texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,586
TexDawg 119,529
Bigbob_FTW 94,908
John175☮ 85,893
Pilothawk 83,264
Bob Davis 81,523
Mark Perry 72,297
Derek 🐝 68,312
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,861
Posts13,935,741
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
For the sake of discussion #12406493 08/30/17 01:11 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
S
SenkoSam Online Content OP
Pro Angler
OP Online Content
Pro Angler
S
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
First, I times even I indulge in superstition. If a superstition is found to be based on fact, it is reliable; based on falsehood(s), and it is rarely or never reliable. I may use certain lures based on reasons that have no basis, yet those lures may always be depended on to catch fish - any fish, anytime!

For the sake of discussion, let me indulge in the possible reasons fish strike lures and live prey, for as we know from many experiences, anything is possible when it involves fish striking lures or feeding. One way to describe how and why fish attack is to consider what an artificial fish - a robofish if you will - would require to detect, track, analyze and attack any object it deemed objectionable to it's peaceful state of inactivity (not of mind in that fish don't possess them).

On YouTube I was completely fooled by a lure that was a perfect copy of a bluegill twitching and dying in it's last throes. A bass kept attacking it but didn't consume it. The lure had the exact shape and coloration of a gill, but most important, the built in action that kept that bass incensed. In order for a robofish to exactly simulate a predator fish, it would have to have the following attributes:

Extreme sensitivity to object motion, either as a whole and of parts of the object that exhibit specific actions no matter how subtle. Subtlety in nature is a fact and predators must be able to detect it on average to target an animal that protects itself by being less conspicuous. Prey animals rarely dart around crazily or thump hard objects to call attention to themselves. Man has made motion detectors as sensitive as the lateral line which is capable of inputting to a fish's simple brain, object speed, size and action. A fish's eyes do the rest.

Visual acuity must be such that object contrast details add to the total picture. Humans may see an exact duplicate of a juicy steak and if hungry, salivate, but fish don't need imitation to generate impulses that make it react.

What consists of object contrast elements? Contrast against any background to start: against the surface, to the side or to the bottom. Color contrasts involve: object brightness no matter how subtle; light reflection off the objects surface; hue as in the case of florescent colors or white; colors that contrast within the object (two tone, spots, stripes); and of course flash - light reflection based on light intensity.

Even black flakes within a soft plastic lure create visual contrast regardless of hue or plastic transparency.

Hue involves the detection of wave lengths - something any good robofish is capable of. It knows the difference between green and orange, but does the consideration of color make a difference in what fish deem important enough to provoke it? I am one of many that say it can, but my superstition is my excuse.

I love a perch color patterns: green, chartreuse and orange. I don't believe fish think that combo imitates a perch, but I believe the combination provocative as I do many other favorite colors such as florescent pink. The example provided shows one incredible lure design (Kut-tail Worm) dyed two different colors from the original chartreuse. One shows a solid color bright contrast; another shows basic contrast (dark against light)); and the top one shows a perch color combo.



Flash is evident in nature and pertains to silver sided minnows that flash when excited. But subtle flash that may not be evident to the human eye is easily visualized by our robofish and any fish with eyes in its head. Any reflection of light off any shiny object's surface alerts fish of an initial presence no matter the hue.

Does a lure have to be colored to be detected? Any lure regardless of shape is seen by fish because light that passes through is warped and reflected internally creating a shape that is obvious. I've caught many fish on clear plastic baits.

A lure's shape and size are very important but not in the sense of matching anything in nature. A cube is not natural nor is a coil, but a slim shape is. Shape contributes to a lure's action, among other things and action speaks louder than most lure characteristics. Lure action consists of 1. total body action and 2. body part action.

Total body action is affected by tail action such as that of a broad curl tail or boot shaped shad tail. Wobble is the closest description I can come up with. Tail design-imparted, body action is best exemplified by a curly tail or Slider Grub tail (below). In the case of a crankbait, it's the dive lip. A thin straight or prong tail (below) exhibits quiver - one of the best provocative actions ever molded in soft plastics.



