What is a theory you think holds true while others may not or may not even know about?

For instance - this is the Rat Theory by a bait maker called "Toxic Baits"



I find information like this much more useful to me in growing my mind versus just watching the same hold hook up videos.

Do you know of any that you can share with us?

Since I have never really considered "really big baits" I found this very eye opening. Good information.

Well then here is another I found eye opening as well...

Big swimbait fisherman Mike Gilbert from WCZ (Working Class Zero) on a 6 part series of Swimbait Theory

The theories behind the why's and how's a swimbait is made is fascinating to me, there's much more involved than I thought there was. Once I was exposed to the processes and thought patterns used to produce it changed the way I started using all of my swimbaits regardless of size. I began to look for specifics in the swimbaits I purchased that has saved me a lot of money, increased my cast to hook up ratio and my focus on the water.

I have always been interested in John Hopes “Funnel Theory for Big Bass.”

Really cool thread... I definitely think the "Big" Bait Theory holds true most of the time... but, in my experience, a "Big" bait is something like a brush hog or Jig with a bigger trailer. Both have helped me catch my double digit fish... and yes, those are not big swimbaits or rats, or what you think of when it comes to "Big" baits... but, they're not finesse baits either...

I finesse fish, too...but, I tend to throw bigger baits even if it means I will have to sacrifice numbers that day.

I'm definitely intrigued by the "Rat" theory now!

Has my mind moving as well... although I try to think about how many 5-7 I have been able to hit with these regular baits <-- starting to wonder what the numbers would be if I just constantly threw the bigger baits for a while? I remember tying on a big ol hard bait with folks laughing at me on Lewisville only to hit me a good 8 pounder in the slips and that was in the first 40 casts of this thing - but the fast action had me wore out the next night (not a tick in sight) LOLz

When I was a kid. We lived on 160 Acres on the St Lawrence River out in the country. We would go turn over hay bales in the fields and there were mice under every 10th bale, So with a 5 gallon bucket with a funnel in the top we would scoop up mice and small rats. We would take them down to the river and hook them in the skin in the back of their neck. Cast them out and they would start to swim back. The fish would absolutely crush these things. Also saw a mother duck with big sized babies behind her, there was a splash and one of them disappeared. probably a Northern Pike, but could have been a bass.

Lure action & size combinations account for all strikes IMO. Fish don't know rats from cats - especially those with plastic bills as in the video. The larger the population of larger fish like in the south, the more apt those fish attack larger lures that trespass inside their space or that interrupt their reverie as a lure swishes, pops, waddles or flashes too near. Every lure type has a unique motion, displaces a different amount of water, sends out different lateral line-detected vibrations and either works for the moment, day, week or not at all. Every water is unique and finding out what fish attack varies from water to water, time of day, season, etc.

We all know most of the basic tried-&-true lure types that catch bass - few resembling anything in nature - but most work better than any live animal we could attach to our hooks - rats included. Plus, predators are opportunists and lazy (to conserve energy), so fish ambush prey when it suits them as long as the animal is vulnerable to attack and regardless of a stomach bloated with food. (been there seen that)

Lures are also attacked according to a lure's vulnerability to an attack via it's speed or no forward motion but not necessarily to eat it . Recognition of nor comparisons to any prey animal has ever been a predator fish's strong point when it comes to lures. But rather the combination of good lure design and action provoke attacks, fish having no idea why they were provoked to begin with.

Just one angler's theory......

SenkoSam, I don’t completely agree with you but dude, that’s a great post!

Thanks Jerry. I've caught all kinds of fish on different lures for decades and can't wrap my head around the idea that fish know something about a lure. Their brains are just too small. Sensing a lure accounts for all strikes and they depend on what is sensed & seen, the rest simply angler imagination at work. But hey, if anything in particular gives an angler confidence in what he's casting, that's 99% of the reason for successful catches. The rest is what I've indicated - the 1% that matters big time !