Ok so my question is how do you decide on what to use when it comes to baits that do the same thing like a

shallow lipless over grass vs a chatterbait?

or a spinnerbait vs squarebill?

list goes on and on but curious on why one vs the other when they are tools to do the same job

Structure, baitfish, season, light intensity, wind, water clarity, water temp.

 

Incomplete examples of personal opinions. 

Lipless - Stained water, grass that easy to rip (not throwing a lipless in something like tobacco cabbage, but milfoil/coontail allows for grass ripping trebles. Rock/hard bottom. Times of spring and fall when keyed in on small baitfish and/or chatterbait/spinnerbait is not getting bit in the right conditions. 

 

Blade Bait - Some gin clear waters I fish, there's windy/low light situations where a lipless is far less effective for me than a blade bait.

 

Usually just play it safe with a spinnerbait or swim jig around wood. 

 

Spinnerbait plays more for me in slightly colder water than a chatterbait. 

 

Personally do not like using squarebills unless fishing hard bottom/rock. 

Theres always going to be more than one lure that works in whatever cover or contours being fished . So start with one and adjust from there . I like spinnerbaits a lot, so they get called  upon often but another angler may prefer chatterbaits in the same area. Snag resistance plays a big role in what I initially throw.. 

If I am casting into 12' or less without current, I will usually start with a weightless soft 

plastic, Senko or Fat Ika. On rig #2, topwater, jerkbait, squarebill or Bandit 200.

Water clarity plays a role. In dingy waters where I live different lures are usually selected than in clearer waters. I dont fish spinnerbaits much in the clear Ozark lakes . Rivers , I like lures that move water.

 How do i choose? Confidence. 

3 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

If I am casting into 12' or less without current, I will usually start with a weightless soft 

plastic, Senko or Fat Ika. On rig #2, topwater, jerkbait, squarebill or Bandit 200.

 

What's your process given current? 

5 hours ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

 

Ok so my question is how do you decide on what to use when it comes to baits that do the same thing like a

shallow lipless over grass vs a chatterbait?

or a spinnerbait vs squarebill?

list goes on and on but curious on why one vs the other when they are tools to do the same job

Trail and error until something works.

Tom

2 hours ago, galyonj said:

 

What's your process given current? 

Weighted soft plastics: Rage Bug and Menace.

3 hours ago, keagbassr said:

 How do i choose? Confidence. 

Start with this

 

3 hours ago, WRB said:

Trail and error until something works.

Tom

Then move to this.