When restocking Rage Bugs last year, I jumped on a sale and bought 8 or 10 packs, only to find that I wasn't paying attention and bought 3.38's instead of my trusty 4's.  Tried them a few times but was not impressed.  Too small, too light, little action, not much interest from the bass.  

      Then, yesterday, I was having a slow morning with the 'regular' size; few fish here and there...nothing over 2#.  After breaking off, I accidentally grabbed a pack of smaller ones and lazily used one instead of digging around for the right ones.  I immediately started hammering more and better fish.  Maybe the bite window opened...maybe the locations were better....maybe the faster fall or smaller profile...I don't have a clue as to why, but size sure seemed to matter ...this one time

I also use the 4 as my standard, but when it’s not working and I know it should be I’ll drop to the mid size or even the small one (3”). I carry the magnum as well but they are big. Sometimes you just have to listen to the fish. 

@casts_by_fly,the magnum is my go-to on a heavy swing head (7/8, generally).  It has replaced a jig for me much of the time.  Drags great, swims well, and comes through cover as well or better than a jig much of the time.  It gets big bites.

i think size matters.  you have to give them options.  sometimes they want appetizer sized.  sometimes, they want bigger bites.  it is weird, frustrating, and exhilarating all at once. 

As a fluke and frog fisherman - you learn to play with size fast if you like getting bit!

 

Seems like as the forage they're targeting through out the year changes - the sizes of fluke or frog they generally prefer shift around.

 

I'm sure it's also true of flipping baits - I'm just less dialed into the nuance - I flip a lot of small baits on my home lakes - mainly to be a little different from everyone else - not sure if the fish prefer it or not - but they get bit.  Sometimes I feel like it's big bait time - and fish those instead and also do well.  Seems more seat of the pants with plastics for me 😂

 

With the fluke or frog I will definitely go smaller if I see tons of minnows up shallow but if I know there's huge bass - I will often go bigger on either or both.

 

Sometimes I go big on the fluke and small on the frog and play with different sizes on different bait categories to zero in on a preference faster.

 

I definitely think bigger gizzard eaters are more into bigger baits and sunfish and perch and crappie eaters seem more into smaller baits but this is not an exact science - just a little guessing.

Snack-size preference lasted all of one day.  They're back on the 4"

 

Big Bait = Big Fish

 

Until it doesn’t 

😊

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Snack-size preference lasted all of one day.  They're back on the 4"

 

What the heck is in your mouth ? 

7 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

What the heck is in your mouth ? 

Looks like a stogie to me.

6 hours ago, IYAOYAS said:

Looks like a stogie to me.

Maybe the end unrolled or something?

Yeah...it wasn't supposed to be a cartoon exploding cigar, but kinda looks that way

Sometimes I don't ask, I just throw!

I like the 3.8 on a split shot rig. It has a nice, slow glide that really seems to get bites when it's tough.