When To Change Lures

[Allantek]

Someone told me that after 10 cast if you didn't get a bite change the lure or the color. So just wondering how long do you stick with a certain lure or color of lures thats not producing before you change?

[millsryno]

Wow, 10 casts? I can throw a spinnerbait 100 times before I get bit.

I have always wondered this as well. I'll go and throw a crankbait for an hour trying to get bit before I'll change it up. Should I be changing it up more often?

[JohNNy Utah]

10 casts isn't really giving any bait much of a chance. I like to stick with my gut instincts and colors that have a proven track record. I don't know how many times I've made dozens of casts that paid off big time by just sticking it out with what I know works. It all boils down to confidence in what you're throwing.

[Pete Marino]

Instinct and Confidence are the two deciding factors on when to change baits..

You can be throwing a deep diving crankbait and then all of a sudden the surface erupts and they are busting bait everywhere.....well instinct would then say........"Hey Dummy...throw a topwater bait!!!!!"

Often times difference in water clarity, wind (or lack thereof), fish movement, and time of day will dictate the bite and thats when instinct has to kick in. Nothing builds "instinct" better than "time on the water" and experience.

Then the confidence thing comes in when you know you are looking for only a few bites but because of the bait you are throwing you know that when you do get those "few" bites, they will be good ones. That tends to be how I fish....I may not get alot of bites but because of the baits I throw, when I do get bit...they are usually the right ones. I'd rather get 5 of the right bites than 20-30 of the wrong bites..but thats just me.
You have to have confidence in the bait you are throwing though or else you are wasting time. If you know the bait you are using is a big fish bait, you may go hours without a bite but "confidence" keeps you throwing it and finally it will pay off......

Just my 2 pennies!!!!

Pete

PS...if you are only throwing a bait for 10 casts...then you are NOT throwing the bait. You are wasting time.

[Pete Marino]

You may have three or four rods on the deck and you may pick one up and fire it 5-6 times then set it back down. In that case you are not wasting time.....thats different.
What I mean is if you put on a new bait and only fire it 10 times then take it off. Thats when I think you are wasting time.
Get confidence in a couple cranks of each depth level, get confidence in a couple top waters, worms...etc... and once you get confidence in them. ..give them a chance to produce. If you know the bait you are throwing catches fish on a certain lake at certain times of year stick with it because if you are on the clock (tournament time) it could really hurt you to be "experimenting" with baits you have no confidence in.
If you know you are gonna solely throw a topwater bait because the fish are feeding on the surface, as is the case at alot of our lakes right now in the mornings, you should have your most productive bait in your hand and then have your 2nd favorite bait on the deck...thats it....stick with what you know works. You may have a favorite crankbait for different depth levels and thats okay, just stick to the one you have the most confidence in for whatever water depth you are wanting to fish. Use your practice time on the lake to develop confidence. Once you have patterned your fish...keep it simple and go with what you know works.

Everything I just said basically pertains to specific situations i.e. topwater, cranking, worming ...etc.. If you know the fish will be up on bait and some maybe busting, but some not, you may want to have a topwater, a jerkbait, a crank and maybe a tailspin or underspin on the deck and pick up each one as your instincts tell you to.

Pete

[mark poulson]

Jim,
If you've figured out what should be working for the current conditions, tie on the lures that will work for the different cover/structure you'll encounter where you're fishing, and go fishing. Throw whichever lure is right for the situation until you've worked that area. If it's flooded brush in the morning, throw the blade until you've passed through the area. If you think there are fish there, rerun with a T rigged worm or a jig.
Throw the lure that is appropriate for the situation until you've fished the area, and are passed it. Then change to whatever is "right" for the next area.
If you think fish are on points, have a deep running crank and a jig or worm or C rig tied on, and work those points.
If there's one thing I've learned from successful anglers, it's that they adapt on the fly to conditions. Throwing one lure all day is suicide, because the fishing conditions are constantly changing. Have enough choices tied on to be able to change to what the situation dictates quickly, and you'll have a better chance to be ready for whatever comes up.
That means you have to plan ahead of time, but don't be afraid to stop and rerig a bunch of rods, if conditions change. Otherwise, as Gerry Jig says, you'll just be "painting the bottom".