I am completely confused on the topic of "search baits" and hoping some of you can steer me straight. I understand that some baits (spinners, cranks, ..) cover lots of territory, while others are fished slow and over a much more limited area like T - rigged plastics. But if I get a hit with a spinnerbait, why am I going to change to something else? Just the fact that I 'found' the fish with a spinner would seem to me that I should stay with it.

Thanks guys, and Happy New Year

(Mods feel free to move this if it fits better somewhere else.)

But if I get a hit with a spinnerbait, why am I going to change to something else? Just the fact that I 'found' the fish with a spinner would seem to me that I should stay with it.

I believe the basic theory is that the fish you caught on the search bait indicates (you hope) an area that holds multiple fish. I wouldn't change baits immediately, but after awhile you then switch to a slower bait, like a soft plastic, to cover the area thoroughly and get a bait into spots that perhaps the search bait couldn't access.

But if I get a hit with a spinnerbait, why am I going to change to something else?

Not all the fish in the spot in case the spot is likely to hold more than 1 or 2 fish are in the mood to bite a speeding bait, you catch the ones that is on the mood to hit fast moving baits and then attack the spot with slower moving baits to tease those fish that are in more neutral mood.

Just the fact that I 'found' the fish with a spinner would seem to me that I should stay with it.

Catching one fish doesn 't necessarily mean you found them.

But if I get a hit with a spinnerbait, why am I going to change to something else?

Not all the fish in the spot in case the spot is likely to hold more than 1 or 2 fish are in the mood to bite a speeding bait, you catch the ones that is on the mood to hit fast moving baits and then attack the spot with slower moving baits to tease those fish that are in more neutral mood.

Just the fact that I 'found' the fish with a spinner would seem to me that I should stay with it.

Catching one fish doesn 't necessarily mean you found them.

x2 

But if I get a hit with a spinnerbait, why am I going to change to something else?

Not all the fish in the spot in case the spot is likely to hold more than 1 or 2 fish are in the mood to bite a speeding bait, you catch the ones that is on the mood to hit fast moving baits and then attack the spot with slower moving baits to tease those fish that are in more neutral mood.

Just the fact that I 'found' the fish with a spinner would seem to me that I should stay with it.

Catching one fish doesn 't necessarily mean you found them.

x2

x3

But if I get a hit with a spinnerbait, why am I going to change to something else?

Not all the fish in the spot in case the spot is likely to hold more than 1 or 2 fish are in the mood to bite a speeding bait, you catch the ones that is on the mood to hit fast moving baits and then attack the spot with slower moving baits to tease those fish that are in more neutral mood.

Just the fact that I 'found' the fish with a spinner would seem to me that I should stay with it.

Catching one fish doesn 't necessarily mean you found them.

x2

x3

x5

x4

(you skipped 4 jacob ;D)

x6

X7

x4

(you skipped 4 jacob ;D)

it was on purpose. 

What Marty and Raul said. ;D

No need to switch baits!

I think the pros are looking for the sweet spot or pattern. They want to get that initial strike or 2 quickly and decide what was common between the 2 or more hits. You can do this quickly with these search baits. ie they are in the notches of the weed line. Also, you can use them to find underwater structure, perhaps some stumps or a pile of rocks out of eye sight.

In the first case, you could stick with the search bait and keep hitting the hot spots.

In the 2nd case, of bumping into structure, you may catch a few aggressive fish, then go to the soft plastic to follow up those lazy ones.

Home that helps!