Just wondering what everyone thinks are the most important things about a bait you choose to fish in any given condition. I'm talking:

1.Presentation(fast, slow, vertical, horizontal, ect.)

2.Profile(Shad, sunfish, crawdad, ect.)

3.Scent/Taste

4.Color

5.Sound

When you pick out a bait what are the top reasons your chosing that one??

When I pick a bait the only reason is because I just want it. It's not a color thing, it's not a "oh they have been killin em on this bait" thing. It is just a I see it,I like it, I just want it. Or maybe it's a combonation of all of those things that draws me too it. I don't know. I'M SO CONFUSED

Just wondering what everyone thinks are the most important things about a bait you choose to fish in any given condition. I'm talking:

1.Presentation(fast, slow, vertical, horizontal, ect.)

2.Profile(Shad, sunfish, crawdad, ect.)

3.Scent/Taste

4.Color

5.Sound

When you pick out a bait what are the top reasons your chosing that one??

Given the correct "location":

1) Lure Depth (highly criticial, more so in coldwater)

2) Lure Speed (highly critical, more so in coldwater)

3) Lure Action (need to experiment, including horizontal vs. vertical delivery)

> Lure Size       (smaller in clear water, larger in murky water)

> Lure Profile (bass often prefer long slender lures even in a school of shiners - go figure)

> Lure Sound (more sound in murky water, less in dingy water, no sound in clear water)

> Lure Color (In dark water a dark lure absorbs more light for contrast, but fish need no help in clear water)

> Lure Texture (soft is better for a comeback strike)

Roger

If I like it then I buy it. Never even take the fish into consideration. :

I simply grab a gob of lures and shake.  The one that comes off first is the winner.  But seriously, it just depends.  Probably scent/taste is my least important consideration, however.

I purchase and use lures to match patterns whatever they may be at any particular location and time. I don't buy a lure and try to figure out where and how to use it.

Time of year and the prevailing weather will depend on the type of lure I choose. If I think the fish(Summer time) will be offshore on the deeper points and river ledges I will pick a lure that most effectively allows me to cover the deeper depths and structure associated with that area.

It's not always a plastic either. If the wind is up it is impossible at times to fish a plastic lure effectively. At times it will be a Mann's 30+ or DD22, not because it is the best, it just may be the only thing I can root around the cover at the deeper depths and have any kind of feel.

When I pick a bait the only reason is because I just want it. It's not a color thing, it's not a "oh they have been killin em on this bait" thing. It is just a I see it,I like it, I just want it. Or maybe it's a combonation of all of those things that draws me too it. I don't know. I'M SO CONFUSED

I wonder sometimes if they make all these different kinds of lures in order to "catch us" at the register and not so much to catch the fish.  :-?

If I like it then I buy it. Never even take the fish into consideration. :

haha you too!!

Presentation is key IMO! I believe as long as you are working that bait exactly how they want to see it, everything else matters very little!

1. Lure Depth

2. Lure Speed

3. Lure Size

4. Lure Action

5. Lure color

6. Lure Sound

Everything else is pretty much an after thought to me

When you pick out a bait what are the top reasons your chosing that one??

Fish location and cover.

Selecting lures should come after determining where the bass are located and what they are feeding on. Then pick out a few lures that work well at that location, depth, water temperature, cover or structure type and let the bass determine what they want to strike at that time.

I like to fish jigs, but if the bass are on a top water bite, then use a top water lures that will work under the conditions you are faced with.

There isn't a panacea to lure selection.

WRB

Just wondering what everyone thinks are the most important things about a bait you choose to fish in any given condition. I'm talking:

1.Presentation(fast, slow, vertical, horizontal, ect.)

2.Profile(Shad, sunfish, crawdad, ect.)

3.Scent/Taste

4.Color

5.Sound

When you pick out a bait what are the top reasons your chosing that one??

    My most important things I consider about a bait go exactly in order as you posted them.

    1.  Presentation

    2.  Profile

    3.  Scent/taste

    4.  Color

    5.  Sound

Location and presentation.

Falcon

My most important things I consider about a bait go exactly in order as you posted them.

   1.  Presentation

   2.  Profile

   3.  Scent/taste

   4.  Color

   5.  Sound

Yup, I put them in that order for a reason. That's how I look at it too.

I feel that if the presentation is correct little else will matter. And for those saying location I understand what you mean but that's not really what I am looking for. I'm talking after you have found the fish or believe you have. I guess weedless or snag less would be a good option as I know there are times I pick a bait on only those factors. Whats the point of throwing anything if you can't fish it due to hanging up all the time. Good responses, keep em coming!

My most important things I consider about a bait go exactly in order as you posted them.

1. Presentation

2. Profile

3. Scent/taste

4. Color

5. Sound

Yup, I put them in that order for a reason. That's how I look at it too.

I feel that if the presentation is correct little else will matter. And for those saying location I understand what you mean but that's not really what I am looking for. I'm talking after you have found the fish or believe you have. I guess weedless or snag less would be a good option as I know there are times I pick a bait on only those factors. Whats the point of throwing anything if you can't fish it due to hanging up all the time. Good responses, keep em coming!

You can make the perfect pitch with the ideal lure and to cover and not catch a single bass all day, if the bass are behind you in deeper water structure where the bass are tearing up shad schools, for example. Yes there maybe a few bass up tight to shoreline cover, but the guy outside you is catching them on structure spoons. The opposite could also be happening, because the shad school hasn't arrived yet on the structure and presenting a structure spoon to inactive bass will haul a lot water and very few bass. Right lure, right place at the right time and there could be several choices on any given day.

WRB

Gives off very few negative cues

Profile that resembles of a wide variety of forage

Action that is very random

Capable of moving with little noise

Variety of sizes

Wide variety colors

Whatever bait that I have the most confidence in according to the water, the weather, temp and time.  I can always switch to something else if its just not what the bass seem to want.  

(1) Depth Control

(2) Speed Control

(3) Lure Size

Whatever is still on my rod from the last outing, I like keeping things simple.

i throw different stuff till i figure out what is working...this is why we like to carry 5-10 different rods...so we can effectivley prestent the different baits that may be required for the current situation.

When you pick out a bait what are the top reasons your chosing that one??

Fish location and cover.

...and/or structure.

8-)

I would say color first, then presentation.

I would say color first, then presentation.

Color really isn't as important as a lot of people think it is. It doesn't matter what color your lure is if it isn't at the correct depth and location.