, and they actually did very well. Way better than an Eagle Claw, not as good as a Gamakatsu of course. But I've used them for about 3 years now with no complaints. I've caught dozens of fish on the same hook and they do not get dull or bend... I do my bending and dulling against rocks. I use all three sizes offered - 1/0, 2/0, 3/0 all with the same results.

The other day. Today.