Which lure will you use when you go to a new spot

[MuskieBait]

(09-27-2012 04:51 PM)onwind Wrote:  I has thought float is a very slow method, perhaps I am wrong.
I lived in Condo, so it's not easy for me to get earth worm in the yard. and every time I don't have plenty duration of time for fishing, I don't want to spend too much time on finding earthworms. so I prefer artificial baits which no need to prepare.

(09-27-2012 04:47 PM)MuskieBait Wrote:  Instead of using lure, why not use a simple float, splitshot and hook rig and use earthworms for bait?

Panfish may not bite artificial lures at times, but readily bite a chunk of fresh worms. This is the easiest way to figure out if fish are in the area or not.

Once you find them, then go at them with lures if you like.

If you don't have a box of worms in the fridge, then dig up some worms on location, or find some slugs, beetles, grasshopper...anything smaller can be used for bait. Even shrimp or squid had worked for me in a pinch.

You can buy a dozen worms and keep them in the styrofoam container for upwards of 3 months in the fridge. I've them last that long in my fridge.

Float is not necessarily a slow way of fishing. It depends on how you fish it. If you leave it to sit in one spot all day, yes, that's absolutely slow and unproductive unless fish are cruising by your float all the time.

Alternatively, learn to recognize where fish may be located (wood debris, weed edge, within openings in the weeds, along shoreline areas, rocky shorelines with a mud transition...etc)...and work them systematically and quickly. If you are using worms and not getting bites immediately from sunfish, you're not doing something right, or the fish are not around the area.

So cast out your float rig at specific areas where you think the fish are located, let the float rig sit for 30 seconds to 60 seconds, then move it about 2 feet to 5 feet, and repeat. Work the area 2-3 times doing this and move to the next area if you are not getting bites.

Live bait is your best indicator of panfish in the area because there is seldom times a panfish will not hit a chunk of worms. There are too many variables with lures. It could be the retrieve speed. It could be the size. It could be the colour. It could be the action of the lure. It could be the depth the lure is running. Too many factors...and if you say you have little time to fish, then why not use something that can help you figure out fish location quickly?

With a float rig fishing a piece of worm, you already know a panfish will more likely than not bite that piece of worm. So you already eliminate one variable. You don't need to worry about retrieve speed since you are working systematically along an area. You eliminated another variable. A worm is a worm and it has only its natural colour. You eliminated that variable too. You don't need any action to your worm because a fresh piece of worm will wriggle imparting natural motion. 4th variable crossed off...so you are really down to what depth you are fishing, and where fish may be in that piece of structure at that spot. You really just have a couple of factors to figure out at that point.

Remember, the question that you want to answer is "Where is the fish?", so that should your focus; not what size, colour, action, speed of lure. Once you find their location, then go ahead and fish with lures and figure out how to catch them on lures.

If I were to use a lure as a search pattern though, once I somewhat figure out where fish may be, I would use a light jighead (1/16oz to 1/8oz) with a 1-2" twister tail grub or 1-2" tube jig. You can cast that on light line and light rod and work areas quickly. You can let that sink a bit and work it deeper at a slow speed or work it faster closer to the surface.