Even the largest fish is affected by the smallest lure moving at the right speed, of the right shape, etc. etc. etc. This bass decided to smack this wee little paddle tail grub in 4' of water.



Our robofish is programmed to become excited by any subtle object motion as is any fish worth it's scales.

Finally, what is the sequence applicable to a real fish or our fake simulation?

1.detection

2. instant analysis of the objects size, shape, speed, motions, and contrast (color, flash).

3. attention focused long enough for an involuntary sequence to happen:

a. a revving up of its aggression level from an inactive state.

b. explosive action to plainly stop the object in it's tracks.

As we know how our knee reacts to the thump of a rubber hammer, all fish responses are initially reflexive meaning involuntary in nature. The only difference is that our knee doesn't have eyes, a lateral line or taste/odor detection that determine what it does next.

Now, I would never claim that any bait is foolproof but that some baits work most times in most conditions - ice fishing not one of them. IMO The laws of lure use must follow a certain formula to be successful:

right time / right place + right retrieve + right lure design = strike provocation

I have used a few lure designs that caught many fish under the ice and were as successful as spikes, though at times only spikes and the like caught fish. Once the water warms to 45 degrees or more, most lures that have worked well in the past always caught fish, and I'm talking many soft plastic designs.

Granted, not all fish at all times are susceptible to lures or even live bait - it could be a stupor that can't be broken in that hour. But fish that are susceptible, individually or in a group, for some reason don't seem to tolerate certain lures trespassing on their turf and do everything they can to let the object know it, or in any case stop the tease. In fact, the best reason I can come up with as to why fish strike lures is the tease factor - something about a lure that irritates the senses similar to a nagging itch you and I must scratch or go crazy trying. Fish must be close to sense the cause of the itch before it can be provoked to scratching it. Some call the sensation a hunger pang; I call it sense overload that prompts aggression.

If the fish ignored your bait (lure or live?), there are many reasons having to do with why fish bite or not - the most important being what a fish wants, the way it wants it and where as well as when.

What a fish wants is a poor expression suggesting a preference based on a fish comparing one lure to others or some live prey animal. What instead pertains to lure-related factors most likely to generate strikes. When and where are the first factors necessary to discover and along with the best presentation (the way it wants it), increases one's chances of catching more fish via a pattern that is repeated in other areas.

Much of fishing is based on chance (and for some, just plain dumb luck), but taking into consideration the above, ups one's chances and stacks the deck in our favor vs. those who fish blindly, casting to places less likely to hold fish, using baits less likely to provoke strikes no matter the number of casts.

As you digest the above, please at least believe one thing - lure design matters and because of it, not all lures of similar design are equal.

Last edited by SenkoSam; 08/30/17 01:13 AM.
Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: SenkoSam] #12406526 08/30/17 01:35 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 159
N
N-M-W Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
N
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 159
Someone please post the cliff notes, thanks.


IM FROM THE REDDEST STATE IN THE UNION.
Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: N-M-W] #12406599 08/30/17 02:24 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 16,029
G
grout-scout Online Sleepy
TFF Guru
Online Sleepy
TFF Guru
G
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 16,029
Originally Posted By: N-M-W
Someone please post the cliff notes, thanks.


Yep, after the first 2 paragraphs I was out.

Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: SenkoSam] #12406868 08/30/17 02:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 19,774
Donald Harper Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 19,774
That was excellent. Your points strike home why I take a new bait out of the package that has all the potentials that you have mentioned and rebuild it adding those things that will make it great. Thanks for sharing.

PS. You have the fire and knowledge to help baits catch more and bigger fish. Never stop doing that.


Each person you work with holds some promise to your future success.
Websiite Sponsors:
www.eletewater.com - Staying Hydrated
www.lakeoviachic.com - Booking Mexico Trips
20 Hot Spot Mapping - GPS Contour Chips - Custom Spinner Baits - Jigs -Spooks
Pure Extracts - Minnow-Night Crawler-Crayfish-Craylic


Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: SenkoSam] #14494558 10/03/22 03:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
S
SenkoSam Online Content OP
Pro Angler
OP Online Content
Pro Angler
S
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
Don you are a gem and it's nice to be able to connect with someone that undertands the mystique of fishing other than just catching fish.
Thank you.

