The Right Bait For The Right Waters

All the choices of tackle leave anglers plenty of options to choose from in the thousands of bait options and hundreds of variations on color. For experienced anglers, this equivocates to taking the kids to a Toys R’ Us, before they went defunct. The happiest days for those into fishing are usually when they’re catching the big catch, or when they’re shopping for their tackle for that next trip.

Fishing enthusiasts and novices can help themselves by following the professionals in the tournaments — the guys making big money for the sport of fishing. When you’re trying to figure out what exactly to throw and what color variety of lure to throw, there’s no better way to do so than to follow the professionals until you’ve got some years under your belt. Then, it’s time to come back and share the knowledge from your experience. Heck, have you ever wondered why there are so many Youtube channels for fishing?

Picking The Right Lure For The Water

How many of the different types of lures do you need? As many as you can afford and want! Go crazy, as long as you’ve got the room to store them and are going to be fishing enough to justify having that many. Some people have their favorite lures on their favorite rigs, ready to throw at a moment's notice. What lure should you have ready, and for where? Let me recommend this one in particular. I’ve actually caught almost 40 in the past two years with these.

When it comes to the hard plastics there are only four to five color patterns that 99 percent of anglers in the US need to keep stocked. The style or pattern of hard bait is important. Remember, wherever you’re fishing, match your hard bait up with what’s hatched in the waters. Crawfish, shad, and bluegill patterned. Have a fourth and a fifth option to throw them off their game. One good option, particularly in clearer water, is something with a shinier, more light-reflecting finish. Look at these Truscend lures. They’re perfect for clearer waters as they’ll look like smaller fish and catch the light enough to make sure the predator fish notice them.

Even from the shore, these work in clearer waters, particularly if there’s a rocky bottom or a less muddy consistency to the water. If the water gets murkier, then look for something darker that’s going to contrast with the water enough that it sticks out, even in the murkiest water.

The darker the water means the darker the color. In stained and muddy water, as stated, look for colors that contrast. Darker color patterns like black and blue, black neon, and dark browns are more visible in murky waters. They provide the ideal contrast in the water to generate strikes. One thing I’ve found, even in hard-to-fish waters around my area, is the purple and white “sure hit” rarely fails to get a strike if bass are active.

Dark-colored plastics look really out of place in clear water situations and don’t get the strikes and bites they should, even though they proved plenty of contrast. It’s likely why most of the recommendations favor natural color patterns in clear water. Try looking for:

• green pumpkin
• watermelon
• browns

These shades won’t be off-putting, look more natural, and fish will be more likely to strike, or even gobble them up.

Final Thoughts

As vacations are coming for many people, and some will get out to do a lot of fishing this summer, remember that it’s supposed to be about fun, bonding with friends, or teaching the next generation to respect the outdoors. If you’re hoping to catch something, do the research on the local waters, take a selection of different lures, and remember that anything that contrasts and looks natural in the environment has a chance of working. Remember:

• know the hatch in that lake and match your hard plastics to what the fish eat.
• Contrast is important in murkier, muddier waters.
• Fish only strike when they’re aggravated or hungry

However, there is the chance that if you are patient and persistent, and continue to hit the same area of water where you see the fish, you can aggravate one enough to get it to strike. Some of the best topwater blow-ups seen in videos are aggravated fish that are annoyed by something invading their habitat. Lastly, keep your rod tips up, and your lines tight, and good luck.