Pacemaker Fishing Forum

I think it's mostly the presentation. I do not think color or different kinds of similar baits necessarily makes a difference, ie: pumpkin with black vs red flakes or a Rattlin' Rap vs. a RatLTrap...I think as long as you get the general type of bait that the bass are looking for and put it in the area where they are then you will do fine.

So far Presentation matters most?

As I think about this then why are there so many new fangled lures out there?

Capt Mike

I think that there is no exact answer to the good Captain's question.

As an example, I have presented a particular fly to blue gills that they would not take no matter what I did. I changed color and still no answer.  changed style and BAM....they went nuts!

I have witnessed the same at the CPPT, a different lure was working yet we were all fishing the same way.

So, I am sure there is a formula that takes tha following in to play: presentation, color, lure style (anything else?).

.....and then there is fresh cut bait!

And then we have American and Hickory shad that will strike a fly and a shad dart yet they are not eating......

The vast reserves of deep introspect and thought processes are really not needed for the real fisherman. A gut feeling says use this lure here and this way...

So easy a cave man can do it. Right .......No not right it takes more and sometimes less...

I would like to add that the more you over think about it, the least likely you are to enjoy it...

Capt Mike

Last edited by captmikestarrett (Feb-04-10 12:11PM)

Coz, you can come to. Enjoyed meeting/fishing with you last fall.

on those perch, i usually catch them close to the bottom, in water deeper than eight feet. it will be interesting to see how you fare

they are there now, but not stacked like they will be soon

I can get a sinking line down 10-15 feet with no problem in calm current...

Presentation over lure for sure. However, I do think that both of these elements take a back seat to location and timing.

The way I see it:
60% of angling success or failure is due to location and timing varibles, ie: presence of bait & game fish, weather, good habitat etc.
30% presentation, ie: cast angle & accuracy, profile, vibration and speed of bait
10% type of lure, color etc.

Alot of people get too fixated on lure style or color beacuse these varibles are the easiest to understand and control. Understanding concepts like weather patterns, tides and how they affect the fish takes a bit more thought.

Of course, the best time for that thought process to take place is before you even launch the boat. Like Capt Mike said, once you hit the water, it's time to trust your instincts and keep it simple.

Put yourself in the right place at the right time, make an accurate cast and a natural presentation. Get all that done, chances are you're gonna catch whatever you're fishing for.

A little something I picked up somewhere that pertains to this thread. Read and heed.


WORDS OF WISDOM FOR ANGLERS            By Mark Perry
20 Things I learned from tournament fishing……

1. NOTHING beats time on the water, period!

2. Yesterday was just that, YESTERDAY. Today will hold a new set of challenges in finding and catching fish. When they change, you need to change.

3. The harder you work, the more success you will have. There are no shortcuts or magic baits.

4. Do not blame equipment, weather, other boats and anglers, etc. Just fish hard and stay at it when it gets tough. Success will come one cast at a time. Do not allow excuses to exist in your boat. Take ownership of your mistakes and learn from them.

5. If it’s too cold. too hot, too windy, too rainy and even if you are too tired, go fishing anyway. You can bet your competition is out there.

6. Don't be afraid to take chances, learn to listen to that little voice in your head and follow your instincts.

7. Don't be afraid to try new techniques. It’s only new until you catch a fish doing it, and it gets easier with every cast.

8. Don't worry about what the rest of the anglers are catching or how they are catching fish. Worry about getting your limit your way.

9. The hardest fish in a limit are the first and the fifth fish. Always is and always will be.

10. You will lose baits, break rods, and tear up equipment. Get over it.

11. Even the best anglers only win 5-10% of the tournaments they enter.

12. Fish hard but don't forget and enjoy yourself along the way. When it ain't fun anymore simply stop.

13. There is a reason why the same guys finish in the Top 10 week after week. It’s called HARD WORK!

14. Whatever your favorite bait, rod & reel, hat etc. is, always have a spare. Better yet, try and carry two of everything. From tackle to measuring boards, you are gonna lose them.

15. You will encounter jerks on the water. Kill' em with kindness and a smile. There is karma in bass fishing. It all equals out in the end out there on the water.

16. Fish hard from start to finish. Countless tournaments are won in the last few minutes on a regular basis.

17. Surround yourself with anglers that are better than you and pick their brains. Pay attention to their habits. Don't have too much of an ego that will get in the way of learning something from someone. Jump at the chance to fish with anyone that you think is better than you, and it probably will not hurt to fish with folks you think you are better than. None of us are as good as we think we are, and no one is as bad as we think they are. You can learn something from anyone, even if its how NOT to do something.

18. If you want other anglers to stay off of the spots you are fishing, then STOP fishing community water. Put the time in to find the spots on the spots and your own little honey holes. Find your own water.

19. The best way to get over a missed bite or a lost fish is to simply make another cast.

20. Tune out folks who say NEVER and ALWAYS in relation to bass fishing. Neither word applies to the sport, as the bass don't read the same books, watch the same TV shows or hear the same dock talk that we do. The bass have no clue they are ALWAYS supposed to be in an area, and do not realize that they are NEVER supposed to hit that bait at that time of year in that depth in that area.

Hopefully this list will help a person out there like it has me. I refer back to it quite a bit especially when I am going through a slump or not fishing well.

Number 17 from Charlies post reminds of an outing w/ a neighbor who is a great walleye fisherman but who I thought was not such a great (certainly not on my level!) bass angler.  He kicked my butt using a zoom speed worm retrieved at a fast pace, something I smirked at until he started catching.