Deep dives on baits

[GoneFishingLTN]

How important do you think it is to dive deep into specific bait categories? For example, Tactical Bassin’s recent jerkbait seminar covered around 20 different jerkbaits, detailing the ideal time, place, and action for each one. To me, this feels like overkill, though I understand there’s truth in what they’re saying. How many people here go that deep into specific bait types?

[August]

Lots of people are gear junkies like that and having all the different baits in the perfect colors is half the fun for them. 

[Mike L]

I never watch that stuff, but based on your example it’s definitely overkill.
There aren’t 20 different times, places and actions of anything!!

 

But Hey, why just show the ones that produced the most in the most varied of conditions for the majority of our subscribers, when we can hawk 20 so the video lasts longer to expose our sponsors longer. 

Or maybe I’m just too cynical. 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gulfcaptain]

Matt and Tim go hard. I used to think I could get by on a few jerkbaits, then they didn't produce under certain conditions and had to go to a different one. Again that repeated. So I carry probably  8 different jerkbaits, size, depth, brand, etc. The more you refine your approach and tackle the more you acquire.  But yes you can get by on a few, but you talk to someone that fish tournaments, then they are looking for that subtle difference.  

[A-Jay]

7 hours ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

How important do you think it is to dive deep into specific bait categories? For example, Tactical Bassin’s recent jerkbait seminar covered around 20 different jerkbaits, detailing the ideal time, place, and action for each one. To me, this feels like overkill, though I understand there’s truth in what they’re saying. How many people here go that deep into specific bait types?

IME, what is important, regardless of the number of baits an angler may have,

is to know & understanding how, when & where to use whatever the collection of jerkbaits (for example) in each type of different fishing situation an angler might come across.

If I fished the same lake, that same way at the same time every season,

then a bare bones collection of baits would probably do the job well.

But fishing a variety of lakes, where I can face an almost infinite number of different deals and conditions, has taught me that these situations require a bit of a bigger tool box.

Just for starters, there's deeper baits, shallower baits, different size & profile baits, loud baits, silent baits and then there's the mind boggling number of colors & patterns.

Only way for me to know what works in the waters I fish,  was to try a bit of it all.

Takes some time & effort (and $$$), but even though I'll always still be learning & evolving, a few baits in each location and in each certain situation, on each certain lake have proven themselves as superior to many others I have. That can not happen for me with three baits.  

Finally, as much as we like to think we can 'pattern' bass, and figure out 'what bait they want that day and how they want it', I do not subscribe to that mantra.   In my mind, each & every bass is an individual creature.  With it's own like & dislikes, preferences and tendencies, and although they are Schooling fish, that may not mean every fish will bite or wants the same bait in the same way. 

This seems especially true when it comes to the larger, older bass I seek.

One subtle little tweak to a presentation or a color, or a depth, a profile or a sound, can mean the scale goes to a new number not seen by me. 

A basshead needs time on the water to figure some of this out and it's always changing.

The lessons learned  come with many fishless days, just like watching 'deep dive' videos.

btw, I watched that clip and it's pretty good, however Matt omitted the entire silent bait deal.  I'm OK with that though.

YMMV

A-Jay

https://youtu.be/zIqCmH_52IQ?feature=shared&t=1215

 

[Mike L]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

IME, what is important is know & understanding how, when & where to use whatever the collection of jerkbaits (for example) in each type of different fishing situation an angler might come across.

If I fished the same lake, that same way at the same time every season,

than a bare bones collection of bait would probably do the job well.

But fishing a variety of lakes, where I can face an almost infinite number of different deals and conditions, has taught me that these situations require a bit of a bigger tool box.

Just for starters, there's deeper baits, shallower baits, different size & profile baits, loud baits, silent baits and then there's the mind boggling number of colors & patterns.

Only way for me to know what works was to try a bit of it all.

Takes some time & effort (and $$$), but even though I'll always still be learning & evolving, a few baits in each location and in each certain situation, on each certain lake have proven themselves as superior to many others I have. That can not happen for me with three baits.  

Finally, as much as we like to think we can 'pattern' bass, and figure out 'what bait they want that day and how they want it', I do not subscribe to that mantra as in my mind, each & every bass is an individual creature.  With it's own like & dislikes, preferences and tendencies, and although they are Schooling fish, that may not mean every fish will bite or wants the same bait in the same way. 

This seems especially true when it comes to the larger, older bass I seek.

One subtle little tweak to a presentation or a color, or a depth, a profile or a sound, can mean the scale goes to a new number not seen by me. 

A basshead needs time on the water to figure some of this out and it's always changing.

The lessons learned  come with many fishless days, jusy like watching 'deep dive' videos.

btw, I watch that clip and it's pretty good, however Matt left of the entite silent bait deal.

I'm OK with that though.

YMMV

A-Jay

https://youtu.be/zIqCmH_52IQ?feature=shared&t=1215

 

Well Said

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[12poundbass]

I used to deep dive into all that noise and it got way over complicated. I’m in the keep it simple camp. I stick with what works for me. 

