I typically throw mostly Texas rigged weightless, but yesterday was very windy and very cloudy out here in Jacksonville so I threw a golden inline spinner. Caught lots of stuff, but most were tiny bluegill (HOW DOES A BLUEGILL EVEN EAT THAT?). I’m curious now, in context with the weather, what lures should I throw? Also barometric pressure and other conditions (if there are any that I don’t know about)

It would be nice if someone could help me with what to throw.

Thank you in advance!

In the wind I throw, a spinnerbait around wood, a bladed jig around grass, and a crankbait in the rocks. As far as clouds go, I usually use the same baits, but may change to more visible colors.

With clouds and wind I fish with a spinnerbait, bladed jig, or a lipless crankbait. I'll throw a heavy swim jig if there is a lot of cover.

If you’re catching them with a weightless Texas rig (presumably stick bait) but the wind is making that tough, just put a 1/4 oz sliding sinker in front of it. It’s not the same presentation, but it’s the same profile they were eating and the little extra weight makes it a lot more fishable with the wind.

Windy and cloudy are prime conditions for power presentations. A spinnerbait is tough to top as is a buzzbait. My next choice would be a lipless crank. You can work the entire water column with it, or the spinner. One of the conditions you may encounter in the spring is rising water. Newly flooded cover can be targeted with either the spinner, bladed jig, or a swim jig.

You’re in for a lifetime of learning trying to figure it all out….and that is what is awesome! about bass fishing. And as soon as you figure something out, at times, it seems they change the game.

For me and my simple start. If I look up and the sun is hurting my eyes, they won’t be looking up either so I’m looking for bottom fish and I am fishing the bottom/falling baits. If it’s cloudy, early morning or late evening where they will be looking up, I’m throwing things they can look up to.

Wind is just water or current speed. If it’s not windy, I’m throwing slow moving baits. If it’s windy, I’m throwing moving baits.

Water color, I’m trying to throw something that contrasts with the water. Some people swear by white in clear water and while I do throw white, every other color seems to work well too but some days, one color gets lit up. Why? I believe it is because that color matches what they were already looking for that day.

My favorite learning process along this journey though is taking just one bait style to the lake or river, regardless of conditions. It forced me to keep trying and trying until I finally found a cadence to make them strike. I may switch color in the process but that is it.

I’m convinced bass don’t care what they’re looking at, as long as they see it, you’re in the game. Now you just need to elicit their built in attack reaction, like a cat. Yes, I may have played with my rod and bait (no hooks of course!) to make our cat finally attack it. You may not figure out what worked that day but I promise you, something will work.

16 minutes ago, Craig P said:

Yes, I may have played with my rod and bait (no hooks of course!) to make our cat finally attack it. You may not figure out what worked that day but I promise you, something will work.

I don’t know how good of an analogy a cat is to a bass, I know this sure sounds fun and I’m going to try it at our friends house with some soft plastics next time.

Wind and overcast are fantastic for reaction baits like bladed jigs, spinnerbaits, and lipless cranks, especially white ones. In calmer weather, you will typically want to throw finesse or slower-moving lures (drop shot, jig, Texas rig, walking bait, frog, etc.). Cold weather is normally pretty good for slow, deeper presentations as well, with an occasional reaction bait.

Rain is also an amazing time to fish. In the rain, fish are more comfortable feeding, and they are less likely to spot you and get spooked. Prespawn is one of, if not the best, times of the year to catch the most big bass. Bass feed heavily on shad and crayfish right before spending that energy spawning. This is when I like to throw big baits and jigs the most. All that said, those lures typically work in those scenarios, and I would recommend that you use them then. But, bass dont follow a rule book.