Plastic lure question

[Corona_kayaker]

When fishing with Plastic lures, do you stick to one particular lure or do y'all switch them if nothing is hitting. How often should I try or switch lures, sometimes, I find myself switching from lure to lure trying to get a bite, not sure if this is a good idea. Any feedback appreciated.

[texnomad]

From my perspective, if you are using a proven lure for the type of fishing and fish are not biting, you need to go to a better location.

[Ms addicted]

Most people who have done alot of fishing end up with certain go-to lures (or colors or styles) that they will stick with and not change from, most of the time anyway. Those are the ones that you have confidence in. You know that if there are fish in the area that they will hit that lure if they are at all interested in feeding.

So the answer to the question is yes and no. As an experienced angler, if I am fishing an area that I KNOW holds fish, I am going to put on my confidence lure and not switch from it unless I am getting absolutely no interest in it. Then I am still more likely to switch the way I am working it before I switch colors or styles to see if I can figure out what they want. Eventually though I will change to a completely different color or lure style because once in a while they just want something very specific.

Now, that only works if you are in an area holding fish. If you are fishing an area and you are seeing no bait activity and no predatory fish activity, you can switch lures all you want and you still wont catch anything. Its pretty hard to gain confidence in anything when you are in that situation. So really, what you need to do is make sure that you are in an area that is fishy. Look for bait, look for activity, birds, water movement, swirls, tide movement, etc. If you are sure there are fish there then put on a plastic that you have caught fish on before and just stick with it. Work it slow, fast, high in the water, low on the bottom, etc.

[Corona_kayaker]

Thank you for the information, in particular last night, I could see trout hitting the water, I could see the bait fish popping out of the water, but couldn't get a bite..

I was using glow doa and other various glows.

[Throttlehead250]

in your case the other night, the best thing to do is try to match the hatch in the lights. look in the lights and see what they are feeding on. It probably wasnt shrimp this early in the season. Next time try throwing a small rattle trap or baitfish imitation.

[M T Stringer]

...and also consider size. Sometimes a 6" paddletail will get ignored when you should be using a 3" this early in the year...
This isn't always the case, but I have seen some reds in the marsh that get spooked by bigger plastics but will bite when given a smaller lure.

[mpg2yahoo]

...and also consider size. Sometimes a 6" paddletail will get ignored when you should be using a 3" this early in the year...
This isn't always the case, but I have seen some reds in the marsh that get spooked by bigger plastics but will bite when given a smaller lure.

X2 that size matters at times.

Had good ol' gulp jerk shads 5" ignored completely at places they tear em up in fall. Winter n early spring required a small 1/8 oz rat l trap. The 1/4 oz would get ignored but the 1/8 would be a fish magnet when there are crystal minnows at the lights.

Trial n error until you find what they want.

[Corona_kayaker]

What lure selection should I have with me, trying to keep jus the essentials

[redneckyakclub01]

For fishing the lights down there I like a clear shrimp imitation with red flakes. On another rod I have a jerkbait,usually 5-6". Finally, I usually keep a spec rig with small shad imitations on.

The advice above is spot on. Look into the lights for shrimp passing through. If they're there, the trout will eat a DOA. I like to through the jerkbait a couple times first though because the bigger girls like it and can easily spook if you pull a couple dinks from the light first. No shrimp? Throw the spec rig.

The hardest light fishing that I've had down there is when the water is full of tiny glass minnows. I've never tried the small rattletrap but that sounds good. Otherwise, find a small white or silver lure and work it on light line. Change up your retrieve til you find what they are looking for. Sometimes slow and drifted with the curren and sometimes burned. The hardest part about that situation is the lady fish and light line combo. The first few are fun but after that...

Drag the bottom around those lights too, I've had some good flounder nights around the lights down there too.

[newbeginning]

I use a Yozuri crystal minnow (their 3D series is even better) in a silver color when fishing area with light on the top. The reflectiveness on the lure is really good with top light. I alway caught a trout from the Causeway area with every trip so far, knock on wood. For green light, when i see lot of mullet, I will throw my yozuri. If it's small glass minow, I throw a tandem spec rig. I will replace them with a small gulp curly tail when they get destroy.

I have yet caught a flounder around light, do you guy just jig a gulp in and out the light?

[TroutSupport.com]

From my perspective, if you are using a proven lure for the type of fishing and fish are not biting, you need to go to a better location.

This... focus on find the fish and not so much this lure over that lure or is it that color or this color. Grab a couple lite colors and dark colors that you like and get confident with those. Same with lure styles.. find a shrimp you like, a rat tail you like, and a paddle tail you like... then just stick to those. I find that if I can find the fish... I can throw cuttie bars with hooks in chocolate covering and catch fish. There are rare days when there is so much bait in a given area and I just missed the feed and the fish are full... that's when a fly is about all they'll hit.

[slinginbugs]

Me and a fishing partner goes out using the same lure . I work my lure faster he works his slower . I hooked up more then him he asks me finally why am I catching more fish . My answer was when bait fish are scared they move faster then when they are not . My answer to you is change the way you work your favorite lure before you change your lure . Sometimes water coloration is a key answer in what you use . I use my chartreuse or brown pumkin seed 9 times out of ten . Patients is a virtue .

[Chief Brody]

good thread...some solid advice here.

Confidence plays a huge role, so when you do find one that works you will find you always go back to that. I have a spec rig tied to my trout pole and it usually takes me seeing someone catching fish with something else while I'm getting skunked before I will switch. Now - that is not great advice mind you - you are much better off following Ms. A than me, since she actually catches fish...

[SmithFamilyTackle]

Absolutely, match the hatch. Fish same size fish with bait in the water. Dark water dark lures light water brighter lures.
I think that reds like red lure.
I would say that 4 are very popular.
1)red, pink or new penny
2) white
3) chartreuse
4) purple\blue