[F14A-B]

Dude, it’s how they make a living plain and simple. But.. they are very good at what they do and if you’re looking for jerkbait line a crank bait line, rod or reel then I’d definitely recommend watching and learning from them. They know their passion..

[WRB]

The question is how many of those jerk baits did they have to get to 1 each that caught bass? It’s my experience with jerk baits or diving lures in general it takes several to find the one that catches bass consistently. If you have 10 confidence lures you may have tried 50 to 60 before getting to that special lure.

Add different colors and you can see why weekend bass anglers settle on maybe 3 in lieu of 10.

Tom

[RRocket]

I fish the Free Rig so my "deep dive" consists of figuring out what the bait does when a) chasing the weight down to the bottom b) when the weight hits bottom and bait is weightless.

 

Some glide, some shimmy (like a Senko), some spiral, etc

 

I just need to know how the bait reacts and what it does.

[MediumMouthBass]

I only did deep dives on ned rigs, lipless cranks, and bladed jigs/chatterbaits.

These are my top 3 bass/big bass producers, i know them like they are family.

 

And i have more of them than any other type of bait or lure, and its definitely overkill....

I spent alot of time fishing them and researching them, understanding the different weights, actions they have, how fast or slow they fall, which ones work here or there, what ones come through grass and rocks, and which ones have to be reeled in because they cant handle grass. The ones that float, sink, suspend, etc.... Along with tons of different colors, and then the money i have invested into it.

 

After all that i realized most of them just dont work for the bass i fish for, so i now use a more simple approach. Just a few of each that i know will work in a select few sizes and colors.

But it was and wasnt worth it, the wasnt worth it i already spoke about, but the part that was is that i know these baits very well now. How, where, and when they work best. And the confidence i have in them is truly amazing, regardless of weather or time of year, ill fish them over anything else.

 

A deep dive on a certain bait or lure is only worth it if you think it is. Not if someone else does.

You have to have the money to invest in it, and the passion to fish that bait more than anything else.

[detroit1]

i don't.

[rgasr63]

I have never done this deep dive on baits like I have read here. I have always talked to people around me that demonstrated success with a technique. Once I catch fish I will buy a few different colors than I started with. 

[papajoe222]

I don’t subscribe to that line of thinking. IMO, if one of the three sizes/styles of a bait aren’t producing, I switch to something similar, as suspending crank or Fluke for a jerk bait or a swim jig for a spinnerbait. 
All  is based on knowing the fish are there and that they’ve indicated something wasn’t quite right with what I offered to begin with. 

[Columbia Craw]

Deep diving was easy in 1977.   Fishing is a process.  Your experience as you fish and the situations you put in front of you will determine or should determine how deep you go into lure categories.  You can buy a hundred different lures in anticipation that one of hundreds of situations might occur.  Just ask yourself, what’s the chance of that?  Like most sports it’s healthy to focus on fundamentals and then refine your skills. Matt Allen is refining big time.

[VTFan]

I used to be a tackle junkie. Now a days I stick to a few basic colors of the baits that work for me that I carry in a single Plano box. Not carrying that big Tackle Warehouse tackle bag with me on every trip anymore. I enjoy Matt and Tim but they do go very in depth and get a bit lengthy sometimes. JMHO

[Pat Brown]

My experience has been that the deep dive is worth it if it's worth it.  Meaning - if you find a bait that YOUR fish really like YOU to fish - it CAN be worth a deep dive.

 

I get a lot of bites on lipless crankbaits and frogs and Jigs every year where I fish.  As a result - I have quite s few different types of each available - because I'm aware from experience - the types of situations I might encounter and how the variations I have selected benefit me in each of these unique circumstances.

 

That basically comes from experimenting and having success which comes from time on the water catching fish.

 

I hear a LOT of people say ' if they're not biting my black spro 65, they're not on the Frog'

 

This has been fundamentally and totally and completely untrue time and time again.

 

Little changes can make a big difference IF (and it's a big if) you know a bait inside and out and know bass should be biting a category.

 

I usually rotate bait categories first but sometimes my Spidey senses tingle and I know a smaller frog that spits some water will get bit if I work it a little faster etc and then boom 7 lber.

[KP Duty]

On 10/26/2024 at 8:29 AM, F14A-B said:

Dude, it’s how they make a living 

Bingo!

[gimruis]

Every single tackle company out there wants you to take that "deep dive" into their products.  The more you buy, the better off they are.  That's their business.

 

I went a little overboard on tackle myself in 2020 when the pandemic emptied shelves due to demand.  Won't make that mistake again.

[Munkin]

I used to do this with one or two type baits a year to become a better angler overall. After a while you just figure out what works best and only need a few of each bait. The exception to this rule for me is hard jerkbaits in the spring or fall. All the other hardbaits I use for the year could fit in a single Plano 3700. I have had many days where jerkbait #11 was the one they wanted.

 

Allen