FrankM

Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: SenkoSam] #14496074 10/05/22 01:16 AM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,697
L
Lazy Ike Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
L
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,697
hammer i think u r over thinkn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: SenkoSam] #14498010 10/07/22 12:17 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,908
Kat-man-do Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,908
Holy necro Batman

Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: Lazy Ike] #14503675 10/13/22 08:11 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
S
SenkoSam Online Content OP
Pro Angler
OP Online Content
Pro Angler
S
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
Originally Posted by Lazy Ike
hammer i think u r over thinkn it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Maybe so but it has helped me and newbies I take fishing to average 40-100 fish per outing.
The last few days have been slow as the summer-to-fall transition is happening fast. Fish locations have changed big time in the lakes I fish - each differently.

A few days ago the fish in one lake suspended in 7' away from the shallow weeds they were near in summer. Not all soft plastic worked equally well but 5 stood out that were hit by bass and panfish. Until the sun started going down and the 10mph wind died, the action was good producing 45 fish in the five hours I was out - many nice size. Here are a few examples:

Remember Gay Y's Kut Tail Worm? The 5" worm did well this year rigged on a 1/24 oz jig & #1/0 hook. example of how it was rigged this summer:
[Linked Image]

It wouldn't get a bite so I cut off 2.5" of the tail:
[Linked Image]
The unique action was just as good and fish pounced all over the downsized version:
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
9" sunfish are better than nothing and that's what they averaged.


A curl tail grub did well but only two tail designs got bit most. This small bass and 4 others like it went for the darker color with this tail shape/action:
[Linked Image]
Its shape came from adding the tail poured from a grub mold and adding it to a thicker body grub:
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image] [Linked Image]

Another tail/body combo was this spike tail added to a red body:
[Linked Image]

I'm always blown away by sunfish colors such as this one:
[Linked Image]

In conclusion, by varying certain shapes, sizes and actions, the above soft plastic examples did well considering the pre-front conditions. Granted, any of you using other lures may have done just as well, but 6 other soft plastics I tried didn't.















Last edited by SenkoSam; 10/14/22 01:22 AM.
Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: N-M-W] #14504377 10/13/22 09:21 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 120,586
hopalong Online Confused
Pescador Loco
Online Confused
Pescador Loco
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 120,586
Originally Posted by N-M-W
Someone please post the cliff notes, thanks.

thumb


" Hop, set the hook"!
hopalong 99,999
TexDawg 99,999
FJB! not my president by a long shot!

lake fork FISHERMANS COVE MARINA/reservations - 903 474 7479
Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: hopalong] #14504650 10/14/22 01:28 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
S
SenkoSam Online Content OP
Pro Angler
OP Online Content
Pro Angler
S
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
Originally Posted by hopalong
Originally Posted by N-M-W
Someone please post the cliff notes, thanks.

thumb


Here ya go,

1. chose lure or live bait and tie it on
2. cast lure or live bait
3. maybe catch a fish - or not.

Last edited by SenkoSam; 10/14/22 09:33 AM.
Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: SenkoSam] #14504937 10/14/22 11:56 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,594
gborg Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,594
SenkoSam , your passion is appreciated !!

Re: For the sake of discussion [Re: SenkoSam] #14505085 10/14/22 02:24 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
S
SenkoSam Online Content OP
Pro Angler
OP Online Content
Pro Angler
S
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
Thanks G.

If anything I provide examples of the various lures that caught different sizes and species of fish on one or more outings and in different waters. Overthinking lure choice makes no sense including why fish strike certain lures - including hunger or matching what they eat and relating that to a lure. (...though as a lure crafter & tester, I do believe it's related to a specific combination of lure characteristics - none having to do with fish recognizing a lure as this or that.)

They either strike certain lures or not. Simple! If they do, always keep some in the tackle box.

Last edited by SenkoSam; 10/14/22 02:25 PM.
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3