So what determines if you flip a 3.5 inch creature vs a 5inch? Or a finesse cut jig vs a full skirt? What do you use to help dictate that decision? 

confidence mostly.  

 

and the fish tell you shortly after you start.    my fav  bait comes in 3.5 or 4"  the size diff is fairly dramatic.  i just pull one of each and go for it.   the 3.5 is my confidence size for sure.   harder to cast, in wind.  

5 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

confidence mostly.  

 

and the fish tell you shortly after you start.    my fav  bait comes in 3.5 or 4"  the size diff is fairly dramatic.  i just pull one of each and go for it.   the 3.5 is my confidence size for sure.   harder to cast, in wind.  

That’s my general thought and action too. Smaller baits are pretty much my confidence and what I start with. Neat to hear others approach though.  

1 minute ago, Joedodge said:

That’s my general thought and action too. Smaller baits are pretty much my confidence and what I start with. Neat to hear others approach though.  

if i catch nothing but dinks, i will move bigger to see if anything more substantial in size takes it. 

I usually keep two flipping rods on the deck. I almost always start with a small craw style bait on a 1/4 ounce for one and a bigger bug or creature style on the other with 3/8. I'll swap baits on those until I find a combination of size/profile/action/fall rate they like for the day. 

Anyone use a heavy bait with small creatures heavy grass? Like a 3.5” but a 1/2-5/8 weight? For that fast rof 

7 minutes ago, Joedodge said:

Anyone use a heavy bait with small creatures heavy grass? Like a 3.5” but a 1/2-5/8 weight? For that fast rof 

If I'm using 1/2 oz+ for flipping/pitching creature baits, it's mainly to get through vegetation. Emerged and submerged. 

Just now, NorthernBasser said:

If I'm using 1/2 oz+ for flipping/pitching creature baits, it's mainly to get through vegetation. Emerged and submerged. 

Exactly what I meant . Bad wording on my part. We have some thick submerged grass here 

Season/time of year, recent local weather, fishing pressure... in that order of importance, more or less.

3 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said:

Season/time of year, recent local weather, fishing pressure... in that order of importance, more or less.

That’s one thing I’ve always used. I seem to fish pressured waters mostly so I’ve always downsized

Fishing pressure should be a consideration but it can also be an unreliable factor, for instance in my last outing I didn't start catching numbers and a larger class of fish until I upsized from finesse worms to a full size d-bomb, and I fish some of the most pounded and pressured tournament bass waters there are, central Florida lakes like the harris chain, kissimmee, etc., go figure. 

 

57 minutes ago, Joedodge said:

Anyone use a heavy bait with small creatures heavy grass? Like a 3.5” but a 1/2-5/8 weight? For that fast rof 

Yep, heavy weights with small plastics are a punching staple that's seemingly reserved for tough cold front/post frontal conditions, that said I've patterned fish during warmer months where a fast rof jig around pads was the ticket. It's a reaction bite no different than say a squarebill or trap only it's vertical and targeted.

Gut feel and go from there.  My default starting point is the 4” rage bug and 3/8 oz.  I’ll often have a second one on with either heavier or lighter.  Sometimes a smaller one. Then start fishing and see where it goes.  If I vary from my starting point, I’ll go smaller first since our water is clear and there are a lot of guys that fish it.  

I generally start with my known confidence baits and sizes on waters that I am unfamiliar with. On waters that I fish often, I experiment and get a feel for what works and doesn't both in size and color.

 

I generally will pick the color I want, then the size. So I might throw a size that is a compromise if it's the color I want.

Size/species of fish where I'm fishing.

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Water Temperature 

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Looking for fish vs. confident I know where at least some fish are

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Tied to above: if perch or bluegill are the only thing nipping at my bait (or small bass) I may upsize to discourage them

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Season and perceived mood of fish

I depends on the water clarity for me. Clear water gets smaller baits and the dirtier the water the bigger I go.

I usually start small and once I find them and start getting regular fish I'll switch to the larger profile to go for size on the fish. Occasionally I'll switch the weight to slightly heavier if I suspect the fall rate is a bit off if I stop catching when I switch to the larger.

 

Never had an issue catching fish on a smaller bait when they were hitting big bait but cant say they have always hit big bait when they were biting small bait. If that makes sense to you. 

Whatever size the person standing next to me is catching fish on. 🤣

Where I fish it's go big or go home.

The fish tell me.

 

If I should be getting bites but I'm not I'll try big or small instead of whatever is currently tied on next time I switch it up.

 

I will try a different size or rate of fall or whatever every 30-45 minutes with zero bites give or take.

 

If I'm catching dinks on big baits everywhere I might try a small bait.

 

If I'm catching dinks everywhere on small baits I might try a big bait.

 

Etc etc.

 

Let the fish tell me.

If I don't have a clue based on season, recent weather, etc. then I'll always start my plastic throwing with a Zoom Trick Worm.  Usually I have a solid guess based on season, weather, water temp, and the lake itself because I've fished it a zillion times.  Hottest water temps of the year I go straight to the Ol' Monster or Berkley Maxscent Kingtail.  If I have no idea when I launch, it's the Trick Worm.  No bites on that and I'm moving to a finesse worm or finesse craw.  

Where I start depends on water clarity. Clear=small, stained=bigger. That's just a starting point, though. If the panfish are machinegunning the smaller bait, I'll upsize to something with a little less action.

Fishing pressure, time of the year, and weather.

I start on around 4-5" and move down from there if I'm not getting bit, but seeing replies here, I'm going to start smaller next outing and see how that goes. 

 

Less so size, and more so weight, seems to be the difference maker for me. I mostly flip and pitch structure. The fall rate difference of more/less weight is key. Also effects how likely I am to get hung up. I try to start as light as I can get away with.

All of the above....I also have 4 flipping sticks so I have a good assortment to use. From BB crickets to Senkos

For me... it's easy...  Zoom Ultravibe Speedcraws are 3.25" so I throw a 3.25 Speedcraw.