Here's exactly how to know when to change lures, how long to fish lures, or when to give up on a lure. Expert advice to help you with the best decisions!

 

 

Outstanding!

 

This is a question I get a lot.  Odd that nobody has commented on this thread.

They're all out trying it for themselves!

I change baits when my confidence level tells me I need a change.  Without confidence in what your doing, your not going to have any success.  Sometimes that could be in ten minutes, sometimes two hours.  Its an intangible feeling I get, that tells me a change to another bait is necessary.  Experience, and time on the water, allows you to make these rational decisions, when things are tough.  

Personally, I change when the conditions boat side change.  Just this last weekend, we were fishing scattered grass clumps and I was doing well on chatterbaits/senkos.  As we moved along we got into thicker grass so I picked up a weightless Yamamoto DShad (fluke style bait) and threw it up into the heaviest grass twitching it on top and letting it sink in small holes.  Lost a few to Snakeheads but caught some good bass as well.  There's a fine line between knowing if you are fishing the right bait and knowing the fish are there.  You need both pieces of that puzzle to make an informed decision.  I will run through a progression of baits and if I can't get bit, I assume the fish aren't there or the ones that are aren't eating and I'll move.  On the Potomac, you also have to factor in tide.  You can be on the fish and when the tide changes, they will shut completely down...completely!!  Then it's time to either run to the tide or eat lunch.